The Next Generation: The Beginning

Chapter 18 - I look like a hot mess

Mia's POV

I slowly started to come back to the present. I felt a weight on my hand and someone talking - praying - next to me.

"Apollo, please let Mia get better, and let her heal. Let her get strong and... ju-just don't take her from me." It was Carlos. I felt him squeeze my hand, so mustering all the strength I currently had (which wasn't a lot) I tried to squeeze back. My fingers started slowly twitching in response and I heard him gasp.

"Mia?!" I slowly opened my eyes for the first time in gods know how long.

"Hi, Carlos." I croaked out, my throat extremely dry. He threw his arms around me.

"Bambolina, you're alive!" He pulled back.

"Of course I am- you're not getting rid of me that easily, il Mio protettore." I tried to joke. "Besides, it wasn't that long, right?" Carlos hesitated. "Carlos, how long have I been out for?" he sighed, reminding me all too much of when I woke up in Tartarus with Joey.

"You-you've been out for three months." My breath caught. Three months?! "You almost turned into a shadow the minute you got back here and had to be put on life support. You almost died." After regaining control of my breathing, I had a question.

"Carlos?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you been sitting here this entire time?"

"Maybe..." he quietly said, sheepishly.

"Carlos!" I gasped in mock horror.

"What?! Joey's been here a lot too!" He countered defensively.

"Of course he has..." I said with false sarcasm- I definitely believed Joey would have been here almost as much as him. He laughed.

"It's good to have you back," Carlos admitted. I then moved over as much as I could in the small hospital cot to make room for him. Carlos, understanding the meaning behind my actions, laid down next to me, being careful of all the tubes and things I was currently hooked up to and immediately I snuggled into his open arms.

"Gods, Carlos, I was so scared!" I mumbled into his chest.

"Me too, bambolina. Me too." He stroked my hair in a soothing manner, and I prayed to every god and goddess I could think of, thanking them for letting me live. I was almost about to fall asleep again when

"Carlos, you need to come eat something, you can't just sit in he- Mia!" It was my papà. I turned around in Carlos' arms, not breaking his hold, but so I could see my papà.

"Papà!" He came over and hugged me, then scanned me over with his eyes, doing a mental evaluation.

"Are you ok? Do you need anything? Are you comfortable? Are you in pain?"

"Some water might be nice." My throat was still really dry.

"Water got it!" he walked over to the sink to get me a drink when another voice came in.

"Nico, what's taking so lo- Oh my gods, Mia! You're awake!" I smiled at him.

"Hi, dad!" I replied as energetically as possible. I was already feeling like I was going to fall asleep any second again. I think he saw that and remarked,

"Don't fall asleep yet- I need to go get someone." And he sprinted out of the room. I looked at Carlos who gave me a shrug in response to the confused look I gave him. I sipped my water immediately feeling better when a familiar face came into the doorway.

"Mia!"

"Joey!" His face broke out into a huge smile, even though I probably still looked like a hot mess.

"You're ok! I was so worried, you hadn't moved in three months, and I almost gave up hope, but I didn't and-" I cut him off by Carlos holding me up to give Joey a hug.

"You really need to learn when to shut up, bubble boy." He hugged back.

"Not a chance, ghost girl." I smiled.

I was home.

But little did I know my world was about to be turned upside down.

To Be Continued...

And that's it for now! I want to thank all of you for reading you guys are amazing!                      I'll have a preview of book two soon!

~ Mia