Ordinary (A Percy Jackson Story)

Chapter 5

Bianca felt cold. It wasn't something she was use to. Her hands were shaking. She didn't try to stand because she already knew she'd fall over. Her breaths were coming in slowly, generated shock.

The hallway was silent, except for the hushed tones of Luke and a doctor. The harsh white light glinted off the tile floor. The calming green walls did little to help her relax. Just beyond that door was a dying man.

A dying hero.

Who would've thought? Octavian? A hero.

Luke whispered something to the doctor, who shook his head. Luke stared at him for a second and then his shoulders slumped forward. He stepped back and Bianca watched as he look up to the ceiling taking a deep breath. His neck was still red, a purple bruise was appearing on the left side. His wrist was wrapped with athletic tape, something about a sprain.

The Nurse said he was just lucky to be alive.

Bianca blinked back the tears that were starting to form behind her eyes. Her throat was thick, like she'd been trying to drink cement. She could feel the bandage on her cheek. The cut wouldn't even leave a mark, it didn't even really hurt anymore. They'd probably given her some pain killer.

Hades, They could've given her acid and she wouldn't have even noticed until she was a melted puddle of mortal.

One thought kept running through her head. One little thought.

Where was he?

Where was Ethan?

Luke sat down next to her on the complementary bench. His eyes were dark and glazed like he was a million miles away. The scar on his cheek stood out in the lighting. He stared at the door across from them, 214. Octavian's room.

Bianca could tell Luke was feeling like it should've been him.

"They don't know." Luke said quietly, his voice a little scratchy, like he was holding back tears himself, "They don't know anything." He knelt forward and pressed his hands to his forehead, "Octavian is going to have to fight if he wants even a slim chance of surviving. Ethan is no where to be found. My phone is about as helpful as this stupid decorative plant-" Luke nudged the stool the plant was sitting on and it wobbled almost falling over, "-They won't be able to get anyone on the freaking case until tomorrow morning which is...is..." Luke's voice wavered.

Bianca was shaking trying not to cry. She exhaled like she was choking.

Luke shook his head. "I don't know what to do." He whispered, "Every time...every time, I-I close my eyes...I s-see his..."

Bianca couldn't take it. She stood up and walked a couple paces away. She let a whimper escape between her lips. She pressed her palms against her eyes, trying to stop the tears, but she couldn't. They just kept coming.

Ethan. He had to be okay. He had to. She didn't know what to do if he wasn't. He was always there for her. He cared.She didn't care what he did in his past life. This was here and now.

The last thing she wanted to think about was him dying, alone somewhere. His dark eyes empty, unseeing, his skin paler than normal. With his glossy black hair swept to the side. She didn't want to think about his mouth being left open, his last breath being in pain or red staining across his chest bleeding through the green T-shirt he'd been wearing that afternoon. She never wanted him to be in pain.

Bianca didn't realize how hard she'd started crying. She was bawling. Her knees felt weak. Her voice echoed in the empty corridor. She didn't want him to die.

Anything but that.

Someone pulled her into a hug. She turn and fell into Luke. She couldn't see him, but it didn't really matter. She pressed her face on his shoulder.