A short story inspired by the song Unwell by Matchbox 20.

Time set somewhere between TLH and SoN

Nico's POV

It all began when I heard those voices. They told me secrets. They told me to do things that I shouldn't be doing. I tried to push them out of my mind. But it didn't work. I was bound to do these things against my will. Horrible things…

I stood over the dead body of Hazel Levesque, my sister. My black stygian sword in my hand, blood-stained. What have I done? The other demigods called me a monster. They said I was psycho. Was I? They didn't understand. They never lived my life. I never meant to kill my sister. I didn't want to. But the voices commanded me to. They threatened me. They took control of my body; corrupted my brain.

I didn't want to hurt anyone else, so what did I do? I isolated myself from everyone. It's not like anyone would miss me. I was a monster that everyone feared. What was the point of my life? All I did was cause death and destruction. I had lost all faith in battling these

voices.

I saw the shadows looming on my wall as I lay in bed. Shadows of demons. They whispered inaudible words to me. It sounded like they were pleading. Pleading for their freedom. I clenched my fists and tried to sleep. But I couldn't. They kept on persisting. I tried to physically harm them, slashing my sword through their ghostly bodies. Nothing happened. They simply laughed and mocked me, their

ethereal voices echoing off the walls.

I wanted to end the suffering. I couldn't take it anymore. I ran into the woods, the cold wind biting at my bare skin, and whipping my ebony hair back. I stopped running, panting. I sat down, leaning my back against the bole of a tree. I had my stygian sword in my right hand, and I held it up in front of my face, admiring it's dull shine as it reflected off the moon light.

I closed my eyes, letting my arms fall limp. I let the winter coldness envelop me.

I wasn't crazy, was I? I was just a little impaired. But no one ever stayed long enough to see that. They didn't care. Those were my last, bitter thoughts as my body went numb.

My heart went thump...thump...thump...then it stopped.

I wasn't crazy, just a little unwell.

Thanks for reading! Criticism much appreciated!

~Seas of Emerald