Have you ever been in such complete darkness that you feel like your eyes are shut despite the ache telling you they are as wide as they can go? That is what one experiences when wandering through the Underworld’s darkest corner. Even sound is swallowed before it can even start, scent does not exist, your skin is so pressed with nothing that no touch can be felt, all working together to effectively leave anyone there in a state of complete sensory absence.
To most, it would be a nightmare. The sense of being dead without actually dying. Actually, to most there, they are dead. The underworld is not open for most people, but a son of Hades is welcome any time, giving me an escape from anything in the world, giving me my tiny corner of nothing.
I wander aimlessly, my only sense of moving at all coming from the ingrained sense of direction from my father. I can hardly breathe because of the crushing feeling in my heart, the thing leading me on, for even here I cannot escape the pain that comes from inside. Percy Jackson… why did he have to be so selfless? The war is ended, but he is gone.
Suddenly, light appears ahead of me and I abruptly realize where I am. Coming up before me is a glowing island, surrounded by a glistening lake. An elegant bridge arches from the mainland, a rather dreary place but more pleasant than the rest of the Underworld, to the shining gate, upon which several shimmering demigods watch my approach curiously. I only barely scan their faces. I know now that my sister is not here, anywhere, and I have long since stopped looking.
Then I stop. At the base of the bridge stands a familiar, lanky figure, his black hair ruffled. He is facing away from me but I know it is him. The ache is my chest grows stronger and my breathing speeds up as I stand, frozen, unable to take another step towards him. I flash back to the last moments of the war, when his death final sunk in and everyone lost heart. I remember Jason’s horrified look, Frank’s pain, Hazel’s misery. But most of all, I remember Annabeth’s total destruction, the only emotion present that mirrored mine.
He turns, unexpectedly, and I cannot move into the shadows fast enough. His sea-green eyes catch mine and I see surprise flicker across his face, then sorrow. Percy turns away from the bridge and takes a step towards me, then another. Soon, too soon, he stands right before me, his form flickering in the darker area, casting a glow around us. I swallow, hard.
“Nico? What are you doing here?” His voice is tight but I can tell he has some sense of happiness that I am here.
“I came to tell you that you are a git.” I snap, crossing my arms across my chest and frowning. I want to hug him, cry, for it all is starting to crash around me that he really is dead, that I will see him only here now. Percy’s lip curls into a half smile, but his eyes are sad.
“I had to do it. It was the only way.” He tells me, pushing his hands into his pockets. I scowl.
“No, it wasn’t. You know damn well I was going to sacrifice myself but you just HAD to jump in. What you did was selfish. I have a long less people who would have had to grieve like so many are for you.” I growl. Percy frowns, looking down at his feet.
“Nico, you know I couldn’t just stand back and watch you die. You are my friend and I couldn’t just let you throw your life away like that.”
“Like what? Like what you did instead?” Angry tears fill my eyes and I turn my face away, unable to look at him anymore. I hear him bite his lip.
A long silence stretches between us. Finally, I look back up and Percy puts a hand on his neck.
“How are they? How is Annabeth?” He questions, looking pained. I sigh, shaking my head.
