Truth [Book Three in Fake Series]

Part Fifteen:

Part Fifteen:

Charlie was scared. There. He admitted it, he was scared. But it wasn't the Minotaur which scared him, he wasn't afraid of killing another monster; there was actually something else which frightened him much more. And that was losing Zoe.

Charlie was in love with her. Losing Zoe would feel like he had lost an arm or a leg. Even though they hadn't been together for very long, he somehow knew that she was the one who he would spend the rest of his life with. Maybe it was because after being without her for a week and a bit while he was on Ogygia had made him appreciate the time that they spent together. For all he knew, tomorrow could be doomsday and they'd both be dead.

Charlie gripped Zoe's hand tightly as they ran. They ran until they could see Sammy and Jaz fighting the Minotaur pathetically. And by pathetic, he meant pathetic. Jaz was giving it weak punches while Sammy dodged to-and-fro. Charlie could tell that they were trying to distract rather than harm.

Zoe let go of his hand and twisted the owl charm on her bracelet. As it expanded into a sword, Charlie noticed that the trident engraved onto the hilt was glowing a faint sea green. But he had no time to think further on it as they had reached the Minotaur. Immediately, Zoe attacked. She slashed at his exposed back and left a deep cut bleeding with a golden liquid - ichor. Charlie unslung his bow from his shoulder and notched an arrow. He aimed and went to fire but panicked, as he didn't have a clear shot. He could hit one of his friends! Instead, he drew his dagger and sprinted into the fight. He got two jabs before Zoe indicated to him to walk back.

The Minotaur turned around to face them as Charlie and Zoe started to back away. His nostrils flared and he charged. Charlie spun around and ran. But he didn't need to - Zoe had put her sword out in front of her as the Minotaur came towards them, he was impaled straight through the stomach.

Charlie stopped running and jogged back over to Zoe just as she was turning her sword back into a charm. "Where are the others?" He asked her, realising that they were alone in the dimly lit corridor.

"Dead?" Zoe replied, snickering.

"I'm being serious, Zo." Charlie sighed.

"Maybe they went to find a way out." Zoe suggested.

"There's only one way to find out." Charlie started forwards and Zoe followed him, going deeper down the corridor.

•••

Sammy had taken Jaz by the arm and pulled her to the right down a hallway as Zoe and Charlie attacked the Minotaur. "Run," was all he said.

Now they were jogging down a corridor to an exit, both worn out, but in their own ways. Jaz was panting, but Sammy wasn't even puffed - he just felt strained. They came out in a large field bordered by a forest behind them, and then stopped. While Jaz took a swig of water and a deep breath, Sammy looked at their surroundings. And his eyes widened in horror.

At least twenty metres in front of them was a cage made of dirt, twigs, and metal rods. Inside it were ten trapped people, but it wasn't the people that worried Sammy - it was the monsters guarding it.

There were Empousa, Dracaena, Hellhounds and one ginormous cyclops. The cyclops lumbered around, wooden club slung over his shoulder. At least fifteen monsters in total. "Holy cow," Jaz gasped.

"We need to save those people." Sammy muttered.

"Millie! Liam!" Jaz cried, hands outstretched towards a trapped nymph and satyr.

But Jaz's cry had alerted the two Dracaena closest to them. They started towards her and Sammy, swords raised. Sammy looked behind him to see that the entrance to the underground maze had closed up. He pulled out his spear from his backpack and held it in front of himself as Jaz pulled out her sword.

"Demigods..." one Empousa hissed, now only five metres away.

"Uh, oh..." Jaz muttered.

•••

Silena sighed, watching as more trees passed below them. "Are we there yet?" She asked Ethan who was sitting behind her.

He checked the map. "Nearly," he replied. Silena was conscious that once he had tucked the map safely away in his pocket, he went to wrap his arms around her to hold on. She felt heat in her cheeks and was relieved that the wind they were flying into was cold.

Festus descended towards the ground. Silena gripped Alex who was sitting in front of her as the mighty metal dragon landed on the ground in a clearing. Ethan was the first to get off. They had reached a small space amongst the trees of the forest where a pile of rocks were. As she got down, Silena watched Ethan move towards the rocks. He knelt down and examined the bottom one.

"There's another clue here." He said.

"Really?" Alex asked, leaping down after Silena. The two girls hurried up to him and read the riddle.

What lives in a home of gold and white,
But if you try looking for, is never in sight?

"What," Silena asked incredulously, frustrated. "The Hades?"

"'Gold and white'?" Ethan questioned. "'Never in sight'? What's that supposed to mean?" Silena looked at Alex. She noticed instantly that her friend had gone pale.

"Guys," Alex whispered shakily. "It's obvious." Ethan glanced up at her. Him and Silena stared at her for a few seconds before Silena replied.

"What is it?"

"The gods," Alex said simply. "Or a god, at least. They live on Olympus, which according to my dad is 'gold and white' and they like to stay hidden from mortals. If you try looking for one, then they blend in, and the main entrance to Olympus is at the Empire State Building, so, yeah."

"The gods?" Ethan asked, jaw dropping. "That makes perfect sense and absolutely no sense at the same time!"

"Look there," Silena had noticed that on a large piece of rock there was a faint outline of what looked like a rectangle.

Alex walked forwards and put her palm to it. The outline glowed gold and slowly, with a loud grinding noise, the rock inside the outline went inwards. After a minute, it stopped and all that was left was a hole in the shape of a door.

"Shall we?" Alex asked. Silena nodded, then followed Ethan and Alex through the entrance and into a large cave room.

"Whoa," Silena gasped, as her eyes fell upon a pedestal in the centre of the room. Sitting atop the pedestal was the most beautiful thing that Silena had ever seen; a golden crown embedded with jewels.

What do you think the crown could be used for? Will Jaz and Sammy get out this situation and save the hostages?

All is yet to be revealed...