Chapter 12 - Part 1

~Percy's POV~

Warning: Triggers

Please don't read if you are affected by this. I'm serious. I don't want anyone to be hurt because of me.

"You shouldn't go."

I cocked my head at Nico, who blinked. "Why not?" He gestured and the shadows above us parted , revealing a starry indigo sky. "It's night. There are going to be twice as many monsters out there."

There was a quick pause before he shrugged. "You could always stay another night. It's not like they're gonna come right now."

I smiled gratefully. "Thanks." In truth, I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay right here, beside Nico. But of course I didn't say that. I probably just wanted the comfort of a friend and a roof over my head.

Which didn't explain why I still felt a ghost of his hand on my shoulder.

But never mind that.

Nico gestured again, and a passage opened. Smiling at him, I walked into it and found myself in the room I had been sleeping in. The passage closed and I flopped onto the bed.

"Nico? I'm going now." I called out, shouldering my backpack. It was the next morning, and I was decided. I had to go. No matter how powerful Nico was, and he was very powerful, the Romans combined with the Greeks would overwhelm him sooner or later with just their sheer force. At least with me gone, he could tell them I'd been here but left.

"Nico?" It was a bit...saddening he wasn't here. Maybe I should just go and...say goodbye.

"Nico, where are you?" I called out, getting more worried by the moment. "Nico!" I turned, all thoughts of leaving gone from my mind.

Striding through the corridor, I walked through the shadows, which parted in front of me, hopefully leading me to the son of Hades.

"Whoa." My mouth dropped open. Nico's room was huge. Giant, in fact. Draped with black, gold and silver, the whole room was scarily old looking. Shadows swirled around the floor, constantly shifting. The only thing that seemed out of place was the bed. It was a huge four-poster, but under the thin veil of silver and gold lined curtains was a bright turquoise bedspread. The comforter that lay above it was a happy sky blue, standing out so much I felt the urge to laugh.

Okay, enough staring at Nico's room. I was starting to feel like a creepy stalker. Where was Nico?

"Nico. Hello? I'm going now, just wanted to say goodbye. Are you even here?" I walked towards a door on the opposite side of the room.

Knock. Knock. Knock. "Nico?" A soft groan came from inside. "Per-cccy...h-hel..." My eyes widened and I grabbed the door handle, ramming the shadowy door. It dissipated and I stumbled in.

"NICO!" The son of Hades lay on the floor, a razor in his left hand. His right forearm was streaming blood, open cuts cris-crossing his whole arm. A hissing sound came from behind me, and I saw an odd spirit, like a woman clad in shadows, ever shifting, ever changing, and radiating an aura of "stay the freak away". It remained frozen for a second before darting out of the room.

Meanwhile, Nico lay on the tiled floor, the life slowly bleeding out of him.

A/N:

Okay, listen up, y'all. I don't want any of you to ever, ever do this. If you need help, talk to your parents or friends or even teachers. Don't just bottle it up.

Also, if you ever want to talk, just message me, and I'll do whatever, whatever I can to help. I don't want any of you getting hurt.

So this was a darker chapter and I'm sorry if any of you are angry with me for doing this. But I wanted to address it because it's a very serious problem, and there are people out there who take it too far, who try to kill themselves, and I want you guys to know that it's the worst option.

Whew that was long.

Anyway, peace out, and remember, I'm always here to talk.

~N

P.S. To my dear darling editor Danny, who has returned from her holiday: HA. I bet you didn't think I'd write this much. Again, HA. Now you have to edit all of this.

To my readers, I'm sorry if there are more mistakes than usual.

P.P.S. Thanks Charmaine for making this AWESHUMN cover!! :D princesscharm114

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY

I'LL BE POSTING THE OTHER PART OF THIS CHAPTER TONIGHT IF I CAN