Percy POV

"Nico, I know that it's a weird request, but we need your help," I said firmly. "I'll give back your teddy bear afterward."

Nico simply stared at me. Honestly, the request was very strange. I was a grown man asking for a teddy bear. The fact that it was Nico also made it weird. Nico and I barely interacted because he was so shy.

Nico frowned as he held the golden-brown teddy bear.

"My sister, Bianca, made this for me at Build-A-Bear when I was younger. She gave it to me for my birthday. It's one of the only things that I have left of her," Nico expressed. Tears were bristling his dark eyes.

"What happened to her?" I asked softly.

Nico looked up. A raging fire stormed in his eyes. He looked angry as he sat down on his bed. I followed suit, and I was thankful that we were alone.

Annabeth trusted me, so she let me take charge of this request.

"We aren't the only batch of subjects that Elysium kidnapped. I was told by a CIA agent that my sister was found dead in a perceived car accident. However, they found a letter in her hand that explained that she was kidnapped by Elysium," Nico explained.

It took me a second to understand what Nico was telling me. Nico knew about Elysium; he lost his sister, Bianca, because of Elysium.

"Nico, I'm so sorry. That's awful," I expressed.

"Bianca was a beautiful soul, and she was a wonderful big sister. She didn't deserve to die. From then on, I vowed to find and destroy Elysium." Nico's face flared with anger and vengeance. Determination soaked his eyes. "And, I did find them here, but they also found me. Now, I'm stuck in here just like Bianca was."

"As long as we're stuck here, we're helpless. We need to escape," I said firmly. "That teddy bear will help Annabeth and I figure out how to escape. Then, we will take them down. Together."

Nico looked up and stared at my face. His gaze was piercing and deep, and it made me feel slightly uncomfortable. His black eyes flitted down to my lips.

It was at that moment when I realized that Nico di Angelo was gay.

I knew that Will was homosexual. It was an obvious characteristic of his, and Will didn't hide it either. However, I hadn't realized Nico's sexuality till now. I instinctually distanced myself from Nico so that I wouldn't give the wrong idea.

"The person that helped me with the blue room provided us with a clue. Your teddy bear is the key to escaping," I explained.

Nico looked back at his teddy bear before nodding. He flipped the teddy bear, so he could open the slit in the back. Nico and I both leaned back against the bunk bed so that we were (mostly) blocked from the security cameras.

Nico ruffled through the stuffing before pulling something out. I stared at the black pill in his palm: the Somnus drug.

The black pill was labeled with SN-10mg.

"This is Somnus," Nico said in shock. "This drug is one of the most dangerous paralytics in the world. It mimics death, which makes it very manipulative to use."

"Nico, how do you know so much about Somnus?" I asked.

"Whoever is helping you knows about my profession. I work in a forensic drug lab, specifically studying paralytics and analgesics."

Suddenly, footsteps started echoing through the bedroom. Nico quickly hid the pill, and we both straightened on the bed. However, it was only Annabeth approaching us.

"Wise Girl, we got it, and Nico's willing to help," I said quickly.

Annabeth sat down next to me, and we both looked towards Nico. Annabeth analyzed the pill after taking it from Nico. However, she didn't know much about Somnus, specifically.

"Annabeth, I work in a forensic drug laboratory. I know about Somnus. A ten-milligram dosage will certainly kill me and you upon ingestion," Nico said.

"Then, why would Reyna send this to us?" Annabeth asked. Nico looked intrigued by the new name mentioned, but he continued explaining.

"Ideally, a ten-milligram tablet of Somnus can induce total paralysis (mimicking death) for a few hours in an 80kg male."

Nico and Annabeth both stopped playing with the gel-like tablet and looked towards me. They were thinking the same thing. They thought that the pill was meant for me.

However, I had no clue how much I weight in kilograms.

"Um, I'm a six-foot male, who weighs about 180 pounds. I probably lost a few pounds after coming here though," I said nervously.

Nico and Annabeth both nodded, but their eyes stayed on me. I understood what they were telling me. We didn't know the plan exactly, but the pill was meant for me to take.

The 10mg tablet would kill anyone under 80 kilograms (which included all of the girls, Will, and Nico). It wouldn't be effective against Frank or Luke, who probably weighed more.

That left me and Jason.

Annabeth sighed as she studied the pill again. She was frowning. Her mind had probably come up with a plan, but she clearly didn't like it.

Regardless, Wise Girl explained the plan to us.

It was a plan that sent vibrations through my bones. I didn't like it at all.

...

As Annabeth, Nico, and I were putting together Reyna's plan, Leo was working on a device to disable the secret doors (along the walls). The electronic items that Elysium gave some of us helped him greatly.

Fortunately, the others were willing to give him parts of their items.

Leo had used components from our electronic items, various electrical panels throughout Sector 3, and a lot of scraps from the gym. Most of the gym equipment was made of metal and wires (ie ellipticals and treadmills).

Leo pretty much took apart the gym equipment.

Now, he was holding a small, electronic gadget. I was quite impressed with his abilities our technology and engineering. I had no idea what the gadget did, but I was impressed by his skills regardless. It took Leo many days to finish the gadget.

It was nighttime. We were all in the camera-less bathroom. Leo was quietly explaining the function of the now completed device.

Everyone was crowding around Leo as he explained his device.

"So, it's a crude stud-finder. However, it will detect an electronically-pulsing stud rather than a wooden stud. Then, I can press this button to induce a magnetic discharge," Leo explained as he pointed to various parts of the gadget.

I wasn't really understanding. Furthermore, I was hyperaware of the fact that everyone was here, including Luke. Everyone was participating in this escape plan.

The gadget had a flat side that acts as a scanner. Then, Leo also put a red button that apparently shoots a magnetic discharge.

"All right, I'm seeing that my words are glossing over you guys," Leo whispered.

We were talking very quietly in case there were microphones in the bathroom. There weren't any cameras, but there could be hidden mics.

"Okay, basically, the device will scan for an electric panel. Then, I can press this button to deactivate the electric panel. Theoretically, the electric panel that the device will detect behind the wall is the door panel."

"So, the magnetic discharge will fry the electric door lock. That should (at least for a few minutes) allow us to manually pry the secret wall doors open."

"Wait, Leo, will this seriously work?" Piper asked.

The device looked complex, but we couldn't test it or anything. Honestly, this was all theory. I had faith in Leo's abilities, but no one was confident.

"Theoretically, it should work. Percy and Annabeth know the specific locations of the doors. As such, I'll be able to quickly scan that section of the wall before getting caught. Hopefully, the device can deactivate the door."

"That's a stupid plan," Luke said boldly.

I sighed as Piper and Hazel both shushed him. He was speaking way too loud, but I wasn't sure if it was on purpose or out of frustration.

"SHHH, Luke, not too loud. Leo worked hard to make this device. He literally spent hours in the damn bathroom making the device. It's worth a shot," Jason said firmly.

I completely agreed. Leo deserved a lot of credit. While we had no clue what to do or where to go after opening the doors, this was the necessary first step to any possible escape. I wanted to escape. Everyone did.

"Leo, I'm very impressed. Thank you for this," I expressed genuinely. Leo smiled as he accepted the compliments.

Luke simply huffed before stalking off.

Rachel and Frank tried to stop him, but he didn't listen. At this point, I didn't even care if Luke would help or not.

"Leave him, guys," Thalia said cautiously. "Honestly, he'll join us whether he believes in the plan or not. After all, we all want to escape this hell."

A silence followed as we stared at the device. It was beautiful, and Leo was incredible. Hopefully, this escape plan would work.

Hopefully, I could avoid Annabeth and Nico's plan because I did NOT want to die. I didn't like their plan one bit. Their plan would certainly kill me.

My fingers fidgeted against the bump in my left pocket. The Somnus pill was weighing heavily in my pants.

I sighed as Leo took the device and hid it inside one of the stalls. He placed the device behind the toilet of the middle bathroom stall.

"All right, guys, so when do ya'll want to do this?" Rachel asked tensely.

BZZZZZZZZZZ. Suddenly, a buzzer started going off.

It was loud and obnoxious, and we all knew what it meant. Everyone filed out of the bathroom and joined Luke in the bedroom. We were all looking at the 1-hour timer on the TV that came out of the wall. The bedroom door was locked.

It was the middle of the night, yet we had a phase. Or, they were trying to get us out of the bathroom. Elysium was effectively doing both.

"Commence phase 7," a voice resounded.

We had no place to start. This room had already been a phase, and the room was usually never empty. As such, Elysium never had the chance to set up another game.

At least, we didn't think so.

Then, the timer started. The speaker system resounded again before Hera's cruel voice permeated through the room.

"Hello, subjects. Congratulations on making it to Phase 7. It is quite an accomplishment for this many subjects to make it this far. Past subjects haven't had the same level of success," Hera expressed.

I noticed Nico's hand clench into fists. I felt bad for him. His sister, Bianca, had been in our shoes a few years. She lost her life to Elysium's game.

"This phase is quite a simple one. As you all know, Elysium was very generous in giving you all a personal possession. You all enjoyed your gifts," her voice said smoothly.

Suddenly, a grave feeling sank into my gut. I knew where this was going.

"Subjects, this is a very simple phase. You have one hour to destroy the gifts that were given to you. A book should be ripped, a toy should be broken, and art should be sliced," her evil voice rang throughout the room.

"Subjects that fail to fulfill this mission will be exterminated," Hera continued.

Everyone in the room tensed. We all looked at each other. The pain and turmoil were present in every one of our faces.

No one wanted to destroy their personal items. Nico's teddy bear was a symbol of his sister's love. Annabeth's diary held so many memories in them. Rachel's art pallet and Thalia's guitar emphasized their passions. My encyclopedia (given to me by my mom) had such a special place in my heart.

Gods, Elysium is a model of evil.

"You have one hour to destroy the things you love," Hera ordered.

...