The ride through the desolate streets of New York was a quiet one except for the hum of the engine and the stray pothole or two. No one wanted to speak, too anxious about the journey laid out in front of them. It didn't help that Percy was stuck with both Katie and Piper in the vehicle too. They all couldn't get the events of last night out of their heads and felt too awkward to talk about or even confront one another about it. Katie had elected to keep her gaze out the window, her fingers tapping nervously against her knee as she watched familiar landmarks roll by while Piper was leaning her head back hoping to get a few more minutes of rest in her. Percy was too busy driving to really do much besides think on how to break the tension.
Will, their other passenger, seemed to sense the tension in the air, casting Percy a few odd glances. The son of Poseidon couldn't help but sigh inwardly, knowing a conversation with the son of Apollo was inevitable. Will had an uncanny ability to pick up on things like this. Hesitant and unsure of what else to do, Percy reached for the radio, hoping that music would serve as a welcome distraction. He leaned his head back, letting the lyrics fill the silence.
"I just need someone in my life to give it structure."
"Nope. Definitely not." Percy quickly switched the station, already feeling the weight of Katie's and Piper's stares burning into the back of his head. It was a little too close to home for his liking.
"I'm gonna take my time,
She gon' get hers before I,
I'm gonna take it slow,
I'm not gonna rush the stroke,
So she can get a sexual eruption!"
"You've got to be fucking kidding me…" Percy muttered under his breath as he changed the station again. He dared to glance at Katie in the rearview mirror, only to find her staring out the window, her face a deep shade of crimson.
"I was standing in the shower thinking
About what makes a man."
"Why is everything so…on-the-nose today." He muttered, punching the radio between every syllable. Piper was now the one who was beet red, desperately trying to cover her face in a vain attempt.
"You good?" Will asked, half-amused, half-confused as to why he was heating the radio.
Percy shot him a side glare, daring him to keep egging it on. Will shot his hands up in surrender, hiding the smirk that dared to split across his face. Attempting one more time, the son of Poseidon dared to switch the channel, only to find that one of the songs had just ended.
"Alright, here we go." He muttered, settling in his seat as he awaited the next song to play.
"Torn between two lovers, feelin' like a fool
Lovin' both of you is breakin' all the rules."
Percy let out a disbelieving, mirthless laugh, slapping his hand against the steering wheel. "I can't…I can't do this anymore." He groaned, finally giving up on the radio altogether. He didn't dare look at the girls, afraid of the consequences if he did so. Will, on the other hand, was dying in fits of laughter. He couldn't help but turn around and look at the two girls who both held their heads low, letting their hair hide their embarrassment.
Deciding to ride in silence which was practically unbearable, the son of Poseidon was glad to see Clarisse, who was the convoy leader of their ten or so vans, pull into a rest station. It seemed it was time for a restroom break which he couldn't be more thankful for. Pulling in and parking the truck, the two girls wasted no time jumping out and bee-lining out of Percy's sight. Sighing at the thought of the awkwardness being rougher down the line, he hopped out, happy to get some fresh air.
"So," Will came up to him with a knowing smirk on his face. "That was a disaster."
"Fuck you," Percy shot back but even he couldn't help the small smile split across his face. It absolutely was a disaster. Not even Hades could come up with such a nightmare of a situation.
"Like how could the radio make things worse?!" The son of Apollo exclaimed with a wave of his hands. "The radio is supposed to make things better! I think the Fates are against you, my friend."
"Gee, Will, it only took you twenty years to figure that out!"
The blonde-haired demigod chuckled, leaning against the hood of the truck as he looked out to the horizon. "So I already know about the thing with Piper. That was funny to hear about," He sighed, smiling into the wind. "But Katie…that was unexpected. Since when did that happen?
Percy didn't have a chance to respond before his friend was already coming to the conclusion.
"Let me guess it was last night," He snapped his fingers. "I had interrupted you two when I asked if you were okay."
"How in the fuck–" Percy groaned, running a hand through his hair.
"Percy, I'm gay. I know this love stuff better than most guys." Will deadpanned, his eyes serious.
"It's not love, dude."
"You're right, it's a love triangle." He pressed on, grinning like a cat who caught the mouse. "No wait, or is a love quadrangle? I feel like I'm missing someone."
It's not a love anything." The son of Poseidon crossed his arms, not even knowing what a quadrangle was. "It's–It's…It's…"
"It's?" Will egged him on.
"It's a whole lot of none of your business." He finally muttered, his voice tight as he stared down his friend. The blue-eyed demigod wasn't deterred in the slightest; if anything, he looked more entertained.
"None of my business?" Will raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. "Percy, you're my patient half the time! Technically, your mental health and sexual activity are totally my business!"
"That's not how that works!" Percy hissed, leaning against the truck's side door though he couldn't stop the corner of his mouth from twitching upward.
The son of Apollo shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance. "Look, I'm just saying, love triangles—or quadrangles, or whatever geometry you're working with—don't resolve themselves. You need to talk this out."
"Thanks, Dr. Solace for the advice but in case you haven't noticed I'm kind of busy leading the last surviving members of the Greek and Roman Pantheon to salvation."
He could feel Will's smug gaze as he pretended to inspect the truck's tires, silently wishing that this conversation would end.
"You're welcome. I accept payment in cash, card, or ambrosia." Will replied, his tone light but understanding the conversation was at its end.
Walking away with a disbelieving shake of his head, he headed toward Clarrise who was standing near her own truck. Not before the son of Apollo could get the last word in however.
"Just be careful about Travis," He warned. "You know how he feels about Katie."
Percy groaned to himself, having forgotten about the son of Hermes. He had made it no secret about how he felt about her over the years. Great, that was just what he needed. More drama. Deciding he would deal with that another time, he continued his trek to the daughter of Ares who was leaning against her van, looking out past the highway to the distant woods.
"We've got fifteen minutes before we hit the road again." She grumbled, her arms crossed and face deathly serious.
"Understood," Percy replied, leaning against the truck next to her. Scanning the area he noticed the rest stop wasn't much, just a parking lot with a small building and a vending machine that probably hadn't been restocked for nearly a decade. The air smelled faintly of asphalt and pine, and the distant sound of an eighteen-wheeler rumbling down the highway filled the awkward silence.
"More and more mortals are driving into the city, I see."
Clarrise hummed in agreement, her gaze still fixed on the horizon. It seemed as if she was looking for something or rather waiting for someone. That's when it clicked in Percy's head.
"I'm guessing you didn't call this stop just for a break," He said with a knowing look in his eye.
She finally turned to face him, her expression sharp. "You guessed right. We've got scouts reporting back. I sent out Chris and the Stolls early this morning. They should've been back by now."
That wasn't a good sign. The Hermes boys were some of the best at scouting and not getting caught. If they hadn't returned by now then something was definitely up. The thought made his stomach churn, causing him to subconsciously reach into his pocket for Riptide.
"I'll go." Percy's jaw tightened but Clarisse wasn't having non of that hero crap.
She shook her head angrily. "No way. You're leading this convoy. If something happens to you, we're screwed. I'll take care of it."
"Clarisse—"
"Don't argue with me, Jackson," she snapped, her eyes blazing. "I get it. You feel responsible for everyone but this isn't just about you anymore. You've got a bigger role to play, whether you like it or not. So stay put and let me do my job."
The son of Poseidon opened his mouth to argue but realized it wouldn't do any good. Clarisse was deadset on being the one to go out there and look for them, especially since it was Chris Rodriguez. She cared for him deeply and wouldn't have anyone else go out and search for him.
Percy sighed heavily, gripping the edge of the truck bed as he tried to keep his frustration in check. He hated feeling helpless, and sitting back while others went into danger was a special kind of torture.
"Fine," he relented, though his voice was tight with reluctance. "But you're taking backup. I'm not letting you go out there alone."
Clarisse raised an eyebrow, scoffing at the notion. "I don't need a babysitter."
"Maybe not," Percy shot back, "but you're getting one anyway. You don't know what's out there, and we can't afford to lose anyone else."
She looked like she wanted to argue but finally nodded. "Fair enough. Who are you volunteering?"
Percy scanned the rest stop, his eyes landing on Will, who was still lounging by the truck with an annoyingly amused grin on his face. "Will," he called out.
Will's grin faltered. "Wait, what?"
"You're going with Clarisse," He said, ignoring the blonde demigod's protests as he gestured toward the daughter of Ares. "She's heading out to find the scouts, and you're her backup."
"Percy," Will groaned, dragging his feet as he approached, "I'm a healer, not a fighter."
"You're also one of the most competent people here," Percy countered. "And besides, you're great at patching people up if things went sideways with the Hermes boys."
Clarisse snorted. "Don't worry, Sunshine. Just stick close and try not to get yourself killed. I'll do the heavy lifting."
The son of Apollo muttered something under his breath as the daughter of Ares practically dragged him away. He could see Percy giving him his signature, infuriating smirk which made his blood boil.
"Thanks, man. I owe you one." The son of Poseidon mouthed, mockingly giving him a thumbs up. Will replied in earnest with a sarcastic smile and middle finger.
Clarisse gave him a final look, her eyes hard but not unkind. "We'll be back in an hour. If we're not, assume the worst."
Percy nodded, the weight of her words settling heavily on his chest. He watched as the two of them armed themselves—Clarisse with her spear and shield, Will with his bow—and got in the van and took off toward Camp Half-Blood. The silence that followed was oppressive, the hum of the van's engine getting fainter and fainter as they disappeared off in the distance. The rest of the hundred or so demigods soon began to realize that they weren't going anywhere for a while and decided to mill about, some idly kicking the one vending machine in hopes of snacks.
He ran a hand through his black hair nervously as he stood alone by the truck. The minutes trickled by ever so slowly, each one adding to the gnawing anxiety in his chest. His thoughts spiraled, imagining the worst-case scenarios his mind could conjure but he quickly shoved them aside. Panicking would do no good for him or anyone else.
A commotion near the vending machine caught his attention, pulling him from his dark musings. One demigod, a younger Roman believe it or not, had managed to half-climb inside the machine's hatch. A crowd of demigods gathered around, some laughing, others acting as lookouts.
"Mac!" Percy called, his voice low but firm. The son of Mercury froze mid-reach, a candy bar dangling precariously from his fingertips.
"What?" Mac asked, trying—and failing—to sound innocent as he withdrew his hand. "This thing's been out of service for years. It's practically a relic."
"Just… don't," He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We've got enough to deal with. I don't need to add a demigod shitting his pants because he ate rotten, expired candy on this list."
Mac shrugged and hopped out, flashing a lopsided grin as he tossed the candy bar to one of the younger kids. "Relax, boss. A sugar rush might do us some good."
Percy shook his head, watching the group disperse with a mix of amusement and exasperation. The younger demigods were trying their best to keep morale up, even if it meant turning a decades-old vending machine into a treasure trove of forbidden snacks. He leaned back against the truck, the cold metal grounding him as he scanned the parking lot again. Everyone seemed restless, and he couldn't blame them. Tension was running high the closer they got to camp which was only thirty minutes away.
Suddenly noticing Katie and Piper reemerging from the restroom, walking side by side with one another, the son of Poseidon breathed a restless sigh as he faced back toward the highway. He didn't want to think or deal with that stuff right. Matter of fact, that was the last thing he wanted to think about. ...and yet, the thoughts crept in like the tide, steady and unstoppable. The tension between Katie and Piper lingered in the air, heavy and unspoken. Percy clenched his fists, staring hard at the horizon as if it held the answers to the tangled mess in his mind. He couldn't ignore the way both girls had been acting around him—the fleeting glances, the awkward silences—but he also couldn't let himself get caught up in it.
Not when Annabeth's memory was still so fresh, so vivid.
He thought of her smile, her ringing laughter, the way she could calm him down even when things were at their worst. She'd been his anchor for as long as he'd been a demigod. The idea of moving on—of letting himself feel anything for anyone else—felt like a betrayal. He drew a slow, shuddering breath, his fingers tightening on the edge of the truck bed. No. He couldn't do it. He couldn't betray her memory, couldn't let himself slip into something that would only complicate things further. Annabeth deserved better than that. He owed her better than that.
For now, the best he could do was focus on getting everyone to safety, on leading them through whatever lay ahead. He would deal with the rest—the guilt, the confusion, the flickers of something he didn't want to name—later. Or maybe he wouldn't deal with it at all. Only time would tell he supposed.
"Hey stranger," Reyna's voice broke his train of thought. "Mind if I join you?"
Percy blinked away the confusion as he glanced down at the daughter of Bellona who was already at his side, slightly leaning on him for support. He could see the bandages wrapped around her stomach, still slightly leaking blood. Her skin was pale and breath ragged but she looked better than when she was at the Empire State Building.
"Reyna," He muttered, concerned. "You need to sit down."
She waved him off, her expression hard but tired. "Please don't tell me that. Everyone has been telling me that. Just let me stretch my legs for a little bit, okay?"
The son of Poseidon sighed in reluctance but allowed her to do so. Her stubbornness reminded him so much of Annabeth. Standing in silence for a few minutes, they basked in the sun's warmth and each other's presence. It was nice for a change. Maybe it was because Reyna knew what he was feeling because she was a leader herself. Whatever it was, he was thankful for the distraction. It offered him some semblance of peace that he hadn't truthfully felt in what felt like an eternity.
"They should be back soon hopefully." She said softly, glancing at the direction they drove off in.
"Yeah, hopefully." He replied, anxiety laced in his words. He'd lost track of how long it'd been already. Had an hour passed by or had it only been twenty or so minutes? He cursed his ADHD for not knowing. Every minute that passed could be another minute wasted not saving his friends. He once again nervously ran his hand through his hair, his chest feeling as if it would balloon with worry. The faint sounds of nature—the rustling of trees in the wind, distant chirps of birds—felt like a distant world compared to the storm raging in his body.
The daughter of Bellona noticed his restlessness and let out a quiet sigh, her gaze never wavering from the road as she slyly slipped her hand into his. The taller demigod tensed for a moment, not expecting the contact. As she rubbed her thumb over his knuckles, however, he calmed slightly. The simple gesture offered a strange sense of tranquility. He wasn't sure what it truly meant in her eyes but right now the simple touch—so quiet, so unspoken—felt like a lifeline.
Their silent moment of peace, however, was interrupted when something caught Percy's eye: a flicker of movement in the woods to their right. He squinted, his heart jumping in his chest. It was just a brief glimpse, but there—between the trees on the horizon—he could make out the figure of someone moving sluggishly.
"What the–" He voiced his confusion, causing Reyna to look up at him sharply. She followed his gaze, her instincts already picking up on the subtle shift in the air.
"What is it?" She asked but the son of Poseidon didn't answer, already on the move with his pen in hand.
"All of you! Be ready!" He ordered the demigods, the sudden urgency and command in his tone sent a ripple of alertness through the crowd. Demigods who had been lazily standing around or lounging by their vans immediately stiffened, their eyes scanning the surroundings. The son of Poseidon uncapped his sword as he jogged over to the edge of the woods, prepared to protect the demigods behind him. Arriving at the edge, he raised his sword as he watched the figure, shrouded by the shadows of the looming trees, slowly approach.
The figure, a man judging by the size, stumbled forward into the light, barely able to keep upright. Percy's grip on Riptide slackened, his heart sinking as he realized who this person was.
It was Chris Rodriguez.
His clothes were torn, his face battered and bruised, and his normally sharp eyes were dull and clouded. Blood seeped from multiple cuts on his skin, and his movements were sluggish as he stumbled toward the son of Poseidon. His once-strong posture was now weak, hunched with exhaustion, and the look in his eyes was one of fear.
"Shit!" Percy exclaimed as he rushed toward the son of Hermes, catching him just before he could fall to the ground in exhaustion. "Hey man, stay with me. You're safe now."
"B…Behind." Chris sputtered weakly, his breath ragged. He didn't know what he meant by that until he heard the rustling and snapping of trees in the woods in front of him. The ground shook with the weight of whatever was coming at them. It was only then that Percy understood. Not a moment later the treeline exploded in a flurry of black mass as countless Hellhounds came leaping out of the shadows, their beady red eyes locked on the son of Hermes. Their growls filled the air, sharp and guttural as their massive forms charged. The sight of the stampede was enough to make any demigod's blood run cold.
Percy barely had time to react before the first hound lunged at him, jaws snapping with ferocity. Instinctively, he swung Riptide in a wide arc, slicing through the air just in time to sever its snout. The creature let out a chilling howl before collapsing to the ground, its blood spilling into the dirt. The sight of it lying dead at his feet worried him greatly. That meant these monsters were the type that didn't dissolve into mist.
"Get back! Everyone, get back!" Percy shouted, his voice commanding as he spun to face the growing swarm. His heart raced, but there was no time for panic. The demigods scrambled into defensive positions, forming a protective line as the few others tried to put the younger children into vans to keep them safe. The son of Poseidon had no time to do anything else than protect the injured son of Hermes behind him.
A Hellhound lunged toward him, its fangs flashing in the sunlight. With a swift swing of Riptide, he cleaved through the air, the blade cutting through the beast's skull with an audible crack. It dropped to the ground in a heap. Continuing on with his relentless attacks, he pushed back the invasion. For every one that fell, however, two more took its place. Breathing heavily, he watched as the monsters began to steer clear of him, realizing that he was a bigger threat than the demigods behind him.
Cursing under his breath, the son of Poseidon did his best to draw the monsters' attention toward him but to no avail. Taking the risk, he let his back be exposed to the hoard as he picked up the now passed-out Chris and ran him over behind a van. Not even taking a moment to breathe, he ran back out to the action, reinforcing the line that was trying to desperately hold out.
"What the hell is this, Percy?!" Piper screamed at him as she dodged the claws of one hound that jumped over her.
"I don't know!" He replied, stabbing a monster through the chest as he rolled out of the way of another trying to get a bite of his side. "Just stay focused! There can't be that many left!"
Turns out that assessment was wrong. It seemed there was only more and more that streamed out the treeline, all of them hellbent on eating every single last demigod. He and the others did their best to hold the line but taking on countless Hellhounds that weighed more than trucks can tire a person quickly. Percy gritted his teeth, sweat stinging his eyes as he stabbed another monster through the skull. But he kept fighting back, not relenting in the slightest. He couldn't let these things kill the people that were relying on him.
"Percy, we can't keep this up!" Katie screamed at him, her eyes wide with fear. He hated to admit it but he had to agree. Sooner or later their line would falter. Growling in frustration, he made a split-second decision.
"Everyone, get down!" He yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos like thunder. The demigods didn't hesitate to listen to the order, dropping onto the ground like flys to a swatter. As soon as they hit the dirt, he stabbed his sword into the ground, focusing all his energy on the ground beneath them. Summoning every ounce of power he could muster, he called forth a massive surge of water from the nearby pipes beneath the rest stop. The ground rumbled violently as geysers of water erupted from the cracked asphalt, sending debris and Hellhounds flying into the air. The creatures yelped and snarled, some being thrown far into the woods while others died on the spot.
The sudden surge of water drenched the battlefield, carrying the corpses away like leaves in a storm. Steam hissed as the afternoon sun met the water, filling the air with a thick mist that shrouded the rest stop in an eerie veil. Percy stood at the center of it all, his chest heaving as he gripped Riptide tightly. The roar of the geysers faded, leaving only the faint trickle of water running into the gutters and the labored breathing of the demigods who had managed to survive the onslaught.
"Is everyone okay?" Percy called out, his voice raw from yelling.
A chorus of groans and murmured affirmations rose from the scattered demigods who were drenched in the nasty pipe water. The cries of a girl from behind the clumped crowd however broke their mental reservations. Percy's eyes darted to where the noise was coming from, noticing that there was still one last Hellhound still alive, clawing the windshield of a van that contained numerous children who were hidden from the battle.
He didn't think–acting on pure adrenaline.
He raced toward the van with Riptide at the ready, the blade gleaming under the filtered sunlight. His legs burned, his muscles screamed, but none of that mattered. Not when those kids were trapped, their terrified screams fueling his determination. The lone Hellhound snarled, its massive claws tearing into the van's metal exterior, leaving deep, jagged gashes. Its breath fogged the windshield, its teeth bared in a feral growl as it prepared to bite.
That was until the son of Poseidon jumped up and tackled it from the side, slamming into the beast with the full weight of his body. The Hellhound let out a startled yelp as Percy's momentum sent it sprawling to the ground. Riptide flashed in his hand as he plunged the blade into the creature's side, its black blood spurting onto the pavement as it howled in agony. It desperately used its claws to try and stop the demigod from stabbing it, getting a lucky swipe on the son of Poseidon's chest.
The force of the hit sent Percy flying backward into the van with a sickening thud. His back slammed into the metal frame, forcing the air out of his lungs in a sharp gasp. His vision blurred for a moment, pain radiating from the deep gash across his chest. He gritted his teeth, clutching at the wound as the Hellhound staggered to its feet, blood dripping from its side where Riptide had struck. The beast growled, its glowing red eyes narrowing as it lunged at the injured man. Percy barely had enough time to raise his arm and stop the fangs from sinking into his throat. Instead, the sharp, glistening whites sunk into his arm, the sheer force of the bite snapping his bone in two.
The demigod grunted in pain as he held back the monster, reaching out for Riptide which lay just by his side, glinting mockingly in the sunlight. Screaming as he felt the fangs sink deeper and deeper, he acted on pure instinct, jamming his free hand into the monster's eye. The attack was just enough to stall the fight for but a moment, allowing him to grab his sword and quickly stab the Hellhound repeatedly in the stomach. The monster thrashed and fell backward with Percy on top of it who continued to gut it with all his might.
He didn't stop stabbing until its snarls turned to whimpers before finally falling silent, black ichor pooling out of its mouth. Panting heavily, he slid off the monster, shakily leaning on Riptide as he stood up. The pain was searing in both his chest and arm but he really didn't care about that. Slugging himself over to the side door which had been caved in, he ripped it off its hinges without any hesitation.
Inside the van, the children were huddled together, their faces pale and streaked with tears. They flinched as Percy appeared, his battered form dripping with blood and sweat. He forced a smile despite the agony coursing through him.
"Come on guys," He said, his voice soft and comforting. "Let's get you out of there."
One by one, he helped the kids climb out of the van, doing his best to shield them from the gruesome scene behind him. The younger ones clung to his legs or buried their faces in his chest, oblivious to the blood soaking his shirt. Percy ignored the stabbing pain in his arm and chest as he guided them to the safety of the group. As he reached the others, the crowd of demigods parted to let them through. Katie, Piper, and Reyna were among the first to approach, their faces a mix of relief and concern.
"Percy, you're hurt—" Katie started, but he shook his head, cutting her off.
"Later," he said firmly, his focus still on the frightened children. "Make sure they're okay first."
His words did little to ease their concern, however, with Reyna pushing through the crowd to check on him. "Percy, you idiot, you're bleeding everywhere. Sit down before you fall over."
"I'm fine," Percy insisted, though his legs were trembling beneath him.
"You're not fine," Reyna said sharply as she approached, her face hard but her eyes betraying her worry. "Sit down before you make it worse."
"Oh, so now you're telling me to sit down? How ironic."
Realizing he wasn't going to win this fight, he reluctantly sank to the asphalt, wincing as pain shot through his body. Blood poured out of his body, staining his skin red and making him feel cold. That surely wasn't good. Judging by Nico's expression, he figured his guess was right.
"We got to stop the bleeding fast." The son of Hades urgently said, running over to a van that contained some medical supplies.
"Guys, it's not that serious," The green-eyed demigod tried to reason, craning his head to survey his wounds. He wished he hadn't. "Okay so maybe it's a little serious."
"Quit with the fucking jokes. Now's not the time." Katie shakily said, putting pressure on his biggest wound that continued to spurt unhealthy amounts of blood. Her hands were covered in it, her eyes not being able to contain the fear and anxiety that threatened to overtake her. Percy gritted his teeth, the dizziness from blood loss making his vision blur as he struggled to keep himself conscious.
Nico was back by his side in an instant, his hands working quickly to help stabilize the bleeding.
"Give me another bandage." He muttered fast, already taking off a blood-soaked bandage that he'd wrapped mere seconds ago. The green-eyed demigod winced as the cold began to overtake him, his hand gripping Riptide tightly as if it could anchor him to the present moment.
"Water." He uttered softly, his voice growing fainter by the second. Piper's eyes widened as she realized what he meant by that. She immediately sprang into action, rushing into the building to look for any water source that hadn't been destroyed by his powers. Noticing a stray water bottle inside the vending machine, she wasted no time breaking the glass with her dagger and ripping it out of its holder. Rushing back over, she immediately unscrewed the cap and poured its contents over his wounds.
"Fuck!" He cried out in pain as the water mixed into his wounds, causing a burning sensation to sear his body. The feeling was agonizing, causing him to bite the inside of his cheek hard enough to draw blood. He had never experienced this with water before. It typically healed any injuries he had so why was it doing this to him now?
"It's because it's the type of monster that doesn't turn into mist," Nico answered, already coming to the conclusion. "Remember how I used my power on its corpse and it burnt me?"
The son of Poseidon groaned as he rolled his eyes. Of course, his luck just had to be that shit. Thankfully, the water seemed to be working. It was slow, much slower than he was used to but at least he would live.
"You're going to have to take it slow for a while," Nico said, finishing wrapping the remainder of the bandages on him. "These wounds won't heal quickly so treat it like you're mortal."
"But I am mortal." Percy gave a shaky grin.
"You know what I mean." Nico rolled his eyes, wiping his friend's blood off on his jeans.
He leaned back, trying to ease the pressure in his chest. Nico's words echoed in his mind as he continued to breathe heavily, the pain still fresh but starting to dull under the bandages and treatment. His thoughts were scattered, his adrenaline slowly wearing off and leaving behind an exhaustion that gnawed at him. The battle had been long, but they had survived. Still, something in his gut churned, unsettled by the close call and the absence of Will, Clarisse, and the Stolls.
Katie, who had been hovering nearby, still seemed shaken by the blood she'd had to clean from her hands. Her face was pale, her expression a mixture of concern and something unspoken. She had seen Percy at his worst before, but this was different—this time, he'd been right at death's door. And she had nearly lost him.
"You need to rest," she said quietly, her voice trembling ever so slightly. She placed a hand gently on his shoulder, as if grounding herself.
Percy could see the worry in her eyes, the unspoken fear that had taken root in both her and Piper. The kind of fear that grew when you realized just how easily everything could be taken from you in this world of monsters and chaos.
"Can't," He replied, shakily getting to his feet much to the anger of his friends. The pain was unbearable, almost making him throw up but there were more pressing matters to attend to. "Guys, we have four of our people missing and he's the only one that knows why." He pointed over to Chris who had thankfully woken up and was now leaning on the side of a van.
The group turned their attention to the son of Hermes, who still had a distant look in his eye, his wounds hastily bandaged by some of the other demigods. His eyes were wide, haunted, as if he'd seen something far worse than the Hellhounds that had attacked them. Percy limped over to him, ignoring the protests and pain. Every step sent a jolt of pain through his body but he pushed through it, determined to figure out what happened to his friends.
"Chris," He said, his voice steady. "What happened out there?"
Chris's hands shook as he tried to speak, his voice barely above a whisper. "We… we were scouting ahead like Clarisse told us to. We thought it was clear, but then… then they came out of nowhere. We tried to fight them off, but there were too many. Travis and Connor… they told me to run, to get back and warn you. They stayed behind to hold them off."
"What came out of nowhere?" Percy knelt down to eye level, his voice urgent. "What'd you see?"
"I-I can't even explain what they were…" He replied, dropping his head. "I'd never seen monsters like them before. They almost looked human but they were bigger and had this ugly grey skin."
Percy's stomach dropped. The thought of the Stoll brothers—trapped, injured, or worse—sent a cold wave of dread through him. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm. "Did you see if the brothers survived? Or if they were taken?
Chris shook his head, his face pale. "No. It all happened so fast. I just… I ran. I didn't look back."
Percy exhaled sharply, his mind racing on what he should do. Patting the son of Hermes on his sagged shoulders, he stood back up and turned to the group of demigods that had crowded around to get an ear in their conversation.
"We're going to get them back right now," He announced, his voice strong and firm. "Everyone mount up. We're heading to camp."
No one dared defy his order, scrambling into action to hit the road once more.
"Percy, what the fuck are you thinking?!" Reyna muttered angrily, gripping his hand tightly. "You're in no condition to help them."
"I can't just sit behind and let my friends suffer," The son of Poseidon lightly escaped her grasp, walking over to the truck and getting in the driver's seat. "Will and Clarisse don't know what they're getting into. I won't let that happen to them as well."
Reyna bit her lip as if to argue more but seeing the determined look in his eye, she knew there would be no point. This was happening either way, nothing could change that.
"Gods, I hope you know what you're getting into."
"Nope," Percy turned the vehicle on, the hum of the engine getting louder. "But let's go find out."