So I was in an operation and I wanted to give myself a break. So… Yeah. I'm back now. Here's the chapter. Thank you to all who reviewed! You mean the world to me! (::)(::)(::)(::)

I tried getting up, I tried calling for help—nothing worked. I was literally paralyzed with fear. I began to cry. It wasn't the darkness that scared me. No. What scared me was the idea that I was lost and would never find my way out of the darkness.

Maybe… I thought weakly. Maybe if I sit here and deal with the darkness, I can move on. It was the only idea I had, so I tried.

Nothing.

As the moments went by, I became even more scared. The white noise becoming louder and louder inside my mind. I prayed to my dad.

Daddy? Can you hear me? Help. Nothing.

The realization that I was on my own washed over me. As always. I mentally slapped myself. If normal people get over their fears every day, so could I.

I slowly got on my hands and knees, regaining on confidence and balance back. I tried to get on my feet. It was hard and took a long time, but I was able to do it.

I smiled. I'm on my way. I took my first step, but failed miserably. I fell back to the ground. I was crippled.

Okay… Plan B. Athena? If you're listening, send me a plan B. Again, no help.

Then I came up with a solution. My arms could move, but my legs could not. What if I simply crawled, using my arms to move? Kinda like they did in the army?

I tried it and was rewarded with the ability to move. I smiled. Now I am really on my way.

I crawled for what felt like hours, stopping every once in a while because of a scary noise or a jolt of paranoia; then stopped, because I was back in my house.

Everything was the same. My little sister was sitting in the corner, playing with her dolls, smiling. The smell of alcohol and cigarettes filled the air. Not the type of smell I wanted to smell after crawling through total darkness, but it was better than nothing.

Then the rain fell on my parade. I heard footsteps approaching. My mother.

I will spare you the bloody details, but suffice it to say glass bottles make excellent weapons. She kept hitting me and calling me names. Like 'worthless' and 'stupid' or 'ugly'. I cried. This was my mother. Why would she do this to me?

Do what you did in the darkness, a thought ran through my mind. Move. Just as the glass bottle began to swing down again, I rolled over to the left, avoiding the blow.

"What?" My mother rasped.

"Leave me alone," I said, deathly calm. Sometimes, being calm was scarier than lashing out. I hoped this was one of those cases.

It didn't help. "Oh my—I am your mother. You are my child. You can't tell me what to do."

I shook my head. "You are not my mother. Mothers care, protect, and love their kids. You don't. You don't love me. I won't let you hurt me or ruin my life anymore."

She laughed. "Oh, a big girl now? Where will you live? Who will be there for you? Not your dad, I know that for sure. How will you make it in the big bad world, River? Tell me that."

"I will live at my home—Camp Half-Blood. Nico will be there for me. My dad will love me. And how I will make it is none of your concern, mother."

I felt tears in my eyes, stinging, but I would not cry. I loved my mom—even through all her bad qualities—but I had to do this. And I could not cry. Could not show a sign of weakness.

My mother scoffed. "Whatever. Get out of my house."

I crossed my arms. "Not without Kristy. She's as much a victim as I am."

"You are not taking her! You will not take my baby!"

I felt my face burn. I was her baby. Kristy was adopted. Not to belittle Kristy—I loved her. But how could my mother do this to me? Then Hades's words came back to mind.

I sighed. "Fine. I'll go. Without your baby." I looked at Kristy and waved goodbye, before heading for the door, breaking my heart with every step I made.

I felt a sudden pull around me. I tried to fight it. What the? I thought. I lost control over my body and was pushed back. When I opened my eyes, I was back in the street with Deimos.

"What was—"

"I pulled you out of your fears, because your soul was beginning to burn your body alive. Your fear and anger and heartbreak were too much for your body to handle, so—"

A rock was thrown as Deimos's head. I turned to see the attacker and I swear, I felt my heart stop for a second.

Nico.

"How…"

He turned to me and smiled. "River, your alive! I felt your aura begin to die, so I tried to find you. Thankfully was able to feel your power and get here in time." He glared at Deimos.

I laughed softly, getting on my feet. "Like a hound dog." I hugged him. It felt nice having my friend with me again. No, I thought, he's my brother.

I looked back at Deimos. "If Nico hadn't come along, would you have let my soul burn?"

He smirked. "Maybe… Maybe not. Did you get the message?"

I nodded. He wanted me to know the difference of when I should fight on and when I should hold back. It wasn't always going to be easy, but I knew what I had to do.

"Good. Then you are not as hopeless as some of your other siblings. I promised you help for the Nevada chick, but, because you actually have a brain, I'll give you transportation too. Good luck, lil' sis."

I averted my eyes as my brother turned into his true divine form, shielding Nico's eye as well. When he was gone, I noticed he left a motorcycle. I grinned at Nico.

"I'm driving!" He stopped his foot.

"Aw! I wanted to." I laughed, hugging him and walking at the same time.

As we got on, Nico asked, "Where to now, Riv?"

I thought for a moment. There is no rush to get to Nebraska and Nico and I need a break… I smiled. "Chicago, Illinois."

"What's there?"

I laughed. "Navy Pier."