Percy's POV
"Why?"
Victor sighed. "You're not getting any better." he glanced up at me. "You are taking your medicine, right?"
I nodded slowly.
He exhaled again, scribbling neatly(don't ask. It's possible) on the paper.
"Maybe it's because you just overexerted yourself. What are you doing today?"
"... Nothing."
"Just stay in your cabin and rest." he advised. "Is your ankle okay?"
I nodded. "I was fine yesterday."
He scowled. "Anyway, don't come out till lunch. Okay?"
I nodded. He set the pen on my desk.
"What about Annabeth?"
"She's probably busy today."
He nodded, leaving my cabin. I sighed and sat down on the bed, tired. Victor was right. I wasn't getting any better- maybe worse. I could feel it. I was getting tired more easily and the pain kept me up at night. I ran a hand through my hair and flopped back on the bed.
Tartarus.
What was Annabeth not telling me?
A cold feeling sunk down to my feet.
Tartarus would be gone, right?
No... Annabeth wouldn't lie about that.
But what if....
I covered my face with my hands.
She wouldn't...
I felt sick. My hands slid off my face, streching up. No. She would tell me. I sighed, laughing. I wanted to run, and forget the fact that Tartarus might not be- just maybe-
She wouldn't lie.
I crawled under the covers. I was just being paranoid. I just needed rest. It was nothing.
But it kept me awake for hours, awakening me by the second.
Sleep.
It felt like I was stuffing something really disgusting in my mouth while I was full.
No. Sleep is disgusting. My mind replied.
It's good! I chided.
But I don't want it!! Training! Train! Training is good!
Fine.
"Training." I mumbled, sitting up. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I dressed quickly.
I grabbed my coat and patted my pocket for riptide and walked out the door.
~
It had been a long time.
It felt good, moving after a long time. It was different from fighting real monsters- it was less tensed up, more relaxing. My thoughts seemed to fly away, and all I could think of was my sword and me.
"Hey."
Luke smiled at me. "I guess you're okay now."
I made a face, irritated. "Victor's just overreacting."
"Wanna duel?"
I shrugged. "Sure."
He was faster than I had expected. I parried his strike and our swords clashed again. I could see my breath in the cold air. Our somewhat playfight became more and more intense. As a son of Hermes, he was fast. Yes, he was strong, but I was stronger, even though I was slower. I could block his strikes and push him bacl forcefully enough to slow his movements.
Ow.
"What the-"
OUCH.
A small pin stuck itself in my temple. My attention was divided. I blocked his strike.
OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW
Pins and needles ran up my spine and to my head, making this really big explosion. I stumbled back, dazed, as my head went to my temples.
"Percy!"
Luke caught my hand before I tumbled over completely. I straightened up, the pain still ringing in my ears.
"Are you alright? Did I go too hard on you?"
"No." I mumbled. "I'm sorry." I rubbed my temples. "Do you want to go again?"
"... No.... It's all right."
I scowled. "I'm fine."
"... Commander-"
I threw my hands up in the air. "Alpha!"
He pursed his lips. "Well, you know everyone's worried about you and-"
"Gods- I just wanted to move! Is that wrong?"
"No- well- I just..."
"Whatever. I can train alone." I snarled.
"Who says so?!"
"Victor-"
He grabbed me by my ear, tugging me down.
"OW OW my ear Victor!!!"
"I told you to rest and now you're hanging around at the arena, huh?"
I scowled. "Victor-"
"No."
"Come on! You can't just-"
"No."
"Victor!"
"Nope."
I pulled free from his grasp. "I'm going to Annabeth!" I said stubbornly.
I ran out of the arena, and I knew Victor couldn't catch me.
Annabeth?
My heart seemed to skip a few beats.
Tartarus.
My heart was definately skipping beats. It was doing jumping jacks. I took a step back. No....
Blond hair.
It couldn't be.
"Percy-"
I couldn't hear anything. My heart beat out of beat.
No.
My knees felt weak. Not him again. Not him.
"Percy!"
The world spun out of control.
Why was Annabeth with Tartarus?
Why were they talking?
What was Annabeth hiding?
~
I felt horrible.
My head was something between a boulder and a bowling ball. I sat up, ruffling my hair. I closed my eyes tight.
"Percy."
Annabeth sat beside the bed. Her gray eyes were clouded with worry.
"Are you okay?"
I grabbed her shoulders. "Who were you talking with."
She seemed suprised. "Wh-what?"
"Who was he?!"
"There was nobody Percy." she pulled my hands off her shoulders gently. "Are you okay?"
I rubbed my face. "I saw him..." I mumbled.
"You must be seeing things." Victor said stiffly. "Who did you see?"
I sighed. "Nothing. Nobody."
He furrowed his eyebrows. "You sure?"
".... I was just tired. I'm fine now."
He shook his head. "Whoever it was, it really spooked you. Don't you feel it?"
I was silent. I could. I knew.
"Rest. You'll be fine after some sleep."
Annabeth kissed me on the cheek. I grabbed her hand while she was standing up.
I was pretty sure my eyes weren't wrong.
"Are you sure?" I said in a low voice. "Are you sure there was nobody?"
Her eyes.
"Yes." she pulled her hand away. "I'm sure."
~
I was suffocating.
I couldn't move. I couldn't cry out for help. I could only slowly suffocate to death. My chest struggled to make space for my lungs. I gasped for every breath. I reached out desperately for something- anything. Something clattered to the ground in the dark room. I heard voices, and footsteps. I could now move both my arms. I grasped at my throat, hoping I could claw in air. The world shook. The only thing in my brain was to get air.
OXYGEN
I heard the door open, but that was just before I lost consciousness.
~
I woke with an pulmotor to my face.
I blinked a few times. Yes. I was breathing. I could feel the tubes in my nose.
"Percy."
My eyes moved up to see Leo. He gave me an impish smile, though his face was haggard.
I took in my surroundings. It was a different place. The smell of paint penetrated through the mask.
Annabeth.
"It's the new infirmary. Hephastus and Posiedon sent some more help, and they got it finished in no time."
I nodded slowly.
I needed to see Annabeth.
"Victor told me to watch you. But- Hey!"
I glanced at him. I had already taken off the mask and was pulling on my coat. He sighed.
"Well, I see why Victor told me to watch you."
"You can go." I said.
"But Victor-"
"I'm the one getting in trouble anyway." I buttoned up my coat.
He still looked a little skeptical. I left the room and bumped right into Victor.
I stared at him.
"Bye."
I stepped back into the room and shut the door in front of me. Leo tilted his head to the side and jumped up about 20 feet when Victor bust in through the door.
Well, not exactly.
He calmly opened the door and closed it behind himself. I stood frozen. He set his clipboard on the printer in the corner.
And he hit me hard.
My head rung. I felt woozy for a moment. I stumbled to the side, while Victor didn't even move a step.
"Victor-"
"If you can move, I'm going to make so you can't." he snarled.
I stood up straight. "I just-"
I had forgotten Victor had been in the Chaos army for millenium. Even if he was shorter and weaker, he could bring me down in this state.
"Would my foot meet your face first, or would your face meet my foot first?"
"Wh-"
He kicked my head with the instep of his foot. It was enough to send me toppling to the side.
I wished he didn't know karate.
My head spun. I stood up again as he cracked his knuckles.
"Please Victor. Let me talk to Annabeth."
I pleaded.
"Fat chance." he grumbled. I blocked his kick this time, but my arm throbbed. He scowled.
"Don't make me hurt you."
"You already did!"
"Leo."
"What?"
"Catch him."
And everything went black.