Nico di Angelo One-shots

Dying

I prayed. I prayed to the gods, minor and major. I prayed to the Titans, even the ones in Tartarus. I prayed to the universe, to monsters, to enemies, to the Fates. But no one came. Nothing is going to help me.

My chest shot up as I struggled for air, gasping. My eyes grow wide, but close smaller, retracting. This is it. This is where and when I go. I don't think I'm supposed to feel blood, but I do. It's moving, tickling, out of my shoulder where a scythe was dug. I feel the cold breeze against it, as it moves into and throughout the inside of my body.

I didn't know that I could feel my own life force slipping away. It's like one death for the price of two. Is anybody else out there feeling it too? I close my eyes. I know I'm probably not supposed to, but they are as weak as my arms, as my neck, as my joints and toes. I cannot lift anything. I try not to focus on my breathing, but it's all I hear. It's a sipping, but also an almost noiseless gulping. Will I feel it when my heart finally gives out? Will I feel my lungs burning? Will my chest flatten too low, like water is pounding on me, or someone is trying to push the air out? Will I be empty?

I try, but I can't bend my fingers. Not much longer now. A few more minutes, maybe even seconds, and this will all fall out of my locker of memories.

A locker. Something high school, even middle school, students get. I never got one, living most of my life at Camp. I never got a normal life. I'm not even sure if I got a life at all.

I wince, forcing a croak-y scream. I'm sorry. Who am I apologizing to? Nobody, but I feel like it needs to be said. I love you. No one has ever been there to say it back, but I'm thankful to have known what love is.

I take a struggling sip. I've heard your life flashes before your eyes right before you die, but mine doesn't. I try to take another breath, but instead, I just relax. I ease every muscle in my body by just forgetting it exists, by ignoring it and everything else, by simply forgetting that there is a fight, but not giving up, just dropping.

I find myself standing, turning, to overlook, the Underworld.

This one-shot has been edited. Please comment any mistakes found. Thank you!