Eyes of Stone

...

I woke up to the sound of footsteps. I don't remember if it was daylight or not..i don't even think I knew at the time, i went far enough into the cave that the light from where I came in at would no longer reach me.. It wouldn't matter anyway, because as my eyes opened all i saw was dim light wavering and dancing with the shadows across the cave walls. I tried to flee, but as i tried to stand my legs wabbled and crashed underneath me, alerting whoever was coming my way that i was there.. If it wasn't that, then it was the fact that as i hit the ground i made a shocked oophm sound. "Whosa there?" A voice roughened by age and husky from smoke called out to me just inches away from entering where i was. I tried to scramble away, to hide behind anything.. Frantically searching for somewhere, anywhere to hide.. Only to find nothing but open space. I was  tempted to try and run out the way i came, but i wouldn't have made it in time. As the foot steps drew too close i dropped down to the ground and did my best to cover myself with my arms and what little was left of the clothes i had, "Please! Do not look at me." My voice came out trembling, but strong enough for the man to hear. "whatchu mean look at ya? Why canna do that?" He replied back to me, his footsteps stopped at this point...but i refused to lift my head to try and see where he was. "You'll turn to stone." He snorted, "this is not a jest! I was cursed by the goddess Athena." I heard his feet shift a little in place, as if he was slightly uncomfortable.  "Athena hmm" was all he said, but i couldn't quite place his tone at the time. "No matter to me, i canna see ya anyway" he said in a tone that left little room for questioning..and maybe just a slight bit of humor..  Confused, i stammered out, "b-but with your light, if you come any closer you will be able to see me. I am not something you wish to see, and she has told me that i only have to look a man in the eye to turn him to stone." He grumbled something i couldnt quite hear, shuffled his feet once more..."doesna matter ma'am, am blind."