A/N: What would happen if Annabeth didn't leave Percy at Mt. St. Helens. I've been thinking about writing this one for a while but never got around to it. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: All rights belong to Rick Riordan.

Annabeth's POV:

"The blade is almost complete" one said. "It needs another cooling in blood to fuse the metals."

"Aye" Said another monster. "It shall be even sharper than before."

"What is that?" Percy asked.

I shook my head. So far I had no clue. "They keep talking about fusing metals. I wonder-" Percy stopped me.

"They were talking about the greatest Titan weapon," He said. "And they… They said they made my father's trident." He swallowed deeply.

"the telekhines betrayed the gods," I said. "They were practicing dark magic. I don't know what, exactly but Zeus banished them to Tartarus."

"With Kronos." Percy concluded. I nodded.

"We have to get out-" I started but the door to the class room full of telkhines exploded and they spilled out. I looked at Percy in fear and he was already looking at me.

"Put your cap back on," He said, sea green eyes baring into me. "Get out!"

"What?" I shrieked. "No! I'm not leaving you." I stated although half of me right now wanted to run. I was quivering in my shoes, ready to grab Percy and run.

"I've got a plan. I'll distract them. You can use the metal spider-maybe it'll lead you back to Hephaestus. You have to tell him what's going on."

"But you'll be killed!" I said. I couldn't let him die here.

"I'll be fine. Besides, we've got no choice." He said. This boy came to camp half-blood and was crying for mommy. Right now this teenager in front of me was telling me to spare my life in place of his. I was tempted to run right there and then. I did. But I couldn't leave, not without this.

I wasn't going to see this boy for the rest of my life. That just hit me. Percy had saved me from so many things and I had his back many time before as well. Our bond was different than the usual thing I experienced with friends. Percy and I were deeper than acquaintances. He fit just right in my blind spot during battles. He cared about what was happening in my life and would do anything so save my life and our friend's lives.

I don't know why I did it but it just seemed right. I kissed him. I pressed my lips up against his and my tears were starting to come down. It salted the taste of our goodbye which already stung like a sore cut.

"Be careful, Seaweed Brain." I said and chocked back a sob. I put my Yankee's hat on and my body vanished. I stood up from our spot. I took a few seconds to look at Percy and he was dumbstruck. Sitting right on his rear, Percy was staring at the lava, a small smile played on his face. (A/N: this is the turning point in the story now :] )

"THERE!" One yelled and Percy was jarred back into reality. He stood up and I watched him pass. What was I doing? I told him that I could go but I wasn't moving from my spot. I stood behind the cauldron we were just standing behind.

Percy ran to the middle of the platform and I followed, scaring four of the older sea demons. The blazing red blade they were holding dropped to the floor in surprise. I gasped at the horrifying blade and Percy seemed scared as well. The blade radiated an evil power that spread to my gut feeling.

I looked at the four exits that led off the platform and they were already covered boy telkehines. There was no escape. I was already on the platform and I couldn't make it out either after following Percy.

"What do we have here?" The tall telkehine asked. "A son of Poseidon?"

"Yes." The one said. "I can smell the sea in his blood." He growled. Percy raised riptide. I spent enough time in quests with Percy to know he was scared to death.

"Strike down one of us, demigod," A third telkehine said. "And the rest of us shall tear you to shreds. Your father betrayed us. He took our gift and said nothing as we were cast into the pit. We will see him sliced to pieces. He and all the other Olympians."

I watched the expressions on Percy's face range from a variety of emotions. What if Percy didn't have a plan? He was just trying to get rid of me to keep me safe. I felt bad that I disobeyed his orders but I couldn't go through with it. I couldn't leave him to die alone. I couldn't go back to camp saying I lost the life of The boy the prophecy was about. I couldn't live with myself after leaving my best friend to die. And I still had loose strings and open books after I kissed him.

"Let us see how strong he is. Let us see how long it takes him to burn!" The first monster growled with a satisfying grin. I wiped an invisible tear away with an invisible hand. My stomach was slowly filling and dropping with dread.

I watched as the telkehine scooped lava out of the nearest furnace and his hand burst into flames. It didn't' seem to hurt he monster. The others followed his example and they started pelting Percy with flaming lava. They attached to his shirt and his shirt burst into flames. Percy dropped his sword and started to swat out the flames.

"Your father's nature protects you." One said. "Makes you hard to burn. But not impossible, youngling. Not impossible." It said and then they threw more.

Then I heard his voice as he screamed. It was the worst sound I ever heard, like a rabbit howling for it's innocence. He crumpled to the floor and curled up next to his sword.

I couldn't' take it anymore. I ran toward the platform and knelt next to Percy. I took off my cap and Percy looked at me with wide eyes.

"Annabeth, what are you doing here?!" He screamed.

"This is my choice." I said. Then my side erupted in pain. I screamed almost as bad a Percy.

"Annabeth!" He said and tried to cover me with his burnt body. "But why didn't' you listen to me?!" He asked.

"Because we are friends. Any other stupid questions Seaweed Brain?" I asked through the pain. I watched a hint of a smile on his face but then he scrunched his eyebrows up like he was thinking. I grabbed his hand and we were pelted with more lava. It stung everywhere.

There was a deep rumbling noise and then we were flying. The wind going through my hair was so loud and I saw the ground. I saw Percy and he was soaring next to me. His hand was limp and his eyes were closed. I didn't' know if he was already dead or not, but I would soon join him in the underworld.

Everything was engulfed in darkness and I felt his fingers slip out of mine.

A/N: Alright. Please review, favorite, etc. More is coming. I'm thinking it is going to be a short story. Just a few chapters long. I put out another story about Percy being lost in limbo, so if you are interested, please check it out.

Have a great day!