Chapter 4: A Distant Memory.
The boy buried his face in her shoulder, letting the dam of tears break. He cried about how everyone always looked past him. How he was never picked for adoption no matter how many people came to the orphanage.
All the other children, even the difficult ones and the ones he had joined the orphanage with and became friends to, eventually found homes, but he always remained, as if no one wanted him.
" Am I a problem child, head mother..." He whispered, his voice filled with grief.
" Of course not my dear. Please don't say such a thing ever again."
The old woman held him tighter, letting him finish his outpouring of sadness before she spoke.
"Sometimes, my dear." she murmured, tracing a circle on his back, "life doesn't hand us what we always want."
" Not everyone is met with pretty, instant beautiful ending, we read about in stories, and honestly, that's perfectly okay." She paused, before continuing.
"Because sometimes, to truly have a happy ending, we have to take control of our lives. I'm not sure if you'll understand this now, but when it seems like life isn't going to give you your happy ending, you have to be the one to make it yourself."
*****
Adrian pushed himself out of the snow, the nun's words echoing in his mind. He had long since understood what she meant back on earth but this time he recalled those wonderful words of hers.
" Make it myself."
" Having someone dying while I can help them is not something I want in my happy ending." He clenched his fists, wrist trembling with determination.
He couldn't leave this injured woman just because she was terrifying, that was wrong and just wouldn't do.
He wiped the cold tears of panic from his eyes and gritted his teeth.
" Alright! I'm going to help her, but I can't just rush in blindly this time!"
If he was going to save her, he needed the right tools. He turned and his body suddenly began moving through the snow as if relying on muscle memory.
His footsteps felt lighter, it was only after awhile did he notice.
This was the practiced efficiency gifted by the body's original owner after braving all those days in the snow to look for herbs.
Adrian ran back through the forest, this time, not to flee, but to search for a few things.
He knew exactly what he needed, a specific cluster of blood-stopping herbs that were able to grow beneath the snow cover. Even with his sudden new moments, it still took him awhile to find what he was looking for.
Once he had them securely in his hand, he didn't hesitate, running back to the clearing where the Gorgon was waiting.
He found her exactly where he'd left her, this time she looked even paler and a bit dizzy but her posture was just as tense when she saw him again.
her wound was still leaking dark blood onto the snow. The instant she saw him, her body coiled higher, her head snapping up.
HISSSS!!!
She let out a sharp, ragged hiss, her breath visible as a frosty plume in the cold air, giving him the same fierce warning not to get close.
Adrian didn't speak. He knew words wouldn't work, moreover , he wasn't even sure if she could hold a conversation.
Instead, he stopped about 20 feet away and performed a deliberate act of disarmament.
Slowly, he unslung the wicker basket from his shoulder and let it drop into the snow, the metal of the sickle inside clattering against the wicker.
He stood empty-handed, save for the handful of leaves and roots he held up slightly for her to see. He had nothing but his intent now.
Then, with excruciating slowness, he began to approach her with the herbs in hand.
She didn't believe him. As soon as he crossed an invisible line, her powerful, scaled tail, lashed out.
It moved like a blur, the tip sharp as a dagger.
" ARRGH!" Adrian cried out as it cut cleanly across his forearm, a shallow but painful gash that instantly bloomed with red.
' Damn that stings!' He cursed within his mind but kept moving.
The tail struck again, faster this time, whipping across his thigh and leaving another burning trail of pain that soaked his trousers.
Instead of feeling fear, Adrian felt a bit relieved. He saw that she was deliberately trying to drive him off, but he forced his legs to keep moving, ignoring the cuts, ignoring the sticky warmth of his own blood spreading on his skin, steadily closing the distance.
Finally, he was standing directly face to face with the creature, mere feet from her terrifying coil.
His whole body screamed at him to break, to run because of the pressure she radiated from the close up, his body wanted him to protect his own life, but he fought the urge, holding his stance.
His eyes, though wide with fear and pain, held steady. He slowly lowered his hand, showing her the crushed herbs, his hands shaking slightly, and remained still. He was offering himself up, completely vulnerable.
The Gorgon stopped moving. She didn't strike again. She simply stood there, her head slightly lowered, observing him coldly with those wide, pale blue serpentine eyes of hers, even the several snakes that made up her hair were all looking down on him, adding to the pressure he felt.
She studied his trembling hands, the blood welling from the cuts on his arm, and the sincere, desperate plea in his expression.
The intense silence stretched on, to Adrian, it was like a battle of wills that felt heavier than any scream.
After what seemed like an hour, she shifted slightly, her head dipping in what he instinctively recognized as a grudging, wary permission for him to approach the gruesome wound on her abdomen.
' Finally! Let's get this over with!'
' Wait for me mom, your son is definitely making it home tonight!'