Medusa: Love Me ✔

Devil in Me

It was early in the morning when Medusa left the temple. The cold breeze made her body shiver. The thin clothes which she wore did not help either. As she walked past the gate, a tear ran down her cheek. She took one last glance of the Parthenon, and never looked back.

She despised herself. For being stupid and weak. If only she knew how cunning Poseidon was. If she screamed for help. None of these would happen. The exile and the curse.

"My dream had been crushed. It wasn't supposed to be like this. I should've spent my entire life serving Athena. Why? Why she saw me as a sinner but not him? Why Poseidon left as a free man?" Medusa's head hung low. "It's just not fair. Why do I have to be the one to blame? A woman likes me, whose body had been violated by a god. People worship him. But they don't have the slightest idea of how wicked he is. A monster in disguise. I hate him," the snakes on her head whizzed. They agreed.

Medusa might look calm on the outside. Except she was not. The transformation freaked her out. Her beauty was gone. She wanted to crawl out of her green skin because it was so itchy. She hit the snake with a stone, crushing it but the next second, it grew back. It was so irritating and terrifying.

*

When the sun arose, Medusa reached the Polis. She walked pass the academy, theatre, buleuterium and tholos. The roads were clear, no activity yet. On the other hand, the market was busy. The merchants and buyers were bargaining. She was hungry after the long walk, then she decided to buy bread. Medusa is aware of her condition. So, she sneakily stole a scarf to cover her head.

"Excuse me, sir. I'd like one bread with butter, please" she said.

The man handed her order but he made a mistake by looking at her face. One snake head was out of the scarf. He screamed as his body turned to stone. Quickly, people surrounded him. Confusion written on their faces.

"This is so strange."

"He was fine a while ago."

"The god cursed him."

"Is he dead?"

"Who did this?" a woman asked.

"It was an accident," Medusa answered. Her body was shaking. She murdered an innocent man.

Someone grabbed her arm. She flinched. "Don't touch me if you don't wanna die."

"You have to come to the judge," the man insisted.

"I said don't touch me." She repeated.

Medusa turned around. Another man became a statue. People were screaming in horror. They fled the scene, dropping their groceries.

"Run, everyone. Run. There's a monster!"

"I'm not a monster," Medusa said in a low voice.

*

Medusa went to her parents's house to seek refuge. Unfortunately, the news traveled fast. Her parents were aware of her condition. They wanted to let her in but they could not risk their life.

"Father, open the door," Medusa knocked.

"You're not welcomed here," Phorcys replied shortly.

"I'm your daughter. This is my house too. I have my right," Medusa raised her voice.

"No daughter of mine is a monster," Phorcys answered firmly.

In her room, Ceto was crying. Medusa was her daughter and always will. She approached her husband. She leaned her head on his shoulder. "Don't you hear what people said? She has snakes on her head. The last time I checked, Medusa's hair were golden. The highlight is, two men turned to stone."

"She's our daughter. Your baby girl," Phorcys remained silent for a bit.

"I don't care. We have to help her. How about we lock her in a chamber? Made a small door to give her food," Ceto suggested.

"The answer is no," Phorcys walked to the door. "Medusa, you're a disgrace to this family. Until you redeem yourself, don't bother to come back. Go away!"

"Mother. Help!"Medusa banged the door.

Ceto turned the doorknob but Phorcys stopped her. He cleared his throat. "Prepare some food and water for her. Don't forget to pack clothes too. I'll get a horse," Ceto kissed him. She knew that he still cared.

Medusa let out a deep breath. "No one wants me. I'm nobody's child."

"Agapi mou," Phorcys called her. "Stay where you are. Don't turn around. Your mother has packed you supplies. You can have my horse. It's not much but it's the least we can do. We're sorry."

"Efcharistó,"

*

Medusa who got a new nickname, a living disaster, decided to leave her hometown. She went to the port of Piraeus and sailed to Africa. She moved a lot, never stayed in the same place longer than a week. She received death threats. There were posters in every corner of the street promising a big amount of gold would be given to the guy who managed to kill her. They came with swords, spears, bows and arrows. Their efforts were wasted.

*

It had been six years since she left Athena. She found a place which she called heaven on earth. It was a quite big cave, somewhere in Libya, far from the city. She liked it there. No human contact meant no more victims. Besides, who is crazy enough to approach the monster.

In the cave, Medusa lived alone and lonely. She had no friends to talk with. So, she chatted with the snakes, giving them names. It was a miracle that she had not lost her mind yet.

Every night, she prayed to Zeus. Hoping they would forgive her and lift the curse. Every morning, she woke up disappointed.

*

One day, she hit rock bottom. She was desperate and sad. The urge of commit suicide was lingering too long. The small voice in her head were a broken record. Saying negative things. You're not worth it. Sinner. The earth would be a better place without you. Monster. What good you bring to this world. Die. Kill yourself.

The voice became louder and louder. It would not stop until she's dead.

"That's it. I'm done. I can't live like this anymore," she stomped her foot and walked further into the cave.

Medusa knew her new home was spacious but not to this extent. There was a small river.

"Gaia never ceases to amaze me," Her eyes were twinkling at the sight before her. The sun's rays pierced through a hole, irradiating a tree that stood besides the riverbank.

"I think I just found a good place to die. The question is how?"

Medusa sit on a rock nearby. She looked sad. "What is an easy way to die? Slit my wrist? Hang myself?"

"There isn't a sharp object, and I don't have rope with me either," she hid her face in her hands. "God, I'm crazy. Having a conversation with myself."

Medusa looked at the calm and transparent water. She was curious of her own reflection. How horrendous she looked. She got an idea. If, a mere sight of her face would turn anyone to stone then she just discovered her ticket to hell. Desperate time calls for desperate measures she thought.

"What an irony. I have to see the devil in me to be free," She chuckled.

Medusa walked to the river. She crouched down, closing her eyes. Her heart was hammering in her chest.

"This is it. Goodbye Mom, Dad. I love you."

AN: Let's pretend in this story that Medusa will turn to stone looking at her her reflection :D

She'll meet someone in the next chapter. Gotta give some happiness to our girl.