Solangelo 1

Part 33

WILL

I feel numb through my body, a dull echoing in my head. I walk without meaning to, tracking my way deeper and deeper into the forest.
I hear my name being called, miles and miles away. But it gets louder, till it's right in my face. Someone tackles me, holds my wrists down.
I find myself shouting, pulling away, not sure of anything other than the fact that I need to go.
'Will. Will, Stop. It's me, it's Percy. Stop.' He says, clearly stronger than me. I stop struggling as I recognise his voice, begin to remember what's going on.
'Percy?' I ask, faintly. I look around, 'how did you...where are we?'
'Dude, I don't know. I was just following you.' He says, not yet letting me get up. He still holds me down, watching me warily.
'Following me?' I ask, 'but I wasn't...what?'
'I don't know.' He repeats, backing off me and helping me sit up, still keeping a close watch on me, 'I was calling your name, you started running, I don't know. It's like you couldn't hear me. Where were you going?'
'I don't remember...I don't know.' I say, shaking my head. A deep, dull headache settles over me. The light hurts.
'Here come on, we shouldn't be this far in.' Percy says. He holds out a hand to pull me up and I stumble a little. Without thinking he pulls my arm around him and helps me hobble back. He's so used to injuries that he reacts without thinking.
'You really don't remember anything?' Percy asks as we get to the edge of the forest.
'No, I was just waiting for Nico to...wait, is Nico alright? I left him mid-fight.' I say, coming to a stop.
'He was injured. Annabeth was looking after him. I don't know.' He says, and I can see the concern in his eyes. We walk faster.
We come to the edge of the forest and I can just about hold myself up. Reve runs up to me and hugs me tightly.
'Thank the Gods. Did you find Kayla?' He asks, and his face drops as soon as he sees we're alone.
'What do you mean? What happened to Kayla? Where's Kayla?' I ask, turning from Reve to Percy and back again.
'I thought...I figured she'd be with you. Oh Gods.' Reve says.
'It's alright. You guys stay here, help the people who're hurt from the game, I'll go back in.' Percy says, already jogging back into the forest.
I stumble forward only to see Nico leant against a rock, one of my sisters looking after him. I rush over, drop to my knees beside him.
'Oh Gods, Nico, I'm so sorry.' I say, and his eyes open slightly. He lets out a relieved sigh and accepts my hug, clutching onto my shirt.
'What in Hades was that? Where did you go? Are you okay?' He asks, oblivious to his own wounds. I laugh slightly and wipe my eyes, so relieved that he's okay.
'I'm fine, I'm fine. I don't know what happened. I'm sorry.' I say, wiping his hair out of his eyes. There's a smear of blood across his cheek from where he must have rubbed his face with his hand.
'Gods I thought you were gone. It's been two hours.' He says and I pause.
'Two hours?' I ask, my voice catching.
'I thought you were gone.' He says again, 'they wouldn't let me go after you.'
'You're already hurt.' I say.
'I thought you were gone.' He says, and I realise the fear in his voice, how scared he was.
'It's alright.' I say, holding him close, running my fingers rhythmically though his hair, 'I'm okay. We're okay.'
'Did they find Kayla?' He asks suddenly, looking up.
'No.' I reply, quiet, 'you can't...she's not...'
'No.' He says quickly to my relief, 'I'd have sensed it if she were dead.'
'Okay. Okay.' I say, trying to comfort myself.
'We'll find her.' Nico says, 'I promise you we will.'
There's a moment of silence. I still hold him close, 'okay. Let's get you to the infirmary.' I say, helping him up. He puts all his weight on me.
'I'm fine.' He says, 'I can help.'
'Not now you can't.' I say, putting my fear for Kayla aside for a moment, trusting in Percy and the others to find her, 'I just need you to get better. That's all you need to do right now. Then you can help.'
'Alright.' He says carefully, realising that I need him safe, 'infirmary it is.'