This comes from one of my weird dreams. I've written it with as much as I can remember so if it's a bit mad, blame the dream brain.
Can't believe I've not updated this one in so long! My bad, guys! Got distracted doing the rewrites!
Annabeth beamed and unhooked the hanger. "What about this, Lou?" Her soon-to-be sister-in-law glanced over. "Little overalls!" Annabeth prompted, jostling the leg. "Aren't they cute?"
"Mm." Louisa said. She drew a T-shirt from her side of the racks. "I like this one better."
"You would." Annabeth sighed. The T-shirt was red with white letters that read 'MY AUNT IS THE BEST- DON'T TELL MOMMY'. "I'm getting these." Annabeth waved the overalls at her. Louisa pouted at her, holding onto the T-shirt defiantly. "I'm not putting that on my baby."
"I am."
"No. You're just as bad as Percy."
"Does he still want Sharkbait?"
"Or Nemo."
"Aha, call it Nemo."
"My baby is not an it. He's a boy."
"Hey. Don't stick ya labels on the squirt."
"Again with this? Look, if he wants to change his labels and his pronouns, that's fine. But he's not even born to decide that yet, so ssssshhh." She put a finger to her lips, trying to glare her companion into quiet, like she had seen Reyna do so many times. Louisa just smirked, thumbing her nose at her.
"No."
"Why did I come with you again?" Annabeth rolled her eyes. Shopping with Louisa was a rarity and even more of a headache. She got bored easily, always wanted food and did not have any impulse control. Annabeth had managed to stop her buying a hoard of Nerf guns, but had failed to stop her buying the giant shark toy now squashed on the backseat of her car. Reyna would not be impressed to see that.
Louisa hummed to herself, sifting through the racks again. Annabeth was aiming for sensible clothes, cute clothes. Louisa was hunting for something amusing, something that her brother would undoubtedly use on his son. She had stuff with fish on, sharks, mermaids, surfing, pirates, the likes, determined to make sure her nephew was cool. Annabeth was not amused by that, insistent that her baby would be more like her- "He had better be after carrying him for so long!"
She moved around the rack, budging Annabeth over with her hip and inspecting the line of overalls for herself. Annabeth glowered at the side of her head, but got no reaction. She made a mental note not to invite Louisa out again any time soon. She watched sulkily, one hand on her bump, as Louisa tapped her finger on the nearest set of dungarees, making a face. "I like them." Annabeth said indignantly. "So I'm buying th- what's wrong?" Louisa had tensed. Despite her 'alleged' insanity, Annabeth had come to trust Louisa's instincts.
Louisa stared down the aisle, her back to Annabeth. They could see the shop's entrance from here, the line of tills and stack of baskets. Annabeth peered around her carefully, not seeing anything untoward. Louisa seemed to be listening more than observing, turning slowly to search behind Annabeth.
Annabeth listened to, hearing the crackly music somewhere overhead, the footsteps and mild chatter of other shoppers. She turned as well, hearing a door open somewhere. Louisa swore under her breath. She grabbed Annabeth by the shoulders, yanking her down to the floor, cushioning her fall with her own body.
Annabeth had seen the same thing she had.
Masked men, armed with guns.
Louisa wriggled them under the line of clothes, watching the men's booted feet sneak into the store. "You OK?" She breathed.
"Think I crushed your ribs." Annabeth whispered.
"Nah, had worse." Louisa shook her head. "Shit." She rubbed at her jawline, eyeing Annabeth up sidelong. She was piecing together a plan, Annabeth saw, wincing at various outcomes she did not share. Annabeth's condition probably made things a bit trickier.
"Not an invalid." Annabeth reminded her, still whispering and pinching her arm.
"I would be if you got hurt." Louisa countered quietly. "Stay here." She ordered, wriggling out backwards. Annabeth followed her feet, saw her stopping and gauging where the men were. She went to other aisles, quietly warning customers, making her way around cautiously.
Annabeth stayed put, curling up as much as she could. She was on her knees, doubled over, leaning on her elbows as to not squash her baby. Clothes tickled the top of her head. She was not as concealed as she would have liked, but it would have to do for now. What were these guys doing? She guessed the door they had come through was a fire exit, maybe, but why would they come into a shop full of baby gear, armed like they were going to war?
She glanced over her shoulder, inspecting the entrance. Customers were starting to leave, informing the staff. There were no security guards. The police would have to be called.
She ground her teeth, cursing silently. She had lost sight of Louisa's muddy sneakers, pressing her hands together. A sharp tap in her stomach, the baby kicking in protest at her uncomfortable position.
Where was Louisa? Was she still directing customers out? The men were fanning out now, checking every aisle. Annabeth could see one set of boots tromping down the aisle next to hers, ducking her head and bad-mouthing her bright hair. She had to find Louisa, she couldn't stay here, it wasn't safe. She had to-
BANG.
Screams flew from the staff, the last stragglers of customers. The gunshot rang in Annabeth's ears- it had been close.
A second soon followed, then a stream, tearing through clothes and spraying across the ceiling. She heard Louisa yell, a thud of something hollow on something fleshy and the gunfire ceased. The boots now entering Annabeth's aisle turned away, joining their brethren in dealing with the interruption.
"Where did she go?" One demanded. Annabeth figured it was coming from about five aisles away, focusing on the corresponding boots. "Fuck." He swore, hurrying down another aisle. One of his buddies was lying on the floor, gun missing, head bleeding. "Find her!" He raged.
Something grabbed Annabeth's jacket. She jolted, wrenching her knife from her sleeve.
"Blondie!" Louisa hissed, going cross-eyed at the point of the blade.
"What the hell?" Annabeth hissed back, tempted to slap her, but realising the noise would only draw more trouble. Louisa put a finger to her lips, ducking her head to check on the gunmen. Are you insane? Annabeth mouthed incredulously. Louisa shrugged a shoulder. She had the missing gun, finger ready on the trigger.
Louisa motioned with her head, gripping Annabeth's hand. They moved along the aisle, doubled over. Annabeth stepped where Louisa stepped, hardly a squeak from their sneakers as they hurried along. Louisa kept the gun primed, peering around corners before rushing Annabeth ahead of her. A staff member noticed them coming, frantically gesturing.
Someone else noticed too.
"There!" He roared.
"Shit!" Louisa scrambled out, aiming the gun down the centre aisle. She fired a burst, catching the man in the shoulder. He darted to one side, but the other men were coming now. "Beth, go! I'll catch up!" Annabeth swore, but her baby was kicking more insistently. She had to keep going, for him.
The staff member that had waved at them, grabbed her by the hand and led her away, outside.
"The police have been called." She assured Annabeth. "They're on route now." They both ducked as more gunfire sounded, Louisa swearing some more. Another customer joined them, an elderly woman, as pale as her shock of white hair. She gripped Annabeth's shoulder.
"There's more in the rest of the mall. They're sealing the exits."
"How'd you-?"
"Heard one of them talking." She squeaked. "That's when your friend turned up and got us out."
"OH, YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" There was a clatter, followed by an alarm and the streaming of sprinklers. The shutter started to fold down, rattling and clanking.
"Lou!" Annabeth cried. Her friend appeared at the last moment, sliding under the shutters with under a foot before it closed. Louisa yanked it down the last of the way, jamming a knife into the loop where the lock went and into the ground. Bullets splattered the other side, denting the metal. "Move!" Annabeth ordered, waving at the other customers and staff. "That won't hold, move back! Lou, they're everywhere!"
"I know, I know! I heard!"
"We need to get these people out of here!" Annabeth motioned to the group. Louisa looked over her shoulder, blood seeping from her temple.
"I'm fine." She snapped, seeing Annabeth studying the scarlet mess. She jammed more pressure on the knife and rose. More gunshots rattled the shutter. The group of mortals scurried back more, huddling together.
Louisa considered their surroundings, narrowing her eyes. She wiped at the blood on her face and sighed. "That way." She said. "Move quietly, stay close."
"Where's your gun?" One of the staff members asked, shuffling closer.
"Embedded in a skull, let's go." Louisa grabbed Annabeth's hand and marched off. The group hurried along behind her, keeping tightly knit.
Louisa set off a fire alarm, checking each shop they passed. She peered over the railings to a floor below, listening intently. In her hand, was a radio speckled with blood. She thumbed the volume, pressing the device to her ear. Annabeth leaned in, hardly hearing the voices.
"-crazy woman shut us in-"
"-fire alarm-"
"-police soon-"
"-fuck them, stick to the plan! Close all exits!"
"If you see that psycho, KILL HER!"
"You make friends wherever you go." Annabeth joked weakly. Louisa half-smiled, leaning over the railing some more.
"There's about twenty of them down there." She mumbled. Annabeth frowned. "Yes, yes, I know, bad Lou. But there's twenty down there. More on the ground floor."
"And this floor?"
"Five back there." She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. "Maybe another dozen that way." She pointed forward. Annabeth saw signs to the food court.
"And we're going towards it?" The elderly woman squeaked.
"Yes 'n' no." Louisa sighed. "There's an elevator just before the food court. Gonna get you lot to it 'n' down ta the carpark underneath."
"If they see us in that elevator, it'll be like shooting fish in a barrel!" One of the staff protested.
"I can always throw you over the edge." Louisa pointed.
"Elevator."
"Thought so." She clipped the radio to her waistband and took Annabeth's hand again.
"I'm not going to run off."
"I know. 'Cos I'll rip ya arm off if ya try."
"Thanks, Lou. Love you too."
Annabeth kept an eye on Louisa. She could gauge where the intruders were and how many, and not because of prior knowledge overheard, but because she was an idiot and was using powers she shouldn't. If this back-tracked her progress, Reyna would have Annabeth's head for target practise.
She kept looking back, in case the baby shop gunmen had broken through the shutter. There was nothing so far. Maybe they had gone back to their original plan, left them alone. If so, that probably meant there were others looking out for them. "Lou." She breathed. "Can you tell where Percy is?"
"Ground floor. He ain't happy."
"Is he-?"
"Ain't hurt." Louisa assured. She could not say the same for herself. The bleeding had stopped, but only because Annabeth had stolen a T-shirt from Gap and used it to stem the flow. Blood had dried in a rough, thick line from Louisa's hairline to her jaw, dark droplets crusting on her jacket. They had split from Percy, Leo and Calypso earlier. They wanted to look at the video games. Annabeth wanted to spend a little time with Louisa, get her used to the idea of being an aunt. Despite the baby being due in less than a month, Louisa still did not like the idea of said baby. Squishy, was one word she had used. Loud and screamy were the others. "'N' shitty. They're always shitty." Annabeth had argued she was a baby once. Louisa shrugged, claimed it hadn't happened if she didn't remember it. That's when Annabeth found the dungarees and fell in love with them, ending that ridiculous argument.
"What about the other two?"
"Mm. They're OK. With Percy."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. They're gettin' people out too."
"How many-?"
"Not many. Fire alarm worked. Just this lot 'n'… 'bout six or seven people with them."
The food court came into view. In an alcove, just before the first fast food chain, were two elevators.
Louisa listened again, looking around carefully. She motioned and ran across the floor, tugging Annabeth along with her. The group raced across, making a beeline for the lifts. The elderly woman smacked the button repeatedly. "That doesn't make it go faster." Louisa pointed out drowsily. Annabeth frowned, peering into her eyes. "'M fine." Louisa gently pushed her head away.
"How do we know they're not in the carpark?" Someone piped up. Louisa stared blearily in their direction.
"They ain't. They're in the mall."
"What if they're waiting outside?" They demanded.
"Then I'll deal with 'em. But I'm gonna get you lot ta ya cars first 'n' then I'll deal with 'em."
"Wait for-"
"The police?" Louisa finished for them, laughing bitterly. "That'll be the day." The elevator doors opened with a pleasant ding. Louisa ushered them in, Annabeth first. She checked their route behind them one last time and then squished herself in. Annabeth could see the reluctance in her eyes- claustrophobia was a bitch.
"It'll only be a minute, Lou." She assured. Louisa didn't seem to hear her, smacking the button to the carpark repeatedly and hypocritically. The elderly woman noticed, but didn't say anything.
Annabeth kept an eye on the numbers. Three, a series of downward arrows, then two. More arrows and the number one blinked up. Just as quickly, it was gone. The lights switched out with a thunk, plunging them into darkness. The elevator stopped harshly, bumping them about.
"No, no, no, no…" Louisa started hitting the button more, any button when that didn't work. Annabeth pushed her way through, retrieving her knife.
"Easy, Lou." She advised, resting a hand on Louisa's shoulder briefly. Louisa swore profusely, loudly, punching the panel so hard, she left behind a crimson stain on the polished steel. Annabeth tutted, moving to the door. She wedged her blade in the gap, a little bit of emergency lighting spilling through. "Lou." She called. "Help me here."
"Wh-?"
"The door, help me get the door open."
"R-right." Louisa pulled a knife from her sleeve too, cramming it in below Annabeth's. They pushed in opposite directions, forcing the doors open. Louisa stuck her hands in the second there was enough room, shoulders squaring as she shoved them open. Annabeth had a sudden moment of realisation- now she understood Piper's weakness around Louisa. Still not her type though- she would stick with the Seaweed Brain she was set to marry, not the Kelp Head in front of her.
They weren't in line with the doors for the first floor. Louisa sighed, having to crouch and steal Annabeth's knife to pry them open too. She climbed down first, a gap about a foot and a half square, a slight drop. Annabeth heard her take a deep breath, as if she had been trapped for hours, not a minute. "OK." She said, voice steadier. "Come through. Blondie, you last."
"Lou-"
"Last." She insisted. Annabeth sighed, but she understood. Louisa had to protect her, and her unborn nephew, or Percy would kill her, sister or not.
Their group sidled out, Louisa helping each one down. The elderly woman nearly fell, misjudging the jump. Louisa caught her with a muttered swear. "Don't do that, Doris."
"My name is Agnes."
"Sorry." Louisa set her down carefully. "You OK?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"Right. Blondie, now you."
"Sure I'm allowed out?"
"Can ya snark me later? We've gotta get out of here." Louisa's hand appeared, tapping the floor of the elevator irritably. Annabeth smacked her hand away, sitting down and sliding her legs through the gap. "Mind me nephew."
"I do know."
"Mind his head. They're squishy."
"I know." Annabeth wriggled through, Louisa hugging her legs and then gently lowering her. "See? No big deal."
"That," Louisa jabbed a finger at the elevator with a disgusted look, "was a really big deal. I'll take gunmen over that any day."
"Bit extreme, but go off."
"Now what?" Agnes asked. "We're not in the carpark."
The power had been turned off here too, not a single light other than from the large window in the ceiling. There was no air conditioning, warmth already prickling their skin. Louisa looked around, picking at her lip as she thought.
"There's gotta be a staircase somewhere. Ah, bastards." She grabbed Annabeth and one of the others by the arm, hauling them into the nearest shop- a toy shop. The others scrambled after them. "Hide!" Louisa hissed. "Get to the back of the store!" The group fled. Annabeth didn't. Louisa took a deep breath, pressing her hands together, almost in prayer. "Blondie-" She began tightly.
"I can help."
"'N' I don't doubt that, but if you get shot, ain't no-one gonna help me then."
"We can set a trap for them. How far away are they?"
"Comin' down the escalators, down there." She gestured vaguely to her left. Annabeth pursed her lips. "They're gonna have ta check shops 'n' stuff. The cameras are down too, so if they were watching through those, they can't now. That buys us, what, twenty minutes?"
"That'll do. Gather all the jump ropes you can." Annabeth moved towards the wooden block toys, the shape-sorting toys, then into the next aisle with stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes. Louisa set to work, grabbing up every jump rope and ripping them from their packaging.
Annabeth sat before the store front, weaving together the ropes. Louisa stood guard, sword in hand. It wouldn't do much good against mortals, but it was a reassuring sight nonetheless. "OK, Lou, pull the shutter down, but don't seal it. Leave it a little bit open."
"Uh, sure." Louisa obliged, wincing at the noise it made grinding against its gears. Annabeth worked faster, tying in a few poor teddy bears. She had to get Louisa to help her up- eight months pregnant was no sort of state to be sitting on the floor. Together, they strung the jump rope/teddy bear combination from the ceiling, about a foot or so from the shutters. "Now what?" Louisa breathed. Annabeth looked around, grinning when she saw what she wanted.
"You like fire extinguishers, don't you, Lou?"
"Yes. They make a funny noise when you bosh them."
"Well, happy birthday then."
"Aww, ya shouldn't've."
The gunmen got quite a surprise when they yanked the shutters open. They were expecting scared hostages, not teddy bears swinging at them with sweetly smiling faces on a wild tangle of jump ropes. The split second surprise brought Louisa time to spray them with the fire extinguisher, dispensing thick foam with the force of a pressure washer over the attackers.
With a yank, Annabeth hauled her creation down. Louisa charged through with a manic laugh. The first man to wipe foam from his mask looked up in time to get the butt end of a fire extinguisher crush his face. He fell, hard, gun flying from his grasp. Louisa hopped over him, swinging her new weapon like a bat and knocking two others down. There was a fourth, who was retreating, gun aimed at Louisa.
"One move!" He warned. "One move and I'll shot ya!" Louisa only laughed.
"Yeet!"
Annabeth had never seen something as beautiful as a fire extinguisher still spewing remnant foam cutting through the air like a wingless plane and slam end first into a bad guy's easily breakable face. He crumpled like a puppet with their strings cut. Louisa snatched up each fallen weapon, removing the magazines and hurtling them away at random.
"Um, are they dead?" One of their group had ventured out. Annabeth saw 'Francine' on her nametag, recognised her as the one that had waved at them to hurry in the baby shop.
"Nah." Louisa kicked Number Three in the leg. "Gonna have a nasty headache when they wake up though." She cocked her head, narrowing her eyes a fraction. "We need ta move, c'mon." She dropped the last empty gun and snatched Annabeth's hand again. Annabeth couldn't help it this time:
"Hope Reyna doesn't get jealous." She smirked.
"Don't tell her. No, wait, life or death. Eeesssh, mmiiiigggghttt get away with it."
"Mm-hm." Annabeth snickered. Louisa stuck her tongue out, waving to the group to hurry again.
They moved past most of the shops, all dark, but thankfully empty. Louisa led them on, pausing to listen every so often. Annabeth heard speculation in the group- radar hearing, psychic powers, and the likes- but it wasn't something so simple.
The radio Louisa still had crackled with anger and frustration.
"-five down, they're hurt! All head wounds!"
"Find her and kill her!"
"Wonder what they're doin'." Louisa mumbled. "Robbin' the place?"
"Maybe."
"Lots of shops ta steal from."
"Yes, but there's quite a few of them."
"Not anymore." Louisa grinned devilishly.
"Let's just get these people out of here."
"Yes. Right." Louisa nodded and hurried her pace half a step. They moved in silence, the group huddling together and following them like ducklings. They hardly dared breathe each time the radio sounded.
"Got trouble! There's more of them!"
"Kill them too!"
"More?" Annabeth echoed, hope and despair bouncing around her chest. "Lou, where are the others?" She should not have asked, should not have encouraged Louisa to use the power she had been forbidden to. But she had to know where Percy was, where Leo and Calypso were. She had to know they were OK. "Lou?"
Louisa didn't answer. She didn't have to.
They rounded a corner and splashed. Splashed?
Annabeth looked down. Water had spilled from the toilets, she could hear water rushing from overflowing sinks. Sprinklers were sputtering tiresomely, an indoor fountain had exploded out of its basin, the top portion on fire.
There was some creative Minoan swearing and a whistling gust of wind. Louisa laughed. Calypso stumbled backwards from one of the darkened stores, clasping her shoulder. Blood spilled from between her fingers and Louisa's humour died.
"Ah, hell no!" She flung her hand out. The man emerging from the store, gun pointed at Calypso, was lost under a wave of toilet water. "You bastard!" Louisa chided.
"Lou? Annabeth!" Calypso smiled. "Oh thank the gods, you're OK! Wait, what happened to your head?"
"Don't worry 'bout me head, ya arm's gonna fall off."
"My arm isn't going to fall off." Calypso rolled her eyes. Louisa moved forward, Annabeth pulled along with her.
"You stay." She instructed, letting go to knock Calypso's hand away and inspect the wound. "Mm, bullet ain't in there."
"Do not heal me with toilet water."
"Fountain water?"
"Clean water." Calypso persisted. Louisa shrugged, raising her hands. Gobbets of water bubbled and ballooned from the sprinklers, reducing their sputtering to a mere mist. The liquid gloved her hands, like it had thousands of times before, and she pressed her hands either side of the bullet wound. Calypso sighed as green light speckled in the water, pain easing.
"Where's Percy? And Leo?" Annabeth asked.
"Leo's getting people out and meeting the police- he found a way out these idiots hadn't covered." She gestured at the sodden, unconscious man in the shop. "Percy went looking for you."
"Idiot." Louisa snorted. "Don't worry, Blondie, I've called him back." Annabeth breathed a sigh of relief. Louisa moved her hands away. "Well, ya jacket's ruined, Calllie, but ya arm ain't gonna fall off."
"Told you." Calypso stepped around Louisa. She snapped her fingers and made a shoving motion, palm up, at the group of mortals. Their confused, petrified faces melted into ignorant bliss, the Mist swirling around them and then dissipating. She reached for a radio at her belt, the same as Louisa had stolen. "Leo," she spoke into it, "I found the others. And they've got more friends."
"Yay!" Leo's voice came back. "Hi, Lou! Hi, Beth! Hi, new people! We're on channel two, why didn't you tune in?" Louisa snatched the radio.
"Fuck off, I was listenin' to the idiots."
"The idiots were on channel two!" Leo insisted. "These zorras were on channel one! Ugh, get with the times, Lou!"
"I will smack you."
"And sooner than you think!" The volume of Leo's voice changed. He emerged from a store two down from where they were, spreading his arms and beaming. "Ta da! I have returned! And I brought back-up!" From either side of him, armed SWAT and police filed out, dozens of them, venturing into the mall. "I'm clever." Leo grinned, watching the last of them go. Then he remembered their new company, bouncing excitedly and lunging forward to group hug Louisa and Annabeth. "Ah, I've missed you two! Percy's mean when he's stressed." He pouted. "Oh, speak of the devil!"
"Oh, thank gods!" Leo let them go in time for them to turn and be crushed by Percy. He kissed the top of Annabeth's head, then Louisa's, ignoring her protests and her flailing hand in his face. "Are you OK, are you hurt? Lou, what happened to your head?"
"Had a fight."
"That sums it up. Wise Girl, are you-?"
"I'm alright. Baby's alright too, kicking like a trooper. Lou made sure of it."
"Thank you." Percy squeezed his sister about the shoulders, breathing a heavy sigh of relief. She blew a raspberry in response, during a tired laugh from him. "Right, Leo, get them out of here." He nodded at the group, gently pushed Annabeth towards him. "Cal, you too."
"What about you two?"
"We're going to make sure they don't miss anyone."
"Uh, no. You're going to come with us!" Annabeth protested, grabbing the twins each by the hand. "Come on, this is crazy. Let's go."
"No more lifts." Louisa instructed.
"No, no more lifts." Annabeth agreed, pulling on their hands. Relief warmed her chest when they started moving with her. It was short-lived.
A crack splintered the air, Calypso screamed, Louisa lunged, shoving Annabeth out of the way. Percy yelled, clutching his side, paling.
"Go!" Leo shouted, waving the group into the store. "Go to the back, you'll see the exit!" He turned back. Calypso had found the gunman, blasting him from the second floor balcony with a violent blast of wind. Leo wasn't sure where he landed, only hearing the sickening crack of it. They had bigger problems.
Annabeth had been spared. Percy had too, only clutching his side upon feeling his sister's pain. Louisa lay on the floor, hunched over and gasping raggedly. Blood gushed from her ribcage, between her shaking fingers, spilled from her mouth. She coughed and wheezed, choking. Blood splattered the tiled floor, thick chunks almost black in the puddle of crimson.
"Her lung, her lung!" Annabeth cried. Percy, wincing, scooped her up in his arms. She groaned, coughing up more and slathering her front with the black-red goop.
The fountain was destroyed, but it was their best bet. He called on what water remained, called on the green power they shared. She was whiter than a sheet, eyes fluttering as she battled to breathe and stay conscious. Her chest heaved, failing to draw what air she needed. Percy pressed his hand to the wound, trying to find the bullet. He had to find it, had to remove it. He was struggling to breathe, imagining it to be something like an asthma attack.
Cold splashed across his fingers, cold and unyielding. He curled his fingers, pulling his hand away slowly. Louisa choked, body jolting. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he coaxed the bullet out on another bout of blood. His head swam at the effort, a ringing in his ears. He thrust his hand down, gloving it with water like his sister had taught him. He pressed his hand to the wound, pushing his senses to heal the damage within.
He was aware of the others standing over them, watching in terror and concern. Louisa's breathing was rattling and weakening. She still coughed, but there was less blood. That was not a good sign.
"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon." Percy muttered, vision swimming and discolouring. His own ribs felt bruised, his own inhalations short and fruitless. His fingers tingled as he felt the organ's puncture begin to seal, the shattered parts of the ribcage stitching together under green light. The flesh wound stopped bleeding, slowly closing. He could get it no better than a scar, stomach heaving. Someone grabbed him by the shoulders as the world see-sawed around him, keeping him upright.
"She's still not breathing right." Calypso remarked. She twisted her hands together, a gentle breeze coiling her fingers. She tipped Louisa's head back with soft fingers under her chin, pressing the fingertips of her other hand to Louisa's mouth. The air melted down her to her lungs, Calypso instructing its path with her hand trailing down Louisa's front, not touching her bloodied shirt. She swilled her fingers minutely for a few seconds, and then retraced the path. The air came back out, accompanied with black gunk and a little blood. Louisa choked and coughed, gagging. "Breathe." Calypso urged, throwing away the gore she had retrieved. Louisa's chest heaved, inhaling sharply.
"Yes!" Leo cheered, punching the air with both fists. Louisa stared at him, panting as though she had run a marathon at a dead sprint.
"Wh-?" She wheezed. Annabeth leaned down and flicked her in the head.
"You kelp head!" She scolded. "You almost died!"
"Huh? But… you… didn't…" Louisa looked up at her brother, grimacing. Percy shook his head, grumbling insults in Ancient Greek, and hugged her to him. "Tryin'… ta… breathe…" She reminded him.
"Let's go, let's go!" Leo prompted, beckoning them with both hands and bouncing anxiously on his feet. Calypso took his hand and he began pulling her away, grabbing Annabeth by the scruff of her jacket. "Come on, people, let's go!"
"Gonna… nap… now…"
"No, no, no, you stay awake." Percy shook her, startling her and pissing her off. She squinted at him. "You can stay awake." He repeated firmly, lifting her in his arms again. "Gonna get you properly checked over, OK?"
"'M fine, I-"
"If you say you've had worse, I'll shoot you myself."
"Bastard."
"Yeah, she's fine." Leo grinned over his shoulder. He led them out, sunlight almost blinding after the semi-darkness of the mall. The fresh air was kinder on her lungs, Louisa took a deeper, steadier breath.
People were waiting for them- police, paramedics, the group she and Annabeth had led out. There were cameras and helicopters, news teams trying to get the scoop. She ignored Percy's advice, closing her eyes. By her count, she deserved a nap.