The man walked ahead of me, his footsteps steady and sure as if he had tread these paths a thousand times. I followed at a cautious distance, the dagger still gripped tightly in my hand. The serpents hissed softly, their unease echoing my own.

The city around us was quieter now, the streets bathed in a cold, artificial glow. The towering structures loomed like silent sentinels, their reflective surfaces hiding secrets I couldn’t yet fathom.

He glanced over his shoulder, his dark eyes glinting with faint amusement. “You can relax, you know. If I wanted to harm you, I’d have done it back there.”

“I’ve heard words like that before,” I replied sharply, my voice edged with distrust.

The corner of his mouth twitched, though whether in amusement or irritation, I couldn’t tell. “Fair enough,” he said. “But trust me when I say you’ll want an ally in this city.”

“Ally?” I repeated, the word tasting foreign on my tongue. “Why would I trust someone who followed me?”

He stopped suddenly, turning to face me. The smirk he’d worn earlier was gone, replaced by a seriousness that made my skin prickle.

“Because you’re not safe here,” he said, his voice low and firm. “You’re not the first ancient thing to walk these streets, and you won’t be the last. But you? You’re loud. You drew attention the moment you stepped into this city.”

I stiffened, the weight of his words settling heavily on my shoulders. “Who’s watching me?”

“The wrong kind of people,” he said. “Humans, mostly. But there are others—things that shouldn’t exist anymore, like you and me. They’ll see you as a threat or an opportunity, and neither works out well for you.”

His words sent a chill down my spine. I had felt the lingering presence of something unnatural in the air, but to hear him confirm it was another matter.

“What are you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

He hesitated for the first time, his expression guarded. “Let’s just say I know what it’s like to be hunted. To be feared for something I never asked for.”

That hit too close to home, and I found myself softening despite my better judgment. Still, I couldn’t shake my unease. “If you’re trying to help me, why not just tell me everything now?”

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

“Because you wouldn’t believe me,” he said simply. “And because we don’t have time for explanations. Right now, we need to get you somewhere safe.”

I followed reluctantly, my mind racing. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to trust no one, but the truth was, I had no idea where I was or how to survive in this strange new world.

He led me through a series of winding alleys and backstreets, the city growing quieter with each step. Eventually, we reached a narrow door tucked between two buildings. He pushed it open without hesitation, gesturing for me to follow.

Inside, the space was dimly lit and cluttered, a stark contrast to the sterile, polished streets outside. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books, jars, and strange objects I couldn’t name. The air smelled of old paper and something faintly metallic.

“This is where you’ll be safe for now,” he said, closing the door behind us.

I turned to face him, my grip on the dagger tightening. “Why are you helping me? What do you gain from this?”

He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. “Let’s just say I have a vested interest in keeping people like you out of the hands of... less forgiving parties.”

“Who are these ‘parties’?” I demanded.

He tilted his head, studying me for a moment. “You really don’t know, do you? How long have you been locked away?”

“Centuries,” I said, my voice cold. “Long enough to lose count.”

He let out a low whistle. “Well, that explains a lot. The world’s changed, Medusa. The gods don’t rule anymore, but that doesn’t mean their echoes are gone. Some mortals still worship them, and some hunt what they left behind. Creatures like you? You’re a prize they’d kill to claim.”

The weight of his words pressed heavily on me. I had spent so long in silence, in darkness, and now I was being thrust into a world where my very existence was a threat.

“And you?” I asked, my voice softer now. “What are you?”

He hesitated again, and for a moment, I saw something flicker in his eyes—pain, perhaps, or regret. “Let’s just say I’m someone who knows how to survive,” he said finally. “For now, that’s all you need to know.”

I didn’t trust him, not fully, but I couldn’t ignore the truth in his words. If what he said was true, I couldn’t survive this world alone.

“What’s your name?” I asked after a long pause.

“Orion,” he said, a faint smirk returning to his lips. “And you’re Medusa, the infamous Gorgon of legend.”

I bristled at the title, the familiar sting of shame and anger flaring in my chest. “I’m not a monster,” I said, my voice low but firm.

His smirk faded, and he nodded. “I know. But that’s not how the world will see you. Not yet.”

His words were a bitter reminder of the curse that still clung to me like a shroud. For centuries, I had been trapped in darkness, a prisoner of the gods’ cruelty. Now, I was free, but freedom came with its own chains.

“What now?” I asked, my voice quieter.

“Now,” Orion said, pushing off the wall, “we figure out what they want with you. And why you woke up now, of all times.”

I frowned, the question sparking a flicker of unease. Why now? After centuries of silence, why had the earth trembled, why had my stone prison cracked?

And why did I feel like something—or someone—was watching me?