Hey guys! I know yesterday's update was short so here's another one :)

Your Fan: Thanks man! Well here it is :)

sonofthetrigod: I do try hehe.

Olympus97: Well, Nico's coming in right about now, actually. There will be Percabeth, but I'm not sure if it will be endgame haha. Thank you! I've always thought they could've been best friends in another life... I decided to play around with that possibility.

Nico's running, his dark eyes wild, pale face flushed.

He's in a slightly oversized aviator jacket, jeans and sneakers, drenched in rain. It's pouring. The sky is dark, the thunder and lightning all around him.

He's been running for hours, exhausted and battered but he has to keep running, he can't stop. He won't let himself stop as he sprints into a back alley, jumping behind a dumpster, listening for the footsteps of his pursuers.

Have to get away, have to get away, he thinks desperately. Have to find my sister. I have to. I have to protect her.

Nico clenches his fists at the thought of anyone hurting Bianca.

He hears the footfalls of those chasing him get further and further.

Once they've completely faded, he sighs, wiping the rainwater out of his eyes.

Alone. He's alone, he thinks.

He thinks back to the days before Percy disappeared.

His best friend, who was always with him. They always had each other's backs, defended each other from the bullies, from the teachers.

He thought he'd always have his best friend, his brother by his side, and they'd take the world by storm together.

But now, he's all alone.

Nico sighs, and as the rain gets stronger, he finds himself praying that Percy isn't alone.

Blurry.

Everything was blurry, Percy thought sleepily, rubbing his eyes with fists.
Much better, he blinks, everything focusing.

He sits up in the soft bed, gingerly touching the white pillows and blankets as if they'd disappear, and settling back down onto them when he realized they weren't figments of his imagination.

"Am I dreaming?" He mutters to himself, running a hand through his hair, shaking his head. If he is dreaming, Percy thinks bitterly. It would be exactly like the gods to torment him with good stuff he can't have.

He walks to the bathroom, splashes his face with water and blinks.

Nope, not dreaming.

"Percy?"

Percy whirls around, eyes wild and body in a defensive stance, searching for possible threats.

"Relax," Thalia said, leaning against the door frame. "Just me, squirt. Feeling better?"

Percy walked back to the bed, and dove back into the whiteness. He turned back to Thalia and nodded.

"Good, good." The older girl grinned. "May I come in?"

Another nod.

Thalia walked in, and sat on the edge of Percy's bed. "Nice place, huh? This was Luke's room the last time we were here."

The younger looked around, studying the walls. Pictures of Luke and his parents lined the walls, Luke and Thalia...

A sudden burst of jealousy had Percy scowling.

"No need to be jealous, Perce." Thalia said, seeng the look on his face. "You'll be up there in no time."

That wasn't why he was jealous, but he decided not to reveal that. "Where is Luke?"
His voice was raspy and rough.

"Getting breakfast, he'll be back in a while. Don't worry, he can take care of himself." Thalia grinned reassuringly. Then her face morphed to concern. "You sure you're alright, Percy?"

"Thals..." A sigh, and Percy looked older and more tired than a kid should ever look. "Why doesn't my dad care about me?"

"I'm sure he does," Thalia replied, blue eyes boring into Percy's, seeing the weariness and pain. "It's just that they're gods... Busy and stuff."

She knew it was lame, but that was the best way to put it.

"But you told me they could be in many places at once! Couldn't they at least check in once in a while? Don't they care? They're parents! They're supposed to love us, and to care-" Percy started to sob, burying his head in his hands, crying brokenly.

Thalia watched him for a moment, her heart breaking at seeing Percy cry. No one, especially not the optimistic, happy Percy should have to cry like that. She could fear tears swimming in her eyes. Tears for Percy's pain, tears for his sadness, for the truth in his words.

The gods didn't care.

But Thalia did.

She silently pulled the sobbing Percy onto her lap.

He buried his head in her shoulder, drenching her shirt in tears, but Thalia didn't mind.

Her own silent tears were falling onto his hair.