Annabeth's POV

Nothing had changed, nothing that would instantly make me believe that Percy was no longer a werewolf. Nothing that would make me believe that the cure had worked.

Nothing that would make me believe that Percy wouldn't be lost to me forever.

While I couldn't be sure whether or not Percy was still a werewolf, I also had a more pressing concern. And that was whether or not he had even lived through this ordeal.

Will was still examining Percy as I debated internally about the survival rates of my boyfriend.

He had been lucky so many times before. Who was to say that this time would be one near-death experience too many? How could the fates decide in an instant about the life and soul of the one person I want to love for the rest of eternity?

It seems impossible that he would live through this.

"He has a pulse!"

But then again, Percy had always been one to do the impossible.

"Really?" I exclaimed, overjoyed. "How is that possible?"

"I don't know!" Will sounded just as ecstatic as me, his hands tightly gripping each other as he practically danced around. "But he's alive!"

Words couldn't express my extreme joy at the moment, knowing that whatever happened, man or wolf, the person I loved was alive. I couldn't begin to imagine what it would feel like if he died, and thankfully, I didn't have to.

Not yet, at least.

Excitement bubbling over, I rushed towards Will and enveloped him in a tight bear hug. He hugged me back just as tightly, both of us thrilled with the way this had all worked out. Before we could start jumping up and down in unison, however, Will had to break the joyful mood.

"Annabeth," he said pulling away to look at me, "his pulse is pretty weak, though."

I shook my head, not letting this daring piece of information ruin my good mood. I had just gotten a spark of happiness; I wouldn't let it go so soon. "He's still alive. That's all that matters."

"Annabeth, I don't know if he'll wake up," Will said after a moment of hesitation, as if afraid of my reaction. "His pulse is extremely weak, and I don't know what will happen."

The smile that had been refusing to leave my face finally slipped away. "Can't you do anything?"

The son of Apollo and head of the infirmary shook his head. "I'm sorry, but it's up to Percy now."

I looked over at my Seaweed Brain, laying so pale and lifeless on the thin hospital mattress. He looked so vulnerable, so easy to defeat. So unlike the brave, loyal demigod that I had fallen in love with.

"Please, come back to me, Percy," I whispered.

Percy's POV

All I could see was darkness. I was surprised I was seeing anything at all, especially since I thought that I was about to die. That pain I felt taking the antidote... It was worse than anything I had ever experienced, which was saying a lot, considering who I was.

Maybe I'm dead, I thought, glancing around at the pitch black world I was in. Maybe Hades is just waiting to collect my soul or however this works.

Man, for someone that was so used to death, having experienced the deaths of many other and having several close-calls himself, I had no idea what the protocol was for the newly deceased. Was I supposed to make an appointment with Charon? Or did it have to be made with the big cheese himself, Hades? Or was death a walk-in service?

You know, this whole situation might've left me a little more unhinged than I originally thought.

I sat there (or was I standing?) in the complete, unceasing darkness for what felt like an eternity. Thoughts came and went, most something a little less than sane. I wondered what Annabeth was doing and where she was and whether anyone had told her what happened to me. Assuming I was in fact dead.

Is this it? I had begun to wonder. Is this all I get to experience in the afterlife? Am I cursed to be forever stuck in limbo, never getting to the Underworld?

My thoughts rushed through my mind, some pondering the afterlife (or after-afterlife, if I was indeed dead) and others centered around the love of my life, Annabeth.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through my subconsciousness, bouncing off walls hidden so well in the darkness that I didn't even know they were there.

"Please, come back to me, Percy," someone begged. At first, I couldn't pinpoint the voice. Then I hated myself for forgetting that that was Annabeth's voice, you idiot how could you just forget what her voice sounds like?

After I was done kicking my own ass for forgetting such a simple, massive detail, I recalled her words. She wants me to come back to her? But I'm dead, aren't I?

I must not be. Annabeth was never one for believing in the impossible, and it would be pretty impossible for me to come back to her if I'm dead. If Annabeth wants me to come back to her, then there has to be some chance, not matter how small, at survival.

So... I have to try to do something to get back to Annabeth. Wolf or man, I had to try. I had to do it for her. She's the only reason my heart is still beating.

Concentrating, I focused on doing something, anything. If I could even lighten this room a little, then I must be able to do something about returning to Annabeth.

I focused on doing anything for what felt like a good solid hour, but it probably wasn't. Did time even exist in this place I found myself in? No one could tell. I was alone here, after all.

Regardless of the difficulty of this task I had set for myself, I kept trying. The room around me remained pitch black for the longest time, but slowly, so slowly I almost didn't notice, it had begun to lighten. When there was finally enough light for me to see my surroundings, I was shocked at where I found myself.

It was my cabin at Camp Half Blood, but it didn't look anything like I remembered it.
Last I saw it, my cabin was pretty decorated, especially for a cabin that housed only one demigod. I had the Minotaur horn hanging on the wall by my bunk, and my table and dresser were covered in photos of Annabeth, my mom, and all our friends. There was the fountain Tyson made in the corner, and the hippocampus decorations hanging from the ceiling.
That cabin I remembered was nothing like the one I found myself in right now. This cabin had the bunks, the dresser, and the table. The Minotaur horn was hanging on the wall next to the bunk that I had always claimed for myself. The pictures were missing, as was the fountain and the hanging marine animals that Tyson had worked so hard to create.

With a shock, I realized that this was the cabin I left behind after my first quest when I was twelve years old.

I got an even bigger shock when I realized that I wasn't alone in the small cabin. Someone was sitting on the bed that would later become Tyson's.

"I never realized how comfortable this bed was," the visitor mused. "No wonder Tyson chose this one."

Frowning, I asked, "What are you doing here, Dad?"

Poseidon stood up from the bunk and looked at me with the utmost seriousness. "I think the better question is, what are you doing here, son?"

"I don't know!" I exclaimed after debating his question internally. "I thought I was dead!"

"Thought?" Poseidon repeated. "So you no longer believe you're on your way to visit your Uncle Hades?"

"No..." I answered hesitantly. Was this a trick question?

"So, I shall ask again. What are you doing here, son?"

Beginning to get frustrated with the old god's cryptic words and the general irritation I was feeling at being stuck there, I snapped, "I told you that I don't know!"

Poseidon had the nerve to chuckle. "I hardly believe that this is the truth."

"Dad-"

"Percy," Poseidon cut me off, "do you know where you are?"

The sudden change of topic briefly threw me off. "Yeah, this is my cabin right after my first quest, right?"

"Right you are, my boy. But this also means something more significant."

I frowned. "And what is that?"

Poseidon chuckled. "I thought you'd figure it out by now."

"I'm sorry if I'm a little slow today, but nearly dying a couple times in the last few days'll stop someone from figuring out why their father suddenly turns up in their subconsciousness in a cabin that hasn't existed for six years!"

Poseidon was silent as he stared at me. I stared back, waiting for him to start yelling back. After I said it, I instantly wished I hadn't, but there was no way around that now. I couldn't take it back, only wait for it to blow up in my face like I knew I deserved.

Instead of screaming back at me, the sea god said softly, "In this cabin, you discovered who you are."

"And who am I, Dad?" I asked. I sounded defeated, even to myself. I knew he couldn't have meant that I discovered that I was a demigod. That moment happened when the Minotaur chased after my mom, Grover, and I. I knew he couldn't have meant that I discovered he was my dad. That moment happened when I defeated the children of Ares at the creek during Capture the Flag. So what had I discovered here?

"A hero," my dad answered simply, smiling softly at me. I didn't say anything for a moment.

Finally, I said, "And why are we here now?"

"To rediscover who you are."

I huffed. "What does that... Mean?" I asked, trailing off halfway through my sentence. Before I could've finished the question, Poseidon had given me a small smile before disappearing into mist.

I scowled at the spot he had been standing. "Thanks for nothing, Dad."

Even as I said it, I knew that wasn't true. In his mysterious way of riddles and masked words, he had helped me remember who I was. A hero. Not the Hero of Olympus, not a monster, not a cursed demigod. A hero.

My job, my life purpose, was to help people. And I knew that outside of this cabin, through that door that had sunlight streaming through the lock hole, was a daughter of Athena waiting for me. She was suffering and sorrowful and in need of a hero.

And regardless of what had happened to me, I would always be a hero. The hero she needs.

Steeling my resolve, I gathered my wits about me and approached the wooden door. There was no going back if I walked through and away from this world that was so simple and calming. I would have to make a choice.

Before I even made a decision, I knew there was no other choice. Twisting the door knob, I walked out into the sunlight.

Notes