Only a Game (Olympus Drive Chronicles)

Chapter 75: A hero

Teddy

Just promise me that when the time comes you'll do what's right

I roll over in bed, pulling the pillow over my head. How dare she know me better than I know my self?

There are innocent people I have to protect.

You want to be a hero, Teddy. Don't do what I'd think is best. Do you what you know is right.

I groan. How dare she?

But she's right. I do know what's right. I know.

I sort through my backpack. The teddy bear she gave me is still there. I think I know why she gave it to me now.

"You should have told me the truth," I say, softly, "But I guess I didn't deserve it. But I will. I will."

Finding my way to the dungeon isn't all that hard. There are signs 'dungeon, do not enter' on the door. Things like that.

It's damp, and cold, with the only light coming from hastily strung LED bulbs on the ceiling.

There are several cages. Only one has animal bones outside it.

"Hello?" I walk up to the bars, tentatively.

The monster is curled up in the back corner, now wearing slightly more whole human clothes. It looks—miserable. Completely different from before. There's half-eaten meat lying in one corner of the cell.

"Ariadne gave me this---I think it's for you," I say, holding out the teddy bear. The monster crawls over, slowly, gaping red eyes sad. Delicately, it takes the toy in one clawed hand.

"Aster---that's your name isn't it?" I ask, smiling a little.

Ever so slowly the monster nods, then, in a grating, painful voice, "Ariadne."

"Yeah. She sent me," I say, "Sorry about the fight---I didn't want to be eaten."

"S---Starving. Didn't know."

"No. I know that now," I say, nodding. I take a deep breath. This is such a bad idea. But that doesn't mean it's not the right thing to do. "How would you---would you like to go someplace with me, where we'd find you lots of food? Deer and rabbits and things—and you could hide from mean people—but not eat people?"

Aster nods.

"I have a place we can stay, in America, but you would have to swear to me not to eat people---make that not eat anything unless I say it's all right. Does sound okay?" the only other option is SurferDude© murdering you.

He nods.

"Okay, but you have to be very, very good for me," I say.

"A—Ariadne?" hopefully, still holding the bear.

"Yeah—she's not here, I'll come back," I say, backing away. I don't have long.

I go back to my room, stuffing my backpack with my few remaining belongings, as well as a change of clothes. I seal my new phone in a Ziploc bag I pilfer from the kitchen. I also take a box of snack bars and a few chocolate bars. I thread the dagger's scabbard onto a belt and strap it under my shirt.

Then I make my way back to the dungeon.

"Look at me," I growl, pointing a very authoritative finger at Aster. He looks at me obediently. "If you eat me---I am going be very, very mad at you, in the ten seconds before I die. Got it?"

Nods vigorously. I'm gonna die.

"Behave, I'm in charge here," I say, sternly. Then I set to work on the locks. They're mostly just too hard for a person with big clawed hands. Only one requires a key and I just break that with my dagger.

The door swings open. The monster steps out, tentatively.

"Here, put the bear in my bag," I say, picking it up and tucking it in my backpack.

Aster moves deeper into the dungeon, motioning for me to come.

"What---you know the way out?"

Nodding.

Okay so I realized we were underwater, but I really didn't think through the fact that that would mean I'd have swim to escape. I realize it makes sense, but I didn't honestly think I'd get that far. Also, I still can't swim.

Aster can, though. He wraps an arm around my chest (I think he's strangling me for a moment), and tugs us both to the surface. I gasp when I emerge into the cool night air, kicking to stay afloat.

I look around, we're decently off the coast, of somewhere.

"Okay, let's ah—let's find shore."

"Food?"

"How are you hungry already? I mean sure yes—we'll find you some cows or something."