Author's Note: I'd previously deleted this story, but everyone seemed to have been having so much fun reading this story, and I was having a ton of fun writing it, so I'm putting it back for everyone. And by the way, I was thinking about adding the Cold as Ice story back, too. If you even remember that story, please leave a review saying if you want it back or not. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO. I'm not Rick Riordan.

Annabeth's POV

I was panting, my dagger in my hand. Thunder crashed in my ears. Rain poured down and I blinked, trying to clear my vision. My half-brothers Matthew and Bobby stared with their mouths open. I ran to them, but the hellhound blocked my way. "Matt! Bobby!" I yelled. Get inside! NOW!"

They stayed right where they were.

"GET—OUT—OF—THE—WAY!" I screamed.

The hellhound lunged at me. I dove aside and grabbed my little brothers. I wasn't sure what they were seeing, but it obviously terrified them into paralysis.

An earth-shattering BOOM threw me off my feet, head-over-heels. I smacked my head against the wall and glass shards rained down on my face. I tasted blood in my mouth. My family's new Long Island house now had a gaping hole in its west side. I knew my dad and stepmother would not be happy about that.

Slowly, I stood up. "Come here, if you dare," I called to the hellhound. It advanced on me, baring its fangs hungrily, like it couldn't wait to finish me off. I raced up to the demon dog, my dagger pointed at its heart. My face stung as rain water rolled off of my cut-up cheeks.

"ANNABETH!" My father's voice. I didn't have time to look back. I hoped Athena was watching over me now. She would give me a plan.

The hellhound charged. I sidestepped, but I slipped in the mud, and the hellhound still managed to bite a chunk of flesh off of my leg. The scream that escaped my mouth was more from frustration than pain, though. If you want to know something uncomfortable, it's the feeling of warm, stick blood dripping into your sock. Today was really sucking so far.

Hobbling away from the monster, I screamed at my dad to get everyone to the east side of house—away from the hellhound. Then I turned back to my opponent. "Come on, you stupid mutt," I called. "Show me what you got." Before it could get close enough, I threw my celestial bronze knife at it. Please, Mother, I prayed. Let that be enough to finish it off.

Athena heard me. As soon as the bronze made contact, the monster vaporized.

My leg was throbbing horribly. I collapsed in pain, holding my calf. My sock and pants leg were dark red. My stepmother was holding Matt and Bobby.

"Annabeth!" she screamed. She didn't look happy.

"Yes?" I called in annoyance. Blood was seeping through my fingers now.

"Are you okay?" she yelled at me.

"What are you, blind?" I shouted. "I'm hurt!" But I managed to stay on my feet long enough to limp my way inside. My step mom was going off about the monster while Matthew and Bobby tried, unsuccessfully, to explain what they saw. When she saw me, she scowled. "Is there any way this attack could've been avoided, Annabeth?"

"If I were at camp, this probably wouldn't have happened," I mumbled. I dug through my pocket and found an ambrosia square. My hands were shaking in time with the throbs pulsating from my leg wound. I put a small piece of ambrosia in my mouth. Immediately the gashes on my leg and face began to heal.

"Are you saying that you want to go back to camp?"

"Um...I don't remember saying that," I said, looking up at my stepmother. I started to wrap my injured leg.

"Do not be fresh with me young lady." She used that "Mom" tone most mothers use when scolding their children.

"What?" I asked. "I wasn't being fresh."

"Your tone wasn't that cute just now, Annabeth," she replied.

"All I said was that I didn't say I wanted to go to camp!" I shouted.

"Lower your voice, please."

"Make me." I got up and stared her down. I know that sounded immature, but I was tired of her acting like she was my mother. She was nowhere close.

"Annabeth." She walked over to me, glaring. "Your mom may be the wisdom goddess, but that does not give you the right to act smart with me. Go to you room."

"Do you even care that I just battled a giant dog that nearly tore my leg off?" I screamed, gesturing to my bandaged thigh.

"Of course I care," she said firmly.

"Then how about SHOWING it once in a while?" I stormed off to my room, grabbed a duffle bag from my closet, and sat staring at it from a while.

It was a rainy Thursday afternoon; therefore, I had school tomorrow. I packed my Goode High uniform, as well as my toothbrush, pajamas, and some extra clothes. After I was finished packing, I went downstairs.

"Where are you going, Annabeth?" Bobby asked.

"Yes, where are you going, miss?" my step mom asked.

"Out," I replied.

"Out where?" Matthew asked.

"Over to a friend's house," I answered. "I'm sorry, but I just need to get away from here for a while. I'll be back, but..." I trailed off, shaking my head. "I don't know when."

"Sunday?" the twins asked together.

I stared at them for a few seconds. Finally, I said, "Sure. Sunday night."

I didn't wait for their answer. My father said, "Annabeth—"

But I was already out the door with an umbrella in my hand.

Waiting at the subway station, I pulled out my cell phone. This was dangerous, and I could possibly be attacked again. My common sense told me not to risk it. I searched for a pay phone, and finally found one easily. Digging through my pocket, I silently prayed that I had enough money to make a short call. I just needed twenty-five cents. I found two dimes and a few pennies. Five. Good. I dialed Percy's number. He picked up after the fourth ring.

"Hello…?" said a hoarse male voice.

"Hello, this is Annabeth," I replied.

"Hey…" the voice croaked.

"Um…is Percy there?" I asked.

"You're talking to him…" Percy replied with a yawn.

He sounded like he'd just woken up from a nap or something. "Were you sleeping?" I asked.

"No, I was baking a cake. What does it look like?"

"I can't see you, Seaweed Brain."

"See? I'm slow when I'm tired."

"Only when you're tired?"

"Ha-ha," he said sarcastically. Then he laughed for real. "So what's up?"

I thought about how to reply to him. "Um…I was having issues with my family…"

"Uh-oh."

"Yeah. I was attacked by this hellhound, and—"

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'll live," I sighed, "but…can I stay over at your place? Just for the weekend? Until…things cool off…?"

"Why not go to camp?" he asked.

"Because I'm going to go back home after a few days. It's a yes-or-no question."

Silence on the other end of the phone. Finally, Percy said, "I'll have to ask. Be right back."

I waited for a while as Percy left to ask permission. The train had arrived, but I hesitated. There wouldn't really be any point in boarding if I couldn't stay at Percy's. I debated getting on the train for a few seconds, then jumped when Percy's voice came back.

"My mom and Paul said that you're perfectly welcome," he told me cheerfully.

I smiled and handed over my train ticket. "Thanks a lot, Percy."

I stood in front of the familiar Upper East Side apartment. Walking up to the door, I looked up and noticed silvery flowers in a window box where Percy's apartment was. Moonlace. I'd read about the mythical plant. My only question was: Where did Percy get Moonlace? I'd ask when I saw him.

I marched inside and told the doorman which apartment I was heading to. He nodded and smiled at me before notifying Percy's apartment.

When I knocked, Percy opened the door for me. "Hey—ouch, those are some nasty scratches on your face. And your leg…" he gasped. "What happened to your leg?"

"Shut up for a second and I'll explain everything," I said.

Percy was wearing a light blue sleeveless shirt, basketball shorts, and his camp necklace. What caught my attention, though, was the brown leather band tied around his right ankle. It was encrusted with small white seashells; the ones you'd find on any beach. A tiny, green trident hung like a charm. For some reason, it made him look like one of those stereotypical surfer dudes.

"What are you staring at, Wise Girl?" he asked. He was looking at me like I was out of my mind. I could feel my face burning. Trying to cover my embarrassment with one of my traditional Annabeth-type glares, I said, "I'm not staring at anything, Seaweed Brain."

Percy sighed and crossed his arms. "Whatever. Come inside, it's raining."