Favorite : Change for the both of us

Chapter 27

Over the next couple of days I get quite a few visitors. All of my cousins and friends been by. Poseidon is always at my side, along with Annabeth and Athena. Thalia, Nico, Grover, Zeus and Hades come daily. Hermes, Apollo and Artemis often accompany them. Hephaestus has dropped in a few times with Aphrodite. Dionysus, Hera and Ares have visited once due to Thalia's demand.

I can't be certain how much time has passed. I think a week, maybe more, has gone. I know that Hermes's birthday was the other day. He turned eighteen on November 8th. God, that means I was abducted over two weeks ago. That's weird. It doesn't feel like that much time. But I guess that's what happens when you're in a windowless cell and in a coma.

Unfortunately, I haven't had made any significant progress in waking up. I mean, I can twitch my hand occasionally and cry freely, so if Poseidon says something stupid (like it's his fault Annabeth and I were taken) he gets the message that I can hear him and think he's an idiot. I try not to cry when anyone else is around, however. I have a feeling that the sight of tears flowing down my face would scare little Nico. When he comes to visit me he's often upset anyway.

Whenever Apollo and Hermes are here with the rest of my cousins, my uncles drag Poseidon home for a few hours to catch up on sleep and to shower and stuff. I don't mind, because I know that he needs proper rest in a bed rather than a chair. Besides, my cousins are great company. Apollo leads a quiet sing-song with them; Annabeth joins in from her bed. She still can't walk on her leg, but she's healing. Apparently I'm healing, too – going against all odds, really. The doctors expected my heart to give in on my first night. It feels weird thinking that my body was struggling to stay alive whilst I felt completely normal, just paralysed.

Apollo, Hermes, Artemis, Thalia, Grover and Annabeth sing a song quietly whilst I yell the lyrics in my head – It's Time by Imagine Dragons being one of my favourite songs. Hades and Zeus have taken Poseidon home to make him rest, whilst Athena is watching us. I feel a smile tugging at my motionless lips, enjoying their singing immensely. It keeps me occupied as I'm unable to open my eyes and see anything.

"The second you're awake, kiddo," Apollo says when their song was over. "We're gonna have a big slumber party, and we're gonna sing and party all night, okay?"

Sure, Apollo, whatever you say...

Another day, Thalia and Nico are here again. Poseidon is talking outside with Athena and some police officers. They've found the vineyard where we were apparently kept and there are traces of mine and Annabeth's blood in one of the rooms. However, the place is empty. The police have officers stationed all around the hospital to make sure that no one can get to me or Annabeth.

Nico is, today, especially upset. I feel sorry for him. This must be really hard – after all, he is only six. Three years ago, Nico was in my place. One second Thalia and Annabeth are talking quietly to each other, the next he's sobbing quietly.

"Oh, Nico," Thalia says. I assume that she hugs him or something. "You okay, mini dude?"

"I don't like it," Nico says. "H-He doesn't look like P-Percy. He l-looks..."

"Hurt," Annabeth supplies comfortingly. "We know, Nico. But he's going to get better. He'll look more like himself soon – I'll bet you any money,"

Nico keeps crying. I feel my heart ache. Poor kid, really. I wish that I could just open my eyes. Or speak. Anything. Lift his feelings, at the least. He shouldn't be crying over me...

"Damn it, you're making me tear up now," Thalia mutters. I hear Annabeth sniffle.

Oh, hell no! You can't all go crying over me!

The doctors have been saying that I'll be awake before New Years, hopefully. But that's months away. I can't wait that long. I need to wake up. Now. Being like this is hurting everyone, and I don't like it. My doctor (I've finally learnt his name – Dr Baker) told Poseidon that if I'll only wake up through my own determination.