•Peace•

•Chapter Twenty-Three•

The shelves also received a heavy burst of an aftershock and the few shelves that unfortunately weren't bolted to the ground started crashing down.

"Oh my gods-" I exclaimed as I stared in horror as the domino effect of shelves crashed down on us.

In quick reflex I tossed my body over Mays, covering her head with mine,trying to protect her.

The impact happened mere milliseconds after my actions, and I braced as heavy wood, hard cover books collapsed over us.

•*•

My ears rang loudly as I regained consciousness, my body was heavy- no. The wood and books were heavy.

And May..

I twitched my fingers to touch Mays hand. "M-May.." I coughed, my voice soft and far away even to myself.

May didn't respond.

Or maybe I couldn't hear her?

I gripped her hand. "May!" I said louder this time. And I felt her squeeze my hand back.

I relaxed. "Oh thank gods.." I mumbled.

I couldn't move. It seemed we were pinned under multiple well made bookshelves and hundreds of books.

I probably suffered some form of a head injury, but there wasn't time to think about that.

I started trying to push the books and shelving in hope to make a hole for air.

It was hot, stuffy and dusty, and I knew we couldn't wait for help.

Pushing didn't do much. I wondered how deep we could possibly be under this mess. It was just books and shelves, right?

I hissed as my hand sliced open while I attempted to make a hole again.

And glass. I added with a grimace.

I wasn't sure how long it has been since the explosion that caused an earthquake rivaled shockwave.

I wasn't sure how long I had been unconscious and May conscious below me, supporting a limp body and the weight of several shelves and hades knows what.

She must've been terrified.

Seconds felt like hours.

They could've been hours. But I kept trying to dig a hole through the books and splintered wood and glass.

Not realizing my movements were slowing again.

"Percy.. may.." a familiar voice. So distant..

Why can't I move? It's just books.

Slowly I felt the weight of the collapse lessen. I felt I could breathe a little better.

"Percy!" Jason's voice sounded louder.

Jason? Yeah. That was Jason.

•*•