Colder Than Stone

Chapter Three

There's a rainbow after every storm and Medusa had thought that her rainbow was her new family, Brontos, the Chimera and the small piece of heaven they created within their isolation.

she didn't realize how wrong she was. The storm had only retreated for a while, but now it had just done a three-sixty and was fast gaining on its path toward her.

Brontos had been gone for the last two days toward the far west and he hadn't come back, it normally happened that he would go out trying to find something new even though he seldom came back with anything. He knew there was no way to escape and that The labyrinth was something that the further you delved if you didn't know your way the deeper underground you would go.

That night had the very first cold front in a long while that hit causing even Medusa to begin to shiver, she wrapped the rat pelt around her upper body where the skin wasn't so thick and created a fire. She sat in front of the dancing flames and listened to the crackle whilst she warmed herself.

The once lively young woman she used to be would have enjoyed the snow as it fell, but Medusa was happy that she was underground and less exposed to the freezing conditions and even more thankful that they had harvested all their fruits or they would have been starving since the trees stopped bearing much in the cold conditions and both the spring and the hole in the ground froze leaving them no chance to get fish and making acquiring water harder especially since they had to melt the ice in a can over the fire.

The sound of footsteps knocked Medusa out of her trance.

"You're back," Medusa said without looking back, rubbing her hands together above the fire. A few seconds went without her getting an answer.

Those were too nimble to be Brontos's footsteps.

The thought itself was like a bucket of ice water hitting her face, realizing something was completely wrong her eyes flashed as she spun around. The serpents writhing on her head, ready to attack. The eye contact was instant.

"No!, "Medusa screamed out, but it was too late he's body began to turn to stone.

"There wasn't supposed to be any humans here." She said crying out, it wasn't until she looked down and noticed his arm slightly raised and holding onto a sword that she realized why exactly he was there.

It was to kill her and suddenly that realization drained any sympathy she had felt.

When Brontos came to know of it, in a fit of rage (which was not common, given his softer nature.) He raised his club and shattered the stone statue.

Things didn't stop there, many more men came after that, trying to slay Medusa.

How are they getting in she wondered, maybe there was a way to escape after all, but whether or not that was something she wanted especially with the way she looked... she decided it was best not to dwell on it and stay where she was.

Medusa decided to go for a walk with Chimera, she picked up a ball she had made out of extra rat pelt and stuffed with leaves. She threw it to Chimera who ran after it and brought it back. It so happened that on her second throw Chimera didn't return as fast. So she went towards where she threw the ball to investigate before she even managed to reach him she heard a loud, terrifying scream.

She only managed to make it in time to see the back of an old man running towards the rocks and disappearing.

Medusa slithered towards where the man disappeared.

Could it be the way out had been in plain sight?

Medusa tried putting a hand through, but all she hit was solid brick. She decided to mark and guard it only to learn later that humans were able to enter and leave freely but she? She was truly trapped.

When she spoke to Brontos, they both came to the conclusion that this was a way to stop people from coming in. Brontos and Medusa worked together and piled boulders all across the wall, blocking any who wished to come through. Things were good again for a while, but even though Medusa had been transformed into an immortal, Cyclops even with a longer lifespan than most...couldn't live forever.

On a stormy night as the rain poured down through the massive hole and the sound of thunder reverberated through the cave after each lightning strike that struck close by lighting up the labyrinth that Brontos laid in on his pelt, breathing his last breaths.

"Meddi," he said, calling her by the pet name he'd created for her. " take care of yourself when me gone. I knows things are hard and yous live forever but, things can get better." Medusa held his hand. " No one can come and try to hurt you no more... it gets cold in the cave." His breathing became labored, coughs escaped as his weakened body shook." Tears began escaping Medusas eyes, yet she silently let him continue speaking...knowing that soon she wouldn't be able to hear his words or talk with him anymore. " When I die, I want you to use my skin to keep you warm." Medusas eyes widened. " Are you crazy? Clearly, this dying thing is affecting your brain!"

"You were the only friend I had all these years that I could talk to," Brontos said. " It's a way to help you even when I'm gone... promise me Meddi?" Medusa looked at him unsurely.

Even after his breathed his last, Medusa couldn't bring herself to complete his wish, but it was his last wish and she felt torn...

In the end, she decided she was still too human to go through with it and with the help of Chimera she buried him under the trees they had grown together.