I was in a dream.

Thunder boomed overhead and lightning flashed. Looking around, I found myself standing on a beach, while a massive storm was brewing,

It looked like the fireworks beach in camp.

Two dudes-at least, what I presumed to be dudes- were struggling against each other, yelling over the crackling and roaring of the storm.

"Give it BACK!"

"No, I don't have-"

"I said, GIVE IT BACK!"

Were they children? They certainly argued like some.

It was with a jolt I realized who they were, as the dude on the left punched the right-and lightning flew out of his fist- while the right dude summoned waves to smash into the left dude, kinda like what happened in the toilet yesterday-or today. Depending on what time it was.

They were Zeus and Poseidon. At least, that's what they seemed to represent.

Before I could rush forwards to stop them, which I felt very inclined to do, a heavy and cold presence settled around the area, darkening the sky even further and freezing me to the bone.

And then it spoke.

"Yes, yes, let them fight. Little one, do you see the destruction, the pointless squabbles your family does?"

What the hell-

"Look. Now, they tear themselves apart, over the tiniest of problems."

I looked on (and listened) in horror as I saw the right dude, presumably Poseidon, transform into a horse and drop kick the dude on the left, presumably Zeus. The god of lightnings then transformed into an eagle and soared at the horse, turning the whole thing into an in-person animal documentary.

"Little one…do you see the insufferable nature of your 'family'? Do you realize the destruction this is causing?"

As I watched the animals fight, the brightly lit skyline beyond the woods slowly dimmed, before darkening completely. I assumed it was Manhattan (I didn't pay attention to geography lessons), and the thought scared me. It was supposed to be the city that never sleeps…and it had just gone out, shut down, during this struggle between the sea and sky.

Nearby, I noticed the sand slowly funnelling down, slipping into an unseen hole. As I watched out of the corner of my eye, the unseen hole seemingly widened, before the sand and soil atop the empty space finally drained away- and I gasped.

The "hole" wasn't just a shallow or deep one. In can't, it wasn't even a hole. It was spit, a bottomless pit, suffering and pain and misery and…and terror radiated from it. Yet, the two Olympian gods seemed to be completely oblivious to what was happening, just a few hundred-or even less-meters away from them.

"See, Little one. The Olympians are unfit for ruling. You've seen it with your own eyes. Join me, and we shall create a perfect and balanced rule. Fir for demigods and mortals."

No. This cannot be happening. For all I know, my father hasn't abandoned me yet. And even if he does…he's still family. Abandoned or not, the Olympians are still my family, and family doesn't abandon one another.

"Join me." The dark, cold presence became heavier and harsher, and I struggled to breath. Warmth departed from my body, and I started shivering. A weight pressed down on me, and threatened to crush me…unless, of course I joined.

This didn't seem like the beginning of a balanced rule. This felt like oppression. Like how bullies forced kids into giving up their lunch money.

"Join me."

I was pressed down onto my knees, the presence roughly weighing me down, the sand stinging my bare skin as I struggled to find balance.

"JOIN ME!"

"NO!"

And then everything exploded around me.