The Eyes of Medusa

Chapter 19

Skyler POV:

I watched as my brother strokes small circles, gently, on the top of Grace's hand. He leans in close to her ear every so often to whisper something to her. It makes me sick.
He told me it was love but love is not real. It is a illusion for the weak. Love leaves you vulnerable. Believing love is a real and powerful thing is a sin.
I tap my foot to the beeps of the heart monitors. It's steady and paced.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

Grace and Hannah are in bad shape. Hannah has had scared tissue on her forehead and hands, making her look like she is melting. Grace had deep cuts wrapped around her head like millions of tiny snakes. Grace's hands were covered with blisters. And the blisters seemed to be spreading up her arms.
Francis leaned in to whisper in Grace's ear again and the heart monitor beeps faster.

Love is a illusion.

Beep beep. Beep beep. Beep beep.

Francis's face twists into one of concern and yells to the Apollo doctors. I tap my foot to the beeps.

Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep beep.

A group of children of Apollo rush into the small room.

Beep beep beep beep. Beep beep beep beep beep.

They tell Francis to leave, but not me. They seem to have forgotten my presence.

Love leaves you vulnerable.

Beep beep beep beep beep. Beep beep beep beep beep.

Francis doesn't leave. He holds on to Grace's hand tighter. Apollo's children tell him to leave again, but he still doesn't.

Beep beep beep beep beep beep. Beep beep beep beep beep beep.

Love is weakness.

Two buff children of Aries storm in and grab Francis and drag him out. He fights and yells.

Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep. Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep.

Love is not real.

Francis manages to get free. He runs over to Grace's bedside, which only results in more buff teenagers grabbing him.
The monitors are screeching now.

Love is a sin.

Francis is gone now, but the screeching has increased. It is almost a flat.
I watch as the doctors crowd around Grace's bed. I hear them whisper words to each other. Skin. Burns. Death. The mark of Ursnas. Death. Medusa. Death.
As the doctors continue to talk about death, I squeeze my eyes tight and press myself against the wall behind me. I pray to Zeus, Jupiter, and all the other Gods, Roman and Greek.

Please don't let them die. Please. Please. Please
Oh Gods, please.

I open my eyes to look at Hannah and Grace misshapen bodies. As my eyes rest on Grace's, I think about Francis. I close my eyes and add to my prayer.

Don't let Francis yield to this fake thing called love. Don't leave him weak and vulnerable. Don't allow him to sin.