Percy's Pov

"Annabeth, no, please, no, take me instead!"

I cried out to the Arai, but they ignored me.

"Seaweed Brain, I swear on the River Styx, I will come back to you!"

Annabeth's voice echoed throughout the cavern that was Tartrus.

I tried to get up, to follow her, to do anything at all, but I couldn't.

The Arai bundled her away, and into the waiting arms of-

"Hyperion. What are you doing here, so far away from your domain?"

"Perseus Jackson. A pleasure. I believe you have met my brother, Kronos."

Hyperion's tone, was light, friendly, but Percy heard an undertone, an undertone that made him realise Hyperion could snap in an instant, and kill Annabeth and Percy without a second thought.

"So, um, what are you planning with Annabeth?"

Percy could barely disguise the disgust in his tone.

"Why, Percy. I would never dream of taking your wonderful girlfriend. Right, princess?"

Hyperion raised an eyebrow towards Percy, and tried caressing Annabeth's cheek. She snapped, and lashed out with her foot, knocking Hyperion in the stomach. Snapping her bonds, she drew her drakon bone sword and whirled, slashing through the 2 Arai holding her elbows, and the 4 more guarding Percy.

Annabeth turned towards Hyperion, and ran forward, somersaulting over him at the last minute, pivoting on the spot, and slamming her sword into the Titan's back.

He disintegrated into golden dust.

Annabeth ran over to Percy, and helped him sit up. She dragged him over to the Phlegethon, and cupped the flaming lava in her hands.

"Please, Percy. Just wake up. Please just wake up. Please...

Annabeth's voice faded into darkness.

Annabeth's Pov

"Percy, wake up. Just wake up."

I implored Percy to stop to the nighmare, to stop thrashing, to stop screaming.

His muscles abruptly tensed up, then relaxed. He opened his sea-green eyes. They looked cracked, shattered.

He sat up, sobbing.

"Annabeth..."

"It's okay, Percy. Shhh. Just sit up now."

"How long was I asleep?"

Percy's plaintative cries were heartbreaking.

Annabeth whispered in his ear.

"About 20 minutes. Just relax. You're safe now."

There was a wild, frantic knocking at Cabin 3's door. The door creaked open. Nico poked his head and upper body into the cabin. He looked at Percy, sobbing, and Annabeth cradling him in her arms.

"Ah, another nightmare?" Nico asked grimly.

"Yeah, they seem to be getting worse recently."

Suddenly, Percy rolled off the bed in convulsions.

"Oh my gods, Nico, you have to get Will!" Annabeth was jumping around, panicking.

"On it."

Nico shadow-travelled away, and reappeared a minute later with Will.

Will's eyes widened when he saw Percy on the floor.