Solangelo 2

NICO

I don't know where I'm going, I'm just trying to get away form everyone else. I can't think about it. I can't process it. I saw her die. It was the same girl in my dream.
I sit beside Thalia's tree, rest my head against the bark. I used to not like Thalia much, for taking Bianca away from me; but now I look forward to when I see her, because of how much she reminds me of my sister.
I hear my name, and turn to see Will. He stops a little short of the tree, watches me.
'You okay?' He asks, knowing that sometimes have moments like this, and that I like my space.
'I'm fine. It's fine.' I say, but I shake my head as I say it. I can feel myself panicking. I don't want to be in the centre of anything again. I don't want to have to do this.
'What's wrong?' He asks, moving over and crouching down beside me.
'I...I saw her. I saw Grace. I saw her dying. In my dream.' I say, quietly.
'Nico.' Will says, and I don't look up, but he says it again, panicked. I look up and see a burst of light as a Minotaur begins to ram the force field over and over.
'What do you have on you?' I ask, just realising that I am still in my pyjamas, with no form of a weapon.
'I have nothing.' He says, clutching onto my arm without meaning to.
'Fuck. Alright. Okay, go get help.' I say.
'You're not going out there.' He says, holding tighter.
'Will, the only way it could have found it's way to us is if there's another demigod trying to get in. Someone could be in danger.'
'You don't have a weapon.' He says. I hold my hand to the ground and it cracks. Will hits me lightly as he realises I'm raising the dead again.
'Nico, you shouldn't.'
'I know I shouldn't. I don't really have a choice here Will.' I say, and take the sword off of one of the soldiers.
Just as I do, a flash of lightning breaks and knocks me and Will to the ground, along with my army. I sit up and see the Thalia's tree split in two, and the Minotaur running towards us.
'Will, go. Get help. Go.' I say, lifting him up off the floor, and pushing him towards camp.
'Nico,'
'Go.' I say, pushing him one last time and then turning towards the Minotaur, distracting him from Will.
But he doesn't leave. He comes up from behind the Minotaur and jumps on his back. I cry out just as the Minotaur falls backwards, crushing Will. As I scream the ground opens and it falls in, and I just manage to hold onto Will as he falls in the gap.
'Will, Will. Hey, you're okay. Hey. Wake up.' I say, my hands hovering over him. I don't want to touch him, don't want to break him. 'Help! Someone help me.' I scream, finally clutching onto his arms, 'I need help.'
'Nico.' I hear, calm, 'Nico, come on. Open your eyes. There you go.'
I recoil slightly. There are hands holding me down. I jolt upwards as I realise I'm not where I thought I was. I look around, frantic, until I see Will.
'Hey, calm down. You passed out. You're alright.' He says, pushing my hair back. He turns to the two guys holding me down, 'you can let him go now.'
'Will, you were...' I trail off, trying to figure out what happened. But I see Thalia's tree standing as it did before. That didn't happen.
'I was what?' He says, smiling slightly.
'Nothing.' I say.
'No, come on. Tell me.' He says, and just as I'm about to, a knife comes out the front of his chest, and blood drips from his mouth. I scream, thrashing about, manic.
I can feel arms around me, tight. I kick and scream, shouting out Will's name.
'Hey, hey. Call down. Breathe. Listen to my voice. You're okay. You're okay.' I hear. I turn around and see Will.
'Will.' I say, my voice cracked. He loosens his arms around me and lets me bring my hand to his face, my thumb tracing his cheeks.
'Bad dream?' He asks, but I don't respond, just rest my head on his shoulder. He doesn't push it.
'What time is it?' I ask after we stay like that for a while. He checks his clock just as there's a knock on the door.
'Come in.' Will calls out.
Reve steps through, and I can instantly tell something's wrong, and so can Will.
'What's wrong?' He asks, sitting up properly.
'Sorry to...I wouldn't have...Will, we need you.' He says, and I can hear his voice is weak, his eyes are red.
'What happened?' I ask, slowly. And I already know. I know before he says it.
'We just found Grace in the lake. She wasn't breathing.' He says. Will takes a sharp breathe, and I can feel his clutch around me tighten.
'Oh Gods.' He says, but I just stare straight ahead. Because I know this time it's real.