A few minutes later, we were both sitting in the living room, my homework laying forgotten on the nearby table. "So," I started, rather calmly if I do say so myself. That's when the little control I still possessed vanished. "What in the world just happened!? How is that even possible? This isn't some book!" By this time, I was hyperventilating. "None of this is scientifically possible!"

Percy appeared to be attempting to stifle a laugh. "I can control water. Thalia and Jason control lightning as well. Nico can control the dead. What's so different?"

I stared at him in disbelief. "You are all book characters! Not real people."

That was when he really started to Laugh. "And so are you! You are my favorite book character." I tried to interrupt him at this point, but he shushed me, putting a finger to my lips and silencing me with a pointed glare. "All of your favorite book series? They are all alternate universes. Back home, no one believed me, but here I am! I am standing in front of Grace Kingston! This all feels like a dream!"

"So. . ." I said, a spark of mischief lighting up my eyes. "Harry Potter could be visiting me instead of you?" Percy looked like even more of a kicked puppy than normal before I started laughing. "I'm only joking! You are by far my favorite character in any book I have ever read!" His face lit up once more. "What happens next? I asked as my laughs subsided.

"I stop you from dying at the end of your story," he said in all seriousness.

I stared at him, my body tensing up in fear. "That would be preferable," I said in a faint voice.

Getting up from my frozen position on the couch, I stiffly walked over toward the kitchen with the intent to offer Percy something to eat or drink. Before I could do that however, I heard the sound of the garage door opening. A smile filled my face at the thought of my parents finally being home. For once at least. However annoyed I am at them, they are still my parents. It's my job to love them forever and always.

The excited grin wore off my face as I looked over at Percy. He had a look of horror on his face, so I quickly asked, "What?"

"You have to hide," he answered in a tone I would rather not argue with.

But I found that I would rather not hide from my parents who I had not actually seen in several weeks. Sure, there was signs of them being in the house, but I never caught a glimpse of them. I was not hiding without a reasonable reason. "Why?" I asked, making sure to add as much snarkiness into my tone as possible.

"The arch nemesis has arrived," he stated gravely.

I forced my expression to go blank for a second before bursting out into laughter. "Good one. My parents are home, not some evil villain."

His expression did not change. "You need to hide."

I glanced around frantically, refusing to consider what he was implying. "No! You're wrong!"

He reached out, latching onto my arm as though he was going to force me into hiding. "You have to," he said pleading with me through his eyes. "You will become severely injured. I can't and I won't allow that to happen." Looking into his eyes, I could see that he thought he was telling to truth, but that truth was too horrible for me to comprehend.

"No!" I screamed, electricity coursing through me and throwing him backwards against the couch. He looked up at me in shock as the front door opened, displaying my parents. I looked up at them in fear, no longer finding myself able to discount what Percy had told me. I grabbed Percy and, hauling him to his feet, dragged him out the back door. We ran away from the place that hasn't really felt like a home to me for some time now. As we ran, I looked back and was surprised to find I was happy to see it to the back of me.