“We need to make a decision fast, lad!” Siobhan shouted at me, even though I moved to stand beside her. I was still in shock at the discovery of the monster known as Scylla. Even worse was that Charybdis, long thought to be a massive whirlpool, was actually also a monster; its gaping maw sucking in the sea. Siobhan prompted me for an answer several times, but how could I choose? Both of the creatures before me were magnificent and terrifying. I would be responsible for either negative outcome. Did I want that on my shoulders when the team already hated me?

Scylla raised herself up from her island cove, at least twenty feet tall, as far as I could tell. Her lower half was a mass of writhing tentacles that reach out for the ship; six hydra-like heads snapped out at us. Above that, she was what I imagined a Goddess would look like if they were to ever appear to us mortals. She was elegant and well defined. Flowing black hair, weaved with seaweed and shells, framed her face and ran down her chest. A crown of reef sat upon her heavy brow.

Despite her feminine beauty, she was still a monster, made obvious by hooked talons at the end of her long slender fingers and a sharp row of fangs behind her wide smile.

"Hello."

The voice in my head was startling, but also soothing. I stared at the creature as she singled me out psionically. I stood frozen as she probed my mind.

I put my faith in Siobhan’s nautical skills as I was suddenly useless. Charybdis would swallow the whole ship and kill us all. Surely, the reasonable choice is to confront the creature.

"I can feel your shame. Your fear. Your ambition." Her voice hissed in my head. I found my eyes locked on hers as we hurtled towards her.

“Turn in towards Scylla. We’ll take her down and make safe passage along that side, well enough away from the whirlpool.” I heard Orion call out. Siobhan grimaced. Surely the thought of running her ship towards the beast was unappealing to her, but it wasn't to me.

"You left them feeling betrayed. Shattered bonds forged over years. I thought you were another Odysseus, young hero. But you and I are more similar." Scylla's telepathic intrusion kept me locked in place. How could see compare me to her? We weren't even the same kind of thing.

“Orion, cover us!” Ethan shouted up to the crow’s nest. I struggled to look at the team as the assembled on deck. I saw the streaks of light leave his bow and slam into Scylla, who cringed at the bright arrows, but seemed unphased by them hitting her soft, supple form.

“Ethan, keep her distracted with the ballista!” Orion shouted down at ship. He pouted, sword drawn, but nodded and disappeared from my view. I felt guilt heavily in my chest as we hurt the woman...creature...

"Deep down, you and I are the same. We'll do what we must to keep control of what little we have left. The Gods have forsaken you, little adventurer." She tells me.

I feel the first opportunity for me to take charge slip from my fingers as Orion leads the team. My anger flairs, but it only makes Scylla's voice in my head louder.

Amelia and Tadashi got to the rails and held ropes, waiting for the Flying Dutchman to pull closer to Scylla as Siobhan tried to maneuver around the snapping dragon-headed tentacles.

“I can’t dock at the cove, you’ll have to jump off!” I heard Siobhan call. I was still close beside her, but her voice felt distant. One of the serpent heads lashed out, and I watched as Tadashi let go of his rope and jumped onto its head, driving his katanas into it to gain a stable hold. The beast roared and thrashed, and I flinched. It was like I could feel Scylla's pain while she was in my mind. A ballista bolt slammed into one of the other serpent heads and I felt like I had been punched in the gut.

I watched as Amelia and Tadashi slashed and stabbed at the tentacles as Scylla's upper body thrashed. More sun arrows flew out of the crow's nest and slammed into her main torso.

Amelia flipped forward, stabbing one of the heads to secure a grip and made her way straight up to the torso, weaving and dodging tentacles as they tried to keep her back. Each time the serpents flailed about, she dug in her spear, waiting for another opportunity to get closer.

"We're both monsters, you and I. They will hunt you and hurt you the same way they fight me now. You're pain is not a secret anymore. They do not trust you. You've lost them."

I felt my legs try to make their way closer to her as she reeled from the attacks. I heard cheering from the team as Tadashi severed one of the six serpent heads. Part of me felt like something had been cut from me. Like a phantom limb had been removed that was no longer there. I could feel her pain. It was if they were attack me. I stumbled closer to the ships rail, my body moving of its own accord.

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"You'll be just like your father. You'll hurt them all. They would all be better off without you. Deep down, you know that creatures like us only care for ourselves. Deep down, you know you belong here with me, the bane of heroes." Scylla's words echo within me, each flash of emotion causing her words to rattled my brain.

One of the heads turned back to snap at me and I found I couldn't move. I stared into the glowing yellow eyes of the serpent head as it approached and I felt no fear. It would be better this way.

Another ballista bolt slammed into the head, tearing it from the tentacle and this time the pain sent me to my knees.

"Stop, stop hurting her." I tried to shout, but my voice was a whisper.

Tadashi ran along the tentacles to reach Amelia at the human-like torso, and I could feel each time they sunk their weapons into her flesh. Scylla moved back from the water trying to retreat to her cove. Amelia slammed her spear deep into Scylla's stomach and I doubled over. I swear I saw Amelia looking at me as she did it.

She knows this is hurting me, I thought. They all had to know.

"You are alone little monster. Exiled from your people and left to die in your own blood. Your darkness will prove to be your end. We exist just to fight and suffer. You will perish just like me, at the hands of heroes who view you as nothing more than a demon. An abberation. You are no better." Her voice in my head was strained as she fought off the others. Scylla roared out in pain, as Amelia slid back down to the lower half, dragging a deep gash in the creature as she went. But she couldn't see the tentacles reaching out to grab her. They would drag her deep underwater. She'd drown before the others could get to her.

“Amelia, look out!” I called to her, fighting against Scylla's hold on my mind. Amelia looked over her shoulder, only to be bludgeoned and knocked away from the creature. She landed in a heap, looking like a broken doll on the beach of the cove.

My heart told me to go back for her, but my head fights against it. Scylla knows she is the enemy. Our enemy.

No, she was my friend, and I hurt her.

I clutched the railing of the ship, trying to pull myself up.

“Tadashi, make sure Amelia is ok." Orion and I both called at once. I looked up at him and our eyes met. There was an understanding there, that surpassed his hatred of me. And then he was back to shooting arrows.

Tadashi quickly looked between us, and then rolled off a tentacle to land on the beach. He went to Amelia's side, sheathing his weapons.

I watch as Scylla used the reprieve to try and shuffle away into the deep, dark water of the cove.

"You will continue to hide your shame. To hurt those you love. You will destroy them, or they will destroy you. We must do what it takes to survive. You and I are the same..." I interrupt her, shaking my head.

"No!" I shouted, pulling myself up on the railing and calling to my hammer. Mjolnir forms in my hand. I waited for the next barrage of sun arrows and start to twirl my hammer. As Orion’s blasts connected, I launched myself into the cove, using the hammer's flight to follow after Scylla. I feel the lightning gathering around me, causing all the hair on my body to stand up. I can feel the charge of energy ripple through my body as I anticipate slamming into her woman-like torso.

I'm surprised when I don't make it.

Scylla spun around and grabbed me, and I struggled to move, her clawed hand crushing me tight. One of my arms was pinned to my side, the other stuck above me. I had no range of motion to swing the hammer. I frantically let off bursts of lightning, trying to get free.

She squeezed and I felt heat and tearing as my pinned arm snapped between her grip and my body. She was despectively strong. The panic set in and I reached out to the hammer with everything I had and tried to call a single huge lightning bolt down on her arm. My efforts damned me. The jolt caused her muscles to tighten and I screamed as my body tried to resist the force of being crushed.

I can hear Orion cry out for me, his sun arrows slamming into Scylla's arm and hand as she crushed me tightly. I tried to twist and turn to see if the other two could make it up to me. Tadashi had Amelia up, feeding her ambrosia. She was still stunned and recovering. They both looked up in horror as Scylla pulled me closer to her face, her grip tightening.

"I will do what I must, because I am what I am." She said calmly in my mind.

I felt more bones snap as my hip crushed in and my shoulder popped back. Mjolnir fell from my hand and dismissed itself, disappearing in a shower of sparks.

I could feel the blood rushing to my head and the pressure between my eyes. My screaming turned to gasps as my shattered rib pierced into my lung. I looked back and reach out with my free hand. To someone, anyone.

Amelia stood to run towards me and I hear her cry out my name. Tadashi holds her back and stares at me. I understand that any of them coming to help me would damn them too.

My other shoulder cracked and my raised arm fell uselessly behind my head. I could feel Scylla jerk as another ballista bolt slams into one of her tentacles and more sun arrows peppered her body. She continues to stare deep into my eyes, her mind probing around in mine, feeding off the torment and pain.

I tried to think of something happy; I forced myself to think of good times with the team. How Ethan and I would play basketball and workout together. Playing chess in quiet moments with Tadashi. How Amelia and I used to be close, and how I broke her trust. I thought of Kalysta and her ceaseless flirting, and how she frustrated and intrigued me.

I thought of Orion, standing in his room, staring at the photo of us at the Leaf's game in our silly face paint. I think of how I hurt my dearest friend.

I start to think of my father and how disappointed he would be in me if he were still alive. I knew I would meet him soon, in the afterlife. I wondered then if the Valhalla he had preached about was true. Would I go to the hall of the Norse Gods when I died? Was I even worthy?

I felt a great sadness deep within myself. I knew Scylla was right; I had become a monster. I felt too many things in that moment. I was filled with regret for a life of poor choices…

My spine broke and I didn't feel anything anymore.