Darkness. My surroundings were so dark they were only visible to nocturnal predators. I would've thrashed in my place, but my limbs failed me. Tiredness spread through my body like a sedative, promising a soothing slumber but granting me with insomniac abilities. I couldn't get up. I lay in that vegetative state for a long while. By which I mean, ten minutes.

My father stormed into my room, trying to keep a scowl from contorting his features. I felt the same way.

"Nico! It's nearly time for school. How are you still in bed? Get ready." As he barked at me, his fingers flew to my curtains, tearing them apart. The thick fabric blew wind to my bed and evoking a shiver down my spine and a few choice words under my breath. Sunlight poured in like a happy presence but that couldn't cheer me up. I sat up in bed and groaned, smelling and feeling disgusting. Hades took one look at me and sighed.

"Oh, Nico. I know some days don't go as you plan them. I know that more than anyone. And you're a strong boy. You've been through – going through – something that could have many adults quivering in their boots. And I'm sure that more than anything, you're going to want to fall on your face. Wield your strength. Like a sword, or like a mask. Either way, they'll be your greatest aid."

And that would've been an inspirational quote if I didn't know he'd taken it from an old Sci Fi movie. Because nerdiness is genetic.

Will Solace laughed when I told him this.

"Your father seems nice." He was chewing on a sandwich. Percy and Annabeth weren't here today. They had texted me earlier saying they were both sick. The little bubble of text had popped up once after they texted, but promptly disappeared a moment later. I willed myself not to dwell on that.

Instead, today, Will Solace and I had migrated to the outside world, away from the cafeteria. It hadn't occurred to me once before that sitting outside was an option, but Will Solace, who had meticulously studied the student handbook with a fine-toothed comb, had assured me that there was no rule against it.

Birds chirped today, and while it wasn't Snow White's typical harmony, it was still a lovely sound. We had taken to a stone bench that was probably left unused for a few years, amidst a forest of knee-high grass and weeds, and decided that there was where we would eat that day. I kept my knees on the bench, afraid of the possible grass snakes that could attack me, but Will Solace, brave as ever, dangled his legs into the grass, blond hair and cargo shorts swinging back and forth.

"I really hate Octavian," Will blurted. He turned all over, including his ears, but didn't retract his statement. "And I really hate talking about others behind their back, but I'll make an exception for him."

I swallowed a bite of my pasta and nodded. "He's transphobic and an all-round terrible person."

"I can't believe Percy would be friends with him." Will said softly. I sucked in a sharp breath. There it was. The thought I hadn't dared to say. I barely allowed myself to think it. And Will Solace so easily brought to life, speaking it into the blowing wind. "I don't understand why, Nico. He knows about Octavian's transphobia and does nothing about it. I can't sit with that Nico. I can't look at Percy. I can't smile back knowing he looks that way at someone who's beliefs are so harmful."

I couldn't meet his eyes. And the worst part, it reminded me of when sometimes I avoided Percy's gaze, not because I had a crush on him, but because of Octavian.

"We're not the people we're around," I said, my voice hollow. "But it still says a whole lot about where Percy's beliefs stand as a person too."

And there was that doubt. Creeping up like a snake, slithering into my mind and constricting me so I couldn't breathe or think of anything except wow, Percy might be a terrible person.

I was about to continue, when suddenly Will Solace yelped. I turned back to him from my faraway gaze and grabbed his arm, pulling him up. Will groaned, blinking rapidly. He focussed himself on me. Only now did I see dark bags under his eyes and his tiredness.

"You okay?" I asked, fearing the answer. He took a deep breath and conjured the trademark Will Solace smile.

"I'm okay, I guess." He rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hand, turning them slightly pinker than before. "I've just been having these dizzy spells. Just anytime of the day. As if my body has been lacking something."

"When did they start?" I said, taking on the role of a doctor. I could almost imagine the stethoscope hanging loosely around my neck.

"Yesterday, a little into lunch." He answered, looking a little more alive now. He cocked his head to the side. "A little after I found you, actually."

I perked up. Strange. After he found me? Was I stressing him out? Was I stressing him out to the point of him having physical side effects from it? Was Will Solace okay?

I nodded. "I've been feeling exhausted too. Around the same time as you. Although, it's not dizzy spells. More along the lines of general tiredness."

Will Solace snorted. "You know, that's not so out of character of you, Nico di Angelo."

I glared at him, but I couldn't keep the smile off my face. "Oh, look who's talking. When I first met you in class, you had some eyebags worthy of royalty. They practically reached the tip of your nose."

Will Solace laughed and stared at me sharply. This banter continued until we had only around fifteen minutes until the lunch bell rung. Will Solace looked at me, face beaded with sweat and waxy sheen glistening in the sun. I stood up too, ashamed to admit my sweaty pits, and offered to lead him to the library.

I wasn't much of a reader, but I found solace among shelves of books. Besides, our library didn't resemble the said, towering beast you'd often find it movies. It was really just a classroom, and its books were organised well thanks to the LibLives initiative, organised by the students. The school had been annoyed at the effort of a more inclusive library space (something about being overly political), but they relented after a threat of a protest (and an article in the news). Now, during June, the librarians donned pride-flag-coloured eyeshadows and hosted other initiatives. I took Will there, who's eyes sparkled under the golden light.

He picked up a book with a red cover on it. Keeper of the Lost Cities, I think. I had heard about it, about a blond girl whose life was changed when she entered a brand new, magical world and she had to save the place from villains while also advocating for change occasionally. A typical trope but Will preferred to call it classy.

I was about to pick up the book next to it, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, but my eyes trailed off to another section. Nonfiction. But the cover was what drew me in. Two hands, a severed string. It was titled: Snip Snip. I picked it up, hands shaking. Will Solace hadn't looked up once. I opened the book and read the first page.

Never, ever make the mistake of defying the fates. Running away from your lover, cursing at them. But worse, is stripping away the gift they gave to you in the form of a thread. You will hurt. There will be pain. You will decay. You will die. After all, a heart filled with grief will soon be one of regret.

Nico sat and skimmed the story. A girl who had fallen for a boy. The boy hated the girl, found her too annoying, too reckless. He finds they're soulmates and in a fit of rage and desperation, snips the string. He starts feeling the symptoms. Tiredness at first. Then he's bound to his bed. A degenerative disease that slowly destroys him. And the girl? She dies too, suffered by a choice someone made for her.

Nico closed the book. He set it down and tugged Will Solace's arm.

"Come on Will," he said when Will protested. "We've got class."