. you’re real.”“Of course I’m real. We’ll need to wash these later, but for now...”“You can’t be real. Your eyes ... are you a ssspiri...?”“I am no spirit. Flesh and blood, same as you.”The other Darian tended to Medusa’s wounds, touched her, calmed her, and the terrified gorgon at last started to accept him.The first time he’d ever talked with a monster. The first time he’d ever suddenly found himself wanting to help someone in pain.Why? What was it about her that struck him so? He didn’t know. And beating up big mouth Thompson was going to be his entertainment that year, now that Frank wasn’t there to get in the way. Thompson had used the same side exit three days in a row now, and Eric’s fist had been waiting for him this time.“Pussy,” said Eric mildly, stepping back and watching Thompson struggle to breath. “Whatchya gonna do? Cry?”“I don’t want to fight,” gasped Thompson, trying to step around Eric. But the older boy pushed him back against the wall. Thompson noticed that Eric’s. Helen raised her head again to take in the aroma and gave the waitress a thankful smile. She started to apologize again for her earlier behavior, but the waitress waved it off and returned to the kitchen, her wide-heeled shoes clopping woodenly against the ancient linoleum. Half an hour later, Helen stepped out into the night. The feeling of rain was still in the air, joined by a chill wind. She walked quickly towards the rental car, pausing momentarily to check for odd faces before she pushed. He knew he had to get away from his parents, his boring small town and his unadventurous life. With that in mind, he had decided to take the little money he had saved and stolen and escape the drudgery of the dead-end life that awaited him if he remained where he was.He packed his rucksack with essentials such as the protein bars that he had stolen from the supermarket that day along with a few hundred pounds from the till. A couple of changes of underwear and the usual jeans and t-shirts also.