So finally, finally, I finished the special one shot I wrote for 10k views. It's 4k+ words, so I really hope you like it!

Will's POV

I saw a flash of stygian iron outside of the medic tent and heard the pained scream of a hellhound as Nico cut down yet another intruder to the camp. Sometime in the night the border to the camp had been severely weakened, and a pack of hellhounds had invaded the camp. But so far, no casualties. We had almost killed them all, and none other than my boyfriend was leading the charge. I caught his eye from inside the tent, and he shot me a cocky grin. He mouthed something to me, something that I couldn't make out. Shaking my head in exasperation at Nico's overwhelming confidence, I turned back to the camper I was supposed to be treating; a young Demeter girl who had gotten a nasty scrape on her leg, but she would be fine.

 As I wrapped it tightly in ace bandages and instructed her to stay off of it for a few weeks, I heard a sharp scream of pain resonating from the outside followed by a silence more painful than any injury I had ever sustained. Leaving the girl with her leg, I bolted outside, grabbing any herb I could find and stuffing them into the pocket of my doctor's coat. I whipped back the tent door, and the sight that met my eyes was more terrifying than anything I had ever witnessed, in battle or out. Scorch marks were scattered on the previously spotless cabins, and spoils of war were strewed across the battle field- a hellhound ear here, an empousa leg there. But the most terrifying thing in sight was the huge ring of campers hovering around a single camper, horribly wounded. I could hear whispers in the crowd, and sympathetic looks were tossed my way. I pushed myself through the ring, not caring in the person I pushed was Clarisse or Mr. D. 

"Move," I gasped, fumbling with the herbs in my pocket as I ran, trying to assemble a decent mixture before I got to the only person I couldn't see in front of me. After what seemed like a thousand eternities stacked on top of one another, the circle parted to reveal the camper, gravely injured, laying on a circle of dying grass. His raven black hair was spread out like a halo around his head and every labored breath made my heart pinch. Wet red blood leaked out of long gashes in his stomach and his favorite black skull shirt was torn to shreds. I knew that shirt. I had gotten him that shirt. It was his lucky one, the one he wore into every battle. 

"Nico," I murmured. "Stay with me, okay? You're going to be fine, I promise." I shoved the crushed up herbs into his dry mouth, but he spit them back up. 

"Will, I'm beyond saving and you know it." 

"No," I gasped, grabbing his hand. I didn't want to believe him, but I knew he was right. As I clenched his hand tightly in mine, I could already feel the heat leaving his limbs. With Nico's last ounce of energy, he lifted his shaking neck and gave me one last kiss. 

"No," I sobbed. Salty tears dripped down on Nico's body. "Don't leave me, please." Nico gave me one last smile, and I felt my heart shatter. "Nico? Nico!" I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I looked up into Percy's watering green eyes. 

"Will, I'm so, so sorry. But he's gone." 

"No!" I screamed. I buried my face into Percy's shoulder as my world broke around me. 

Percy's POV (a week later)

"Has he come out yet?" I asked, peering nervously into the dark windows of the Apollo cabin. His half- sister Kayla shook her head sadly as she hustled past me on her way to the overcrowded infirmary, her arms laden down with bandages and medicine. 

"We've all been overworked at the infirmary, too," she added. "But if you can get him to eat something, please do. I can't remember the last time he got up." I nodded my thanks and quietly pushed open the door to the cabin.

It was dark inside, and the entire room reeked of body odor from a teenage boy not showering for a week. What was usually a happy and vibrant place now had a certain sadness to it that only came with losing the person closest to your heart. 

"Will?" I murmured, pulling out the tupperware container filled with warm spaghetti topped with fresh herbs from the garden. "Are you in here?" I heard a soft grunt from the bunk closest to the back wall. I crept closer to it and pulled back the covers. When my eyes finally adjusted to the dark, the person I was met with was in no way Will Solace. 

When you imagined Will in your head, you thought of a tall happy boy with bright blue eyes and fluffy blonde hair. Of curse, you would also think of him with his arm around Nico, but that wasn't the point. In the absence of Nico Will had let himself go. Once a strong, burly person he had somehow lost a lot of weight in the past week, perhaps from not eating or maybe from the general sadness of loosing his boyfriend. Whatever the case, he was now thin and scrawny with not a muscle in his body. His blonde hair was greasy and shaggy, as if it hadn't been cut in years. And his eyes, usually the brightest things in the room, were dull and glassy. In one hand he clutched a flickering flashlight, dull from using it so constantly in this past week. In the other, he held a small, worn leather book that had to be at least a millennium old. Ancient Greek words were scratched into the crumbling paper and Will seemed to be holding it as if it was his lifeline. 

"Hey, buddy," I sighed, sitting at the foot of the bed. I handed him the spaghetti, and handed him a tarnished silver fork taken from the dining hall. "I brought you some food. When was the last time you ate?" Will shook his head, and pushed back the food. 

"Not hungry," he rasped, his voice scratchy from a week of being shoved to the back of the closet. I frowned. 

"You have to eat something." I took the fork and handed him a huge bite of spaghetti. Grudgingly, he put it in his mouth and chewed stubbornly, grimacing as the food snaked down his throat. This wasn't like Will, and I knew it. Spaghetti was his favorite thing in the dining hall. 

"What are you reading?" I asked, hoping to draw Will away from the subject of eating food. I was hoping the part of his brain that was still logical would kick in and he wouldn't even know what he was doing. 

"Orpheus's journal," he said, shoving more food down his throat. I had been right; he had been hungry. However, my happiness was short- lived. 

"Orpheus?" I asked. I wracked the depths of my brain, trying to find Orpheus's story in the maze of myths I had accumulated over the years. I wished Annabeth was here; she could remember anything you ever said to her. "The guy who went to the underworld to retrieve his wife's spirit? Why are you reading his journal?" Will looked away, and my heart sped up when I realized what he was thinking of doing. 

"You're going to try and retrieve Nico's soul, aren't you?" Will didn't answer. "Will, don't do this. Nico wouldn't want to be brought back. He's in Elysium right now, or in his dad's palace. But what is dead should stay dead, and Nico would agree." As if a great truth was dawning on him, Will slowly nodded. 

"Yeah, okay. I guess you're right. Anyway, I'm going to get some sleep. See you at breakfast tomorrow morning?" I felt as though a great weight had been lifted off my chest. I nodded. 

"See you tomorrow morning, Will." I started to walk toward the door of the cabin. When I looked back, Will was already asleep. 

I woke the next morning to the sun shining onto my face from the window. It took me a minute to realize why I was so happy but then I remembered; I had succeeded in making Will okay again, at least temporarily. I leapt out of bed and changed into my favorite pair of jeans and my Camp Half- Blood tee shirt. Then, I pushed open the door to my cabin and bounded across the space in between the cabins until I got to the Apollo cabin. As soon as I reached the cabin, I knew something was wrong. The ambiance of the cabin was dark and gloomy, contrary to it's usual casual and friendly demeanor. Trying to bite back the worry growing ever stronger with each passing second, I gave a weak rap on the door. It swung open to reveal a frazzled looking Kayla. Her hair was knotted and twisted, and her eyes were crazed. 

"Kayla?" I asked cautiously. "What's wrong?" 

"Will's gone," she spat. "He left a note and said that he had everything he would need, but to let him go and that he had to do this." My face must have paled considerably, because Kayla stepped closer with a concerned look on her face. "Percy? You know where he went, don't you?" I nodded, swallowing hard. 

"He's going to the underworld," I managed to get out. "He went to the underworld to get Nico back." 

Will's POV

My legs hurt from walking all night, my shoulders hurt from the heavy bag slung around them and my heart hurt from loosing Nico. Even so, my heart lifted just a little bit when I saw the bright lights of the city. Skyscrapers touched the tips of the clouds and just a mile away I could see the tall trees that decorated central park. I knew that just next to the trees was a cave, and an entrance to the underworld. Energized, I hiked my bag up higher on my shoulders and started to run the rest of the way. 

I stopped running, breathless, at the cropping of rocks that I had read about in Orpheus's journal. I examined the scene, and it was exactly right. I was positive; this was where I needed to be. The back door to the Underworld I thought. I knew that there was only one way to open the door, and it was the reason no one except for Orpheus had ever come close to succeeding in bringing back someone from the dead. Will opened his mouth, clearing his voice. He could have brought one of the many instruments in his cabin, but somehow, singing seemed more... pure. Sincere. 

"I had you, I lost you. I loved you, you left me. You're gone, but you're the only thing I need to live. You're my air, my sunshine, my everything. You're all I want." My voice cracked, and I winced, worried that the imperfection would cause the doorway to stay closed, and close the last doorway I had to get Nico back. I waited in anticipation, completely helpless. Whatever happened next, it was out of my hands. 

I stood near the cropping of rocks for a good five minutes, earning a strange look from a mother with a small son, wondering why a sad, grungy teenage boy was staring so intently at a pile of rocks. I could feel a slight headache in my temple, undoubtably from the panic that was rising in my chest with each second that the doorway didn't open. I could just feel the newly familiar feeling of tears prick at the corners of my bloodshot eyes when I heard a faint rumbling from the rocks. My heart lifted as the rumbling got louder and, when the rumbling reached its peak, the rocks parted, revealing a narrow, dingy path. Roots criss- crossed the top of the tunnel, and beetles and worms snaked through the small holes in the wall of the tunnel. I crouched down, running the palm of my hand across the ceiling. Clumps of dirt fell like snow. I stood up in the tunnel, my head brushing the top of the tunnel. Even though it was cramped, I couldn't let it deter me. I was close- so close- to bringing Nico back. Even more determined, I started my trek to the underworld. 

As I got closer to my destination, I could feel the air around  me growing colder with each step. I drew the dirt flecked sweatshirt around me, wishing I had brought the thick sweater Nico had bought me for my fifteenth birthday. Nico, I though, a painful pang in my chest. Don't stop, I chided myself. Nico's still in the underworld. He needs you. You need him. I let out a breath and it puffed out of my mouth in a frosty white cloud. I could hear whispers in my ear, so quiet I couldn't make them out, but I knew why they were whispering. I was alive. I knew I shouldn't be there, I knew that I should just accept Nico's death, go home. Percy wanted to help me, so did the rest of my friends. But, somewhere deep inside of me, I knew I could never accept it. Nico was too important to let go that easily. I blocked out the whispers the best I could, but I could still hear them. They were angry. 

"Shut up," I muttered, hoping the voices could hear me. I don't know what I expected to happen.  I had hoped they would stop, but a demigod's luck is never that good. Instead of stopping, the whispers only intensified. I gritted my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut. For Nico, I thought. Ignoring the voices, I hiked on. 

I don't know how much longer I walked, but it had to be at least another two hours. My eyes stung at the dirt that had fallen into them, and my stomach growled- I had been too sad at Nico's death to pack any food. I staggered, feeling as though I was about to pass out. I couldn't even remember the last time I had slept, but it must have been before Nico's death. I staggered and my knees collapsed. I hit the ground, and I felt soft dirt on my face. Maybe it would be easier to join Nico like this- just go to sleep and never wake up. I let my eyes flutter closed, but just before they shut, probably for the last time, I spotted a rushing river of brown, dirty water with things floating in it- lost dreams. My eyes shot open at the sight of the River Styx. I leapt up. Nico was even closer.  I could almost hear his heartbeat from here, our two hearts beating as one. I started to run, my exhaustion gone and replaced with energy. I rounded the corner, and was met with a wide, dirty river. The River Styx. It was famous in Greek Mythology. It was where all of the dead dreams went. I stepped closer to it, watching dead dreams drift passed me, an aura of pain and sadness surrounding each object. I saw a set of rings float by me, covered in grime from the river. One day, after we left camp, I had one day hoped to marry Nico. We would get a cozy apartment, maybe adopt a kid. But none of that would happen if I didn't save Nico. I would live in the apartment alone, and the only thing I would adopt would be a mass of cats.

 I gazed past the River Styx, and not even a mile away stood Hades's castle, standing tall and dark. I could see zombie sentries the size of dolls patrolling the front of the castle. Some held rusted swords, others had dust covered muskets strapped to their backs. I started creeping toward the castle, my feet sinking into the mud as I walked. A few spirits drifted past me, whispering unintelligible sounds into my ears. They didn't like the living, were jealous that we still had a shot to do something with their lives. I had read Annabeth's twelve year old account of her's, Percy's and Grover's accounts of their time in the underworld. That, along with Odysseus's journal, were my guide, and the only thing that would help me get Nico back. 

I hid behind a crumbling, dead bush, cocking one of my special fire arrows into the drawstring of my bow. I aimed it at the zombie sentry closest to me. It was wearing a moth eaten revolutionary war uniform and was holding a corroded rifle close to its bony chest. I let the arrow fly, and the skeleton went up in flames. I drew a second flame arrow and aimed it at the second sentry, one wearing a blue civil war uniform with a large bloodstain in the middle of its chest. I released the arrow, and it went up in flames along with its partner. I darted out from the bushes and, before anyone could sound the alarm, I pushed open the heavy black ten foot door and slipped inside the castle. 

The tall black walls of the castle glistened with polish, and marble busts of Hades and Persephone sat on tall pedestals. As I made my way down the hallway to Hades's throne room described in Annabeth's detailed accounts of her journey, I could swear I felt the eyes of the marble busts following me. 

I was standing in front of a tall set of double doors, identical to the ones outside. I could feel my heart beating, the prospect of rescuing Nico so close. I balled up my fist, about to knock, but before my fist hit the opaque doors, I heard "come in" booming through the castle. The doors swung open. 

Hades sat on a huge black throne, looming ten feet tall. His dark robes were draped over him carelessly, punished souls swirling around the cloth. Zombie servants drifted around the throne, wearing white aprons and offering pieces of apple and orange, most likely from Persephone's garden. From behind the throne, I saw Nico poke his head out. His raven black hair fell over his eyes, and his eyes widened when he saw me. 

"So, Mr. Solace," Hades said, popping an apple slice into his mouth. It turned out that the God of the Underworld liked to eat healthy. "I assume you're here for my son." He peered down at me, his icy gaze making me uncomfortable. "It's a shame, too. I rather liked having him here." He glanced behind him, beckoning to his son. "Nico come out here for a moment." Nico stepped timidly out from behind the throne, staring hopefully into my eyes. 

"Are you really here to rescue me?" he asked. I nodded, feeling happy tears pricking the corner of my eyes. 

"Oh, yeah. I'm going to get you out of here, and then we're going to McDonalds. My treat. Does that sound okay?" Nico nodded and started to walk closer to me, but with a swish of his large finger, Hades flung Nico to the side of his throne. 

"No, no, not so fast, Mr. Solace. You think that just because you two are dating I'm going to let you take Nico, free of charge? Odysseus and Penelope were married, for Zeus's sake, and I didn't let them go free." Hades stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I'll give you the same deal I gave Odysseus; if you and Nico manage to make it out of the underworld without looking back, you can both go free. But if either of you look back, you'll both be dead." He snapped his fingers, and I could hear the distant barking of dogs in the distance. "Oh, and good luck with hellhounds on your tail." I grabbed Nico's hand. 

"Come on. Run and whatever you do, don't look back." We sprinted down the long hallway, the eyes of the marble busts following us. I pushed open the doors to the castle, surveying the underworld. Spirits and zombie sentries alike were watching from all around, waiting to see if history would repeat itself and another person would yet again loose the love of their life. We heard barking again, this time closer to the couple. 

"They're really close," Nico gulped. he moved his head to turn around, but I grabbed his hand and started to drag him to the tunnel that would lead us back up to Earth. 

"Nico, don't look back. Whatever you do, don't look back." Swallowing nervously, Nico nodded. 

"Lead the way." 

We sprinted to the tunnel, holding each others hands as tight as we could. As we ran, I could hear the hellhounds coming closer. I could almost feel their hot breath on my neck, ready to chomp down on my leg and drag me all the way back to Hades's castle. I had done dangerous things before, but this was a whole other level of scary. 

The tunnel leading back up to the world above came into view, dark and creepy. Roots crisscrossed the entrance, dirt falling from the walls of the tunnel. 

"In here," I gasped, out of breath from sprinting for so long. I pushed Nico into the tunnel first, making sure that he got in safely before I crawled in behind him. I straightened up, my head nearly brushing the top. Dirt fell in our hair as we ran. The hellhounds bayed, and I could hear their paws beating the ground behind us. 

A huge root came up in our path, sticking up in front of us. I opened my mouth, trying to warn Nico about what was coming, but my vocal chords didn't work for the first time in my life. Nico hit the ground, sprawling out in front of me. I grabbed his arm but before I hauled him up, a huge black dog hurtled past me and grabbed his leg, pulling him back down. 

"No!" I cried. Without looking behind me, I grabbed an arrow from my sheath, my last arrow of pain. and plunged it into the hellhound's hide. It gave a yelp of pain, letting go of Nico's leg. Streams of blood flowed out of his wound, but we didn't have time to fix it up. The hellhound was in pain, but the arrow wouldn't slow it down for long. 

"Don't look back," I panted. Nico limped along behind me, leaving a trail of blood behind him. I could hear howls of pain from the hellhound I had stabbed with my arrow, but the others were still chasing us, howling their threats. I knew that we had to make it to New York before the hellhounds caught up to us. I didn't have any arrows of pain left. 

"Do you see light?" Nico groaned, pulling his leg as he staggered to the end. i squinted and sure enough, I saw a pinpoint of light, growing bigger and bigger with each step. 

"We're almost there!" I exclaimed. "Run faster."

"I- I can't," Nico gasped, tumbling to the ground. I stopped running and took a closer look at the wound on Nico's leg. There were streams of blood, dried and wet, on his dirty skin. Dirt flecked the inside of the wound, and I could almost see a glimpse of white bone through ripped skin and blood. Hearing the hellhounds almost upon us, I scooped Nico up in my arms, holding him tight to my chest. Nico didn't weigh much, only about a hundred pounds, but the added weight made it harder to run. I willed my legs to keep running, but Nico in my arms and the fact that I had been sprinting up a tunnel all day made my feet drag through the dirt. Keep going I told myself. i glanced down at Nico, who was staring intently at the light. 

"Just a few more yards," I gasped. The exit was now staring us directly in the face, but I could hear the hot breath of the hellhounds on my neck. Desperate, I threw myself onto the ground, hoping that we would be thrown far enough so that we would fly out of the tunnel. Our heads brushed the top of the tunnel, and we fell down on top of each other on the soft, green grass. The tunnel closed behind us, and the baying of the hellhounds was cut off completely. I felt the warmth of the sun on my back, beating through my dirty tee shirt as Nico and I clung to one another. I feel him shaking, trembling against my body. Or maybe it was me doing the shaking. I couldn't tell. 

After fifteen minutes of laying there, enjoying the sunlight and the fresh air and the fact that we were no longer in the underworld, Nico sat up. 

"Thank you, Will. Thank you so much." I gave him a thin smile, sitting up next to him. 

"Nico, I love you, more than anything. I will always come back for you. Even if you're dead." Nico laughed, and the sound was good to hear. A week ago I thought I would never have the chance to hear it again. 

"We should go back to camp, right?" Nico asked. "I mean, you've been gone for a while. They're probably looking for you." I nodded. 

"I should probably get your leg fixed up, too. I don't want it to get infected." I stood up and offered my hand to Nico, pulling him up. "Come on, Death Boy, let's go home." 

Let me know what you thought of this, if you want. Also, would you like it if I did a quick continuation of this? Just what happened when Nico and Will got back to camp? Let me know what you think!

Nina