My nightmares are very different than usual.

For once, not a single monster is there. It doesn't feel real yet, and I feel myself smiling. I'm sitting on a picnic bench, snow all around me, drinking hot chocolate, with my mother on one side and an unfamiliar man on my other. He has pale skin, dark hair, and calculating black eyes. He's not smiling, really, but he has a calm look on his face as he watches my mom.

Even though I've never seen his face before, I know who it is. "Hades."

He gives a curt nod, not saying a word. My mom seems to be laughing at something I said, though I'm fairly certain I've never joked around her in my life. Standing from the bench, I scan my surroundings. We can't be where I live, because I see miles and miles of snowy trees far into the horizon. There are kids all around us. I recognize most from school, or from camp today. Sera raises a mug my way, grinning. Ethan is a few tables away, looking ashamed as two people I recognize as his parents scold him for something.

Looking back down, I see that even though I can feel the chill, my drink is still steaming. And I'm not wearing a jacket, but I feel totally fine.

"What the..." I mutter under my breath. I know I'm dreaming. Because this can't possibly be real. But I don't feel scared like I normally would. I feel calm, like when Drew's charmspeak (that's what it must've been) was used against us. Like this is what's supposed to be happening.

This is what could be.

A chill runs down my back as I turn to see the dirt woman from earlier today, mixed into existence behind me, a sleepy grin on her face with her eyes closed tight in slumber.

"Gaea." I say clearly.

Her grin tilts upward a bit. You've gained knowledge today. Good. Maybe you'll choose this life instead of the other, then.

I look around. "What do you mean?"

You are... how does Hecate put it? At a crossroads, child. You could choose this life, a life of fulfillment and joy, with the family you've always wanted. Or...

The scene around me shimmers like the air on a hot summer day. Suddenly I'm in the amphitheater at camp, surrounded by ice sculptures. My heart drops to my toes as I realize they're the campers, frozen as icicles. The amphitheater is in ruins, banners and benches covered in frost and crumbling with age.

If you choose to fight me, I can promise you this fate. Gaea says, and I whirl around to come face-to-face with a sculpture I wasn't expecting to pull this reaction from me. I scream as I recognize Arson, his sweet face frozen in terror.

Don't fight this, and I can guarantee the life you want. Gaea coaxes. Just don't fight my awakening.

"Why?" I meet her eyes. Or, eyelids, I guess. "I'm just one kid. You could easily kill me, right?"

Gaea's head tilts to one side. An interesting proposition.

A thrill of fear runs through me, because I honestly think she's going to kill me, and I curse myself for opening my big mouth.

But I'll save that joy for later. Gaea decides. The time has not come.

I breathe a sigh of relief. But Gaea's dirt self shifts, coming closer to me.

You are not out of the woods yet, child. You've no idea what's coming. But for now... take what comes next as a warning.

Without another word, she crumbles to the ground. The second the last of her has absorbed into the earth, the world suddenly shakes under my feet. I stumble backward, but just like the large gash in the dining pavilion, the ground opens up and starts to swallow ice campers. My heart rockets at a pace not humanly safe, and I scramble to my feet, trying to run. But to my horror, my feet have sunk below the earth, trapping me as the chasm expands my way.

In the moment, all that can register in my head is that this won't be a dream if I fall in there. I can't explain why I know that, but it feels real, and very dark. I scream in pure frustration, tugging hard at my feet.

But it's useless, and the ground crumbles under me, sucking me into a limitless abyss that drains all light from the world, wrapping around me in a despairing curtain of hopelessness.

___________________________________

Whoop! 'nother chapter out! Next one in a few MORE seconds!

I have had a lot of time to write. Not a whole bunch of time to POST. Fixing that now! :)