Hunter woke up to an all too familiar scene. Sunlight was shining on his face. He sat up with a groan and felt pain shoot up his back to a doorknob sized bump on the back of his head. He let out a quiet groan. “What happened?” He said quietly as his eyes adjusted to his current location. He was in a cell. The same cell he had dreamed about days earlier. He rubbed his eyes as he remembered back to his dream. “If I’m here, then that means..” He turned to see Marina sitting up against a wall and crying. He rushed over and sat down next to her. He put an arm around her in an attempt to comfort her. “What’s wrong? What happened?” He said. His mind was a little fuzzy about what happened.
“It’s Kyle.” She said through sobs. “I don’t know what’s happening, but he’s been taken. By…By some….thing.” She said, finally wiping tears away. Hunter rubbed her arm gently.
“It’s okay. I’m sure he’s fine.” He said quietly. They sat there for a moment before the sound of a door opening and then closing roused them from their spot on the ground. He heard something moving down the hall toward them. Hunter looked up to see one of the snake-like creatures open the door to his cell. It pointed a spear at the two of them. “Yeah. Yeah. Get that spear out of my face.” The two of them stood from their spot on the ground and followed the beast from the cell and down the hall. They were lead through several dark corridors to an arena. Hunter looked toward the door that the giant came out of in his dream. He looked ahead and saw the woman and the figure at her feet. “Kyle. That makes her Demeter.” He said quietly looking from Kyle to. “He probably went willingly. That’s what he’s so happy about. That…” He swallowed his anger and looked at Marina. She looked tired. Hunter couldn’t blame her.
“Hunter! Step forward!” Demeter said clearly. Hunter complied and stepped forward. Just like in the dream his watch and his pendant appeared at his feet. He slipped them on and drew his knife.
“Bring out the giant! Let’s get this over with!” He shouted in frustration. Demeter waited a moment before waving her hand and bringing out the giant. “Hey! Why do what she tells you?! She’s a god! The gods kill your kind all the time!” He said as he watched the giant squared off.
“We go where the money is.” He said with a sharp-toothed grin. He watched as Demeter signaled the knife to begin. “Now, die, demigod!” He shouted as he charged. Hunter easily dodged.
“Sorry. I’m just a mortal.” He said with a shrug before throwing his knife which flew through the air and caught the giant in the forehead. He watched as the beast turn to dust before walking over and grabbing his knife. “Come on, Kyle! Fight me yourself! Quit hiding behind your mama’s flunkies!”
“Child. Go.” Demeter said with a sneer. Kyle looked up at her and then approached Hunter, turning his trowel into his scythe. “Oh, and Hunter? You must choose a new weapon.” She said with a defiant look on her face. She snapped her fingers and Hunter’s knife returned to pendant form. He looked around.
“What so I have to fight him with my bow?! You want me to kill your son?!” He said summoning Kate. “Kyle. Why are you doing this?” He said finally looking at Kyle. He stepped forward. And looked at Hunter.
“I’m sorry, man. I had no idea this was going to happen.” He said before looking back at Marina. “Tell her I’m sorry.” He said as Demeter signaled. Kyle raised his scythe and brought it down in an attack. Hunter reflexively rolled backwards and notched an arrow. He aimed it right at Kyle.
“I’m not going to kill you, Kyle!” He said as he put away his arrow. He held his bow at his side. Kyle charged at him again and attacked. Hunter dodged under the attack and jabbed Kyle in the stomach. “Stop this! I’m not going to kill you!” Kyle swung at him again and Hunter took a step back to dodge it. “Would you stop!? I’m not going to fight you!” He said as he transformed his bow back into a watch and stood there unarmed.
“Come on, Kyle. She’s not going to let us go until one of us is dead. We all know you’re more of a hero than I am.” He said with a sigh. Hunter looked at him and cleared his throat.
“We just want the bow! Give us the bow and we’ll be on our way!” He shouted to Demeter. “What are you even doing here?!”
“NO! You were sent by Hades! You’re going to take my Persephone away from me! You want to hurt the groundhog! Kyle! Kill them!” Demeter said standing up and pointing angrily at Hunter and Marina. Kyle looked at Hunter and then Marina.
“I’m sorry.” He said before charging at Hunter. Hunter dodged and charged at Demeter He notched an arrow and took aim. He felt a small tug and then a sharp pain around his legs. His bow fell from his hands as he dropped to the ground. He looked at his feet to see thorny brambles and plants wrapping around his legs, slowly making their way up to his head. He could feel warm blood pouring from his legs.
“Kyle! What are you doing!? Don’t do this!” He shouted as the plants pinned his hands to the ground.