Hi guys! This is a rewrite of my old story, Breaking Free. I felt like I could do better than that story, so I made a rewrite and re-titled it Haunted.

This story will have the same pairings as the last (Percy & Annabeth, Thalia & Leo, Nico & Ariella).

And you do not have to read the last story to understand this one for 3 reasons...

1. They are separate. THIS IS NOT A SEQUEL. It's a chance at something better.

2. Breaking Free was discontinued.

3. They start at two completely different times in their lives.

I hope you guys enjoy my second chance at my story! :D

Chapter 1:

Nico:

The faint noise of the rain beating quietly on the window is the only thing keeping me from freaking out. Its sound has a rhythm, almost like a heartbeat, but only if nature was that precise. And normally, I would be listening to the thumping of my heart instead, but I'm afraid it's stopped beating ever since last night.

I feel like a mixture between a zombie and a ghost; I feel dead but my life on earth isn't completed yet. Like I still have a duty to carry out. And my duty is eternal suffering.

"Mr. di Angelo, do you have an answer?" an unfamiliar voice wakes me from my constant daydream and brings me back to the cruel and vicious reality. I take in my surroundings and remember where I am as bright lights flash and slightly blind my vision. Interviews suck.

"An answer to what?" I ask, no emotion in my voice, no passion. Just plain words.

A muttering goes on between the crowd of interviewers but I'm too focused on the rain to make out what they're saying. And frankly, I don't care enough. I'm not nosy, unlike the paparazzi that will search and harass until they find what they're looking for. But I've made a vow of silence, and I better not break it.

"What do you have to say about the incident that happened in your New York apartment just last night?" she repeats.

"Nothing," I tell her. "I have nothing to say… to you."

"And why is that?" she interrogates.

"Because you're just going to sell it to any newspaper or magazines that are just going to twist my words even more than you will," I dare. "It's my right to remain silent."

"Talking about it will make it better," she informs me.

"I'll talk to myself about it," I cross my arms. "I'm not six. I can deal with my problems on my own. They're called personal for a reason."

"Nico, stop sassing and cooperate," my dad mutters angrily in my ear. "We'll get a bad rep. It will look like we're murderers."

"Technically, we are." I admit, though it hurts, like I'm getting repeatedly stabbed in my heart with the sharpest knife ever.

"I did nothing."

"Right," I sigh. "It's all my fault, just like all the other problems you've caused."

"Care to speak up?" the interviewer asks. "The press would love to hear what you're saying."

"I care nothing for the press; therefore they shouldn't hear my personal conversations. Especially since I wasn't talking to them and because I don't even want to be here." I say through my teeth. "Now if you excuse me, I'm going to wait in the bus. Father, are you coming?"

"I'll be there in a second," he tells me.

I stand up and walk to the doorway, feeling the eyes of people and the flashes of cameras going off behind me. I turn to my father. "Don't say anything you'll regret," I snap before exiting. The door leads me right outside and the rain beats against my pale skin. I look at the sky, which reflects my current feelings; dark, moody, angry, and most of all, sad.

Reluctantly, I walk back to the tour bus. The image of me and my two band mates and cousins doesn't seem so welcoming anymore. In fact, it kind of haunts me. Opening the door from the outside, I take a slow step inside.

"Nico, are you okay?" my cousin Thalia demands as she runs over to me from the couch.

"Yeah, dude you were in there for hours!" My cousin Percy adds as he also approaches me. "What happened?"

I walk past them and climb into my bunk. I can't talk about this now. I can't think about this now. I can't do anything because everything and anything reminds me of her.

Before I can stop myself, I get consumed into a memory, but no matter how much I struggle, nothing can save me.

"Bianca! How many times to I have to tell you? Leave me alone!"

"Nico! Don't let yourself get in over your head! You know you can't do it! It's just too much for you. School, family, you're job at the diner… You can't manage it all."

"Yes I can," I hissed as I crumpled yet another sheet of paper up. "I just need time."

"You've had time," Bianca put her hand on my shoulder. "You've had fourteen years. Didn't you know this was going to happen?"

"How did you expect me to know that after seven years without a dad, he'd randomly show up and offer me a record deal? Bianca, honestly, do you think before you speak?"

"But Nico… I know how badly you want this, but it isn't a good idea…"

"You're just jealous dad picked me over you, aren't you?" I turned to look at her, my dark eyes pierced through her delicate soul like a dagger would.

"No," she shakes her head. "I'm just looking out for you."

"I don't need your protection!" I shouted. "I'm fourteen freaking years old!"

"Nico, you don't understand." Bianca shouted. "He's using you! He's only making you famous so he gets a good reputation. That's the whole reason why he left us in the first place! Because having two children would ruin his reputation!"

"But maybe him coming back for me could be a good thing. Have you ever thought of that, Bianca? Or are you too busy thinking of yourself? You're only taking this out on me because he asked me. Not you!" I screamed back. "Now just leave me alone so I can finish this!"

"Nico, you're making a mistake…"

"In your opinion!" I answered. "Bianca, this could change our lives. No more struggling to survive, no more barely making enough money to pay the rent on this dump, no more sad endings. This is the start of a new world for us."

"For you, Nico. Not for us." Bianca snapped back at me. "Maybe you're the one that's being selfish. Have you ever thought what will happen to me once you become famous? Nothing. I'll be stuck here while you, Percy, and Thalia go on tour. I'll still be struggling to survive while you go out and have the time of your life!"

"You'll come with us," I promised her.

"And mope around about the life I wish I was having? No thanks, Nico. I'd rather suffer here." Bianca crossed her arms.

"Why can't you be happy for me?" I demanded.

"Because he's only using you, Nico! How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"You're just saying that because you're jealous! You clearly think you're a better singer than me! That's why you're getting so mad!" I concluded. "I'll never be good enough for you, will I?"

"You're changing the subject!" Bianca replied. "This isn't about me being jealous… There's a bigger issue that you're too blind to realize."

"Bianca," I took a sharp intake of breath. "I'm on the edge of having a mental breakdown and screaming at you. Go. Leave me alone."

"Ugh! You'll realize I'm right, just give me time…"

"Bianca…" I started to say.

"And you'll come crawling back to me…"

"Stop…" I said as I felt my anger building up. It wouldn't be long before it exploded like a volcano.

"Then I'll say I told you so…"

"BIANCA! I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE. DO YOU NOT REALIZE HOW MUCH STRESS I'M UNDER? I HAVE TO WRITE A WHOLE ALBUM BY TOMORROW AND MEMORIZE IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE FIRST CONCERT IS. THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE OUR BIG BREAK. PEOPLE KNOW WHO WE ARE, THANKS TO OUR DAD, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE SOUND LIKE. AND TO TOP IT OFF, I HAVE TO PLEASE OUR FATHER WHO CHOSE TO IGNORE US FOR SEVEN YEARS SO HE DOESN'T RUN OFF AGAIN!" I yelled. "I don't have time for your complaining! Leave. Me. Alone!"

"Fine," she huffed as she stormed over to the door. "But I am right. You'll see it one day."

"Bianca, you're bothering me so much right now, I don't care if I ever see you that one day. I don't care if I ever see you again! Because if I don't, I won't have to deal with this whole drama that you've created!"

The sound of the rain, more heavy now, thankfully awakens me from that horrible nightmare. Although the vision is gone, I could never forget the look on her face. The horrified expression that exemplified what a monster I was. Well, am. The instant pain I felt after that moment is intolerable, and even just thinking about it makes it hurt more and more each second.

"Nico?" the soft voice of my cousin Percy calls out.

"What?" I say as I push the curtain that gives my bunk its privacy all the way to the side.

"We have a concert in the mall starting pretty soon so you probably should get ready," he reminds me.

"I'm not going."

"Nico, you've got to." Percy sighs as he sits down next to me. "I know you think Bianca's death was your fault…"

"It was my fault though!" I correct him.

"No, it wasn't. It was whoever's fault that was driving that car," Percy tries to assure me. Too bad it doesn't work.

"Percy, if I didn't get her mad, she wouldn't have left our apartment. And if she didn't leave the apartment, she would've never gotten hit by that car." I explain. "See Percy, it all leads back to me."

"Technically, it's your dad's fault Bianca got mad, so it's his fault."

"No," I shake my head. "And even if that was the case, it would be my mother's fault for seducing my dad into having both Bianca and I."

"Which leads that back to your grandparents ever having your mom." Percy replies. "But don't you see how ridiculous this is? You can't go on life blaming yourself or other people for things you can't take back. I know it only happened last night, but you've got to do what you can to not let it affect you're daily life. You can still think about it, but don't let it control you're actions. You'll be like a zombie if you do that."

"I already am a zombie," I mutter. "My body technically is still alive, but my heart and soul aren't. I'm just stuck here to forever haunt myself."

"What?" Percy asks me; clearly he didn't hear a word I said. But it's better that way, I guess.

"Nothing," I sigh, giving up.

"So please, try and act like you're okay during our first concert? First impressions are tough, and I don't want us to be frowned upon because of a bad week, alright?" Percy assures me.
"Things get better. They always do, Nico. I promise." As much as I want to believe what he's saying, I know it's not true. And I know that through the proof of my horrible life. It just keeps getting worse just as it seems like it should get better.

Summary: Nico gets interrogated by the press who all want to know what happened to his sister Bianca. However, Nico refuses to talk about it because he's not emotionally ready for it. Also, he believes it is his fault and doesn't want people to think poorly of him. Percy understands what Nico is going through, but finds it important for Nico to move on and not to dwell on the past. And, Percy informs Nico that their first concert, which is the first time they are ever preforming / singing is soon so they need to get ready.

Thoughts? Opinions? Suggestions? Predictions? TELL ME IN A REVIEW! :D