Chapter Text
Percy shoves his shoulder against the elevator door, tear streaming down his face.
Fuck. Bob was gone.
He could hear Annabeth beside him, sobbing.
He had to do it. He knows that. His fatal flaw his what got him thrown down here in the first place. He wasn't going to get out without defying it.
But fuck. After everything, he thought he was finally done with loss. Of course not. The fates hated him.
Don't pass out. Do not pass out.
He was holding the door with one arm, holding in his organs with the other. Someone had got in a pretty good slash. Not enough that he'd bleed out in the next 12 minuets. That's all he needed. 12 minuets.
The Piña Coladas song was playing in the background but it was hard to hear with the ringing in his ears.
"We left them." He heard Annabeth say.
"J-just hold on 'beth." He managed. "Please. 12 minutes."
She didn't respond. He wasn't sure if she heard him.
His arms burnt. What? 8 minuets? Ish? He could do this. Don't pass out. Don't pass out.
He was saying it aloud now but was to exhausted to try and stop himself. Annabth groaned in pain beside him. He lost his grip on the door for a second and it slipped open a crack before he threw himself against it again, crying out with the effort.
He could not die now. He would not. Not after everything.
The elevator dinged and Percy's knees buckled.
☆★☆><~~~><☆★☆><~~~><☆★☆
The next thing Percy remembers, he's laying on the floor, outside the elevator. The air was crisp. Cold. So much a shock in comparison to the acid of Tartarus that it almost hurt. Almost.
Annabeth was unconscious beside him. He could hear Hazel yelling, somewhere distant and see a giant.
☆★☆><~~~><☆★☆><~~~><☆★☆
The next time he came too, he was conscious enough for him and Annabeth to stumble to their feet and join the fight. The rest of the seven and Nico are there.
He doesn't do much, being injured and only semiconsious, but they still wound him.
When did Hecta show up?
When the battle is over, and Hecta has left, the others turn to them.
"Back from Tartarus!" Leo says, pumping his fist in the air.
Frank tackles him in a much appreciated hug.
"Dude, we thought you were dead!" He says, pulling away.
Percy keeps a hold of his arm, to steady himself, then grins. "What happened? How'd you get here?"
"Favour from the dead." Piper said, grinning.
Hazel frowned. "You guys need ambrosia. Is that your blood?" She asked, gesturing to his midsection.
He glanced down. Oh yeah, that.
"Oh. It's probably fine for a bit-"
"Percy!" Annabeth scolded.
Piper rooted in her pack as Frank guided him to a wall, lowering him down and Piper handed him a square of ambrosia. He split it with Annabeth.
Frank lifts his shirt and furrows his brow.
"He needs proper attention. Now. Annabeth, are you injured?"
"Nothing severe."
"I'll look her over." Piper offered.
"We should probably get back first." Nico interrupts. Percy can't help but flinch. He really comes out of nowhere.
"How? The paths buried." Jason said.
"We can shadow travel." Hazel suggest.
"Hazel, even with one or two people it's risky. With seven-"
"I can help you." She offers.
"You can-?"
"I think so."
He pauses, then nods. "Everyone hold hands."
Annabeth pulls him up and they walk over to the group, Percy taking Nico's hand. He doesn't miss how he tries to pull away for a milliseconds.
Percy blinks and there in a meadow.
A meadow. gods.
He can feel the water around him, in the air, the plants. He can't help but gasp.
After so long without it, it's almost overwhelming.
He can't open his eyes fully, with the intense light.
After a second he feels the adrenalin wear off and he collapses backwards. He feels the others do the same in a circle around him.
"Holy fuck." Leo mutters.
"I'm so tired." Percy mutters. Annabeth hums in agreement. "And hungry." She adds.
"We're gonna have to make you the best meal." Leo says.
"If settle for a glass of water." Percy mutters.
"We should probably get on board." Frank suggests.
"I don't think I'm ever going to be able to move again." Percy argues.
"Hello there." A new voice says. A face appears above him but he frowns. He must be hallucinating. Reyna. Reyna?
The others around him sit up and look around.
"Oh my gods Reyna!" Jason yells, tackling her in a hug. She hugs him back, seeming a bit taken a back.
"Jason." She pauses. "I'm here to talk to Percy and Annabeth."
☆★☆><~~~><☆★☆><~~~><☆★☆
When they have enough energy to be dragged onto the ship, Percy and Annabeth sit in the two beds in the infirmary on the ship.
Jason is stiching up Percy best he can while the others explain everything to Reyna, Annabeth and him.
Eventually Reyna nodded. "So what happened with the two of you."
"We fell into Tartarus." He said.
She waited.
"And. . .?"
"And we got out. I can't talk about it, okay? Not yet. It's too soon." Annabeth said.
Reyna nodded. "Okay. Just a little hard to believe is all. So how are we planning on getting the statue to camp?"
"The labyrinth!" Hazel suggested
"No." Percy, Annabeth and Nico say in unison.
"Not to shoot down your idea, Hazel. But the labyrinth . . ." Nico shuddered
There's a few seconds of silence before he speaks up again.
"I could go."
"Nico-"
"It makes sense. Me and Reyna aren't a part of the seven. We can go. I can shadow travel the statue."
"Nico you couldn't bring a statue of that size to America."
"I'll go in short jumps. Take long breaks." He suggests.
Everyone exchanges a look.
"Fine, but-"
"Coach should go!" Hazel yells.
"What?"
"You could use another fighter, I'm sure."
"I suppose." Reyna says. "We'll leave tomorrow. We need rest."