Solangelo 1

Part 21

NICO

We stay in the music room for a long time. Will, I find, is able to play every single instrument in the room, some better than others. He's especially good at the flute and the drums.
We stay there until we hear calling from outside. I sit up quickly, and Will checks through the curtains.
'What the...' He doesn't finish and I don't wait around for him to. I open the door and find myself face to face with a load of skeletons.
I duck as one tries to hit me and elbow it down the steps. I try my best to control them but they adamantly refuse.
'Come on, we can't stay here.' I say, taking Will's hand and pulling him out of the cabin. We dodge through the ranks and I'm very aware that Will cannot fight very well. He's trusting me.
'Percy!' I shout, seeing him back to back with Annabeth in the middle of the field. Other campers are scattered across, some hiding out, some trying to fight. But they're unbeatable - you can't kill something that's already dead.
We stop beside Percy and Annabeth, more or less useless without my sword.
'Can you control them?' Annabeth shouts as she stops one before it attacks Will.
'They're not responding. They won't listen.' I say, 'we've got to dismantle them, if we break them we can bury them again.'
'How the hell do we do that?' Will asks. I look up at Percy.
'Oh Gods, really? I'm so done with this.' He says, 'here, take Riptide. Stay safe.' He kisses Annabeth quickly before sidestepping between two skeletons and running off down to the lake.
Riptide feels oddly light in my hands. It takes a while for me to get used to. But adrenaline kicks in as me and Annabeth circle around Will, holding off any attacking forces.
'There are too many.' She says, out of breathe. I look up to see the Apollo cabin on the roof of their cabin, shooting down what they can. A lot of the arrows pass straight through so they end up just throwing rocks.
'We just have to wait for Percy.' I say. A skeleton cuts me on the arm and I cut him in two. He instantly starts to reform.
'Oh Gods!' Annabeth shouts out. I turn to see her on the floor, doubled over. I'm the sole defence. I look around, overwhelmed.
'Nico, no.' Will says, taking my arm, 'You can't.'
I give him a tight smile. Take Annabeth around her waist and hold onto Will's hand. I shadow travel to the roof of the Athena cabin just as Percy sends a wave travelling across the camp.
The skeletons get wiped down and the Demeter cabin help him cover the bones with soil. In seconds they're gone.
I stumble and fall into Will's arms. Annabeth lies on the floor, blood gathering.
'Help her.' I say, weakly.
'Nico-' Will starts to explain.
'I'll be okay. There's nothing you can do for me now. Help her.' I say. He reluctantly turns and starts attending to Annabeth.
I let my head fall back and stare at the sky. The bright blue turning darker and darker until all I see is black.