There's still more bad news

When I woke, I first headed to the center of camp where I had agreed to meet Nico and River. When I got there I saw River already waiting for me but Nico was nowhere I could see.

"Where's Nico?" I asked

"She hasn't shown up yet. She'll probably shadow travel here."

On cue, Nico stepped out of the shadows behind River.

"I was explaining the situation to Mr. C. I showed him the note," she said

"How did you know there was a note?" I asked, "And how did you get it?"

Nico simply shrugged and said "Lucky guess."

I decided not to argue that she technically stole the note from me and turned to River "Are you ready to start out on the quest?" I asked her

She nodded even though she looked uncertain then turned to Nico. Nico sighed, put a hand on each of our shoulders, and stepped back into the shadows, dragging us with her.

Inside the shadows was cold. It was dark too. I couldn't see or feel a thing not even Nico's hand on my shoulder. Spots danced before my eyes then they were gone. Suddenly I saw a light and could feel Nico's hand again. Then her hand slipped away and we were in the forest. I turned around and found Nico had collapsed! River was kneeling by her and feeding her something.

"Is she okay?" I asked

"Yeah she just over-exerted herself." replied River "happens all the time. She'll be fine soon."

I looked around "Where exactly are we?" I asked

River closed her eyes "on the other side of camp from the lake. Near the ocean. I can guide us towards the ocean and out of here."

I nodded even though I was very confused.

"We'll have to wait a few minutes for Nico to get up."

We sat in silence for a while.

I was trying to figure out where we were to go when Nico sat up "What'd I miss?" she asked

"Nothing. River and me were working on a plan out of here. We're going to head towards the ocean. Then I was thinking we could catch a bus or something."

"Where exactly would we go if we caught a bus?" asked River

"We wouldn't need to catch a bus. We need to catch a boat," answered Nico

"Why do we ne-" I started to say but Nico seemed to have plans of her own.

She started to walk away and then gestured for us to follow. I decided to not put up a fight and followed along as she ventured through the forest.

Nico soon brought us to the ocean shore near a boat rental service.

"Why do we need a boat?" I asked (as I had tried to earlier)

Nico ignored my question and instead asked "Does anybody have any money?"

River sighed and handed her a 20-dollar bill "This is all I have. Don't waste it."

Nico nodded though I don't think she actually was listening. She started over to the boat service and spoke to a man there. He said something to her and she nodded and handed him the money then he pointed down the line of boats to a very small one near the end. Nico nodded again and headed back to us.

"He said the boat will only hold two people max. Someone can't go."

"I can swim." volunteered River "I can also help propel the boat and keep it together."

Nico nodded and started out to the boat. This was really getting annoying. It was almost like she had been visited by a goddess instead of me.

As if reading my thoughts, River said "Don't worry she's always like this. You'll never really lead a quest if she's in it, but she is useful to have and her instinct is almost always right."

I nodded and turned to follow Nico.

Nico headed all the way to the boat and stepped in. I followed behind slowly and almost tipped over the whole boat! Nico balanced us and glared at me. I turned around so I didn't have to look at her and saw River step into the water.

Her head popped up and she said "I'm almost ready for us to go. I'm just going to check the boat really fast for any spot that could break and then I'll push us off."

I nodded and River ducked back under the water. Me and Nico waited in silence but I noticed she looked a little sick. Her pale face was tinged green and she looked like she might just puke any minute. She looked up at me and I quickly averted my eyes but I know she noticed me staring. Luckily River saved me when she popped up from the water.

"I'm going to speed us up now ok?" she asked

I nodded again not knowing what to say. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and suddenly we jerked forward. Nico looked even sicker now and I'm pretty sure I caught her puking over the side of the boat as we traveled at super speed. Then, just as suddenly as we started we stopped. Nico puked once again before passing out. River was nowhere to be seen, leaving me all by myself in the middle of the ocean. I waited at least half an hour before Nico started to stir.

"You all right?" I asked but she just grunted and turned to stare into the water

"Where's River?" she asked

"Don't know she never returned" I'd assume she either went back to shore or passed out and hasn't woken up"

Nico simply grunted again and stared into the water "I brought you here because I smell death."

"How do you smell death?"

"Child of Hades, remember. Anyways I smell the death of one person in particular," she looked closer to tears than I ever thought someone could be without crying, "Lily."