Do you want to know something?

I didn't think I'd be this scared to go back home. Hell, if I'm being completely honest I didn't think I'd escape. I thought I'd be stuck with Dylan forever, forced to learn to live with him.

But here I am. Walking home with a Will Solace watching me from his front porch. He would have come with me on this awful forty-five-second journey, but I told him I'd be fine. I could handle myself. So Will stayed back silently giving me moral support, though he did insist on watching me, ya know making sure I make it home.

Clearly, I lied because here I am trying to delay a forty-five-second walk into five minutes.

I don't even know why I'm so scared. Well, that's not true. I do know why. Sort of. I guess I'm scared that my dad won't let me come home. Or that he thinks I ran away or something. (Which, I know, is stupid because he's my dad. He'll let me come home. He loves me. At least, I'm fairly sure he'll let me.) (And I might just also be scared that he hasn't missed me...)

And I guess another thing I'm scared of is Hazel. I mean, if what Annabeth and Will said, then I've been gone for a few months. I'm sure Hazel has adjusted by now. Hell, she probably had a field day realizing that I was gone. It'd hurt me a lot if she did adjust to a new life without me. Though I wouldn't blame her. Start over without your freak of a brother right?

Though, I suppose, I can't be much of a freak now. I can see colors again. And- man I forgot just how pretty the world actually is. I mean, push aside all the people, push aside climate control and shit like that. The way the world is so full of so many fucking colors is amazing. Did you know there are over twenty shades of black? Black! Of all fucking colors, there are multiple shades of black. That shit's amazing.

I take a deep breath, looking back at Will. He smiles (he's not that far, literally across the street.)then gives me a thumbs up.

"Don't worry so much! You'll be fine. It's just your dad!"

Right. Right. It's just my dad, I've nothing to worry about. Besides, if I'm lucky, he'll see me we'll exchange greetings and I'll get to go upstairs and shower. I haven't bathed since Dylan and left the last mansion-like house. I was too scared to shower at Will's.

I knock once.

No one answers. I suppose I did knock too quietly, I could barely hear it myself.

I knock twice this time.

A woman's voice calls out from inside. She sounds about the same age as my dad. I can't tell what she says exactly, but I'm assuming that she said she'd get the door because, well, she's here at the door.

"Hello. Can I help you with something?" she asks. She sounds really nice, I think that's the scary part. She can't be this nice when you get to know her, right?

She's really pretty, I will admit. Her hair's dark and long, and she's wearing a flowy greenish somehow fading into a brown dress. She's also wearing a jean jacket and black combat boots that, somehow go with the outfit.

Also, I think I might be scaring her a bit. Or at least I'm sure I look like I came from the streets and is seeking shelter from them. I guess in an estranged way I am.

I look back towards Will's, but he seems to have gone in already. I don't blame, it's kinda cold out here even with his large hoodie on me.

I turn back to the lady, trying to smile though I think it just looks like a tight-lipped grimace. "Is...um, is there a Hades di Angelo here?"

She raises an eyebrow, smiling as if she knows something I don't. Which she very well might! I don't even know who she is! I take a step back, because- damn if that look doesn't remind me of Dylan.

"Yes, he's here. Why don't you come in, love? Hm? You look half-dead on your feet, you need the rest." I think I'm going to throw up.

I shake my head narrowly, trying my best not to sound half as scared as I am. "N-no thanks... I'll wait out here if that's fine with you. Could-could you get him, though?"

She nods and goes back inside after telling me not to move a muscle. I mean, I wouldn't have either way. Because as I may have mentioned before, she's kinda scary.

She's come back a few minutes later with dad right behind her. He looks kind of tired like he hasn't slept in days. He hasn't shaved either, you can tell because his face has a rough look to it. He also, for the first time I think I can remember, is wearing a regular shirt and sweatpants. On a weekday at that.

Shit. I lick my lips, not wanting to do this at all. Is it too late to go back to Will's house? Shit.

Oh. Oh, ok this is nice. We're hugging now. Me and my dad. I think the lady went back inside. Probably to go tell Hazel I'm back. But, yea. This is nice. I think he's crying, hell I'm crying, not sure when that started to happen.

Dad half carries me inside. I think he's scared that this is a dream and if he lets go of me I'll disappear. To be honest, I'm starting to think the same thing.

We sit down on the sofa and I pull my legs up, resting my head in his lap. I'm way too tired for this many emotions. I haven't had a really good sleep in a long ass time.

Dad combs his fingers through my hair, a thing he hasn't done in a very long time. And sweet mother of mine, if that doesn't make me feel even more sleepy. But no, wait I have questions for Hades di Angelo.

Who the hell was that lady? And why the hell did she seem so comfortable in my house?

Hazel must be sleeping or something because she hasn't come downstairs yet. Truth be told, that sounds like a really nice plan.

I close my eyes, yawning tiredly. Yea...that's a nice plan. Dad'll wake me up for dinner.

"Dad?"

His finger-combing stops for a second, his way of saying that he's listening.

"I missed you..."

I'm almost asleep when he responds. "I missed you too, Neeks."

He brushes my hair back, kissing my forehead and sighs with relief.