HIRAETH

Chapter 31

"I don't. I don't think I ever will."

I took a deep shuddering breath.

"I'm not leaving till I get rid of Gaea."

"With our help."

In a second, Riptide was on his neck. He swallowed hard and stared at the blade. He was turning a bit too pale.

Percy grabbed my arm.

"You're not-"

I pressed the blade harder, and blood seeped out of his neck. He had froze completely in fear. My hand shook from holding Riptide too tight.

Silence.

I dropped the blade.

"I would rather punch you in the face."

I brushed off Percy's hand.

"Scared?"

"This is why everyone's helping you."

My eye twitched. I wished I hadn't dropped the blade.

"They're scared of you."

"They pity me."

The words overlapped each other, and I let out a short, harsh laugh.

"Scared. Of me."

~

Annabeth's POV

I knocked on Caleb's door, and there was a bit of sound before he opened the door.

"Hi."

I squinted into the dark room, and he blocked my sight with his arm.

"What did you come for?"

"What were you doing?"

He scratched the back of his head, not budging. "Just... thinking."

I ducked under his arm and went in. He grabbed my arm, but it was already after I had turned on the lights. There was a bottle of pills on the dresser with an empty cup of water.

"Really."

Caleb bit his lip.

"It isn't something you need to hide."

"... I know."

"What were you thinking about."

He was silent. His scruffy hair couldn't of looked more cuter than it did now with his head down.

I sighed. "Caleb-"

"About what Enoch said." he confessed slowly.

"... you think he's right?"

"I'm not sure."

I examined the bottle of pills. "You do what you want."

"I don't want anyone to die."

"You can't avoid that." I set the bottle down.

"What are you going to do?"

He rubbed his face. "I... I don't know."

"Really."

He hesitated.

"Can I get a hug."

"No."

He drooped down like a wilted flower. "Annabeth-"

"I'm sorry I couldn't do any help." I said tightly.

"... yeah." he said halfheartedly.

He moved aside to let me pass.

"Annabeth?"