I saw him standing right in front of me. His eyes were closed and his lips shut, but somehow I was still able to hear him as if he was speaking inside of my mind.

"Annabeth," Percy said

"You're not real." I said back to him, my voice slightly cracking. I've had this dream too many times before, the pain in my heart just as fresh as it was the first time I dreamt of him.

His voice suddenly changed, it became harsh and echoed like the voices of the arai we fought in Tartarus.

"You could have saved me."

"Why didn't you stop me?"

"I'm hurting Annabeth."

"It should have been you."

Each word permanently engraved itself into my mind. I tried to force myself to wake up from this nightmare. I started hearing someone calling out my name and slowly the dream started to fade away.

Before I woke up I could have sworn that I saw Percy move his lips to say,

"I'm sorry Wisegirl."

I sat up suddenly, opening my eyes, while taking shaky breaths. After a few moments I am able to calm down and take in my surroundings and notice someone holding onto my shoulders. I look up to see the concerned face of Thalia.

"Hey, hey calm down. It's okay, it's just a dream." She continued to talk to me and calm me down. Like I said, having this nightmare wasn't anything new and Thalia always made sure to help me.

I wiped any remaining tears off of my face and inhaled deeply. "What time is it?" I asked her.

"6am, Lady Artemis is going on another hunt by herself and requested that we watch over the rest of the hunters until she gets back." She told me, still having a slightly worried expression after my little fit.

"Oh," was all I said.

I quickly got dressed and threw my long curly hair into a messy ponytail. After getting ready I walked with Thalia to go say goodbye to Artemis before she left.

It still feels weird being a part of her huntresses. Almost as if it were yesterday when Thalia suggested I join it, but maybe that has something to do with the fact that I haven't aged since I was eighteen.

I got really bad after losing Percy. Depression hit me like a damn train and I did things I'm not proud of. My brother, Malcolm, found me in the woods the day I wrote my suicide letter and let's just say that if Apollo hadn't been visiting the camp that day, I would most likely be floating around in the Underworld.

After that I did get better, I actually left camp once to visit my dad and my step family. He started crying when he saw me and refused to let me go back to camp until a not-so-friendly hellhound found its way into my backyard.

Piper and Jason were doing well and a year after the war, Jason proposed. I hate to admit it, but it was actually pretty cute. The wedding took place at New Rome and it was probably the best time I'd had after the incident. That was the night Thalia and Artemis asked me to join the hunt.

*flashback*

Thalia started to pull me away from the party to talk. I followed her, even though I was slightly confused.

"Nice wedding, huh?" she said while we walked further into the woods.

"Uh, yeah, Piper seems really happy, Jason too—um do you know where you're going exactly?" I asked her. It was already dark and I wasn't in the mood to fight off a monster in a dress (yeah, yeah, I know. *gasp* 'Annabeth Chase is wearing a dress!?' It was for Piper, and I actually can be girly sometimes, you know.)

"Yes, of course I know where I'm going." Thalia shot back at me, "I didn't pull you out here for no reason."

After a few moments of silence she asked me, "Do you think you're ever gonna get married? Even though—"

"No," I stopped her, "I'm not going to be able to do that after what happened." I tried to speak as calmly as I could. I wasn't going to let this ruin the rest of my night.

"Okay…" she said. I could see her thinking about something, whatever she wanted to ask me about. I thought about why she would even ask a strange question like that, she didn't care about things like that, neither did I, but she's a Hunter of Artemis…

My thoughts were interrupted when she stopped in front of me and I almost ran into her. I looked up to see a girl with auburn hair and silver eyes that seemed to reflect the light of the moon.

"Artemis," I said. I was a little shocked to see the goddess here.

"Hello Annabeth, first I would like to say that I am sorry about your friend, Percy. It is rare that I have such respect for a man, but I do believe he earned it. I'm here, however, not to pay condolences, but to ask if you would like to join my hunt." She said.

"Oh…I…" I wasn't sure what to do. There was no way I was ever going to date another guy, but did I really want to join? I preferred to be independent, but recently that has also left me to be alone…

"You are a wise and brave warrior, and I know you would be a loyal hunter." Artemis said to me.

"Annabeth, I know Percy wouldn't want you to be like this, he would want you to live your life. That's why he did what he did and I know you're all sensitive and shit right now, but you have to hear it. It wasn't your fault he made his own choice." Thalia said sternly.

For some reason this time, I didn't break down like I usually did. She had a point; I had to pull myself together and be the old kick-ass girl that I am. I wasn't going to let this stop me from living my life. I'm not going to let his sacrifice be a waste.

"Okay," I told them, "I want to join your hunt."

(AN: Okay so how was that? I know it still kinda sucks, but I'm trying! Haha. Also, the reviews you left were really helpful and nice. I wouldn't mind more criticism though, I'll update it again THIS WEEKEND. Pinky promise ^_^)