Chapter 30: A Second Chance

My eyes snapped open to the feeling of electricity coursing through my aching body. The acidic smell of ozone burned through my nostrils. I sat up, groaning in pain. I feel like I just got hit by a bus, then a train, then erupted out of a volcano, before finally taking a nosedive into bedrock.

I looked around to find five pairs of eyes staring at me in disbelief. Thalia hovered above me, her hands sparking with electricity and raised right above my chest like defibrillators.

I blinked. "Uh, hey, guys."

Without warning, everyone minus Zoe engulfed me in a giant hug. I hugged back without hesitation, not even bothered by the sudden physical contact. If anything, I was relieved to feel the familiar embrace, and even more relieved that they could feel it back. It's proof that this life is tangible and real; bare of illusions and lies.

"You're alive!" Grover exclaimed, hugging me tighter.

"So the Demon lives." Zoe eyed me curiously from the background.

Muffled by my—his ozone smelling jacket, Percy breathed in relief. "That's good. It would've been really bad if you died."

"Yep," Thalia chirped in agreement. "I almost had to make a detour to your Dad's place to remurder you, Demon Boy."

Annabeth ruffled my hair, and I noticed a bandage peeking from behind the curtain of her curls. "We really missed you, Neeks."

"I missed you guys too," I said before I could stop myself. Though I realized I really don't mind them knowing how important they are to me. I frowned slightly. I'm getting soft. Or is it just my 10 year old self taking the reins for once?

They pulled away after a minute or two, and somehow the mood darkened. But there was an eerie calm to it, a certain delayence that comes before a desert storm begins, and I knew the worst was yet to come.

"What were you thinking?!" Annabeth exclaimed suddenly, her storm grey eyes wide with hurt.

There it is.

I didn't know it was possible, but she looked like she was having a panic attack. Well, at least she's not in a coma.

"I'm sorry, but—"

"We almost lost you!" Percy shouted, chiming in. "Why would you ever do that?"

He's one to talk.

"Well, I—"

"Gods, you are worse than Kelp Head at getting yourself into trouble!" Thalia cried. "And that is saying something!"

They chewed me out some more, shouting and screaming in a chorus of chaos. They kept cutting me off, as if expecting me to obediently take the heat without defending myself. Finally, I had enough.

"SHUT YOUR FACE HOLES AND LISTEN UP!!"

That did the trick. The heavy sound of silence blanketed the once blaring desert. I took a deep breath, collecting myself. "Look, I understand you're upset. I'm sorry for putting you through that. I'm sorry for almost getting myself killed, but I couldn't let any of you go into the automaton. I wouldn't." I looked each and every one of them in the eye. I sighed, coming to terms with the silent message of exasperation on their faces. "Knowing all of you, you would have done the same thing." I turned to Annabeth. "How long was I gone?"

She crossed her arms and frowned at me, a clear sign not all is forgiven. "No more than a minute."

I frowned, confused. No more than a minute? It sure felt like more than a minute. The only explanation for such a paradox is time must pass by faster down there—well, wherever "down there" is, if it ever existed in the first place. Was it all in my head? Was it just a nightmare to snap me out of my delusions? Speaking of which, how did Bianca find me?

Wait.

"Where is Bianca?" I asked. My voice shook uncharacteristically as an uneasy feeling suddenly washing over me.

Grover guiltily gestured a few feet away from him where Zoe, who was trying hard not to cry, was cradling Bianca's unmoving body. My eyes widened in alarm, the sight reminding me too much of a corpse. "Bianca!" I ran to her, completely disregarding the weak feeling in my legs. "Bianca, wake up!" I cried, shaking her shoulders. She isn't gone—I can feel it—but the stark paleness of her clammy skin seriously worried me. Her now ashen freckled dusted her sudden snow complexion."What happened?"I demanded furiously.

I can't believe this. After all the effort to keep Bianca safe, she still suffered in the end. I failed her. I ran into that stupid machine and I still failed her. Why? Why do I keep messing everything up? No matter how hard I try, it never ends well for the people I love.

The atmosphere around us grew colder and somehow colorless. The shadows stretched along the barren wasteland like ink splotches on a canvas as black frost crackled across the once searing sand.

My knuckles paled in my enclosed fists as I tried to rein in my temper.

"We're not really sure," Percy said carefully, obviously taking notice of my frustration. "She passed out right after the automaton collapsed, but we think it's from the shock of feeling… well, your death."

I suddenly felt very sick to my stomach. Bianca heard the ringing. She felt my death. No one should have to feel such a feeling, yet, my sister just experienced it for the first time.

The messed up part? I know deep down it won't be the last.

"No, it wasn't just that," I said. My voice cracked slightly. "She was guiding my soul back to my body." I looked up, taking a shaky breath. "She saved me."

Annabeth frowned. "She guided your soul back to your body?"

I nodded. I described the dance of souls, the orchestra of lies, the strange trance it put me through, and how Bianca and I worked together to escape.

Annabeth stared at me in shock. "Nico, I think you just experienced animarum exultant lusibus."

"Dance of souls," Percy, Thalia, and I translated simultaneously.

Huh. Must be a cousin thing.

"It's the ultimate test for a soul. It tempts the victim with their greatest desires to lure them into the Underworld, but if they can resist the temptation—if they can escape—their soul is reunited with their body and they can live," Annabeth explained. "It's extremely rare and practically unheard of. It is incredibly hard to escape and few have succeeded. Bianca must have somehow interrupted the process and helped you through it."

I stared at Bianca, looking at her in a new light. She saved me, even after I lied to her and treated her horribly. The worst part? I didn't want to leave. In some twisted way, I wanted to die. I wanted to see my mother and my grandfather again, two people who, despite my best efforts to reminisce, are nothing short of strangers and blurry faces to me. It was as if Greed itself were whispering into my ear, promising me a life of peace and… home as long as I gave in.

As long as I failed the rest of the world.

A thought occurred to me."But, why me? Why didn't my soul go to the Underworld instead?"

"Well, legend says the—" Annabeth made snipping motions with her fingers. The Fates."—handpick souls whom they deem worthy to give them a second chance to live. The reasons vary, but usually it's because the soul has unfinished business in the Land of the Living. If a soul manages to escape, they are rewarded a token of some kind by them."

I was about to ask how Annabeth knew about this and I didn't, but I held my tongue. Instead I twisted my finger in deep thought, realizing there were more pressing matters than my not-so-extensive knowledge of the Afterlife. I cheated death without even realizing it? The Fates thought I was worthy enough to get a second chance… again?

No, that wasn't a second chance. That dance… Can I even call it a second chance? It felt more like a resurrection. No, it was a resurrection. It was a resurrection of not just my life force, but of my very being. My choices, my desires, my lies, my hopes, my memories, my entire life, everything unfolding in a daydream for Bianca to see. It wasn't The Fates that resurrected me, it was her. Bianca saved my life in more ways than one.

It was with this thought came the sudden realization of what has to be done. I felt a sense of resolution as I turned to my friends. They all exchanged nervous glances after taking one look at my face, and I knew why. This look, this feeling—it's the very same I expressed right before I sacrificed myself to the automaton. Except this time, it won't be my life I'm sacrificing.

"You need to leave."

Percy cocked his head in confusion. "What?"

"You have to get moving. We've wasted enough time as it is."

"Wait what? 'You?'" Percy questioned.

"Demon Boy," Thalia stared at me with something like fondness in her eyes. "do you seriously think we're going to leave you here?"

"Yeah, did you really think we were that mad at you?" Grover inquired. He then shrugged and gestured to Zoe. "I mean, she might be, but we aren't."

Zoe perked up and glared at no one in particular. "I am not leaving without Bianca," she announced.

"No," Annabeth looked at me strangely, and I knew she was beginning to connect the dots with what I was implying. "You figured out a way around the prophecy, didn't you?"

My eyes shifted to Bianca before I worked up the courage to make my verdict. "You five must head west to the Goddess In Chains. I can't come with you. I'm not meant to." I took a deep breath. "Everything in the prophecy is beginning to come true. The prophecy proclaimed one shall be lost in the land without rain. I was the one lost this time. The prophecy also called for five people to go west. There's seven of us. We are in no condition to travel with Bianca in her state, and honestly? I'm in no condition either." I subconsciously traced the swirling pattern along the palm of my hand, the burn suddenly feeling inflamed all over again.

Annabeth's eyes flickered to the scar on my left hand. "How did you get—"

"Don't worry about it." I forced myself to meet their unyielding gazes. "The point is I'm done leaving Bianca. I'm done holding back and I'm done keeping secrets. I can't do this anymore. I can't watch the people I love crumple to pieces before my eyes because of some stupid truths I can't tell. Because of some truths they figured out too late." My gaze was wistful as my eyes shifted to Bianca's still form. "I'm going to tell her everything, even if it hurts the both of us."

Percy reached out to touch my shoulder. "Nico—"

"Don't. You have to go. I have to do this." Percy must have seen the resolve on my face and realized convincing me otherwise was futile. He nodded, no doubt recalling the conversation we had last night.

"Be careful," he said, pulling me into a hug.

I returned it in kind. "You too." I reluctantly broke away from the hug, only to be pulled into another by Annabeth and Thalia.

"We just got you back and now it's like we're losing you all over again," Thalia murmured into the crook of my shoulder.

"It's not forever," I murmured back. "Bianca and I will meet you guys at Mt. Othrys. Zoe will lead you there. She can get you inside, but be careful. Luke will be there."

I tried to smile at Annabeth, but it came out more like a grimace. Still, she ruffled my hair, understanding the silent message of good luck. "We'll be okay and you're going to be too."

"Your optimism is refreshing," I replied dryly. I know what I have to do, but it doesn't mean I have to be happy about it.

"Good. You need it more than I do." As usual, the Daughter of Athena is correct.

"Take care, Kiddo," Grover said as he placed a supportive hand on my shoulder.

I mustered a smile. "You too." I turned to Zoe, who looked torn between staying with Bianca and getting a move on. I couldn't help but relate on more occasions than one. I walked over to her. "Hey, she's going to be alright. I'll make sure of it."

Zoe's ancient gaze was dark and penetrating. It was as if she were searching my very soul for even an ounce of doubt. She must have been satisfied because with a click of her tongue and a half-hearted scoff, she said, "Thou better, Demon." The lack of venom in her words didn't escape me, and the unaddressed threat didn't either.

I nodded in confirmation. "I will."

After they left, I gathered some loose twigs and dry shrubs to kindle a fire. It was around noon before Bianca woke up, and I decided this talk would be best with some food in our stomachs. I turned to flames, working up the words I would say for a prayer to Hestia, but, as if the flames had a mind of their own, they already summoned plates and mugs for me. Two plates of delicious baked ziti and two steaming cups of hot cocoa.

Comfort food.

Not long after, Bianca stirred in her sleeping bag, her soft snores slowly descending into even breathing. With a yawn, she sat up and blinked the sleep away. She stared at me and I stared back. It was with a pang of guilt that I recognized the look in her eyes, the very same look we now share. Her rich black irises that were once wide with innocence now slanted with anger. It occurred to me that she probably doesn't want to see the world for what it is—a cruel place full of cruel people who do cruel things. But she has to.

Long ago in a far away place, we used to race down sparkling canals and chase each other around marble pillars. We used to eat buttery popcorn and watch funny movies. We used to be happy. Now all of that seemed like a world away, and with a start I realized it was. Innocence is a funny thing. We think we can keep it and grasp it like a lifeline, but suddenly it's gone. We tempt life and we fail. This second chance that I have—it can change everything. A single choice, a single word, or a single action can alter the course of history as I used to know it. But this power is dangerous, more dangerous than I could've ever imagined. That much was clear when I took away my sister's innocence, all because I wanted to save her. All because I didn't want her to lose her innocence in the first place.

But really, the only way to save her was to tell her the truth before it could come out in the most horrific of ways. I don't regret what I did, and I won't regret what I'm doing now.

I held out her plate and gestured to the spot next to me around the emerald campfire. "Why don't you come sit and eat? We've had a long day," I said as she silently made her way over, grabbing her plate and digging in. "Besides, we have a lot to talk about."

She looked up from her Alfredo pasta and smiled sadly. "Yeah, we do."

And that's how I told my sister the story of how our family fell apart.