Wills eyes shot open. He knew he was alone and he was in an apartment. He was laying on a old dirty mattress by a big window. It was night time, the dim light of the moon let Will see. His hands were thin and shaking. How long had he been walking? He felt a knife next to him, he grabbed it. He heard footsteps getting closer to him. His eyes closed shut and he couldn't open them. He stood up not caring that his legs wanted to give way and held the knife out in the direction that the sound was coming from. The person had light footsteps, as if they were cautiously of waking someone up. .

"Will, you're awake?" The voice was wrong, "Why are your eyes closed?"

"Who are you?" Will demanded.

"If you opened your eyes you'd know."

"You can't trick me...I know Nico's voice. You are not him."

The person moved towards him. It softly touched his arm. He felt a spark, a lease of life, something he could hold onto that would prevent him from slipping back into the darkness. Will felt his eyelids become relaxed and he cautiously opened one eye. He had been wrong. Looking up at him was Nico. Will frantically patted the smaller boy down, when he had done he mustered a tiny smile.

"Nico! It's you, not a trick!" He exclaimed, "But your voice...its changed."

"You've missing for three months. I found you in an empty town far from New Orleans."

"Three months?" He whispered.

Will shook and the voices of despair started to speak to him again. Tears sprang to his eyes. He gripped onto Nico tightly.

"Please tell me you hear that."

"Nothing! Let go. Your life is worthless. Missing. Failure. You can't fix this mess. You can't fix this. Broken. Broken. Everything is broken! Apollo has been in Tartarus for so long now Will. He had faith in you, its gone now. Your mother wanted to get rid of you but she couldn't bring herself to do it! You're stupid and a failure. YOU FAILED AND BROKE YOUR PROMISE! YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD FIX THIS! Lire!"

"Nico, speak to me!" He sobbed, "Please, I don't know what's real anymore."

Will saw something move in the corner of the room out of the corner of his eye.

"You will die this hour!" It screamed, it's voice was distorted.

"Not if I destroy you first! You foul creature and I'll send you back to wenst you came." Bitterness filled Will's voice.

"Will, there is nothing here." Nico's voice shook.

"There is! Are you-"

"Di angelo, come here so I can kill you!"

"Will, this is all in your head. It's not real."

"This is real, you just cannot see it. I don't know what this thing is but I don't think its from Tartarus. It's different."

The thing in the corner moved towards Will. It had the skeleton of a rams head and a humans body, but the body was distorted like it was made out of static or a shadow. It wore a black suit with a piercing red tie.

It was extremely lanky, it's hands were long and bony. In its right hand there was a puppet. It passed through Will. He groaned and collapsed on the ground.

The Creature became visible to Nico for a split second. Nico gazed into the holo ram eye sockets and he felt his insides begin to churn. The Creature waved its puppet tauntingly in Nicos direction. The puppet looked like Will.

"Will, you're right. That thing isn't from Tartarus."

Nico helped him up but Will pushed him away.

"Do you want to die?" Will groaned.

"Will, what-"

"No time for questions. Nico please leave. It wants your flesh." He paused, "you can't tell the Coach about this. I can't go back to camp without saving my dad. I promised I would fix it."

"Tell him what?"

"Apollo...is in Tartarus. You need to go!"

Nico nodded and walked towards the door.

"I'll find you. I'll fix this."

Nico left the room swiftly so Will couldn't see his tears.

The Creature towered over Will again it held the puppet in front of his tired eyes. It looked exactly like Nico. Will groaned again.

"You need to kill that boy." It ordered.

"No! Why do you want this?" Will's voice wavered.

"I need bloodshed!" It growled.

Some light caught the blade of the knife in his hand.

"But why do you want me to kill Nico?"

"We need a damaged soul to devour, that boy was perfect."

"If I shed my blood, will that save Nico?"

The Creature grinned, baring it's teeth, "yes, I spouse you will have to do now."

The Creature picked Will up as if he was lifeless. It threw Will over its shoulder and they sunk into the shadows. Light escaped Will's eyes once again.