LAUREL

Chapter 9

The next day was different. The air was stale, and no animals were roaming around the forest on her way to find Kronos. She knew something's wrong, but she couldn't point out what it was.

Laurel continued her journey, leaving the kid to Peneus and promising to come back for him. Peneus's delighted with Laurel's requests. He felt like his daughter had adopted a son and now asked to care for him. As for the kid, he didn't complain. He knew better than anyone that he wouldn't be of any help at the moment. He only prayed that Laurel would come back safe.

A few nights and more days have passed, and Laurel has yet to find the right temple of Kronos. But the more time he spends on the road, the more his heart feels heavy.

It looks like mother nature's angry again, she thought as she felt the ground quaking and lighting striking from above. It's been odd the past few days that even the weather hasn't been steady.

Laurel didn't care. She proceeded to her task until she reached the rumored cave temple of Kronos. The moment she steps on the place, everything starts to swirl and feels heavy, like she's carrying something behind.

Unlike other temples she'd been through, this temple of Kronos differed from the others. It's dark and eerie, almost abandoned. But Laurel continued, wasn't afraid of such scenery. She's used to living in the dark. It's not a problem.

Laurel hoped to see the god of time when she reached the end of the path. But instead of an altar, she came face to face with a giant door with runes and glyphs written all over it.

"Is this a temple?" She brushed her hand by the door, looking for anything unusual. In all the temples she had been, it's the only one that's locked and hidden.

"Now what?" she whispered, checking every corner and angle of the door for possible openings.

Laurel spent time wandering in front of the door. She tried making up words and deciphering the glyphs but to no avail. Nothing seemed to work until the door moved and opened on its own.

Laurel frowned. "How did...." she paused, but her curiosity took over before she could even assess the surrounding. She entered and walked deeper to the temple.

It's quiet, too quiet that it makes Laurel on guard more than usual. She slowly made her way forward until she found the altar. The altar is empty. She found two torches standing on both sides while no offerings around. It's odd.

Laurel took a step forward, looking left and right to see if someone showed up. But before she could even reach the altar, the ground started shaking. It's too dark to move to safety when debris starts falling, and the air's becoming thinner.

Is this the end? Fear creeps her body as she clings to the wall for support. Laurel doesn't want to die. She doesn't want to be buried alive in the darkness.

Laurel could hear her heart thump even with the shaking of the ground. She could feel her hand trembling and her legs losing strength. It's unusual. No matter what she does, she's stuck on the spot.

Move!

Panic starts to surround Laurel. She didn't understand why she felt that way. She didn't know why she felt terrified and scared.

Since the beginning, Laurel never cared about getting stabbed or dying on the job. She always believed that if death comes for her, she will follow without giving a fight. Nobody would care wherever Laurel lived or died, anyways. But now, she felt conflicted. She doesn't know why she's scared to face her end.

"Nymph Laurel, please take care."

"Please, my love, slow down, for I fear a scratch would leave your beautiful skin...."