Silence had been my only companion for centuries. Encased in stone, I floated in a void where time ceased to exist. There was no sound, no breath, no warmth—just the crushing weight of my curse. My memories circled endlessly, a cruel theatre of betrayal and loss playing behind my closed eyes.

But then the silence cracked.

It started as a faint tremor, almost imperceptible, rippling through the void. At first, I thought it was another dream, another cruel trick of my mind. Then the tremor grew, shaking my body, and pulling me from the stillness. A deep, resonating groan reverberated through the stone that encased me.

The first fracture came like a jolt of lightning. I felt it more than I heard it—a sudden snap that split the cold barrier surrounding me. Air flooded in, sharp and burning, as I gasped for breath. My lungs protested, my body convulsing as the stone splintered and cracked.

And then I fell.

The ground was solid beneath me, cold and rough, but alive. My fingers clawed at the surface as light seared my eyes, blinding me after so long in darkness. I struggled to breathe, each gasp rasping against my throat. Voices broke through the haze—distant, unfamiliar, and loud.

Slowly, I forced myself to lift my head. My vision blurred, the world swimming before me until the shapes began to sharpen.

Humans.

They surrounded me, their faces pale, their eyes wide with fear and wonder. I could feel their stares, pressing against me like a thousand needles. My heart pounded, panic rising as their voices echoed in the space around me.

“It’s her,” someone whispered, their voice trembling.

“Medusa…”

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“Monster…”

The word struck like a blade. My hand instinctively reached for my hair, seeking comfort, but instead, I felt them. The serpents.

They stirred under my touch, their scales rough and alive, hissing softly as they coiled around my fingers. The familiar sound sent a chill through me, sharp and unrelenting.

“No,” I murmured, shaking my head. My voice was raw, cracked from centuries of disuse.

The murmurs around me grew louder, a rising wave of fear and confusion. The memories crashed over me—the temple, Poseidon’s cruelty, Athena’s wrath. The gods had cursed me to this fate, leaving me as a nightmare etched into mortal legend.

“Don’t look at me!” I shouted, my voice rising in desperation.

But one man didn’t heed my warning.

Our eyes met, and I felt the curse ignite within me. It was a familiar pull, deep in my chest, impossible to stop. His body froze, his expression twisting into terror as his skin turned gray, cracks spreading like veins. In moments, he was nothing more than a lifeless statue.

Screams erupted.

I stumbled back, my legs trembling as the crowd scattered. The weight of their stares—now filled with terror—was unbearable. My serpents hissed, writhing as panic surged through me.

I turned and ran.

The world blurred around me as I fled, my bare feet striking unfamiliar ground. The ruins and earth gave way to towering shapes of glass and metal, their sharp edges glinting under strange, artificial light. The air was heavy with strange smells—smoke, metal, and something bitter that stung my nose.

By the time I stopped, I was trembling. Shadows enveloped me as I pressed myself against a cold wall, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. The serpents hissed softly, their movements calming as I sank to the ground.

This world was strange, unfamiliar, and frightening. The gods were gone—absent from the towering structures and glowing lights—but the curse remained. I was still their monster.

For a moment, I let the tears come. They burned as they slid down my cheeks, carving lines into the dirt that clung to my skin. The weight of the centuries pressed heavily on my chest. Would it always be this way? Would I forever be a thing to fear, hunted for what I never asked to become?

But no. I clenched my fists, the sharp edges of my nails digging into my palms. The humans who had stared at me with such terror were only the first. If they feared me, it was because they didn’t know the truth.

I had been cursed, yes. I had been betrayed and abandoned. But I was no longer their victim.

The world had changed, and now it was my turn to change it. I would take my story back.

This time, they would not look at me with pity or hatred. This time, they would bow.