Okay, so nobody reviewed last chapter. Why?

C
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I took a deep breath…

This is it. No more problems. No more pain, No more…

"Step away from the river!"

Somebody tackled me from the side, and flung me away from the river's edges. We were both thrown to the rocky beach below. I felt thankful that I wasn't really here, or else that would've hurt.

Anubis was scowling at me in his human form. "Didn't I tell you not to get near that river? Did you even listen to me? Oh gods, I can't believe that you were about to kill yourself…"

I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. Technically, I was dead, wasn't I?

Anubis dusted himself off. "Seriously Carter. When did you start becoming like Sadie? If I had been late for even a second, that river would've burned your soul up, and not even your sheut could ah, re-boot it. How do you think Sadie will react when she finds out that her brother had the chance to live again, only to throw it away for selfish reasons?"

As much as I hate to admit it, but he was right. "But Iskandar said-"

"Iskandar said that you could leave you problems behind and go step into the river. He did not tell you that it is the only choice." Anubis said. "Lord Osiris has already told Sadie of your situation. He has agreed to let your soul "slip" from his watch and go back to living world. I could escort you back to your body, if you want. I'm ready anytime." He got a faraway look in his eyes. "On second thought, scratch that last part. My senses just told me that your body died. We must return you now.

"But I protested, giving another long look at the river. I was really tempted to just walk in there. The river just gave me a once in a lifetime escape option, and from the looks of things right now, I'd say that this is really what I want.

Anubis rolled his eyes. "Carter, the river of fire tells you what you want to her, not what you need to hear. It goads you take a step in, and burns your soul at first touch." He explained. "Now come on, before the doctor pronounces you dead and embalms your body."

"But Anubis-"

"You have to go now." He insisted. "They will think of it as a miracle."

We approached a set of black doors. "Behold, the Doors of Death. This is actually Thanatos', the Greek god of death. But he hides it in here, and in exchange, we get to use it as we please."

"So, I just go in?" I asked. Anubis nodded.

"Oh, and one more thing Carter. Lord Thoth told me to tell you this: Go to Memphis."

"Tennesee?"

Anubis nodded again.

"But why?"

He shrugged. "I have no idea. But if Thoth tells you something, it is usually of great importance. Now go!" With that, he pushed me through the doors.

S
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"No." I whimpered.

"I'm sorry miss." The doctor gave me a sympathetic look. "But we couldn't anything anymore. The brain trauma was just too great. I'm afraid that his body gave up on him. You can see him right now if you want."

I pushed past the doctor, and ran straight for my brother's body.

"Don't you dare die on us!" I screamed in his face. But I knew that he wouldn't hear me. Not anymore.

Instantly, all the degrading insults, cruel things, and sarcastic comments that I've ever told him came flooding back into my head. Oh gods, was I really that mean to him? If only I could ever take it all back.

The steady sound of the heart monitor only deepened the hole his death carved in my heart. I brushed my hands through his curly brown hair. He looked like he could be sleeping.

I liked that idea. He was just sleeping. Maybe he would wake up, and snark at me for crying on his deathbed. But…oh, who was I kidding? He would never wake up, never smile, glare, glower, or talk to me again.

Then dad's final words popped into my head. "Convince him to live, will you?"

It was a long shot, but was it really possible? Behind me, Diana, Nico, Gran, Zia, Travis, Connor, and Gramps were standing by a respectful distance; they watched me as I cried my eyes out for him.

I cleared my throat, and tried to stop the flow of tears from my eyes. "Carter," I whispered to his ear in my most relaxing tone ever, "please come back to us. Please, I can't lose the only family I have left. Don't give up, Carter. Please, live. For me."

But nothing happened. He remained stiff, and…deceased. His eyes were still half-open.

Mourning, I closed them. Now, he really could be sleeping.

I turned my back, and trudged back to them, feeling like a failure.

All of them were crying, except for Nico, Travis, Connor, and Gramps. I figured that it would probably look pretty embarrassing for the boys if any of them would cry. Bloody male pride.

A beep rang through the air. Then another, and another.

I stopped in my tracks, straining to hear one more. Beep. Beep. Beep.

I swiftly turned around, and sure enough, the heart monitor was fluctuating again, and Carter's chest was rising and falling. I cried for joy. Behind me, gasps were heard from both my friends and family, and the hospital's faculty.

"This is a miracle." The doctor commented in awe. "Someone must really love him."

Yeah, I thought. That or Osiris let him live again.

"Stabilize him. And don't lose him again." The doctor ordered. The men snapped out of their shock, and immediately went on putting tubes on Carter, and doing hospital stuff that I really didn't care about, The important thing was, Carter's alive.

We all sat there outside his room, waiting for somebody, anybody to come out. Nobody talked; the tension was just too great.

Then, the same doctor that went out earlier came out again. "H e'll need to be put in ICU for a couple of days, just so we can check in on any vital organs. But there's a problem with the payment-"

"Put it on my account." A man in a wheelchair said.

Percy seemed to recognize the man. "Hello Mr. Dare."

"Ah, young man. We meet again." He turned to the doctor. "I will pay for the boy's recovery. It's the least I can do after he saved my life."

"Thank you." I said to him gratefully.

Mr. Dare smiled. "You are most welcome. But who are you, his girlfriend?"

"Sister, I clarified." Funny how you can go to all depressed and emotional, to happy and ecstatic, then to downright aggravated all in a few hours. I had always been considered as his friend, cousin, or sometimes even sister (though that rarely ever happens), but this was the first time they ever called me his girlfriend. Me and Carter? NO. BLOODY. WAY.

"Sister." The man repeated, although he didn't seem fazed by this. "Well, once he wake up, give him my thanks."

"Will do." I said.

He wheeled out onto the corridor.

"Let us go dear." Gran said. She turned to the rest of my friends. "All of you too. We can visit Carter tomorrow."

And for the first time that day, I thanked the gods for at least giving me one good thing that day.

And that's that. I probably won't be updating this for at least another week, since I'll be working on my two other stories, "Slaves For A Week", and "Misconceptions and Misunderstandings".
Well, review!