Solangelo 1

Part 32

NICO

I wake suddenly, looking around the room to see Will only a couple of feet away. He moves over and helps me sit up.
'Good timing, I was just about to wake you up.' He says, passing me a glass of water.
'How long till the game?' I ask.
'About ten minutes.' He replies.
'What? I need to get ready, why didn't you wake me?' I say, standing up and trying to sort out all of my things.
'Relax, all your stuff is just over there I got it ready for you.' He says, pointing to the corner where all my armour and sword is placed neatly, 'I hate waking you up, sorry.'
'Sorry. Didn't mean to snap. Thanks for bringing it all over.' I say, leaning over to kiss him briefly, a casual act that I've only recently begun to do without thinking, 'you got your armour ready?'
'Just round the corner. I don't plan on doing much fighting though, just following behind you.' He says, 'moral support.'
'I've got no problem with that.' I reply. I remember the last time I fought with Will against Gaia, where he threw himself into danger, stupidly reckless. I much prefer him out of harm's way.
We get ready and run out to where Percy's rallying his team. Jason's team head out first so we have to wait behind.
'Alright, times up, let's go! Team blue!' Percy shouts, charging into the forest. Our team separates, all doing our separate jobs. Will and I head off on our own, round a back route, scouting the depths of the forest.
'Nico, people!' Will says and I hurriedly shush him, already aware of them and not wanting them to hear us.
I signal him to stay quiet and where he is, and he nods, smiling and giving me the thumbs up as I stalk away. I shake him from my mind as I sneak up on the first lot of people, bringing them down silently and effortlessly.
I have all four down before any of them knew I was attacking.
'Clear.' I say quietly.
'Gods, you're good at this.' He says, following into the clearing. He checks each person I bought down even though I insist they're all fine. And then he insists to check I'm okay too. Which I am.
We move on, talking quietly as we approach the next group.
'Same drill.' I say, but Will looks away, distracted, 'Will?' I repeat and he snaps to attention.
'What? Yeah. Got it.' He says, focusing.
'You okay?' I whisper. I've never seen him zone out like that before.
'Fine. Go do your thing.' He says, gesturing for me to go. I do so reluctantly, and start to bring down the guards.
But as soon as I bring down the first one, Will steps forward, as if in a trance, right into the sight of the other team.
'Will!' I shout on reflex as someone quickly attempts to attack. I shadow travel in front of him and take the blow, a sharp cut against my right leg. I fall to one knee but keep fighting, holding my own and bringing down, two then three, then all of the other team members.
But one manages to cut me again on the same leg, plunging their dagger into my thigh as I knock them to the ground.
'Will, what in Hades was that?' I call, propping myself up against the tree, 'Come on, I need nectar. I need something before this gets worse.'
Nothing comes. It's silent.
'Will?' I call, not too loud, not wanting to draw the attention of the other team, but once he doesn't answer I call louder, frantically, 'Will?!'
I lean over, the pain in my leg shooting through my body. Medics are always close by in these games so we're told that any non lethal attacks are fair game. But I just lost my medic.
The pain is the least of my worries right now though, as I can't imagine a single reason Will would leave of his own choice.
I call his name over and over, then moving on to just shouting 'help' until one of the Stoll brothers appears.
'Is this a trick?' He asks, keeping his distance.
'Lost Will. Stabbed in the leg. Get someone.' I say, keeping my sentences short as my breathing becomes pained.
'Not a trick. Got it. I'll be back.' He says, running off.
I keep calling Wills name, terrified that something happened to him. He was my responsibility.
'He's here, over there. By the tree. I still think it's a trick.' He says as he returns, pointing to me as Annabeth rushes over to me and panics for a moment before adjusting and putting pressure on my wounds.
'What the hell happened?' Annabeth asks, tearing a piece of her shirt off to tie around my leg.
'Will...I don't know, something happened, he just wandered off. He wasn't responding, Gods.' I say leaning over as she pulls the shirt tight.
'Okay, we'll find him. You just need to sit tight, eat this.' She hands me a piece of Ambrosia. I eat it quickly and the instant relief hits my body.
'I can help.' I say, pulling myself up.
'Nico, I'll arrange a search party, but I'll do that much quicker if you just do exactly what I say, now sit down.' She says, raising her voice slightly. I slump against a tree and watch as she sends the twin off for more help.
'I'll stay, just go look for him. Please.' I say, urging her to leave me behind.
'Nico, I can't just leave you.' She says, pained.
'Annabeth, go. You have to go. I'll stay. Just find him. Please.' I say. On the final please, she nods slightly, then backs away, turning to run into the forest.
I hear her shouting Will's name and it takes everything I have not to try to get up and follow her. I know she will find him. I trust her. I trust her more than I trust most people. She will find him.
Besides, the Ambrosia begins to wear off quickly and I find it harder and harder to stay awake, let alone stand to follow her.
I find myself leaning into the person who comes to carry me. I don't know who it is until I think to open my eyes about half way through the forest. Jason is carrying me, and quite quickly I realise he's flying above ground, speeding along.
'No flying. Stop, stop.' I say faintly, even just a few feet above the ground hating the sensation. Just as Percy hates the sky, and Jason the sea, I can stand neither.
'No can do. You need to get help quick.' He says.
'Where's Will?' I ask, my head already falling back again, unconsciousness threatening.
'We'll find him. You just focus on staying awake, okay?' He asks, and as he does my eyes close and my head drops back.
And more vividly than ever, I'm back in the box, trapped, confined. The bottom opens and I'm dropped into Tartarus, the feeling of terror rushing back to me. I forget everything else.