Her blond hair
Her blue eyes
Her positve personality
Her warm loving heat

When she brings me coffee
The amazing pesto she makes me
She helps me with homeowrk
She makes me happy

The way she loooks at you
Her beautiful eyes
Her amazing smile
Her perfect blonf hair

The things she buys me
She is kind to me
She used to drive me everywhere
She knows hpw to bring the best out of me

                                                  Monster

I am a Monster.
I was born this way,
With sharp teeth, sharp claws
And glowing red eyes.
I don't think it's a bad thing,
I do not hate myself,
I am what I am,
and I am proud.

As monster,
one would expect me to be nothing more than a terror
a creature who can only breed evil, and sow misery.
I cannot say I am innocent, there is indeed red on my claws
But that is to be expect, I wish to live.
I cannot go to close to the humans, for they will scream,
and they will run, and come back to kill me.
Nonetheless, I find that I enjoy watching these Humans,
they interact with each other without fear of death.
They Run, they laugh, they cry and they have fun.
It's strange to watch your food, but,
I am a Monster, so strange is what I am.

As much as I watch Humans
I hold no emotional attachment to those I view,
Many a time have I consumed what I've observed
It's my Nature, nothing more.

However,
There was one human I can't bring myself to eat.
It's not that it would've been difficult,
it would've been quite easy actually,
but something about this one, fascinated me.
It was, female, I think,
I have observed many other females,
loud ones, quiet ones, strong ones, weak ones,
But somehow this one was different
She was... kind, but this kindness is true
It is not like other humans whose kindness is required
She appeared, genuine, at least, compared to the others.
Her smile was not tainted, it was pure,
And I could not help but love it.

Everyday,
I waited for her to come out of the human's shelter
And watched, hidden away by nature,
She would always walk through the cities,
Smiling, laughing with others,
Brightening their days
How curious this human was,
That I had become entrance with her.
As the days continued on,
I began to notice a change
She would come out less frequently,
And when she did,
Her walks wouldn't last as long.
then one day, she stopped going on her walks

Eventually,
I worked up the courage to get closer to the shelter
And I crept up on the open window, and peered in
She was there, with strange machines attached to her.
No one was around, and I crawled in for a better look.
My ears, they could hear her slow heart beat,
And my eyes told me what would become of her.
In her sleeps she opened her eyes and gazed my way
I prepared to run when she spoke
"Hello, you don't have to be afraid"
Afraid? I was a horrid beast,
 Why would I be the one who was afraid?
"You look, different, but also, kind of cool"
For the first time in my life,
I decided to test what I had learned,  and replied
"Cool... I am not cool, only a Monster aren't you scared?"
"Why would I be scared, you mean no harm,
You haven't hurt me over these past few months
why start now?"
So she knew,,
"It always felt like.... I had a Guardian angel"
Her voice began to fade
Inside, something stirred,
I was, excited? Scared? no... panicked
She looked at me once more, and said
"Yes.... your beautiful red eyes,
Like ..fresh.... roses.."
She was gone.

I left her behind, before I was discovered.
But truth be told, I didn't want to leave.
My Instincts overpowered my desire though,
but the burning never left,
I felt... sad
but, why would I care...
For the first time in my life,
I cursed my claws, my teeth
my being, I wanted to grieve, the way humans do
But I cannot do that, I am not human
I am monster, and Monsters cannot cry
I want to be human, so that tears can fall from my eyes,
my red eyes, like fresh roses.

I am a Monster.
I was born this way,
With sharp teeth, sharp claws
And glowing red eyes.
I think it's a bad thing,
I hate myself,
I am what I am,
And I am not proud.

Mark's Adventure Journal Chapter One

Chapter One:

Forbidden Link

Markiplier had just woken up not but 20 minutes ago. He smeared the obvious tired look all over his face in attempts to remove it. He had a white coffee mug in his hand with a pixelated “M” with a pink mustache on the side of it. Mark plopped into his computer chair, thoughts of making a video swarming his head. One piece of information was missing from his swarm, what game to play.

“First things first.” Mark thought to himself as he opened up his E-mail. Mark majorly flinched when he saw the most eerie of e-mails in his own inbox labelled only with two words, “The game”. to anyone else this would've been a joyride, but Mark felt a sort of uneasy aura in which closely followed the words. Even though Mark was chilled by the ominous e-mail he still found his hand moving the mouse’s cursor to the e-mail. He strained to not click the e-mail, but to no avail.

Once opened the e-mail was like a sealed bag full of black intoxicating smoke that let out a spine chill galore to Mark, and once a bag is opened all gas contents can’t be put back into the bag. The e-mail only had one thing in it. A link of all things was all that occupied the e-mail. Mark knew he shouldn't click the link but yet again his hand involuntarily began to move the mouse toward to forbidden link and clicked. Mark could almost feel his life swirl down the drain for nothing good could come of this. Mark took a nervous sip of his coffee thinking it might be his last.

The website that the link took Mark to was a black screen with one white, bold, underlined word. “Download” was all that the page said. Mark never would have guessed that that one word could be filled with so much… Creepiness. Mark grew control over his hand and moved it to the exit button in the top right hand corner of the screen, he’s had enough of this. Once Mark clicked the exit button a warning appeared saying “Please Download.” So calm and subtly. He wouldn't, something that caused him this much uneasiness shouldn’t be downloaded on his computer. Mark persisted to close the page, but when he clicked the exit button on the warning another warning appeared in it’s place this time calmly stating “Please download now.”

Mark wouldn't have it. Mark pushed control, alt, and delete to close so he could open task manager, but another warning appeared saying “PLEASE DOWNLOAD NOW!”

“What the literal hell?!” Mark screamed at his computer.

Mark was growing tired of this crap, so he pushed and held the power button to his computer. All that did was bring up another warning. “DOWNLOAD NOW!!!” It was getting serious.

So was Markiplier. Mark reached behind his computer and pulled the plug. The website seemed to have had enough and finally did something that seemed impossible in every way. The website started the download without any permission. Mark sat there utterly god smacked. He glanced back and forth between the power cord and the screen. Mark’s mind was officially blown. There is no in hell that could EVER happen. Yet there it was, doing the impossible.

Once the download was complete it immediately opened. Once opened all that was shown was a percentage that started a zer0 percent. One percent came three seconds later and something paranormal and supernatural took effect. Small, thin, cracks grew into the screen. Each percent came three seconds after the last and the cracks creeped and grew as each percentage passed, never slowing down for a second. Ninety - eight came after five minutes. The cracks were thick and spread all over the screen. Gleaming white light seeped through every crack noticeable.

Ninety - nine.

One hundred.

The computer screen was officially covered in cracks. The screen looked like tempered glass. After five seconds of of nothing happening the tempered screen finally busted outward towards Mark. Shards seemed to have melted before even getting close to the ground. After the burst the screen turned into a vacuum sucking heavy amounts of air in but nothing else. The papers on Mark’s desk were completely untouched by the vacuum, then Mark started being affected by the vacuum. Markiplier has, at this point, wanted to make a break for it when the computer didn't turn off when unplugged but some outside force has had him pinned to the chair. Mark’s chair started inching toward the desk until it got to the desk. From there Mark started being pulled into the screen, being lifted off his chair. Mark struggled to say on the chair but the force was too much. Mark was overcomed by the vacuumed and zipped into the screen. shortly after blacking out due to too much god smacking things happening in one morning.

0.13-Write A Song (From The Heart)

She likes the Black Keys and the Ramones

She plays it loud enough

For you to hear it from her headphones

I like the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac

A little bit of the older fashion

But their music always takes me back

We both like the Shins and Coldplay, too

We roll down roads inside a

Death Cab For Cutie that I bought for you

Depression never caught us

Off our guards

How can you worry

When you’re driving in your fancy car

And you drive down life

Like it’s a one way street

You say hello to every

Neighbor that you’ll ever meet

Never looking back

Not through this looking glass

Just driving down life

With your beauty and the beats

.38 Special and Supertramp

She heard their stories

In the dimmer shades of nightstand lamps

Blue Oyster Cult and the Flaming Lips

We sing the lyrics as we

Slow dance and we sway our hips

The Two Door Cinema Club is where we can go

To listen to our song by TV On The Radio

Depression never caught us

Off our guards

How can you be so blue

When love is standing where you are

And you dance through life

Like it’s a one way street

You say hello to every

Neighbor that you’ll ever meet

Never looking back

Not through this looking glass

Just dancing through life

With your beauty and the beats

But when you dance alone

You feel the emptiness: the world

‘Cause nothing beats the look

Of joy upon that pretty girl

That you’d drive down life with

Like a one way street

She was the greatest girl

You had the pleasure to go meet

Never looking back

She is your looking glass

When you live your life

With your beauty and the beats

You always seem to find

Your way back to these empty streets

When you first found love

And your life filled up

With her beauty and the beats

Can't you just accept me?

You say you love me
And that you'll love me no matter what.
And yet, you don't support who i am and who i want to be.
You look at me like i'm the dirt trapped beneath your boots.
You make it seem like i'm a bad person,
as if i'm the bad guy.

I just want to be happy and free to express myself the way i want to.
Because isn't that the way of life?
To Find happiness in everything you do
to be able to enjoy each day as it comes and goes

But when i attempt to do so
i'm frowned upon by society
And given dirty looks by my peers

Schools preach about Acceptance
self expression
respect and happiness
And yet, most of us fail to practice that in our own lives

Why
Why do we look down upon peers on account of their looks, taste and sexual preference
Its about damn time we put differences aside
and learn to see how unique each person truly is.

Calliope

V. Little girl look up. Here I am. Here I am.
Don't let up 'cause we're almost home.
Don't let go 'cause here I come. Here I come.
Don't look down 'cause you're walking on air right now.

Chorus
It was just a jump. Don't look down. Don't  be afraid.
Please reach up. Give me your hand. Gimme your hand.
You won't fall. Please don't cry Calliope.
We'll be alright. I promise you. I promise you.

V.Take my hand. I won't let go. I won't let go.
Hold on tight and I'll pull you in.
Hold your doll. Keep her close. Don't let her fall.
Be brave for her and don't let her see you cry.

Chorus
It was just a jump. Don't look up. Don't be afraid.
Please look up. Look at me. Look at me.
You won't fall. Please don't cry Calliope.
We'll be alright. I promise you. I promise you.

Bridge
It will be alright.
The ground's not so far after all.
No darling don't let go
cause it's far enough, it's far enough, you're far enough, it's far enough to fall.

V. Hush, dear hush.It's over now. It's over now.
Let's go home. Your parents will be so proud.
You're so brave. What a strong girl you've been
and you're okay. See darling I told you so.

                                                    Chapter 1

It was snow or ice or something in between but whatever it was it came down pretty hard on us and it made everyone fall except me because I knew how to walk in it without falling. It’s been going on for a few days now but one day it got worse Instead of making people fall it made cars spin around. I was walking home from school when a car came out of no were and hit me as the car hit me and I fell down a Clift, so did the car I thought I was going to die as I hit the ground and the car landed on me and all I could remember was a lot bloody Arrows getting the car off me and me waling up in the hospital, looking around the room trying to figure out where I was then I recognized where I was, so I ignored but then a doctor came in .

                                                                                           “Your awake summer” the doctor said                                            

I tried to talk to the doctor, but I could not and then I heard another voice and it sounded like my dad who I haven’t seen since I was six when my babysitter told me and my brothers that our parents were dead. That was the last day I saw my brothers and thee last day of me even knowing what family and love was. This was not the only day I almost died.  In nineteen sixty four I was six at the time I found a rope and tried to hang myself but my babysitter came in and cut the ropes off and took me to the hospital where the doctors saved my life and the cops took me away. I grew up with foster parents who taking me in then ditching me a week later after they adopt me. I thought to myself why do they adopt me then ditch me and never come back. I’ve been ditched seven times when I was six. After that I gave up on myself and started to smoke cigarettes and pot and drinking alcohol and cutting myself and anything else that was bad. My foster parent never gave any attention to me, they were never home and I was home alone all the time. The cops never stopped me because the cops were afraid to even come near me but finally I notice this was all bad and so I got help. Then after I got help I became someone new. I was smart, rich and most beautiful person in the world who hide herself as a nerd wearing a pair of nerd glasses even though I don’t have to wear glasses. I wear glasses to hide my eye color from people because I was born with the color red that’s known for the bloody red eyes which is known for a child who is born dead. I learned that in school when I was middle school. Sometimes I wonder too myself if that’s why no one likes me. I grew up with no one who cared and no friends and with nothing. An hour later the doctor came back in and told me that I was free to go, when I left the hospital it was sunny so I walked home and my foster parents were gone for the day, so I unlocked the door and there’s was a welcome home present. I opened it and it was an art kit, I was happy that they didn’t ditch me like the other foster parents did when something bad like this happened. My foster father I don’t get to see much, I only get to see him once a year and I miss him, he’s not married or dating anyone. I stay with his sister while he’s away, so I’m sure he knows what happened yesterday. He knows everything and I mean he knows everything or at least try to figure out everything. I live with his sister because where he lives I can’t breathe, we don’t know why. I believe in him because he’s been there when I need someone. Sometimes he will check up on me in the weirdest places like the shower. He will make sure you’re okay by checking on you when you are in the shower. It’s thee creepiest thing ever. Sometimes I wish he would check up on me somewhere other than the shower but I know that will never happen because he does not listen.  Well I need to get ready for school which I don’t like anymore since I get shoved in lockers and get punched. It’s not going to be funny when I lose my anger. When I got to school I wanted to walk right out cause Brittany was here today.

                                               “Oh look everyone it’s the nerd who believes the devil is haunting the gym!” Said Brittany

             
                   I thought to myself oh devil she noticed me but the teacher can read minds so she hit me

                                       
                               Hey that hurt what that was for!” I said

                             

                  Miss Adams watch your language!” The teacher said

             Ignored her and went to class and walked in.

                                             

             “Hey Summer did that really hurt when the teacher hit you for crying out loud it was not that hard” Brittany laughed

                          
           “I was hit by a car yesterday and fell down a Cliff and the car landed on me!” I yelled 

                             

                                “Oh my god that’s funny!” Laughed Brittany

                                            

                                     “THAT’S NOT FUNNY!”I yelled

                                            

                   “Oh poor baby do you think it is okay to yell at a Goth person maybe you should have your dad to tell you not to yell at Goth people oh wait you don’t see your dad until the end of the year”!  Brittany laughed

                                           

                                      I grabbed my stuff and put it on.

                                            

               “Hey Brittany! Why don’t you and your friends go FUCK YOUR SELF'S” I yelled and ran out of the class room into the gym and set my back pack down every teacher looked at me even Eugene looked at me. Then Brittany came in.

                                           
         “Summer I am going to kill you! Yelled Brittany 

 Brittany ran closer and I took my glasses off and threw them. Brittany threw the first punch but I grabbed her arm and punched her but she came at me again so I grabbed both of her hands and spun her around singing ring around the rose’s who’s going to win. I let her go and she went flying and all you can hear is her screaming

                                             “
                          I am expelled! Hell Yeah!” I yelled

             Everyone turned to me but that’s when my foster father came up and everyone gasped

                                           
                                        “She started it!” I yelled

                                          
               “I know summer. Why didn't you tell me you were being bullied?” My foster father said

                                           
                                   “Sorry I didn't want you to kill her and send her to hell even though that would make my day.”

                                              “Wait you know this black cape?” Brittany said

                                                         
                                             “Yes she dose I am her foster father.”  I said

                                          
                                     “You are a foster child and your foster father is the devil!” Said Brittany

                                          
                                               “Yes I am and yes he is”. I said

              

                                                                  Chapter 2

That day I got to go home early but I was not expelled for the fight at school, which sucked. I was so hoping that I got expelled so I don’t have to deal with everything. Even though if I got expelled,  it won’t hurt my chance to go to go to college because I graduated  high school freshmen year. I was always known as the smart one in the school in my freshmen year but everything changed, people started shoving people in lockers and they get in trouble and more. People don’t realize that it can ruin their lives, I stopped my freshmen year with all of that. Then I became this nerd that I am now which sucks. Now because I have to wear dresses and I hate dresses. My foster father is now pulling me out of school and putting me in my fourth college I've been to. I don’t get to choose because I got to choose the others. I get to know which college when my foster father gets home which he will be home in one minute

                              “Summer! Come down here please” he said

                                             “Coming dad” I said                                                                                                                                                              

“So I thought of your last college that you will be attending. I already signed you up so you leave tomorrow is that okay summer”

                  “Okay what college am I going to?”

              
                   “You will see tomorrow summer.”

            
                       “Okay I will go pack then dad”

So most of my old teachers kept asking me why I am going to another college and why did I come back to high school if I graduated and really I had no choice because to come back because all the people who took me in ad ditched me did not know that I graduated my freshmen year so what did I do while I was in school I was a teacher assistant I helped every teacher in the school until school was over at six o’clock unless students skip school then everyone stays longer if the principle finds out but if she doesn't we are safe. The school starts at five o’clock in the morning and ends at six o’clock at night. No one listens anymore either and if you do listen and one of the teachers catch you then you get to go to the Volturi School where you can learn to become a bloody rose or bloody Arrow or a Volturi or something bigger but that very rare to even get to that school and pass. That school is a lot of work, you have to a lot of training and a lot of work. I am now upstairs packing clothes when I was finally done I grabbed a book off the shelf and started to read it when I was done with the book I finally fallen asleep. The next morning I woke up then sat up and looked down at the floor were the book was lay on the ground, so I picked it up then put it back on the shelf and then grabbed my stuff  and shut the light off then went down stairs then headed to my car. After my stuff was in the car I went back inside and hugged my foster dad then started for my car.

“Hey sums” Arrow said

“Wow you want to talk to me now Arrow I can’t talk I need to go”

“Summer I am sorry I just need to talk to you”

“Arrow want do you want to talk about I need to go to college and can’t say”

“I’m not letting you leave”

 “Arrow I need to go can you please move away from the car” 

 “Summer look”   

 “Really Arrow you still remember the labyrinth story”

     “Yes and I am not done”

      “You’re not?”

      “Just fear me, love me, do what I say and I will be your slave”

     “Why are you telling me the labyrinth quote that Jareth says in the story to Sarah?”

“Because that’s the only way I can get you to stop and look at me when I say something from the story, now if I am going to let you go you are taking me with you”

                Arrow…  

                  As I was going to finish my sentence Arrow kissed me

              “Arrow why did you kiss me? We broke up because Brittany didn't want you to have a girlfriend”

          “I kissed you because I am done with Brittany she’s controlling my life and she has a life.”

             “She does not have a life and she should just leave people alone and get a real life”

                                                                            *Laughing*

                                                                               
                                                                          “Get in the car.”

So today was just weird so far but at least my plane to get Arrow in the car worked. I am not going to college Arrow is, I am taking him to his dream college where he can train to become a doctor and I am paying for it all except the room which my dad is paying for. When me and Arrow got to the college Arrow finally noticed himself that I was not the one going to the college.  I asked Arrow to help me Carrie the luggage to the room, so he did. The next morning I woke up not remembering what happened yesterday but Arrow was at school now so I went to take a shower and all I can hear is Arrow coming down the hall so I got dressed and left the bathroom

                                             “Hello beautiful “Arrow said

                                                            “Hey black bear how’s your day and do you know what happened last night I can’t remember”

                                             “Of course I remember. You got back together with me and you let me take you to bed that was our night”

“O God I really let you take me to bed.”

“Yes you did are you okay sums”

“Yes Arrow I am fine but first did….”

“O shit I don’t remember doing that you yelled at me to fuck you then you fucked me first because I was so happy to be back with you. Dammit I am going to be yelled at by your foster father.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s mine.”

“It’s both of are faults summer, I am not letting you take all the blame summer.”

“This is why I still loved you when we broke up and at least we are not under age* laugh *

“Everything will be okay when you’re near an Arrow”

              
                  *LAUGHING*

(To be continued)                  

        

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Torment

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault, PTSD
Some scenes are graphic in nature, read at your own risk.

My back and my side hurts. Can't breathe. My chest's heavy. The marble floor is cold. His hands press into me; my sides, my hips. They tear at my clothing. Screaming. Begging. He exposes my flesh, throwing the torn fabric behind him. Scrambling to get away. He pulls me back by my leg. Dull pain throbs from where he touches me. One hand traps both of my wrists. His lips, his teeth, his tongue drag my neck, my shoulder. My eyes burn. Hot wet trails form from them. His free hand forces my legs apart. Begging. Screaming. No use. He continues, forces inward. Hot pain. Sharp pain. It starts in my womb and spreads through me. Wordless screaming now; bouncing around the temple. He's too strong. It hurts too much. Fall limp. Pain lessens, just slightly. My body's on fire. His cold hands cause it to burn and leave trails of pain wherever they touch. Eyes open. Vision blurred. The statue; the goddess.  Pleading to her. More screaming. Make him stop.

"Athena!"

My throat feels dry and cracked, scarred and sore. Agitated hissing sounds by my ears; the only noise besides the quieting echoes of screaming. My screaming. Hissing; the friction of scales against scales and flicking serpent tongues.

She was only trying to help, wasn't she?

His touch is still here, rending my flesh in tortured ribbons; cold but burning, cutting into me as a blade, piercing me in my most vulnerable place even with my legs firmly closed and his presence long since gone. It's not real. He's not here anymore.

But it feels so real. The heavy brine of his hot breath invades my lungs, choking me; his heavy body holds mine hostage, wrists pinned in one hand above my head -- even though I know they lie now by my sides.

Help me. Help me. Help me.

More hissing. I'm getting dizzy from holding my breath to avoid his scent; trying to focus on the hissing, the heavy chlainai draped over me as a cover from the damp chill of this part of the cave, my arms crossed over my chest and free to move, my thighs pressed tightly together.

Help me. Oh, Athena. Oh Mnemosyne. Help me.

Eventually, his torments fade; their impressions on my battered skin lightening, until his touch is left in the past where it belongs. How long have I been awake? How long, and how much rest did I manage last night?

My head is thrumming and my body is weighed down like it were filled with sand. Would it be worth it to get up? I'm not certain.

My goddess Mnemosyne, won't you grant me reprieve of him? At least one night? Is that too much to ask of you?

Leaving the bed takes nearly all of the energy I have. My clothes are almost too heavy, and it feels as if they're pressing me to the ground.

Like he pressed me to the ground.

No, no. Mnemosyne; don't allow me to think of that. Please. Not again. Haven't I gotten more of that then I deserve?

Wrists heavy, captured by a hard pressure. A thick mass astride my body.

Touching, touching; always touching.

Help me. Help me. Mnemosyne. Athena! Help me! Please!

The weight on my chest confines my lungs and forces only short gasps to escape me, and when I leave the phantasm behind I find that I've taken to leaning against the wall.

He's gone. He's far gone. The Sea god has no dominion here in the earth.

I take stock of my pale skin to reassure myself; looking past the layers of dirt and grime for the bruises I still feel, but there are none. He's long gone. It has been years since he has been here; truly, been here.

I ignore the utter distorted and bloated mass that is my body. It's never been the same since he got to me; it's twisted and hideous now. The small mirror of polished bronze comes to mind; I threw it far out of the cave, my home, the last time I looked into it and saw that it was lying -- it had showed me as looking nearly exactly as I had before he ravaged me.

Except for the serpents. They were Athena's doing. She meant to help, I'm sure -- after Poseidon left me bare and disgraced in the hall of her temple she came to me, as I was barely conscious, and the next I knew were the snakes, and this cave. Just thinking of them, of the way they've replaced my hair, upsets me. I used to be so proud of my hair; long, soft strands that could hang down past my waist on a good day, and could be done up in immaculate twists and ringlets.

"Ah," I hadn't noticed, as I was thinking back, how my hand had travelled up my neck towards my scalp, like I'd be able to feel my hair again. I should have been more careful. Even isolating the wound inside my mouth doesn't keep it from hurting, and I hope that this time it was a dry bite.

Taking my knuckle out of my hand to examine I see that it's running with blood and saliva, the two puncture wounds bleeding sluggishly, the swelling already starting around them.

How the snakes were meant to help is beyond me to say -- the only part of me they don't bite is my face -- every other appendage, be it my hand or my arm, or more rarely my knees, that comes within striking distance is subject to their venomous attacks; but Athena is a wise goddess and I must trust her judgement. If becoming this creature is meant to help me then I must be patient and wait to understand.

It's hard to understand. I'm not sure I can. They're still writhing about and hissing angrily as I walk out of the small chamber I use for my bed I immediately come face to face with a marble figure; a man with curled hair, and horrified expression perfectly preserved in stone. I can feel my face flushing as the anger rises in me and I shove him over, causing his head to detach from his fragile neck; I must have been too tired to destroy his body after he'd turned to stone, though I don't remember the exact encounter. There have been so many they're all blurred together.

I'm not sure if I'll ever understand why men always seek to attack me. My cave, my home, is littered with their cold, hard, corpses -- scattered into pieces; blades and spears clasped firmly in their disembodied hands. What do I do, sequestered here as I am, that causes them to want to slay me? I don't do anything.

What did I do walking down that beach that tempted Poseidon?

No, no. No. Don't think of that. Don't think of him. He's not here. He's not here. He's not here. He's not here. It's not happening. It's not happening. It's not happening.

My heart is racing. Thundering worse than any storm I've seen Zeus cause. Faster than hoofbeats of a running horse. He's not here. He's not here. He's not here. It's not happening. It's not happening. It's not happening. It's not happening.

A few deep breaths calm me and I steady myself against the wall, staring at the man. The statue. Or what's left of him shattered on the ground. What fills men with such hate and cruelty that they must attack me simply for existing in any way I can; from wandering down the beach to feel the sand between my toes -- to eating rats and insects inside this cave just to survive. Sometimes I wish they'd succeed in killing me. Years of this daily torture has worn me down; worn me away. At times I feel it would be better if it just ended. If the Fates cut my string already. What did I do to deserve to live like this?

Footsteps. I hear footsteps, and feel my heart leap into my throat again. Another one has come to kill me. Another vile, hate-filled, man. I suppose I should confront him, and let him meet his fate as all the others have; let them fall victim to my hate and this curse placed upon me. There's a glint at the mouth of the cave -- a weapon, or perhaps a shield. He's like all the others.

If only Athena would allow my torment to end.