(The Strangest Dream Ever)

Korri POV

When I wake up the next morning, I think that I had the strangest dream ever, but when I walk into Mars's room, his expression tells me it wasn't a dream.

Maybe a nightmare crashed into reality.

"Hey," I say, as I sit next to him on the bed. "I have a question."

"Fire away."

"If Greek mythology is real, then does that mean that Norse mythology is real?"

He nods. "Yeah, but the Norse gods are WAY less messy then the Greek are,"

"What do you mean by messy?"

He frowns, as he turns to look at me. "When I mean 'messy' I mean, gross, bloody, gory, and weird."

His dark blue eyes pierce through my barricade.

It feels like he's cutting through my soul, and can see my darkest secrets.

I look away from him. "Do you know any of the Norse gods?"

He nods. "Yeah, but most of them I know from legends. I didn't really go with the Norse a lot."

"Thanks," I say quietly. "Wanna try D&D again?"

"Sure,"

"I'll bring Lola to join in again,"

He nods.

I walk out of the room with a lot on my mind.

Mars's dad is apparently Zeus, the Greek god.

Mars's real name is Ares, apparently.

I think I see Mars's dad out of the corner of my eye, but when I look again, he's gone.

I go into Lola's room, tell her that we're doing another game, and she agrees.

We only get about an hour into the game—Mars as the narrator—, before—sure enough—someone knocks on the front door again.

But what I don't expect is the loud thump that comes afterward.

Okay, what now? A voice that isn't mine says in the back of my mind.

I ignore it.

I go check the door, but...

There is no door.

It had been knocked down; a large burly man was fumbling to pick it up, like how you might fumble with a smooth tile lego on a hardwood floor.

He is so tall my head only reaches to about his chest.

"Who are you?" I ask.

The man bows. "I am Thor,"

Thor has a deep resonant voice, that seemed if spoken loud enough would send the world into apocalypse.

"I am here to speak with Ares, do you happen to know where he is?" he asks, as sweetly as his voice can handle.

I nod. "I do, but he is ill, so please leave."

Apparently proper, early seventeenth century language is favored here.

Hopefully it gains me SOME ground with him.

"Oh," Thor says. "I was hoping I'd be able to see him. I haven't seen him for quite some time, five years give or take."

I start to feel guilty; like I'm being guilt-tripped.

So I try to ignore it.

What would Mars do?

Idea 1: Yell at him until he leaves

Idea 2: Ignore him

Idea 3: (and this is my idea) I have no idea.

So, I have no clue on what to do, so I go on improvising.

"Um, I'll go ask him?" but as soon as the words leave my mouth I regret it.

Thor grins and nods in agreement.

I walk back and tell Mars the conversation.

Mars frowns, but doesn't judge me on what I said.

"What's his name?"

"Thor," I say, and he winces.

"Oh, jeez, not him."

I raise my eyebrows.

"That guy has been pestering me for the past four years."

So Thor wasn't lying.

"He gave me some contacts when I realized what I am. And taught me some of my power and heritage, because my father wasn't there."

"Oh,"

He sighs. "I'll talk to him."

He makes the attempt to stand. "OWWWWWW!!!!" he yelps. "That HURTS!"

I frown. "When I said you wrecked everything in your body, I wasn't joking."

Wow, you are stubborn.

I smile at that thought, then it fades as I wonder, why am I thinking this?

He groans. "Invite him in, and... let us talk, alone."

I nod, avoiding his gaze.

"O-okay,"

☪

"Mars says it's okay," I say to Thor.

"GREAT!" he booms.

He steps inside, his head ducked low, and I fear for the wood floors, creaking under his weight.

"Hey, Ares!" Thor grins, as he walks into the room.