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I DO NOT OWN THE BOOK THE BOOK THIEF. I QUOTE SOME LINES FROM THE BOOK IN THIS CHAPTER. I DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN THEM, I DO NOT OWN THEM AT ALL.

Hazel doesn't say anything as she walks into the woods and meets me sitting on the fallen tree where I always shadow travel us. She simply stares at me with a blank express, although can read it. She is curious, she is worried, she has questions, but she knows better than to ask.

"Ready," I question as I stand up. She nods and takes my arm. I take a step deeper into the shadows and my foot lands outside the steps leading up to our father's mortal-world mansion. Furries, hell hounds, fallen angels, demons, and other creatures of the underworld roam around. We silently walk up the steps, although there is an obvious tension between us.

"Nico?"

I stop on the third step up the stairs.

"You know... you can... talk to the others. They're nice... They wont... do it again... you can trust them."

Trust them!? You have got to be joking Hazel. I cant trust anyone! You of all people know that. I ESPECIALLY can't trust them. I was doing just fine at this school and then that fucken witch bitch had to make me out to look worse than everyone already thought of me. I was stupid enough to trust her. I ate the fucken brownie. I can't trust them.

"No."

I look into Hazel's eyes. She's hurt. She's trying hard right now.

"She-" avoidance to say the bitch's name, "-hasn't even... been to school since then... It's been a few weeks Nico... it's been awhile... you... you can have friends..."

Friends?...

"They're... they're actually nice Nico..."

...

"Hazel..."

Hazel looks up at me so hopeful. I can see it all in her eyes. She cares so much and shes trying. She's concerned and wants to help, wants to be close to me, wants to be there for me. But no one can. I don't want to be hurt. I don't want to hurt anyone I care about...

"I need to go," I say walking down the stairs past her.

"Wait-"

I turn as she grabs my arm, holding me back from walking out the door.

"Nico..."

Look...look at her... you did this. She's going to cry. You've hurt her again. You keep hurting those you care for. Why do you have to be so stupid. Why do you have to only cause pain. Why can't you be better, have more control, be normal.

"Will... will you be coming home later?"

Hazel's voice is so soft, so gentle, but her energy has fear. I can smell it. Yet there is more. There is also compassion. A compassion I don't know how to respond to... I've smelled it before, I've felt it before... All recently.

It makes me uncomfortable.

I nod and walk down the front steps, and slip into the shadows.

Everything is quiet. There are no birds around here. There are no rabbits, or snakes, or bird's singing. There are no butterflies fluttering about. There are no bees looking for flowers. There are no flowers to be found. This woods is thin here. The farther you go into the woods the less trees you find, the less green the grass looks, and the more dirt you see.

I walk through this abandoned place. No one has come here for years, no one would want to. Death energy in everywhere. A mortal wouldn't know what it is, but even they would feel a darkness, a quiet uneasy sense of nothingness. Death energy is such a strong feeling, everything dies, everything knows what death is and fears it. No one wants to die. Except for death itself...

I reach the edge of the few trees. No grass is to be seen. The ground is pure sandy dirt.

Still no grass has grown back...

I step forwards, breathing in. It all feels like I was here yesterday...

The farther I walk the stronger the death energy feels. I keep walking. Walking to the center.

At the center there is an inprint. The distant image of a body laying in the dirt. A silent memory of who was last here.

This is it... this is where you killed her...

A small dark green stone rests where she lasts was... A stone I placed there the last time I came to visit her.

"Hi Bianca..."

No response.

Well what did you expect? Bianca to pop out of the stone and hug you? Dumb ass..

"I miss you..."

Still no response.

"I'm sorry I havn't visited you in a while... I feel strange talking to you when you're not even here... you never come when I summon your spirit... I don't know if I'm doing it wrong or if you're just avoiding me or if... if I took the life out of your spirit too..."

Silence... there's only ever silence... What if you did take the life out of her soul too?... It's possible if you're strong enough... She wouldn't be able to be summoned, she wouldn't be able to reincarnate, she wouldnt be able to be a spirit... She would be nothing too...

"Things have been... getting harder... I'm more confused than I've ever been... Hazel has been trying her hardest to be there for me and get me to open up to her but... she's not you..."

But Hazel is alive. Hazel can hug you. Hazel can talk to you, listen to you, and respond back to you. You don't open up and talk to anyone, except for someone who isn't even there to listen or respond back to you. Because that makes sense...

"The new school I'm at has other demigods there... You would have enjoyed it... I remember you always wanted to meet others like you and feel as though you belonged... you would have found that here...

I've been having more trouble controlling myself... it seems that every day I'm tested on my control... and I can't... I can't control myself Bianca... I'm so confused..." it becomes harder to speak, but I continue to talk to the stone, as if Bianca is listening right inside. "I've been sensing different energies and feelings from people... I've been feeling different lately... I don't know what it is... It's warm and fuzzy, other times it calming and light... sometimes its fiery and makes me feel sick to my stomach... It's all so new and strange...And I keep hurting others..."

I feel myself easing down onto the ground, crouching next to the stone. My voice sounds shaky and distant and it's hard to speak. I keep talking. "I keep hurting them even when I try not too... I've hurt myself more too... I know you would never want me to do that but... you've got to understand, right?... It helps me... sometimes... other times I feel I deserve it... Just look at what I've done to you!" Once again I've lost control of myself and it feels as though everything is flooding out. "I killed you! I killed you Bianca! And I could have done worse! Your soul! We should have never come out here! I should have never tried to learn my abilities! You'd still be alive then! Bianca it's all my fault! It's all my fault! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!..."

I hear the sobs, such strong deep sob of pain. Someone is crying. There is a warmth around me although I am freezing.

It's me... I stop and look around me. There is no one else here. I'm the one crying. I'm the one holding myself. I look up at the sky, it's late at night. Everything is cold from the strong wind.

Did I fall asleep?...

I stand up and dust off my clothes. Dried tears stain my cheeks. I havn't cried in years...

What is happening to me... Everything is changing so quickly. How am I suppose to keep up?

I walk back to the trees and shadow travel home.

"I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right... Outside, the wind whistled. The rain was stained," I read out loud to Mr. Chiron's English class. We closed the book and waited for Mr. Chiron but he didn't move. He sat behind his death, staring down at his copy of The Book Thief.

"Uhm... Mr. Chiron? Nico finished reading," Rachel spoke from her seat in the front of the room, raising her hand.

It had been about two months since Hazel and I started at this school. Most people still stayed away from me, whispered about me, and all the usual... It's not that I wasn't used to it or that it was anything unusual. I was always the outcast at every school I went, I would never fit in, I was a... It just felt different now... It bothered me...

Stop. Stop these thoughts right now. You know you will never be accepted. You're exactly all the things everyone says. You deserve what they say and do. You know it's true.

"Ah, yes Rachel. Thank you Nico for reading. I felt it only fit for you to finish the book for us since you had started it," Chiron said as he closed his book and picked up a stack of packets from his desk, "This packet is of questions about the book. Write what you feel, your opinions. There is no wrong answer. And no answer is still an answer." He said this last part while staring at me with an unreadable expression. He then rolled himself to each front desk, giving the first person in the row the proper number of packets from his lap then rolling to the next person.

1) What is the symbolism of Death as the omniscient narrator?

Death is a universal character that is equal to all. it's not fair and it doesn't have strong personality or opinions. Death just is. Death is an unbiased view. That is a symbolism of Death and the narrator.

I scribbled my answer down and looked at the next.

2) List four or more central themes to the novel and explain why you feel these are themes of the novel.

Abandonment. Guilt. Darkness. Longing for what is hard to have.

I don't explain my answers.

3) Death says that Liesel was a girl "with a mountain to climb." This is a metaphor for having to overcome a great challenge. What is a mountain in your life that you must climb?

I dont answer that one.

4) Max and Liesel are two characters with a tendency to fight. Is a child who fights more forgivable than an adult who fights? Why?

Is a child who fights more forgivable than an adult who fights? So they're asking if a child killed a man would it be less wrong if an adult killed a man? Is it wrong if anyone kills? A child is just as responsible as killing as an adult. But this is about the story... The children may not have clearly known what they were doing. But they still killed. They all killed. But the children were not as aware. A child's mind is not developed enough to truly understand such things but they still understand enough. So the child is just as responsible as an adult who kills. But...

Ding!

The bell rings. I look at the clock above the door and see that class is over. I didn't even get past the fourth question and there re three pages of answers. I'm so stupid. Couldn't get an answer to a few simple questions. Had to over think it all. I barely have any satisfactory work in for this class and now I'll be even more behind and get a lower grade. I'm so stupid. go tlost in my thoughts and fifteen minutes went by. So stupid.

"Please place your packets on my desk before you leave."

Hazel looks at me concerned as I stand up, hiding my paper from her, and walk to Mr. Chiron's desk with everyone else. I walk back and grab my bag, walking slowly, Hazel taking her time packing up aswell.

"Nico."

shit

I turn and look at Mr. Chiron through my bangs.

"I hope you had better luck answering these questions than you did on your first essay for the book."

I don't respond.

"Hazel, dear. Would you please give Nico and I a moment alone, if you will?"

Hazel's eyes dart between me and Mr. Chiron for a moment before nodding and leaving the classroom.

Mr. Chiron and I lock eyes. He gazes into mine, as if seeing inside. His face is calm but his eyes so intense. I feel practically naked standing in front of him, as if all my secrets, all my thoughts, all of who I am, all my fears and pain... displayed out in the open for his eyes to see. And there is nothing I can do to prevent it.

"Nico, you seem troubled."

Of coarse I seem troubled you creepy fuck. I'm always troubled. In ways you couldn't eve begin to imagine.

I say nothing.

He sighs, "Nico, it's been almost two full months of school and you still insist on wearing the same mask today as you came here with. This mask does not benefit you nor anyone else."

...I wear a mask?... I don't wear a mask... I don't hide myself... I am myself... and everyone hates myself... mask?... no such thing... I never benefit anyone, so I don't try... You don't know shit that you're talking about. Just leave me alone. Why can't you just stop? Leave me alone!

"..."

"You do not need to do this Nico. If you feel as though there is no one you can take the mask off with, I hope that over time I am able to make you feel as though you are able to remove this mask in my presence."

...I... what?... No... you... this feeling... stop... You're... Mr. Chiron... I...

"..."

I look him in the eyes. Mr. Chiron's gaze is sympathetic and sincere...

I rush out of the classroom and into the busy hallway. Shoving through the other people and ignoring their comments of annoyance, I find the nearest boy's bathroom. No one is in there although I did not pay attention. I slam open one of the only two stalls and vomit into the toilet.

Trust... mask... compassion... lies... trust... my mask... he knows... he knows so much... how does he know... He wants me to feel comfortable around him... He's tries to help me feel comfortable around him... He has never judged me... He has never treated me like a cockroach... he has never hurt me... He is kind to me...

Vomit.

Safe... trust... he cares... this feeling... It's warm... I feel it throughout my whole body... I remember it slightly... I've felt it before... Mr. Chiron isn't the only one who does this... Bianca... She made me feel safe... She made me feel comfortable... Hazel... Hazel cares for me... Hazel tries to help me... Hazel makes me feel comfortable... Hazel cares for me like Bianca did...

Vomit. I support myself up by pressing my hands against the stall walls, but arms forming a 180 degree angle.

Not the only one... Familiar... Bianca... Hazel... Jason... Jason gives me the same feeling... He never complained about me...He's always been kind... He lets me sit out... He distracts the guys from saying things about me... He's tried to make me comfortable...

Vomit. My hair falls forward and sticks to my face with sweat at the same time.

Percy...

Vomit.

I lean against the stall wall and slide down to the floor, my legs wobbly and weak. The toilet bowl is filled with my vomit, some spattering the seat. I wipe my mouth and nose with toilet paper then flush it all, the scent refusing to leave my nose. My face feels like it has been pulled by a hundred fishing hook. My hair falls flat and sticks to my face, soaked with sweat. I hear the boy's bathroom door open and multiple shoes walking in.

"That kid is begging to get beat. The way he looks at other guys, it's repulsive. Next time I see that faggot, he'll get what he deserves."

Luke's friends laughed and agree, saying their own comments to compliment the one Luke made.

Control... control... stay quiet... don't do anything... control... please... control yourself... stay quiet... don't move... Don't breathe... Don't change form... control... control...

"Smells like ass and as if something died in here. It's worse than usual," Luke commented.

"Haha, did Eric shit his pants again?"

"I'm right behind you dumbass."

There was a shoving and aggressive mumbling.

"Would you guys shut the fuck up. Damn. Who else is a new faggot this year," Luke snapped.

"Well... There's Jared. He's always sitting with girls and giggling along with them, I've seem him braiding their hair."

"Hhmmm... point him out to me next time," Luke says.

A fire burns in my chest, my legs feel empty and cold though. My heart racing.

Control... control... Don't do anything stupid... control... Don't let them find you... Don't attract their attention... control yourself... Don't do something stupid...

"There's that Nico kid too."

I feel the anger, the disgust, and the hate emitting from Luke by the mention of me. I smell the hatred...

"Nico... yes... He's is a faggot for certain, the little repulsive freak."

I choke trying to silently inhale. The stall door slams open, smacking me into the toilet. My head hits the side of the porcelain toilet seat. I squeeze my eyes shut as the impact sends painful shock-waves through my already throbbing skull.

"Look what we have here," I hear Luke sneer, but his voice is distant, "The little shit stabber has been stalking us the whole time. Secretly in the boys bathroom, hiding in the stall to peek."

A hand slams onto my head, fingers grip my hair and yank me up. I try to reach up to grab the owner of the hand's arm, but my own arms feel like cement and tingle. I force my eyes open to only see a blurry figure leering down at me, other blurry figures behind him, the bathroom lights more intense than usual, blinding me. I shut my eyes again and begin to kick, trashing at who I know is holding me, Luke.

"Awe, look at the little twink trying to escape. What's wrong sweety? You seem weaker than before. You're barely moving. Looks more like you're practicing your ballerina dancing."

My ears are over-powered with a thousand male voices laughing. I try to escape his hold but my body wont listen. The laughter continues and I feel myself being dragged by my hair. My head screams in pain but my body feels heavy, the only feeling is tingling like pins and needles.

"What's the matter faggot? Not feeling well? Why don't you just change form? Go demon and kill us all like you were born to do freak."

...change form... maybe that would help... but... i cant... i cant do it... i cant kill anyone... i can't cause anymore problems... try to be normal...

I bite my bottom lip as I'm thrown onto the tiled floor. Something pounds into my stomach and i curl up, trying to guard the area from any more impacts. Laughter pounds in my head along with a chorus of cheers and comments. I hear Luke's voice over all of the noise but it's all to distant to understand anything. My head flies backwards from what feels like the bottom of a shoe.

"Rehb enm" I hear from a distance. Hands yank me up my my arms and hold me, locking me in place. I try to pull out of the hold, realizing that i heard 'grab him' in Luke voice moments ago. Someone gets close to my face, i struggle to open my eyes and see a Luke's blurry face. He's grinning as he whispers clear into my ear.

"This is what you deserve, freak."

My head whips to the side as a fist kisses my jaw. Ive never felt so much pain before. I'm proved wrong as a knee or three fists slam into my gut, i can't figure out which. The pain is unbelievable. I spit up blood for the impact and slouch over. Someone yells something similar to 'hold him up' but the laughter and voices become more distant every second.

Another fist or multiple fists slam into my ribs. I spit up blood and choke, trying to breathe but it doesn't work. I can't take any air in, only continuously cough air and blood out.

"HEY! GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Someone yells from miles away.

I drift as my whole body is pulled downwards.

I ease my eyes open to a dimly lit room. I'm laying on a familiar pale yellow nurse bed. The Last time I was here, Lou had hexed me and the spell went wrong...

"Hey Nico, how are you feeling," a gentle voice asks.

I slowly turn my head and look to the side. Jason is sitting on the bed next to this one. I don't say anything. My whole body feels like it was trampled by a heard of elephants and my head is throbbing.

He grimaces, "Not too good I'm guessing?"

I blink silently. Jason looks down at the floor for a moment then back up at me. His eyes hold much more emotion than before, his voice very soft.

"I'm sorry... You didn't deserve what they did to you Nico..."

What they did to me? Deserve? What happened? Why am I here?

I try to begin to sit up.

"Eepmph!"

I squeeze my eyes shut, a painful eel stabbing my chest and gut.

"Whoah... Nico... Don't try to sit up just yet," Jason says, getting up and lightly placing his hand on my shoulder. I feel myself blush from his touch, I look up at his concerned face through slit eyes and my hair. I'm certain he can tell my face is red, but if it was already red from pain or just now from blushing, he doesn't let it show.

"Is he moving?" I hear another male's voice say.

"Yeah," Jason says to them, but keeps his eyes on me as he sits down in his original spot.

"Well make sure he doesn't. His wounds haven't healed enough for him to move yet. He's only going to make it worse."

I always make things worse dumb ass. I'll be fine. Stop worrying about me and cooing over me. I'm not some kicked puppy. Fuck off.

I roll my eyes. Jason seems to silently chuckle then cover it up with a fake cough. I glare at him but my head hurts from having to stretch my eyes.

"I'll need to perform another healing on him before I'm certain his ribs are healed fully. He's got internal bleeding Jason. I'm serious. Don't let him move."

Until my ribs are fully healed? Are they broken? Internal bleeding? What happened? I never get hurt! What happened to me? My head pounds louder from trying to remember, but I refuse to ask anyone else. I was in Mr. Chiron's classroom. He had Hazel leave so he could talk to me privately... He wanted me to trust him and be comfortable... Bathroom... vomit... My stomach does a flip from the memory. Luke... Luke came in with his friends... I was so exhausted... He found me... they... they beat me for being... for... they beat me for...

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to ignore my thoughts and emotions.

"Relax. Let your body rest. It is okay. You are safe. Let yourself relax," a soothing female's voice says. I feel compelled to listen, as if she was forcing me to, commanding me to. I fight to resist, I don't want to be manipulated like before.

"Piper, that's not working. He's getting more agitated and sweating. Can't you hurry up Will?," I hear Jason snap.

"I'm sorry. It takes me some time for me to 'recharge' after one healing. I'll be ready again in a few minutes," the male voice says again, who I assume is Will.

Can't you all just go away... Who else is here... Stop comforting me and taking care of me like I'm weak. I'll be fine! Just leave me alone!

But I can barely move and open my eyes without overwhelming pain.

"Nico," the soothing female voice says, Piper, "No one else is here but the four of us. You need to let us help you. Relax. You're going to make it worse for yourself."

How do I know you're not lying! You're voice makes me want to listen, want to relax, want to trust you. But I can't trust you! I can barely trust anyone...

"Alright. I'm ready," Will declares. I ease my eyes open, ignoring the throbbing pain. Piper stands at the front of my bed, at my feet. She has smooth tanned skin with unevenly choppy chocolate brown hair. Her eyes are alluring, as if drawing me in. Despite a few pimples on her face, she is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. The pimples and uneven hair are just as gorgeous. I feel almost attracted to her as I have to others...

A muscular-build, tall, and shaggy blonde hair boy walks to the side of my bed, blocking half my view of Jason. His hands are glowing a yellow, so faint it's barely visible. I smell a new scent, it's soothing and calming, similar to water but not. The energy feels bright and relaxing.

"I need you to stay perfectly still while I do this, got it Nico," He, Will, more orders me than asks me. I stay still in aggravation simply because there isn't much else I can do. Will places his hand on my stomach. My stomach does a flip and a feel my face grow hotter than when Jason put his hand on my shoulder. Will gently slides his hands around my stomach than up to my chest. My eyes widen by his touch. Will's gaze is focused solely on his task, on his hands, the yellow energy resting where his hands are then seeping inside me, easing the pain. His touch is like a massage, the closest thing to a massage I've ever felt at least.

"Alright," Will says after a few minutes and removes his hands, "try sitting up now."

I sit up with barely any pain. The only pain I feel in my stomach and chest is mild, like an older bruise. I stare up at Will shocked. He has the most stunning grin.

"Better?"

I nod, afraid to speak. His grin widens.

"Good. I was hoping. Now time to work on your face."

I bring my hand up to touch my face, instantly I feel like a piece of the flesh on my face has fallen off, although there is no evidence and no gasps are heard. I remove my hand and look at my fingers, blood drips from them.

"Not the best idea to poke at a wound Nico," Will scolds me lightly. I look up at him as he leans forward and down, almost to my level but a little bit above. He brings his hands to my face, cupping it. I freeze.

"It's okay," Will tells me, "blood doesn't bother me."

I expect searing pain from his touch, but I feel calm and soothed. My jaw becomes less sore every second longer Will holds my face. My cheeks feel less pained and scraped up with every second. Will moves his hands up to my forehead and gently brushes my hair out of my eyes, giving him clear view of my large, stunned, embarrassed eyes. He doesn't say anything about it, he is not looking at my eyes, he is analyzing whatever damage has been done on my forehead, and healing it. My head ache slowly seeps away to a dull buzz, the throbbing no more. Will seems to nod to himself, knowing that he's healed my head. He moves on hand gently to my chin and lifts my head up slightly. I look up into his eyes, my stomach doing a thousand flips, the nausea from before returning. Will brushes his thumb over my swollen lips lightly, instantly the swelling dissipates. Will smiles at me and locks eyes with me, a gentle yet fierce twinkle in his gaze. I'm certain the heat on my face is from me blushing and any wounds do not hide the red.

"Feeling better?" He purrs.

I don't move. Will lets go of my chin, his fingers brushing my jaw line as he pulls his hand away and stands up straight.

"You'll be good now. Any wounds that were serious are now mild, and wounds that were mild are now scars or completely healed. You'll probably feeling bruises inside your body for a few days though. If the pain is too much, come back down. If 'm not in class, I'm always here. Someone has to fill in as nurse," Will says the last sentence sarcastically.

Jason stands. "Thanks Will," He says, clapping him on the shoulder, "Nico looks as good as new."

I feel Jason's gaze on me, but my eyes are still on Will.

"Not a problem, healing is one of my specialties being a son of Apollo and all," Will replies, going over to the desk and typing something into the computer.

Piper giggles and Jason grins, as if they're all sharing some personal joke. I stare at each of them in turn, stunned. If Will openly admitted to being a demigod, then that means that Jason and Piper must be demigods too and know. I wonder who each of their parent's are, but my mind takes a turn and I begin to worry that they know who my parent is.

I stand and just notice now that my jacket is open, and my dark blue shirt is stained with blood and damp with sweat that hasn't fully dried. My black jeans have stains of blood on them as well.

"Do you need a different set of clothes for the rest of the day," Jason asks me.

I shake my head, refusing to say anything to them.

"You can talk Nico," Piper chimes in. I feel compelled to speak, even a tiny bit. But I'm humiliated, and ashamed, and shocked, and feeling a whole ton of other emotions I'm just beginning to comprehend. I simply nod at her. She shrugs.

"Ya know, Jason carried you all the way here."

If she's trying to make me feel better, she is not doing a good job. Her voice constantly is either luring me in, compelling me to do something, or has much more meaning than what she simply says.

"Aha... It was nothing. I couldn't let them do that to you Nico. I just wish I had gotten there sooner. I'm sorry."

I turn to Jason, he's looking down at the floor, a light color to his cheeks that oppose his concerned eyes and shamed frown.

"..."

He cares... He was the one who came in when Luke and his friends were... He carried me here... while I was unconscious... He got me help and made sure I was healed... He feels guilty that he wasn't able to get to me sooner... He... Jason cares...

Ding!

"That's the end of second block. Wherever you guys are supposed to be you should get there before we all get in trouble for 'conspiring against the school rules'," Will tells us, the last part dripping with sarcasm and said with his fingers in quotations.

I nod and begin to walk out of the nurse's office.

"HEY!"

I turn, standing in the doorway.

"You could show some appreciation. Maybe a thank you?" Will playfully scolds me.

I feel the heat come back to my face.

"...uh... th-...thank.. you..." I mumble. I catch Will wink at me as he turns to Jason to say something, Jason smiles at me. I rush down the hallways.

Well, that's the next chapter ^_^ I hope you enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to what happens between Nico and Will and Jason and what might Nico do to Luke for hurting him.