The dream snaps into place so suddenly Percy almost drops the drachma he’s holding in the real world. One second he’s half-asleep, worried sick, and the next—He’s standing in his cabin. It’s too quiet. Too still. Too wrong.

Then you appear in front of him — not walking in, not materializing gently — just there, like you’ve been yanked into the room by the empathy link’s last desperate thread.

Your breathing is sharp. Your eyes are wild. The panic hits the air like static. Before Percy can say your name, there’s a heavy thump behind him. Tyson, in the dream, because Tyson’s always in Percy’s head these days, stands up from behind a bunk, smiling like he’s happy to see you both.

Your reaction is instant. You shove yourself backward so fast you crash into the side of Percy’s bed.

“—CYCLOPS!”

Percy flinches, hands flying up. “That’s Tyson!” he blurts, rushing between you two like a human shield even though nothing here can actually hurt anyone.

But you’re trembling, eyes locked on Tyson like he’s a monster and not the gentle giant Percy knows. You try to back up again but there’s nowhere left to go. Percy steps closer, palms open, voice soft but urgent.

“Hey—hey. It’s okay. I swear. He’s not here to hurt you. This is just an empathy-link dream. You’re safe. That’s my brother.”