CHAPTER 26: GETTING THE KEY
Athena stood up bravely; she had fought manticores, harpies, Stymphalian birds, Cerberus and stood in a pit full of beetles- surely she could fight this monstrosity. Although, having said that, this beast looked far more dangerous and she had nowhere to run or hide at all; they were trapped. Plus they needed the key that it had around its neck that was almost definitely the Portal Key. It’d be a tough match and all she could fight with was a single dagger.
“It’s asleep” Tom pointed out “if you get it now, it could be easier, quick, before it wakes up.” He pushed her forwards. It would not be that easy, surely. It had clearly eaten people before and something told her that, hero or not, it wouldn’t spare her. Cautiously, Athena approached the menacing, dark-furred, defined being. The beast sniffed and slowly, the two amber sockets burst into life. It flung her away with a swift motion of its talon hands, roaring all the while.
“Athena!” gasped Tom, who was about to go and help her
“Quick! Go and read the clue!” she yelled, brushing herself off. Tom scooted off round the back of the creature to the door, but the glorious unforgiving figure was oblivious to him; it only had eyes for Athena. Once Tom was there she shouted “read it”
The beast clasped for her and she only just missed its sharp claw.
“Where you stare may look death in the face” he paused as the beast took aim at Athena “you need the key for the human race.” It hit her again, this time into a wall. She slumped down, eyes bright with fury.
“Keep going!” she yelled
“If you’ve found it here, hope to not disappear”
Athena stabbed the beast as it pinned her down and her quick move allowed her to break free.
“Don’t stop!”
“Sorry, urr, you’ll have less than an hour, or risk being devoured”
“You don’t say”
“But to fight this beast you’ll need patience and bravery, what shall not benefit is easily weaponry.”
“So I’m not meant to fight it, what?” she was madly waving her dagger around at it and getting it to chase her all around the room. “Keep reading!”
“Stay calm and faith, that way you’ll be safe”
“Calm?!” the beast wrestled her again
“It will not welcome cowards or those who are phobic, and it won’t favour those who are looking for conflict.”
“No. Kidding” she breathed, pushing herself out from under the beast.
“Do not be disheartened by thee, that courage shall win you the key.”
“Is that it?” she questioned, stabbing at its legs.
“Then it just says ‘It’s all in the mind’”
“What’s all in the mind?” she struggled against its strength.
“I don’t know”
“Wait... I think I do” with a great effort, she shoved the beast back with a brisk stab in its side and it cowered in brief pain in the corner. It’s not like it had time to lose after all. “It means that if I’m unafraid of it, I’ll be worthy and get the key.”
“And you got that from the clue?”
“It doesn’t require a genius”
“How can you not be scared? Look at it!”
