I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I know, I'm being rudely shaken awake. I mumble as my shoulders are shaken, to the sound of a laugh from someone else.

I ache. All over. My shoulders, my back, my head, my legs, and, most importantly, my heart.

I force myself to get up, though. I can't just take the escape route from the pain this time - it doesn't work that way, it doesn't fix anything. If anything, the pain from living is nothing, not when compared to the pain of having to think about your sins for all eternity.

At least I've learned my lesson.

I blink my eyes open, seeing light gray eyes right in front of me. I jerk back in surprise, hitting my head on the headboard of the infirmary bed that I've spent the last few - hours, days? - in. Immediately, a red-hot pain spreads through the back of my skull. "Are you kidding me!" I shout, then moan in pain and frustration. "Fuck this asshole-istic shit!"

The girl who was hovering over me gulps, then says, "Are you okay?"

I feel like yelling back, Okay? You think I'm okay?! Hardly. But instead, I just clear my throat and say, "Yeah."

The girl smiles. "That's good."

I push myself up into a sitting position, my throbbing head resting against the cold stone wall. My ankle doesn't hurt anymore; It's gone numb. I wish I could say the same of my head, which feels like it's about to burst open.

Suddenly, I realize that I don't know this girl. "Who are you?" I ask, blinking pained tears from my eyes.

"I'm Whisp." She replies in her light, feathery voice. "Whisp Waterwalker. I'm an Apollo kid, and I work here at the infirmary." She stands up. "I guess you could call me a nurse." She adds, as an afterthought.

"Okay. Well. I'm Nico DiAngelo. My Dad's Hades. I died and came back."

"Yeah." Whisp replies. "We've actually had quite a bit of that over the past few weeks."

"Really?" I ask, surprised.

"No." Whisp says, grinning. "You're really gullible."

I bite back the worst of my sarcastic humor. "You don't say."

Whisp pulls a face. "Aw, come on. Can't take a joke now, can we?" She laughs, her voice lingering like the phantom of a summer breeze, there, but not, merely a memory hanging onto the window of a fresh thought's home.

I blink. "Do you know where Will is?"

"You mean Solace?"

I nod in reply. "Yeah. Will Solace."

"Mmph..." Whisp replies, thinking hard. "I think he's at the gazebo. If you're up to it, you can go there for breakfast instead of having me bring some to you."

I nod again. "I think I'll do that." I swing me legs off of the bed and shakily rise to my feet. My ankle isn't just numb like I'd originally thought: It's completely healed. Tentatively, I step forwards, then start walking towards the exit, planting my feet down more surely with every step.

I pause by the exit for a moment before stepping outside. I turn to thank Whisp, but she's already gone.

Her name really does suit her.

...

"Will?" I ask, calling out before I've even completely reached the gazebo. "Will?"

I see a lone figure clad in black stand up and hurriedly walk away from the gazebo. Will.

I test my weight once more on my ankle, then start running. Thankfully, my ankle holds up, not causing any pain at all. I chase after Will as quietly as I can, eventually catching up to him.

As I near him, Will abruptly stops and turns. I can see the pain shining in his beautiful eyes, as clearly outlined as a blue flower in a field of white ones.

"Will," I start, but he cuts me off.

"No, Nico. I can't talk. Not here, not now. Just... Just give me a while, okay? I need to think this through."

"Think what through?" I ask, starting to feel anger bubble up from the depths of my scarred heart, yet at the same time nearly ready to cry.

Will just shakes his head and turns away. "Everything."