THANKS FOR ALL REVIEWS.
This chapter will actually be from Piper's point of view! I don't like her that much, mostly because I think she just forgot Leo since Jason came around, but… It was necessary.
If anyone wants to make this more painful than it already is (I cried while writing it), listen to Lady Antebellum's song Never Alone. I guarantee that it will be hundredth times more hurtful.
Livelaughrun: Thank you for the kind words :) And I don't get why people think it's weird to write about characters getting tortured. It's a very big part of the story and very important in character building too. For example, Harry Potter wouldn't be the same if he hadn't had a terrible childhood (a pretty bad example, but anyway). I've always loved characters that have suffered, because it makes them so much more interesting. It often makes them nicer and not selfish. Believe me, I hate "seeing" Leo or any other character that I love suffering, but it's necessary. Don't stop writing either, and definitely don't care about what those people in your school say. They don't know the first thing about writing if they can't understand how necessary pain is.
authourofmanythings: Percy meets her in Demigod Files (an extra book that takes place between The Battle of the Labyrinth and The Last Olympian) :) I recommend it strongly!
Chapter 37 – Gone
PIPER
Piper was desperately clutching on to Jason's arm. They were standing outside the House of Hades with Frank and Coach Hedge. Frank was shooting arrows to keep the monsters away.
She didn't feel anything. She had just one thing in mind, and it was to close the Doors of Death. Save Percy and Annabeth, save the world, save everything and everyone she loved.
Piper glanced up at Jason's face. He was pale, but he had a grim expression and his sky-blue eyes were full of determination to succeed with this quest. It struck Piper how much she loved him, and she squeezed his arm a little tighter. Jason gave her a questioning look, but she just smiled weakly and turned her attention to the three figures running towards them.
"Hurry!" Nico breathed as soon as he, Leo and Hazel reached them. "There's no time! COME ON!"
Nico didn't seem to care about the shocked looks everybody gave him. He looked fierce, angry, and it was something that definitely was wrong. The only one who didn't look shocked or surprised was Hazel; she was watching her brother with sad eyes and a pained expression that made Piper think she knew exactly why he was acting like that.
But there was no time to think. They all followed Nico in to the House of Hades.
There was completely dark in there. Piper couldn't see anything and it wasn't a darkness that your eyes could adjust to; it was a solid, thick blackness that no kind of light could cut through.
Leo made an annoyed huff somewhere next to Piper, but Nico just said:
"Don't even bother, it won't work."
It was something about the darkness that made Piper's chest tighten and her mind slowly get paralyzed with fear. She wasn't that scared of darkness, but this was different. It was horrible. She didn't know where she was, what she was doing there and where she was going. The only thing that kept her from going insane was the feeling of Jason's solid body pressed against her.
"Just keep walking." Nico said loudly. "As fast as you can. This is the same kind of darkness my father can melt to when he uses his helm."
Piper gulped.
But soon, Piper could see a light somewhere in front of them. She almost could make out the others now, and the darkness seemed… Thinner. She unsheathed Katopris and noticed that the Celestial Bronze actually shined.
A loud snap and a sudden bright flame told Piper that Leo's fire-summoning worked again.
Still, Piper couldn't see the walls of the room. She could make out the black marble floor, but that was all. She had an odd feeling that it wouldn't matter how light the room was, you would never be able to see it properly. It was terrifying.
"We won't make it if you're this slow!" Nico snapped angrily. "Come on!"
"Nico-" Hazel started.
"You want to save Percy and Annabeth or not?!" He interrupted.
They sped up.
The light was much closer now, and Piper could see what it was. It was a pair of huge, open bronze gates. They radiated death, pure death, and she was fighting the feeling of turning and running back. Piper felt that Jason was slowing down too.
Nico didn't stop; he walked right towards the Doors of Death. Hazel and Leo were quick to follow, and the rest of the group eventually did too.
There were no decorations on the gates; they were very simple, just a pair of normal gates in bronze, but huge. They went from wall to wall, but since you couldn't see the walls it looked like they went on forever. They radiated this power that made Piper's skin crawl and her body go numb with fear. Images of horrible monsters and killed people formed in her head, making her wince. Piper hadn't even seen any of those images in reality.
"I-It's okay." Jason's voice whispered in her ear, but it sounded so weak and thin that she, for once, didn't believe him.
A sudden, blood-freezing growl made everybody jump a few meters. It came from behind the Doors, and suddenly Piper realized that it wasn't the gates that were the problem; it was what was behind them.
"Tartarus." Nico said. He didn't sound scared or nervous. Piper glanced at him and tried to read him, but he had a perfect pokerface. Only his eyes were distant.
"Shouldn't it be welling monsters out from there?" Frank asked and frowned.
Nico closed his eyes.
"Not right now. It's like… Waves. Sometimes, no monsters are coming out, and sometimes it's like millions of them."
"And what now?" Leo asked nervously. "Where are Percy and Annabeth?"
"They're on their way." Hazel said.
"We'll have to wait about a few minutes." Nico agreed.
Everybody's eyes were fixed on the Doors or staring in to the darkness behind the bronze gates. Horrible growls broke the silence from time to time. Piper pressed herself as close to Jason as possible, shut her eyes and tried to push away the paralyzing fear and horrible images that filled her head.
It started with a murmur, a very quiet voice right from Tartarus. Piper's eyes flew open and she could hear the others inhale sharply.
"They-They're coming." Hazel gasped.
She was right. Piper couldn't make out the words, but she almost recognized Percy's voice. She held her breath.
And suddenly, they were there. Percy and Annabeth were standing in the darkness, and Piper almost cried out in relief. But the sound never made it to her mouth.
Annabeth's left side was drenched in blood. She still had the bubble wrap around her ankle, and her hair was so dirty that it didn't look blonde. She was leaning against Percy, whose arm had a huge wound with green liquid flooding out from it. He had a deep, red cut on his forehead. Other from that, they had a lot of bruises and smaller cuts too, but that wasn't the worst.
Their faces were dark, and it was so much pain and fear in them that Piper caught her breath just looking at them. And their eyes were like broken glass, you could practically see how broken they were and how horrible things they had gone through just looking in to them.
Everybody ran to them at once. Maybe their attempt had been to help them, but it quickly resulted in a tight group hug.
"Oh my gods." Piper said, tears escaping her eyes. "You're alive!"
Somehow, Percy actually managed to pull off a grin. It was weak, but it still was a grin.
"Yeah, we're alive."
"What happened to you?!" Frank asked. "Those-those wounds…"
"…Will heal." Annabeth finished. Piper was surprised over how calm she sounded. "We have to close the Doors. Fast. The monsters were chasing us. They'll come soon."
"There's a lock on the other side. It doesn't matter if we close the Doors; someone has to lock them." Percy explained.
"But if it's a lock on the other side, why can't the monsters just open the Doors all the time?" Jason asked, confused.
"It can only be locked with a Demigod or god's touch." Annabeth said. "Someone has to go in there."
The silence that followed Annabeth's word was eerie. Piper felt something in her melt. They couldn't just send someone in there again; it was too cruel, it was worse than killing them. She looked at Percy and Annabeth, how broken they were, and the thought of making someone like that made her guts twist.
"I'll go." Jason said grimly. "I'll do it."
And that was when Piper's world fell apart. She wanted to scream. She wasn't letting Jason go in there, she wasn't, she wasn't going to lose him. Piper hugged him tightly, trying to show him without using her voice that she wasn't going to let go of him, never. Not after everything they had been through. She felt Jason's hand caress her hair while she hid her face in his shirt, tears burning in her eyes.
"No, I'm going." Coach Hedge said. He didn't even sound scared. "I'll show them that I'm not a worthless satyr just because I'm old!"
"Coach?" Jason said.
"Yeah, Grace?"
"You can't lock the Doors. You're not a Demigod."
Coach Hedge didn't reply.
"I'll lock it." Frank grumbled.
"No!" Hazel's voice broke. "No, Frank. I'll go."
"Never." Jason hissed.
"Why is it so hard for you to get? I'll go!"
"You have to stay here and help the others. I'll go."
Piper raised her head and glanced at Percy and Annabeth. They looked tired, and it struck Piper that they hadn't volunteered to lock the Doors. She knew that they should have been the first; they would gladly give themselves to Tartarus if it meant saving their friends. But they were just standing there quietly, watching the others fight with sad eyes and holding each other.
It's so horrible in there, that even they don't want to go back, Piper thought.
"I'll do it." Piper croaked. "I-I'll do it."
Jason stiffened. Then he pulled her away and stared in to her eyes.
"Don't be silly, Pipes. You're not going to lock the Doors."
His sky-blue eyes stared in to hers, and she caught a glimpse of fear behind the brave facade. Piper couldn't find her voice. Jason wrapped his strong arms around her again, and she melted at the touch. No, no one of them was going.
"You're so silly."
Everybody turned and stared at Nico. He was staring at the Doors with a… longing expression.
"You don't know how it is in there. You won't survive. I did because I'm a son of Hades, Percy and Annabeth did because they had each other. But at some point, you just have to give up. Give in. Stop fighting. If you're not strong enough, you give up when you're still in there. Or you give up when you've made it through, when you've come out from there. You'll give in to the fear and just accept what you've been through. If you do it when you're in there, you just… Give yourself to death. Embrace it. And it's not… It's not as horrible as you think. You're just too tired to care."
There was an expression on Nico's face that Piper couldn't read. She suddenly felt sorry for him. What would you have to go through to actually want to die? What had he gone through?
But Hazel gripped his shoulders and made him stare right in her face. She didn't even say anything, she just looked at him, and somehow he seemed to understand. He looked at her with tired eyes, but when she let go, he didn't volunteer to lock the Doors.
Everyone was quiet.
"You know what? Let's just try to close the Doors as much as we can and worry about the rest later." Coach Hedge huffed.
No one had a better plan, so they walked to the gates and split up to two different groups for each one. Piper felt like she was going to fall down death if she walked any closer, but she couldn't do anything about it. She took a hard grip around one of the rods, ignoring how her heart raced faster and faster.
Piper, Jason, Nico and Frank started to push as Leo, Coach Hedge, Hazel and Nico did the same to the other gate. Percy and Annabeth joined them.
It hurt to push them close. Just touching the gates made Piper feel like she was burning and they were really heavy too. Sweat pearled on her forehead, and she gritted her teeth in
The growling form the other side got louder.
"A new wave of monsters is coming." Nico warned. "We better be quick."
Leo was staring in to the darkness behind the Doors. His eyes were dark and full with a burning pain and sadness that worried Piper. She realized that he had been completely quiet while the others had fought about who would be locking the Doors, which worried her even more.
"The lock." He suddenly said and turned to Percy and Annabeth. "Is it mechanic or anything?"
Percy frowned a little. He had a pained expression on his face.
"No. It's a small, circular mark on one of the rods. It's in gold. We figured you just have to touch it."
Annabeth didn't answer. She was pale and sweat pearls were running down her forehead.
"It's magic." She said through gritted teeth.
Piper looked at them with a worried expression.
"We have to get you two back to the ship. We have ambrosia and nectar there."
Percy shook his head.
"It doesn't work. Annabeth and I had some with us when we fell down there. The poison is too ancient."
"We have to get back to Camp Half-Blood. The Golden Fleece is the only thing that can help." Annabeth said. "But we have to close the Doors first."
"Stop pushing." Leo suddenly said, and everybody stopped. The gates were almost closed now, but a person could probably squeeze himself through them and get to the other side if he really tried.
They stopped and looked at him with puzzled expressions.
"I am going in." he said, and Piper felt like her heart stopped for a second.
"No!" Hazel had a wild look in her eyes. "No, Leo, you are NOT-"
"No." Piper felt like her throat was closing up. "No, there has to be another-"
But she stopped. Another what? There weren't another way. Someone had to go in. Piper didn't want anyone to do it, but someone had to.
Annabeth held up her hand, her expression grim and the grey eyes stormy.
"Leo, do you know how dangerous it is in there? I only survived because of Percy. You will get yourself killed, and who will steer the ship if-"
"I don't care!"
Piper and everyone else jumped of surprise.
"I'm going in!" Leo screamed. "You can't do anything about it. I screwed up; Gaea maybe would be less awake if it wasn't for me. Medea waked here up just to visit me and-"
Piper saw something she didnt expect; tears were running down his cheeks. For the first time, she realized that Leo blamed himself for everything that happened. Everything. Guilt boiled in her and it hurt more than touching the stupid gates.
"Leo, no." Hazel whispered. She looked completely broken, tears flooding out from her eyes. "Leo, we've talked about this. It isn't right. It's not your fault."
Leo hesitated. He looked at Hazel, and there was so much love in his eyes that Piper felt her own heart melt.
Tears were still running down his cheeks. He swallowed.
"I need to do this." Leo said quietly, and Piper could see how much it hurt him. "It's for you. It's for the best."
Piper saw how much Hazel struggled to not break down, and she was losing the battle.
"No, you can't, I won't let you!" She cried. "You can't leave me alone. Please, Leo, don't."
Leo's face broke in to a smile. It was a genuine smile, a real smile, not the grin that he hid all his pain behind. He slowly caressed Hazel's cheek.
"I love you." He said. "You're never alone, Hazel. You have the others."
Hazel cried, and Piper's heart ached. Guilt, pain and tears mixed in to a complete mess in her, and she just wanted to say something, do something, but all she could do was stand there and stare.
"But you'll be gone." Hazel whispered so quietly that Piper almost didn't hear her. "You'll be gone."
Leo leaned in and kissed Hazel's forehead, a soft, small kiss like a blessing.
"My love will follow you, stay with you, and you're never alone."
He turned to the others and grinned.
"Good luck. Save the world. Don't disappoint me."
"Leo, are you sure?" Annabeth asked, her voice soft.
"You don't need to do this." Jason said grimly.
Leo shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Annabeth, take care of Argo II. You're the only one who knows at least a little about how to steer her. Jason, don't let Beauty Queen get hurt."
And suddenly, Piper found her voice again. She stumbled to Leo.
"Leo, please." Piper whispered. "Don't do this. Your mom died for you. Don't-You can't-"
"That's why he has to do this." Nico suddenly said. He regarded Leo with dark, knowing eyes.
Leo nodded, and met Nico's gaze. Some kind of understanding passed between them, and Nico shook Leo's hand.
"Good luck." He said simply, and Leo smiled.
"Take care of Hazel for me."
Piper glanced over at Hazel. She was gasping for air, shaking violently and still crying. Frank was standing next to her, looking very confused.
Leo pulled Piper in to a tight hug.
"I'm so sorry, Leo." Piper whispered in his ear. "I'm so sorry for just ignoring you because of Jason. I'm so sorry."
"C'mon, Pipes. You are amazing." Leo said and grinned when they pulled away. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"I love you, Repair Boy." Piper said and smiled.
"I love you too, Beuaty Queen. I promise that this will help you save the world." Leo said.
"What?" Jason asked.
"An oath to keep with a final breath." Leo explained. "Now no one else of you have to die for this quest."
And with those words, he flashed them all a last smile and squeezed himself through the Doors of Death.
In silence, they closed the gates. Piper could still make out Leo in the darkness behind the Doors. He reached a hand out and put a finger on a spot on one of the rods.
A loud rumbling sound shook the House of Hades. The Doors started to glow.
"Cover your eyes!" Jason yelled.
Piper closed her eyes and hugged Jason. A cold breeze from Tartarus blew over them, making them all shudder, and suddenly the light died out. Piper opened her eyes and looked at the gates, which looked exactly like before but now closed. She fixed her eyes on the darkness behind them, trying to make out Leo.
But he was gone.
This was the last chapter. There will be an epilogue too, so we don't need to say goodbye just yet. I just want to tell you how grateful I am for your support all the way through this; I would never have continued to write if it wasn't for you. I genuinely love you.
Don't kill me! The epilogue is left. I just want to tell you that I didn't write this ending to hurt you, but because I'm really scared this will actually happen in the House of Hades. And I knew it would end like this before I even started to write this fanfiction.
The epilogue will come soon! Love ya!