New Hope Rewritten

Chapter III: Kairi Is Better Than Rose In Not Letting Go

Nico

We reappeared a few meters away from camp borders and I stumble a bit from shadow travelling. Luckily, Kairi was quick to react and grabs me by my wrists to steady me, "Easy there." She says softly with a gentle smile. "So, where is this camp you speak of?" she asks.

"The pine tree..." I barely manage to speak, "we...we can't stick around for long...more monsters might smell us..."

Despite my broken speech, she manages to understand me as we both walk towards Thalia's tree that marks the border where we'll be safe. Yet somewhere behind us, the sound of growling could be heard.

"Neeks, I know you're injured and all, but those dogs do not look happy to see us. So could you maybe pick up the pace?" The tone in Kairi's voice was pleading and I hobbled faster as the growling went louder and louder. It was no use; the border still seemed so far away.

I was fading in and out of consciousness, trusting Kairi in leading the way. The feeling of fatigue was hard to fight against until I heard the sound of fabric being ripped followed by a scream of pain next to me. Only then do I realise that the outburst came from the girl helping me.

"Help us!" She shouts but it's no use. I turn to look behind us, not missing a beat as I watch a hellhound scratch Kairi's already wounded back.

"Oh my gods, Kairi!" Seeing the girl's face contort in agony snapped something within me. With the little ounce of strength I had, I push the girl as far away as possible and summon a few skeletons from the ground. As they fight off the monsters, I quickly run over to Kairi who was bleeding quite a lot. Taking off my aviator's jacket, I wrap it around her back and tie the sleeves around her tightly to make the bleeding slower.

"Kairi, stay with me." I beg her.

Her pale and shaky hand attempts to hold onto my own hand, smiling at me with her eyes closed, "Don't let go..."

When I turn back around, the skeletons have successfully taken out the monsters. I then command them to carry Kairi as we make our way into the camp's protection. A few campers were staring as we made our way to the Big House but I couldn't find myself to care as I concentrated on my friend's wavering life line.

We stormed into the small building, "Chiron!" I call out.

A man in a wheel chair revealed themselves with a gentle smile, "Nico, good to see you here—" he never got to finish his sentence as his smile turned to a worried one. "Bring her to the infirmary."

Demanding the skeletons to carefully lay Kairi down on an empty plain white bed, I send them away and let Chiron tend to the girl's wounds. "She's a demigod then, since she was able to enter camp. This is your first time bringing in a camper. I'm proud of you, Nico," he stops to look at me for a quick moment only to return back to his task at hand, "you did the right thing bringing her here."

I glance at the girl who couldn't even lift her eyelids, yet never letting go of my hand. I leave Kairi to Chiron's care as soon as she's fast asleep and slowly let go. Deciding to walk around the camp, my thoughts linger to my friend and reminding myself that she's fine.

"Hey Nico!" a cheerful voice greets behind me. I groan; Percy's here.

"What are you doing here Jackson?" my voice was filled with mirth but the other boy didn't notice at all.

"School ended early." He shrugs. "I heard from a couple of campers that you brought in a demigod, is that true?"

I stopped dead on my tracks and glance at Percy with an eyebrow raised, "So? Kairi is clearly a demigod."

"A girl?" he asks.

"Yeah." I say, "And she's oddly like you."

"What?"

I shake my head and continue walking, "Nothing, I just think her godly parent is Poseidon."

Percy rolls his eyes and lightly pushes my shoulder, "Nice joke Neeks."

"I'm not joking though."

"Then how can you be so sure?" The other boy stops me from walking and gives me an interrogative look.

"A group of Cyclopes attacked her and called Kairi 'daughter of Poseidon' and she blasted them wet with water from a nearby fountain." I answer.

"Really?" He then got excited, "What does she look like?"

I rolled my eyes, "She's got hair, a nose, a pair of eyes and ears—"

"Seriously!"

"Just look at the mirror and imagine yourself as a girl."

"That's not very helpful." He complains.

"Let's just go visit her then."

"Great idea!" With that, Percy pulls me by my sleeve and practically drags me all the way back to the Big House. We walked into the infirmary and find Kairi sitting up on her bed and fiddling nervously with her necklace.

"Hey Kai, you okay?" I ask.

Kairi looks up from her accessory and greets me with a smile, "Yeah, oh hello." She politely greets Percy too.

"Hello, I'm Percy Jackson—son of Poseidon." He greets her nicely back. "Welcome to Camp Half-Blood."