Thou Shalt Live

Chapter One: Doors Of The Death.

Zoe was sure she'd die the moment her back had hit the black rocks—courtesy of her father's attack. The last thing she expected to do was wake up... in a room. Wait... a room? Zoe's eyes snapped open, alarmed. She tried to sit up; to assess her situation but she found that her body was stiff.

She looked at her legs, which no matter how much she tried to command them to, wouldn't move. Panic filled her—why can't she move?—as she tried to move. She grunted as she felt a dull pain by her side. Frowning, she turned to inspect it: the wound from Ladon when she went on a quest to save lady Artemis with Percy and his friends.

Percy!—where was he? Is he safe? She opened her mouth to call for him, and that was when she realized her throat was very dry. Her throat was sore; as if she hadn't drink water in a very long time. She looked around for a source of water; she spotted an ambrosia by the bedside table. It took some effort, but she finally managed to grab the drink from it's original spot. She drunk it greedily, not wasting a drop—she could already feel the ambrosia working it's magic; her throat wasn't as dry and sore as before.

She wished there was more, because her legs still felt numb—but at least she can wriggle her toes now. She wondered where she was and why she wasn't with the Hunters. She looked at her own arm and realized that the silver glow that usually accompany her was gone: she was no longer a Hunter of Artemis.

But how...? Unless she died and came back. Again, how did she came back to life if so? Zoe closed her eyes and sighed, the questions were giving her a headache. There was a long silence where it made Zoe sleepy all over again.

"—patient asleep for months—"

"—doubt she'll wake up again—"

"—she's supposed to be dead—"

Zoe's eyes snapped open; she jerk into a sitting position. It was a voice muffled by the wooden walls and door; but definitely male. Her eyes hardened, she may have feelings for Percy but that didn't mean she was fond of other males.

The door opened and the male that had spoken gasped. Someone behind him threw the door open to get a better look and Zoe recognized the girl—that seemed to be older than the last time she saw her.

"Annabeth," She breathed as she gazed at the daughter of Athena. Annabeth seemed older now—sixteen or seventeen—but her blonde curls were still pool around her shoulders, stormy grey eyes as intimidating as ever; it was definitely her.

"Zoe!" the daughter of Athena gasped. "You're... alive..."

Zoe was puzzled by this statement. If it came from anyone but Athena's daughter, she would've responded with a "Duh," but she was sure this wasn't the case. "What do thou mean? The prophecy did say I was going to die, yes, I think I did. So... how am I here?"

After Annabeth got over her initial shock, she ordered the blonde teen—Will Solace—to check her condition. It involved a little contact with the male, something Zoe was miffed about. Her condition: she was physically healthy but she needs a lot of exercise to get back to top shape. She had been dead for two years, but a camper found her pass out at Half-Blood hill.

And now that Annabeth recounted it, memories of sneaking around, falling into an abyss full of agony and sorrow, passing through a pair of doors, and finally, passing out after walking for what seemed to be miles. The doors she went through must've been the Doors of Death; she'd heard of it. If a soul passed through it, they can come back to life: which was what she'd done.

This information, she told the daughter of Athena. There was a awkward silence before Zoe broke it by asking, "Where's... Perseus—I mean, Percy?"

Annabeth averted her gaze. "He..." Worry gripped Zoe's chest. "He's disappeared."

"What?" Zoe's throat felt dry again. "How long has it been?"

Annabeth's shoulders slumped and for the first time, Zoe noticed that her eyes had black rings—she hadn't been sleeping properly. A pang of loss hit Zoe, if the daughter of Athena cared enough to search for Percy and loose sleep, did that mean she's his...

"Just a few days before you appear."

Zoe winced. They'd missed one another for just a few days. "Tell me." She rasped. "Tell me everything that has happened ever since I'd died."

Annabeth didn't ask why she wanted to know—for which she was grateful for—and just started recounting everything that has happened. By the time she was done, the horn had already sounded, signaling dinner time.

Annabeth stood up, looking out the window. "Do you want to eat here or..."

"Here." Zoe replied firmly. "I don't think I can move."

"Okay, I'll send someone to deliver your dinner." Annabeth managed a shaky smile. "Don't worry about Percy; I'm sure he's fine. You just concentrate on getting yourself into top shape." And she left.

Zoe leaned back to relax. Get thyself back to top shape, so thee can fight again, by Percy's side—a new threat is arising, she got a gut feeling that Percy's involve in this new Great Prophecy as well. And she'll be damned to let him face the Great Prophecy alone again; unlike last time, she promised herself that she will be there by his side this time.

PxZ

A/N; Right, sequel to I Love Thee - that's if, you ignore the very last chapter of the prequel, since Zoe and Percy were already reincarnated by then. This is an alternate path to I Love Thee.

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And Merry Christmas to those that celebrated it!