How did I get here, Nico asked himself in the early hours. He sat hugging his knees. Everly's body lay just beyond the threshold and even though he was trying not to look, Nico barely noticed anything else.
No one ever died inside of Camp Half-blood. It wasn't something that happened. But Everly had and instead of remaining behind he followed Nico across the country.
He heard some movement down the hall and panicked. What would Naomi do if she found out about Everly? What would she do if she found out Nico was responsible?
Nico felt barely aware of what he was doing, but the laptop screen lit up. It connected to an all too familiar number.
"Nico," Annabeth said, half-yawning, half-sighing. "It's five a.m. here and I was already waking up but someone should have explained how timezones work. What's going on?"
He didn't want to say how relieved he was that she answered by herself, but he couldn't hide it either. "I went to stay with Will and his mom for a little while."
"Yeah," she said, smiling and yawning again. She drank some coffee. "I heard about that."
"We flew in an airplane and it was okay."
"That's great. Flying can be scary sometimes."
"Right."
"Nico, is it safe?"
He turned and looked out the still open window. A cat was perched on a solitary fence post outside, sitting calmly washing its paws. The moonlight turned it's fur to silver.
"I think so."
"Then don't worry about how late it is. Go walk on the beach and clear your head okay? I have to wake up Percy. He's still Percy and University is not High School."
She turned off the video chat without waiting. Nico hesitated, staring at Everly. He avoided stepping on him as he left the room.
The beach was lined with people that didn't exist anymore. Nico tried to ignore them. He couldn't help them even if he wanted to. They were dead.
He lay down in the shallow water and closed his eyes.
"Not the best place to sleep," Will said. Nico opened his eyes to find that hours had passed. "You're freaking my mom out. This is the real world, Nico and people talk."
"I'm sorry." He sat up and looked down the beach. It was still clouded with ghosts. One of them shifted, drawing his attention. It was Everly washed out in gray. Nico acknowledged him and looked away.
"I was just..."
"Nico, what's going on?"
"I'm sorry, Will. I've just realized that I'm not his son anymore. I don't think I ever was."
The ghosts began to fade as the light rolled across the Gulf of Mexico. One by one they vanished until only Everly remained. Nico watched as he raised his hand and gave a quick wave before disappearing like the others.
Surprisingly, Nico felt stronger than before. "I have an idea," Will said. Nico got up and followed him to a building on stilts. "This place is abandoned but it's still structurally sound so we can hang out. But that's not why we're here." He took out a pocket knife and carved Nico and Will into the weathered boards.
"Why is my name on top?"
"Because I'm always going to put you first." He slipped the knife back into his pocket.