Piper's eyes snapped open as another flailing body banged straight into hers.

"What in Hades!?" She heard Leo gasp, and she suddenly remembered what was happening. She was falling into Tartarus... with Leo.

"Leo!" She screeched into his ear, her arms automatically wrapping around him. "What... what's...?"

But she didn't get an answer. Leo was too busy staring downwards... at the floor that was rushing up to meet them. When they hit that, it sure was going to hurt.

"Leo, what are you doing!?" Piper screamed as the Son of Hephaestus turned slightly, shifting his body around. He looked straight at her, his brown eyes wide and terrified.

"Trust me! Close your eyes!" Leo finally yelled, and they hit the ground with smashing impact.

The air was knocked from her lungs as Piper opened her eyes again. She saw great stalactites hanging from the rocky ceiling and took in the rough terrain. Then, horrifyingly, she saw Leo lying limp on the floor, his chest moving unsteadily.

Suddenly, Piper's eyes rolled back into her head, and she saw nothing.

~~~~~

When Piper finally woke up, she began crying. She didn't like to cry, but when she saw Leo still lying on the floor, unmoving, she just broke down.

She pleaded help from the gods, her mother, but no-one and nothing came to help. She was alone, trapped in the stifling darkness that settled around her.

When Leo did finally wake up, Piper ran over, her heart pounding, wrapping the Son of Hephaestus in a hug while sobbing uncontrollably. She pulled away when Leo let out a pained gasp,

"What? What is it? Is it your back? Let me see your back!" She demanded, acting tough even though on the inside she was breaking. But Leo shook his head, avoiding her gaze.

"Fine!" Piper moved closer and cut the back of Leo's Camp Half-Blood T-shirt off, retching when she saw the thousands of small - and big - rocks which had embedded themselves into her friend's skin.

"Leo, you... your back..." Piper whispered, feeling tears prickle once more in the corners of her eyes. The Son of Hephaestus let out a brave, yet pained, chuckle.

"Oh, great! That means it's bad, right?" He asked sarcastically, though he flinched when Piper gently touched a hand to one of the stones. "Do we have any Ambrosia?"

Piper dug through both her and Leo's pockets desperately, terrified her friend could be paralysed if she didn't act quickly. Finally, she pulled out one, tiny squashed square of the godly food and stuffed it into Leo's mouth. He chewed slowly, his entire frame relaxing.

"Wanna... sleep..." he slurred, before his eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped forward into Pipers's arms. She layed him down on the rocky floor, placing her jacket underneath him to protect his back from any further damage.

Then Piper leant her back against the wall, shivering. She looked at the darkness around her, unable to stop the terrifying thoughts of monsters coming to take her... and she didn't sleep a wink for the entire night.

AN
Meh. Sorry for the bad ending!

Awww, I feel bad about Leo! I'm so mean to my favourite characters!!!!! And it kills me!!!! :(((

Pleasety pleasety pleasety vote and comment! :)

RandomPhandom xxx