Nico's Quest {on hold}

Never go into an alley in New York

Chapter 4

Nico could not believe how big New York was. It was massive and it looked really cool too. It was too bad that he and Bianca couldn’t go sightseeing as they were currently on a quest to find their half-sister (who they still had no idea of her name or what she looks like) and they couldn’t afford to waste time with Gaia’s army on their heels. They had been shadowing travelling for the past day so obviously Nico felt tired.

“Bianca, I think we should find a hotel to rest in for tonight. It’s too dark to go looking for our half-sister,” Nico suggested tiredly.

Bianca just nodded so they walked around, looking for a hotel. After about ten minutes, Nico noticed that Bianca was slowing down.

“Hey sis, what’s wrong?”

Nico looked at Bianca, worriedly.

She smiled at him tiredly…before collapsing.

In an instant, Nico was by her side and caught her as she fell.

“Bianca?” Nico frantically cried.

She must be really tired because she was out cold and had no injuries. Nico picked Bianca up and ran into a dark alley. As he walked further into the alley, he sensed a malicious presence and it was really close. Gently, he put Bianca down and summoned two skeletal warriors to guard her.

Sending a final look towards Bianca, Nico turned and ran deeper into the alley. He came to a stop as the alley had a dead end. Looking around carefully, he noticed a lot of shadows in the corner of the alley. It seemed as if someone was using the shadows to hide themselves.

Nico’s eyes widened as a hand shot out of the ground at his feet and gripped his ankle tightly.

“You just don’t learn, do you Nico?” a voice taunted.

Nico looked around wildly, looking for the person who was speaking.

“Who’s there?”

Nico wrenched his foot out of the hand in the ground and jumped back. He still didn’t know who attacked him. Was it someone from Gaia’s army? He looked back at the spot where the shadows seemed to hide someone and grew uneasy as he realised that there were no shadows there.

“Boo!” the voice mocked behind Nico.

Nico turned around quickly only to be met with a fist to his stomach. The blow was strong enough to throw Nico off his feet. He was sent crashing into the wall of the alley.

Well this is familiar Nico thought wryly as he slid down the wall.

He looked up and finally saw who attacked him. It was Octavian from the Roman camp!

“Hello Nico, surprised to see me?” Octavian laughed madly.

Nico struggled to stand up but his ribs started to protest. Looks like his ribs hadn’t healed that well. He dropped to one knee, coughing up blood.

“What! No greetings? Well no matter. I have plenty to say to you,” Octavian smiled sinisterly and shoved Nico to the floor.

Nico landed flat on his back and grunted in pain.

“I have a little message from Gaia…she’s going to give you three days to surrender yourself to her or she will kill Bianca!” Octavian looked down at Nico and held up a stuffed brown teddy bear. Violently, he tore the head off and threw it next to Nico’s feet…and sank down into and through the ground. He was gone but his mad cackles filled the air for the next few seconds.

Nico lay on the floor, gasping for breath. His head was reeling and his chest was on fire.

What did he mean, how can Gaia kill Bianca when she doesn’t even have her?

Nico paled as he realised that he left Bianca alone with weak guards. Gathering up his last remaining energy, Nico disappeared into a shadow and reappeared in the exact spot where he left Bianca. She was gone and there was a note on the ground with a headless brown teddy bear next to it. With shaking hands, Nico picked up the note and read it.

‘Remember, you have three days to surrender or we will kill Bianca. Meet me at the foot of the statue of Liberty and give yourself up in exchange for your sister’s life. – Octavian’

Nico stood up shakily but his knees buckled and he crashed back onto the ground painfully.

Wait for me Bianca, I’ll come and get you, Nico vowed as darkness claimed him.

------------An hour later-------------

A young girl ran into the alley and promptly fell over Nico’s unconscious body. Frowning, she looked at Nico’s face before ducking underneath his arm. Footsteps stopped at the alley and two tall men stepped into the alley.

“Is she in there?” the first man gruffly asked the second.

The second shook his head and replied

“There’s just a drunk boy on the floor.”

They both scowled and ran out of the alley.

The young girl waited until their footsteps could no longer be heard before poking her head out from under Nico’s arm. Cautiously, she looked around before deeming the area to be safe. She sighed in relief and stood up but then stopped and looked back down at the boy on the floor.

I can’t just leave him, he’s hurt and he did technically help me…even if he was unconscious. There’s also something about him…something familiar. Maybe he’s like me.

Coming to a decision, the young girl grabbed Nico’s arms and dragged him out of the alley.

 I’ll take him home.