And finally...chapter 40!

This will be it for today and possibly for the next few days.

I'm gonna let you squirm with this.

I own nothing you recognize as canon.


XL

CALYPSO

Calypso wanted to smack Percy. Why did he have to go and jinx them like that?

How in the world does Annabeth manage to keep loving him? she thought.

She helped Leo to his feet, which was difficult. They were both winded from their hearts being tugged for the past few weeks, and holding up the sky—even with Tulio healing her up—had taken its toll on Calypso's body.

"We need to move," Sammy Leo yelled. He held on to Espie, who was holding on to Tulio.

Annabeth hovered near her. "You okay to run?"

"We can try," she promised.

Leo huffed and put on a determined face. "Let's move."

The Telekhine in the cavern started fidgeting. "We must leave," it yelped. "Atlas controls this cavern! We need to get out and back into the sewers!"

Calypso shuffled forward, being led by Tulio.

She and Leo were at the back of the group, Leo being last. He kept shoving her along, encouraging her to go faster. Tulio pulled her through the narrow cavern.

Rocks slammed into the ground behind her. She glanced back. Rubble kept raining down on them, but the big things hadn't hit them yet. Leo was covered in dust.

He smiled. "Keep going, mi sol. I'm fine."

She nodded and went a little faster.

"We're out!"

That was Mark. He and Jason had been in the lead, with the monster right behind them.

The ground shook harder. Everything lurched and Calypso fell on top of Tulio. He dragged Espie with him.

They writhed on the ground a few moments before Sammy hauled Espie to her feet.

"Keep moving," he urged her.

"Sorry," Calypso apologized.

Leo helped her up. "You good?" he asked.

She nodded.

The ground lurched again and Leo almost fell backwards. Calypso caught him. She glanced behind him and gasped.

The cavern from which they exited was no more than a pile of rocks and…was that a car? Calypso realized with a jolt that Atlas wasn't just burying them; he was creating a sinkhole! He was planning on crashing whatever was above down on to them!

A huge gap yawned between Leo and what used to be a section of the tunnel behind him. Calypso pulled him forward right as a rock fell.

"Thanks," he said.

She smiled and turned back to the front.

Tulio was way ahead now. Calypso gritted her teeth and pushed forward. The dust in the air was starting to suffocate her. Her breathing was starting to become a challenge. She could hear Leo coughing behind her.

"You can do it, guys!" Frank. He and Hazel were out now, which meant Annabeth, Lacy, Bobby, and Percy were out, too (they were in front of the Zhangs).

"The sewers aren't caving in," called Bobby. "If you can get out here, you'll be safe!"

"Hurry!" Lacy yelled.

Calypso was hurrying. She was moving as fast as she could, even with Leo pushing her along. But, his strength was failing, and every so often she could feel Leo's hands leave hers as he went into a coughing fit.

Bigger rocks began raining down. The ceiling was cracking. The floor kept lurching back and forth, sending Calypso off-balance again.

The entrance was so close now! Her kids were free, yelling encouragement. The tunnel was too narrow for any of them to come back and hold up Calypso, so that was all they could do.

A chunk of rock hit her in the forehead. Not big enough to knock her out, but it was enough to make her see stars.

Leo hacked again, the sound tearing at Calypso's heart. He was slowing down, almost to a crawl. They didn't have the time to go that slow.

The tunnel was collapsing faster, and Leo almost slipped backwards into a deep hole. Calypso caught him once more and began dragging him.

He smiled at her. "I hate your dad," he said with a raspy voice.

"In-laws aren't very fun," Calypso said. "C'mon, honey. We can make it. Look, we're almost there."

Leo did look. He looked at the entrance, then up a little. His eyes widened.

He somehow found strength to get moving again, beginning to push Calypso faster.

"Come on!" Tulio urged.

Calypso gritted her teeth in annoyance as the ground shook and disappeared in some places. It was too much. She couldn't go any faster…

The rocks got even bigger and Calypso was blinded by the dust. She rubbed her eyes.

Behind her, Calypso barely heard Leo whisper, "Go, mi sol. I love you…"

"Mom! Dad! Watch out!"

Calypso felt a shove from behind. She fell forward further and faster than just a few steps would have taken her. Tulio caught her just as she heard the crash. Rubble, dust, and debris blinded her for a moment.

"PAPI!"

Calypso saw Esperanza rush forward into the dust. Hazel and Frank went with her, and Calypso and Tulio fell in close behind.

The dust was stinging her eyes. Everything was a slight yellowish color.

As it settled, a silence filled the air. Only little moving rocks could be heard as the cave-in became a memory. Finally, after a few moments, Calypso could see…

Her heart went into her throat when she registered what she saw.

Leo was lying on the ground, face down. His head was bleeding from a gash under his hair. One of his arms was definitely broken, and the same arm's shoulder was dislocated. All Calypso could see was his upper back to his head. His middle back and down was completely covered by huge rocks and various debris.

"Oh, Leo," Calypso choked. "No…"

He had pushed her out of the way, just so she wouldn't get smashed under the rubble. She wouldn't have made the last stretch without his push…

Tulio bent down and hugged his crying sister.

Esperanza was huddled on the ground bawling. "Why, Papi," she moaned. "Why…"

Calypso reached down and gently touched Leo's head. She lifted it slowly. His eyes were closed.

"My love," she whispered. "Please…please don't leave. Please stay…"

She bent down as far as she could to see if she could hear him whisper an answer.

But he didn't.


A/N: I regret nothing...