Silence
Percy looked down at the battered body with tears in his eyes. He couldn't believe this was happening. It couldn't be happening. Not to her, Not to them. It was supposed to be a quick mission, get the demigods to camp. But then the monsters attacked, and there were too many, and it gave him chills when he remembered what happened last time she was surrounded by monsters.
He prayed. He prayed to every god he could think of, even Hades and Dionysus. Don't be dead, just don't let her be dead. Was the repeated mental chant, with the occasional Even turn her into a tree again, I don't care.
But Thalia Grace still lay on the hard road, life slowly draining out of her, and Percy felt whatever shred of faith he had in the gods vanish.
"K-kelp-Head," She chocked, forcing the words out of her heavily damaged throat. She always was a fighter. "D-don't worry a-about m-m-me. I-I'll be in E-Elysium, A-And maybe s-see Jason and A-A-Annabeth and L-Luke again-n." She gave him a weak smile.
Usually, Percy got super mad and jealous whenever Thalia mentioned Luke, but right now, he was hollow. He doubted he could feel anything at all.
"I-it'll be f-f-fun." She continued, letting the tears flow freely. "Y-you and N-Nico can visit, a-and it w-w-will be l-like old t-times."
He noticed her breathing getting slower and shorter, and he couldn't help but reach out and grab her hand. "I love you."
"I-I know." She said, closing her eyes. Her hand went limp in his and her chest stopped moving.
"Thalia..." Looking at her stiff and oddly peaceful form, he could help but lean over and press a soft kiss to her forehead.
He didn't cry. She wouldn't have wanted that. Instead, he laid down beside her and hugged her body close.
Percy wasn't sure how long he laid there, but the silence was unbearable. Yet he didn't have the heart (or will) to break it.