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“There is a Reaper, whose name is Death,
And, with his sickle keen,
He reaps the bearded grain at a breath,
And the flowers that grow between.”
- Henry Wadsworth LongFellow
Running around, Will’s blonde curls bounced around as he ran to patient after patient- giving ambrosia and singing quick hymns. Hearing his name being called- he whipped his head around and ran toward the noise. Running past bushes, he spotted Miranda.
“Will!” Her voice was relieved as she tried to get up, Will helping her up. “What’s wrong?” he frowned. She waved a hand,” I’ll be fine. I’m just tangled in these vines. I thought you’d like to know Lee is in that direction over there,” Miranda pointed in a direction of thicker trees, “He might need help getting out there. I’m pretty sure some Demeter kid on the Kronos side are controlling these weeds.”
Thanking her and wishing her luck, he ran over to the thick greenery, dodging vines and leaves that tried to grab at him. Running in, Will immediately saw Lee fighting the thick plants which tried to keep him in place as he fought a cyclops. “Will?” Lee sounded confused, dodging another strike from the club of the cyclops, “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at the main battle area?”
Will knew if he could tell anyone the truth- it was Lee. “It-it’s really overwhelming there,” Lee frowned.
“They have you doing that much, eh’?” Lee yanked his sword out of the vines, finally being able to stab the cyclops. He sighed in relief and walked over to Will. “C’mere,” Lee whispered, holding his arms out.
Oh, only if Will had seen the cyclopes reform from the golden dust.
It all happened too fast. One moment, he was in his brothers strong, callused hands. The next? He saw Lee’s body fall, his skull crushed. He saw the cyclops and his body pulsed with power. The next he knew that the monster was dead. He didn’t care.
Will sobbed, falling to his knees. He sang, though he knew no hymn could fix this, and kept singing. He sang louder and harder until his voice cracked and tears couldn’t be held back anymore. He saw the flowers spring out next to Lee, little purple ones. He saw Thanatos ever so slightly shake his head sadly and take his brothers soul. He saw the cyclopes hit Lee.
He didn’t want to believe Lee was dead. His hands worked frantically, until he just collapsed. His tears soaked what remained of Lee’s clothes and his blood was all over him.
Will carried Lee back to the infirmary.
No matter how long he washed his hands, he’d always feel Lee’s blood seeping in the deepest crooks of his hands. In his palms, cuticles, knuckles. Sometimes, it felt like he was still soaked in his blood, it dripping off his hands. He still knows the consistency of Lee’s blood. His ambrosia tasted metallic, just like when he saw Lee dead. He doesn’t know why. Maybe it’ll stay like that.