𝗪𝗔𝗜𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗠𝗘 ━━ l. valdez

xix ━━ even if i die screaming (and i hope you hear it)

05. chapter nineteen

━━━━━━━━ ( 💫 ) ━━━━━━━━

I STOOD IN THE GRAND HALL of Hades' palace, the silence pressing in on me. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing in the vast, empty space. I had shown Hades everything, and now I waited, unsure of what would happen next. The uncertainty gnawed at me, and I felt a mix of hope and dread swirling inside me.

Suddenly, a noise broke the silence. My head snapped up, and I saw two underworld guards emerging from the shadows. Between them was a figure that made my breath catch in my throat.

It was Leo. He looked just like himself, wearing a Camp Half-Blood T-shirt, his hair tousled and his hands fidgeting nervously.

It almost didn't seem real. I had convinced myself I would never see him again, and now here he was, standing before me.

Our eyes met, and it was like magnets pulling us together. I could feel it in my bones—it was really Leo, my Leo.

Without thinking, I ran towards him, and he broke free from the guards, sprinting towards me.

We crashed into each other's arms, the force of our embrace nearly knocking us over. I buried my face in his shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of him, a mix of machine oil and something uniquely Leo.

"Is it really you?" I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion.

Leo pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, his own filled with tears. "Yeah, it's me, Millie. It's really me."

I felt a sob rise in my throat, and I clung to him even tighter. The world around us seemed to fade away, and for a moment, it was just the two of us, reunited against all odds. I could feel his heartbeat against mine, a steady rhythm that grounded me in the reality of the moment.

We stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, as the emotions of our reunion washed over us. I felt a mix of relief, joy, and overwhelming love. Leo was here, alive and real, and I never wanted to let him go again. I could feel the warmth of his skin, the strength of his embrace, and it was everything I had dreamed of and more.

But then, the moment was shattered by a sudden chill. Hades reappeared before us, his presence dark and imposing. I reluctantly pulled away from Leo, turning to face the god of the underworld.

Hades' expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—perhaps a hint of understanding or pity.

"You have shown great courage and determination, Camille," he said, his voice softer than before. "But know that this reunion comes with a price. The journey ahead will test you both in ways you cannot imagine."

Leo looked between Hades and I. I couldn't read his expression—relief, confusion, panic?

"We can go?" Leo said.

Hades regarded us both with a cold, distant expression.

"Yes, you may go," he said, his voice echoing through the grand hall like a death knell. "But do not mistake this for a blessing. The path ahead will be fraught with darkness and peril. Do not expect mercy from the underworld."

I looked at Hades, confusion swirling in my mind.

"Is this a trap?" I asked, my voice edged with doubt.

Leo nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Yeah, are you just going to make us walk one in front of the other or something?"

Hades' cold gaze flickered between us, his expression unreadable. "You may leave as you came," he said, his tone devoid of any warmth. "But remember, the underworld is not a place that easily lets go of its inhabitants. Walk carefully, and do not stray from your path. You only have three hours to escape the underworld."