REYNA
I'm on my knees, struggling to breathe. The air is red and toxic, and I can't see three feet ahead of me.
'Calm. Calm down.' Nico says, a hand on my back. He kneels beside me, 'breathe slowly. Take it slow. There you go.'
I cough a little, but I've gotten control of it.
'You okay?' He asks.
'Yeah.' I say, my voice hoarse. His face instantly turns furious. He stands up and takes a step away.
'Why. Why the hell did you do that?' He asks, 'we'll die down here.'
'You survived it before.' I say, struggling to my feet.
'Once. And I didn't get out myself, I was taken out. And instantly kidnapped, remember?' He yells, 'we'll die.'
'Annabeth and Percy-' I start.
'Annabeth and Percy were one in a million. They're the only ones ever. And they had a giant on their side. They had help.' He says, before falling silent. He turns away, and stares ahead.
I can hardly imagine what he's thinking. I've only been here a minute and I can already feel myself aching. All my wounds I've ever had resurfacing. Nico's come back, after everything he went through; all the nightmares he's had.
'What about Will?' I ask. I see him clench his fist.
'What about him?' He asks, quietly. He's mad.
'Don't you want to get back to him?' I say.
He turns to me, slowly.
'What the hell do you think?' He says, 'I love him. He's the first person in my life who made me completely happy. And my sister...my sister. Bianca.' A look of realisation passes over his face, 'Oh Gods, Bianca.' He says, 'I'm never going to...I...' He looks up at me, and I see his eyes well up.
I get up and move over to him, and before I can say anything, he's sobbing into my shoulders.
'I can't do this again.' He says, 'I can't do it.'
'Nico, I promise...' I trail off, 'Nico. Nico, look.' He turns around, expecting a fight, but he quickly lowers his sword.
'Dad?'
