POINT OF VIEW: DYLAN
Thursday, November 3, 2028.
Carlasco = Around 12.00 P.M
Greece = Around 09.00 P.M
"First is the giant dog, now a bunch of mummy corpse soldiers," Dylan said. "What next?"
"Rather than wondering about the next monsters to come out, it's better to investigate how William knew about Medusa, and why he attacked her."
"That makes sense."
"Guys, please stop for a moment," Medusa said as she held up her hands. "Now, please tell me who the hell is William Philips?"
"He's a famous entrepreneur who founded the company Tiny Tech," Dylan said.
"Did you just say Tiny Tech?"
"Yes, I did," Dylan said. "Do you happen to hear or come across it?"
"No," Medusa shook her head. "But the apartment I'm currently staying in has several small objects with the words Tiny Tech carved on them."
"Tiny Tech did produce millions of effective and safe objects," Dylan said. "Hence it wouldn't be strange to see their product in every household."
"I see ... ," Medusa nodded. "So our enemy is the founder of a big company in the world."
"Correct."
"This is odd then," Medusa said. "I know he must be wealthy. But I'm pretty sure that any amount of money would not be able to purchase Draugrs or any other monsters. Besides, it's not like these creatures could be found in the nearest pet shop or mini market. How on Earth could he get access to them?"
"We suspected a Kolaseos portal was opened in his place," Hephaestus said. "And we also suspected that he has managed to develop a machine to control the monsters."
Medusa nodded a few times. "Well, if that's the case, then it's better to take immediate action now."
"What do you mean?" Hephaestus frowned.
"William Philips is an evil human. As to all evil humans, he deserved to be punished. Therefore I will seek where he's hiding, and I will petrify him."
Dylan was fully aware that Medusa just mentioned the word 'Petrify'. He knew he could not have misheard her. But even though books and literature had depicted her as a monster without mercy, it never crossed his mind that she would say something like that. Was she just joking? Or was she being serious?
"No!" Hephaestus shook his head. "You can't petrify him."
"Why can't I petrify bad humans?" Medusa challenged. "They're all morally wrong and they deserve it, just like my rapist."
"Your ... rapist?" Hephaestus and Dylan raised their eyebrows.
"It's quite a long story, but I will explain it from the very beginning," Medusa said. "So, after I managed to get out of Kolaseos, as my strength and power have not yet recovered, I need to crawl towards the alley opening. Unfortunately, instead of locating Athena, a man came and studied me. After that, everything went blank for me. When I finally opened my eyes again, a man was kissing my body."
Suddenly, Medusa shuddered. "I'm sorry, every time I remember that sexual harassment, I will automatically shudder."
"It's okay, I could understand that," Dylan responded, at the same time he was also enraged with that man. "Have you turned that man into the police?"
"It's unnecessary. When the man attempted to kiss my lips, I managed to turn him into a stone."
In an instant, the disgusted feeling and anger that overwhelmed Dylan vanished, replaced by shock, then followed by worry. "You ... killed him?" he asked dubiously.
"Well ... I landed in a different place and in different time period, and someone without any moral code like that bastard Poseidon was trying to rape me," Medusa said calmly. "It's just normal to self-defend myself, right?"
"But ... the police might apprehend you for murder," Hephaestus said. "Well ... they might not consider petrification as a murder. But they will consider the man's missing, and they might grow suspicious of you."
"Mmm, the police might look for him, as he was a drug dealer who's been repeatedly going and out the precinct," Medusa said. "But again, I'm pretty sure they can't just suspect me of murdering him."
"Why would you be convinced?" Dylan asked.
"There's no evidence that I've murdered him. I've wrecked his statue and thrown the pieces away into a development site. By now he might have been part of a mall near the station."
Dylan was stunned upon hearing the confession. He knew there was a new mall under development near the train station. Knowing already that there would be parts of the building being made with shreds of petrified human body, he was not sure whether he could step into the mall once it had opened for business.
"The man's apartment was also not the type where the owner or neighbors cared for each other. As long as I paid the rent and did not make any unnecessary commotion, none of the tenants would truly care that the room has had a new tenant."
"Are you saying you're now living in your rapist' apartment?" Dylan asked incredulously.
"Where do you think I've been living until now?"
"Mmm ...," Dylan mumbled. "Honestly, that thought never came to me,".
"You still have to be careful, Medusa. You have to compose convincing made-up stories about your rapist' disappearance."
"Don't worry, I've got it already."
Hephaestus exhaled a sigh of relief. "Anyway, let's get back to the problem at hand," he said. "Don't petrify William"
"What if he attacks me again?" Medusa asked. "What if next time, he sends three or maybe four when I'm sleeping?"
"Hmm ... ," Hephaestus mumbled. "How about ... going into hiding?"
"Hiding?" Medusa responded. But instead with a confused look, she did it with an offended expression. "You mean I have to hide again in a cave like I used to?"
"No, no, of course not," Hephaestus said as he held up his hands and shook them. "I mean a much better place."
"A much better place?" Dylan responded. "You mean like ... Olympus?"
"Hera would incinerate me and her if I ever brought her to Olympus," Hephaestus said. "Even though technically I cannot be incinerated, being the god of fire and stuff."
"What are you suggesting, Hephaestus?" Medusa impatiently demanded.
"Go anywhere you want, far from here," Hephaestus said. "I'm pretty sure you've used the internet technology to see all the beautiful places in the world."
"I have browsed a lot of beautiful places I'd like to visit," Medusa said. "But it's not like I can easily go there."
"Why can't you easily go there?" Hephaestus asked.
"Money, duhhh," Medusa responded. "Apparently my rapist didn't have much even though he was a drug dealer."
"I'll handle everything. You just have to pick the place."
"You promise?" Medusa asked, squinting her eyes.
"As long as you don't petrify William and let us handle the entire problem.""
Medusa stopped squinting; she then threw a dominance smile. After sealing the agreement by exchanging phone numbers, she left.
"I will send Voulos again to gather more information," Hephaestus said. "Then after work, I will inform the others about this news."
"Okay then," Dylan nodded.
"I'm going back now," Hephaestus said. "I'll keep you posted about the new update."