Solangelo 2

PERCY

We're all gathered in the main hall. Reyna, Annabeth, Piper, Hazel, Jason, Frank. Will's still passed out in a chair. We're all here.
'So, action plans.' Annabeth says, standing up alongside Reyna. For a moment they both hover, unsure who to take charge, but end up having a mutual agreement to do so together.
'Go back down and take him back.' Frank says, 'we've done crazier things.'
'He's in a different realm. We can't get there. Only way I...the only way I got out was when the doors of death were open, and Nico found me. It's impossible.' Hazel says.
'So it's been done before.' Jason says.
'Which is exactly why it will never happen again.' Reyna replies, 'they won't let the same mistakes happen twice.'
'Appeal to Hades. Hazel can go talk to him-' Piper begins, but Hazel cuts her off with a sharp laugh.
'He won't listen to me.' She says, 'I'm barely even his daughter. Roman, remember?'
'Could we use that? Appeal to the Roman one? Uh...' Piper starts.
'Pluto.' Hazel finishes for her.
'If we bring the two together it'll just end in chaos again. They're separate. That's how we need them to be. Besides, there's nothing to say that Pluto would think any differently.' Annabeth explains.
'Call the other Gods.' Jason says, 'Some of them are good. They can help. They'll see what Hades has done is not right.'
'They won't listen to us.' Piper says.
'They'll listen to Percy, he almost was one of them.' Frank says looking to me.
'Percy?' Annabeth asks, looking to me.
'What?' I ask, unfocused. I've heard them all speaking but nothing really registered.
'You think they'd listen?' She asks.
'Who?'
'Some of the other Gods. Get them on our side.' She explains.
'Oh.' I say, and sit back. I don't register that she was wanting more of an answer. Everyone is staring at me now but I can't really see them that well.
'Percy, you okay?' Annabeth asks, moving over to me, 'you need some air?'
'Or like, to go swimming?' Jason offers.
'Why are we here?' I ask, perking up a little, 'I mean, he's dead. He's dead. Nico is dead. That's just it.'
'Don't say that.' Annabeth says quietly.
'No, I know. I know that we need to do everything we can, like we always do. But that's just not going to work. There's nothing we can do. He's dead.' I say, ignoring Annabeth. I stand up and move away from the table. I hear a chorus of them all trying to call me back to the table, but I ignore them.
'Percy, come on. Talk to me.' Annabeth says, following close behind me as I head towards the door.
'Don't follow me, Annabeth.' I say, and I can hear her stop in her tracks. I've never told her to leave me. We've never fought, never disagreed. But in that moment I know that I can't be with anyone. I need to leave.
I push the door open and leave it to crash closed behind me. I walk out onto the rocks that lead out to the water. There are heavy waves, but as soon as I dive in and rest at the sea bed, it's all quiet. Still, even now, I'm scared of drowning. But underwater is still the most calming place for me. My mind is still on Nico. I think of him wherever he is, alone. How I left him to defend himself against his Father while I had a panic attack. I was meant to save him. I was meant to save him.
I lean over, hold my head between my hands. I rock slightly, trying to ignore it all, trying to get out of my head. But all I can think, over and over, Nico's dead.