Graves

''Sophie can't hear anything -- she can't look at the greying boy in front of her without letting out a violently choked sob. Her eyes meet his and she falls to her knees, watching as he tastes black, black, blood of gods long since dead, and he retches one of those slimy tentacles. The area around them's fading red and black, her blood and his blood and dark ichor spilling from every orifice in his body.''

''Ziggy tried to call to her as he fell to the floor, punching and crying, jaw opening and closing at his attempts to speak, but he screams instead and it's the farthest thing from human. She ceases to understand as the last dribble of human escapes him, her mind is constellations and planets; Sophie's insignificant as he becomes part of a god.''

''She can't think--there's an arm wrapping around her waist, pulling her backwards, and she's in the air. She's been in these arms long enough to recognize them as Theo's without having to turn around. They're whipping through the air due to Theo's practiced ease with an X-board. She can't bring herself to place her feet on the board; just lets the strong arm carry her as her limbs limply whip through the air like a ragdoll.''

''"Alright?" Orion asked, panting loudly. Sophie blinked. She didn't say a word.''

They remained in silence for a while, both deep in thought.

''"No," she said finally, hardly more than a whisper. Orion looked at her. "No, I'm not, bastard. God, did you see all the pain in his eyes? Orion? Did you look him in the eyes?"''

''He studied her for a moment before turning away. "Sh, Sophie."''

Just like that.