Nico banged his head on the wall for the third time, and it was the hardest yet.
His forehead caked with blood and tears. He locked himself in a cold and secluded room. No windows. No vents. Just a steel door, firmly closed.
He couldn't believe he'd been inside the room for just two hours, it felt like a whole year or two.
Weeping, crying.
He kept hearing a voice. Well, two voices, actually. He loved them both dearly, but the other's voice, he heard, clearer, than the other's.
Two people.
Struggling, sobbing.
"Nico, promise me."
"Tell them we knew the risks."
Then they let go.
Nico heard them while they were falling.
Screaming.
Their last words, making a loop in his head.
"Nico, promise me." Percy said, tears streaming down from his sea-green eyes.
"Tell them we knew the risks." Annabeth said, her eyes a mirror to Percy's.
Percy and Annabeth.
Gone.