Annabeth POV

I walked down the streets, tears dripping down my face. The gravel scratched my feet, high heels long forgotten.  The image still burned in the back of my head. Percy, laying still in that coffin.

I still remember that day. Percy looked terrible, his hair and clothes stained with blood. I turned around, for just one second, to help Piper. When I turned back around, Percy crumpled to the ground, his throat slit. Claw marks went across his face, neck, and his chest.

Rain started to pour as the street lights flickered on. My hair began to cling to my face, water dripping down my shoulder. My foot slipped on the loose gravel, and I fell backwards.

I let out a choked sob as I got up. My hands and elbows were scraped and bleeding. I dusted off the back of my dress and continued forward.

The reflections of street lights bounced off the puddles. After awhile, I sat down on the curb and dipped my feet in a puddle. The water soothed my raw and aching feet.

I closed my eyes and let the memories flood back. Percy's bright eyes, and his crooked smile. The way his hair was disheveled in the morning. the way he smelled of the ocean, even after we spent hours walking through a sewer.

The rain fell harder, and I cried harder.

"Annabeth...." A soft voice whispered behind me.

I turned to see who had called me. He was very tall with bright green eyes...

"Percy!"

He gave me his crooked smile, which lit up my world.

"I don't have much time. Hades only gave me a few minutes"

"I missed you Percy. And it's all my fault you're gone." A stray tear rolled down my cheek.

"Don't blame yourself Annabeth. I knew it was going to happen." I looked at him confused. "After you left, in Rome, I saw the fates outside some cafe. They snipped green yarn. I knew right then I was meant to die."

"Why didn't you tell anybody?!" Percy shrugged.

"You can't change fate, Annabeth. I accepted that and didn't tell you, because I knew you wouldn't. None of you would."

"...such an idiot." I took a breath. "I love you, Seaweed Brain."

Percy leaned forward and lightly kissed me.

"Love you to, Wise Girl." he muttered against my lips.

His form started to flicker, and he gave a small wave goodbye. I waved back, watching him slowly disappear.

Now I stand here, under the street lights, in the rain, fingers brushing my lips. I know he's gone, but I hope one day, while under the street lights on a rainy day, he will come back to me. Just one more time...