The hospital loomed in the distance, its shadowed silhouette a beacon of temporary relief. Percy shifted Nico's weight on his shoulders, his arms aching from carrying the unconscious boy for what felt like miles. Nico's pale face rested against Percy's back, his fragile frame a stark contrast to the bruises and blood staining his arm. Each labored step echoed exhaustion, but Percy pressed on, driven by a mix of guilt, obligation, and the knowledge that Nico's life now depended on them.
Leo trudged alongside him, pistol in hand, his expression sour. "I still can't believe we're doing this," he muttered, breaking the silence. "He tried to kill us, and now we're carrying his scrawny ass back like we're some rescue squad?"
Percy didn't respond. The words hung heavy between them, but the rhythmic crunch of their footsteps on the cracked asphalt drowned out any further argument.
By the time they reached the hospital's makeshift entrance, Percy was drenched in sweat, his muscles trembling under Nico's weight. He barely had the strength to call out, his voice rasping as he banged against the barricaded doors. "Will! Open up!"
It only took a moment before Will flung the door wide, his eyes widening at the sight of Nico slumped against Percy. "What the hell happened?"
"Long story," Percy grunted, staggering inside and gently lowering Nico onto a gurney they'd salvaged weeks ago. "But we need your help. He's hurt—shot."
Will stepped into action immediately, his hands already moving to examine the wound. "You brought someone back?" His voice was sharp, accusing. "Are you insane? Who even is this?"
"Not important right now," Percy said firmly, though his tone betrayed his own uncertainty. He stepped back, finally able to straighten up after the grueling trek.
Leo, less willing to let the tension slide, crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. "Oh, I'll tell you who he is. He's a Grade-A asshole who nearly killed us. That's who."
Will gave Leo a withering glare as he began to carefully peel back the bloodied fabric of Nico's sleeve. "And you still brought him here?"
"He was going to die if we didn't," Percy shot back, his voice sharper than intended.
Will sighed, muttering under his breath as he worked. "Unbelievable. Fine. Let me see how bad it is."
The room was silent except for Will's murmured observations as he carefully cleaned the wound. "Through and through," he said, sounding relieved. "No bone damage, but infection's a serious risk. We'll need antibiotics. And he's dehydrated—badly."
Will gestured toward the hallway. "Grab one of the real hospital beds from the west wing. He'll need to be elevated, and the gurney's too unstable."
Percy and Leo exchanged a glance before nodding. Together, they wrestled a wheeled hospital bed through the debris-filled corridor, the clatter echoing ominously as they returned. Will directed them to transfer Nico carefully, securing him on the clean sheets before covering him with a blanket.
Leo stepped back, wiping his hands on his jeans. "Great. He's comfortable. Now, can we talk about how stupid this is?"
Piper appeared in the doorway, her brows furrowed as she took in the scene. "What's going on?"
Leo threw up his hands. "What's going on? Oh, I'll tell you. We rescued the guy who tried to kill us. That's what's going on."
Piper's gaze shifted to Nico, and her expression softened. She walked closer, her steps tentative as she studied his face. "Wait a second..."
Percy noticed the change in her demeanor. "What?"
Piper crouched beside the bed, brushing her hair back as she leaned in for a better look. Despite the grime and blood, something about Nico struck a chord. Her voice was quiet, almost disbelieving. "I know him. I've seen him before."
Leo blinked. "You what?"
Piper didn't respond right away, her focus entirely on Nico. "He was at my high school. A couple of years younger than me. I remember him—Nico di Angelo, right?"
Will froze mid-motion, his hands hovering over Nico's wound as he processed the revelation. Percy straightened, surprise flickering in his tired eyes.
"You knew him?" Percy asked cautiously.
"I mean, not well," Piper said, standing up but keeping her gaze on Nico. "He was quiet—really quiet. But he was sweet. Always had his nose in a book. Everyone thought he was a little strange, but he wasn't a bad kid." She frowned, glancing at the others. "I thought he moved away before... before everything."
Leo snorted, his tone bitter. "Well, he didn't exactly move away to Disneyland. He joined the ranks of the creepiest cult of people we've ever met."
Will straightened, wiping his hands on a bloodied towel. "I've done what I can for now. He's stable, but infection's a real concern. We need to get more supplies." He glanced at Percy. "I still don't get why you brought him here. This is a risk."
Leo crossed his arms, glaring down at Nico. "Not just a risk. He's dangerous. You saw what he was like back there. He's one of them."
Percy rubbed the back of his neck, exhaustion lining his features. "We made a call. Right or wrong, we couldn't leave him to die."
"And now he's here," Leo shot back. "In our space, where he can stab us in the back the first chance he gets. Brilliant."
Piper stepped between them, her voice calm but firm. "He's hurt, Leo. That doesn't mean he's beyond saving."
"Yeah?" Leo gestured at Nico's unconscious form. "Tell that to the gun he pointed at me."
The tension was palpable, the air thick with unspoken fears and doubts. Finally, Percy broke the silence, his voice quieter but no less determined. "We'll deal with it when he wakes up. For now, we just make sure he doesn't die."
Leo muttered something under his breath but didn't argue further. He stormed off, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.
Will looked at Percy and Piper, his face tight with worry. "This better not come back to bite us."
Piper sighed, pulling a chair over to sit by Nico's bedside. She rested her elbows on her knees, her gaze distant. "He was different back then," she said softly. "Quiet, sure, but... sweet. It's hard to believe he's the same person Leo's talking about."
People change, Percy thought but didn't say. Instead, he leaned against the wall, the weight of the day settling over him like a lead blanket.
As the room fell silent, Nico stirred faintly, his lips moving as if caught in a dream. Percy couldn't make out the words, but they sounded like a warning—a flicker of the boy who'd grown into someone they could barely recognize.
