The Sixth Life of Medusa

33. To Die Twice

Medusa discretely observed the four warriors. They were massive, each standing at least six feet tall with multiple fearsome battle scars.

She had never witnessed them in actual combat, only ceremonial rituals where weapons clashed with no intent to kill. Cuauhua was different, though. As a fellow archer, she was very much aware of his skill. His accuracy was inhuman, and, just like her, he knew the forest.

I must run. I have to run.

Heart racing, she took measured breaths in preparation and stole another glance at the warriors. Cuauhua didn't have an arrow nocked, and the rest stood at ease. She was smaller and lighter than them, so outspeeding should be possible. And the best time to flee was now. If the rain fell harder, visibility would be ruined.

Sucking in a breath, Medusa shot to her feet and zig-zagged for the forest. The wind and thin sheets of rain battered her face as she kept her upper body lowered and pushed forward with gritted teeth.

It felt off. She had grown used to manipulating aether to boost her movement, and now her current speed felt pathetic. Soon the sound of pounding footfalls reached her ears. What sort of diabolical reaction speed...?

Biting back a frustrated cry, she veered down a hidden trail only she used. Though it was difficult weaving past trees, leaping over rotting logs and taking welts to the face from low-hanging branches, she pressed on.

Her foot slid over an exposed root and she stumbled forward, narrowly escaping crashing head-first to the ground.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Running through the forest with hands tied was a stupid move. And her speed heavily reduced the deeper she went. More stumbling. The muddy ground sucked at her cactli-clad feet with each step and her wrists were on fire.

She wasn't sure if it was the terror of getting caught or reality, but she could still hear the pounding footsteps.

They're going to catch me. They'll rip my heart out. I'm going to die.

Soon, it no longer mattered how well she knew the forest, running became impossible. When her trail ended, her sense of direction faded the farther she went.

Hiding was another option, but Cuauhua may easily find her. They had explored these forests when they were younger. Even now, he may be watching from a perfect vantage point, preparing to shoot her down.

And what was that her curse said about aether spots? So far, she had sensed nothing.

Thwack!

Medusa's heart liquefied when an arrow pierced the tree next to her head.

He's here!

Her suspicion had been correct; Cuauhua was on her tail. Any moment now, an arrow may pierce her skull. Panic ballooned and pulverised what remained of her sense of direction.

Moving on instinct, she swerved off her path and took a sharp right. She took a second turn to her left, weaving past trees and pressing forward to where? Nothing seemed familiar anymore and the fitness she possessed in her former lives was absent. Her pants were loud in her ears and it felt like every breath charred the inside of her lungs. At this rate, she'd die of exhaustion before they get her.

Where's the damn aether spot?

She leapt away in alarm when something slithered past her leg. A snake?

In that moment of fright and confusion, it happened.

A sudden tearing pain.

First, Medusa was hurled forward from the force of the hit. Her shoulder struck a tree as white-hot pain flared outward from a spot just below her left rib cage.