"What strange phenomenona we find in a great city, all we need to do is stroll about with our open eyes. Life swarms with innocent monsters."
-Charles Baudeclaire
Greek mythology...where you hear about Medusa, the lady with snakes for hair; and Zeus the god of lightning and storms and air; or how about Cerberus...Hades' three-headed dog that guarded his kingdom of the Underworld? Many familiar names of gods and monsters and heroes. Easily depicted in pictures or stories.
But Gegenees...?
I'm sorry, big boy, but Medusa takes the medal for best looks...even if hers kill. Six arms? Do you really need six arms to do all your daily chores? And my dear giant...you're huge! An easy target for anyone who sees you. I'm sure the skin is thick, but if the Argonauts had a victory, then what is so scary about them?
"Nicole Simmons..." the professor drones out looking as bored as the rest of us. Seriously, could he not be more like a robot? "If you're going to fall asleep in my class, then you can pack your things and leave. I'm not going to teach over a snoring student."
I scowl and sit up straight. "I wasn't sleeping, sir. Just going back through what I've learned about these Gegenees. Frankly, as far as I'm concerned, these are low-level monsters with an awful ability to plan a form of attack against puny humans."
The professor rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Ms. Simmons, just because they are 'low-level monsters' as you say, they are still important to the Greeks and are mentioned in the books. They are needed to make the whole story come together."
I sigh and write down whatever words were on the presentation. He continued talking and I continued to tune him out. I loved Greek Mythology but hated the dreadful being that came with it. Every monster we talk about appears in my dreams...and I wait for the undulating doom waiting for me under my covers at night. Twenty-five...more like twelve at the rate I am going.
I've never been good with monsters. My brother used to scare me when I was little and always managed to sneak into my room and make me scream. He continued to do so until I moved out and went to college. I knew these things weren't real, but in the dark, it seemed like every myth and horror movie comes alive. I can't sleep half the time and when I do, it's filled with nightmares. The worst part is that I sleep with a night light...but it mostly just makes more shadows appear like something terrifying. It was exhausting.
The clock finally landed at noon and class was dismissed. I went to my dorm and took out a microwavable macaroni and cheese bowl, heating it up before eating. I opened my Greek Mythology textbook and scanned our next section. These giants were even worse...
"Hey, how was Greece?" my roommate Hannah Price asked as she walked in with a huge smile.
"Full of death and giants..." I say trailing off as I watch her take her brown hair out of its messy bun and let it tumble down her back in long straight strands. Her jeans were dark blue and had holes in the knees while her top was more like a bra...not my style at all. Hannah was pretty, but I wouldn't dress the way she does, nor be so happy all the time.
"Giants, huh?" she said and turned towards me. "Were they handsome?" I held up a picture of a big hairy Gegenees and smiled at the grossed-out look on her face. "Okay, never mind. Are you coming camping with us tonight?"
I thought for a moment then remembered she and her brothers were camping and invited me along. "Uh...maybe. I have a lot of homework."
"It's Friday, Nicole. We'll be back late in the morning so you can spend the rest of the weekend on paperwork. Come on! It'll be fun!" she begged.
Ever since we met two months ago while arriving at the University, we had gotten along and become close. We helped each other out and built a sister relationship. She didn't mind my nightlight as long as I didn't mind her coming in at two or three in the morning from hanging out with guys. I told her that it was to help me see since I didn't have good night vision, even though that wasn't true...but she bought it and nothing has gone wrong yet.
"Nicole, please? I can't be the only girl in a group of three boys! They're weird and think they're hilarious when they're not!"
"Okay, but I have to pack." She jumps up and down, then hugs me tightly.
"Thank you!"
I smile and look down at my textbook. "No problem."
At seven-thirty, Hannah's three brothers, Hannah and I left campus and went into the forest. It is said that the animals here kept to themselves, so there was nothing to worry about. Joel, William, and Cooper spoke about different topics that mainly consisted of other guys doing guy things. Hannah and I were on our phones until there wasn't a signal anymore then looked out our windows. It was dark and gloomy here, nothing exceptional. It was like the day was swallowed whole and only darkness reigned. A very creepy thought, but I wasn't nervous since I was with other people.
William parked the car in a clearing and looked back at Cooper, Hannah, and me. "Ready for some camping?" he asked excitedly.
"Let's do it!" Cooper said. He was the youngest of the four siblings and Joel was the oldest. Hannah was the second oldest and usually the bossiest.
"I hope this will be better than last time!" Hannah hissed at William. "You and Cooper got lost and Joel and I had to find you. This time, I'm leaving you out there to fend for yourselves."
Cooper shrugged and grinned at me. "It's going to be epic!"
I roll my eyes. "No one uses that anymore."
Joel turned from the passenger seat and glared at Cooper. "William and Cooper found something last week they wanted to show us. They said it was something they've never seen before."
"What is it?" Hannah asked.
"Not telling you. It's a surprise!" William said with a smirk. I rolled my eyes and got out of the car, slinging my backpack on my back and grabbing my sleeping bag from the trunk. William came up beside me and grabbed his then turned to me. "Need help?"
I shake my head, smiling a little. "I'm good." I back away just as the other three came to get their stuff.
When everyone had what they needed, Joel led the way to their usual camping spot. It was about a half-mile from where the car was parked, but it was a beautiful place that seemed far away from reality. I only know because Hannah has shown me pictures of it before and I felt like it was a perfect place to sleep at night. She invited me this time so I could see it in person more than being here to help her with the boys.
Joel came up beside me and smiled. "Have you ever been camping, Nicole?"
"No. I really don't like being out at night and my family never went."
"It'll be fun, I promise."
I give him a tight-lipped smile, then looked ahead to see Hannah stopping and setting her stuff down. I looked around and saw we were at our destination and I was awed by the look of the lush green grass and autumn flowers. Here, the light seemed to shine in a bit for it glowed beautifully and insects skittered about, buzzing or ticking away. "Wow!" I breathed.
"Isn't it great?" Hannah asked.
I nod and we start setting up tents and a fire pit. Joel helped me with my and Hannah's tent while she was arguing with Cooper about who is to cook the food. So far, it was just another normal evening and it was peaceful.
"Who's ready to end the suspense?" Cooper asked once darkness fell and we were all full from hot dogs.
"This better not scare us!" Hannah hissed.
"It won't, Hannah! Besides, I've never known you to be scared of anything!"
Hannah snorted and William stood. "Let's go. It's only a few minutes of a walk." We got up and followed him. He was right, it wasn't a long walk, but I didn't see what the big idea was. It was just another part of the forest, only darker and more haunting. "Nicole, turn around!"
I turned and saw...a gate? I blinked and shook my head, wondering if I was hallucinating. "Why is there a gate in the middle of a forest?" I asked, staring at the dark metal. It had vines running all along its frame, leaves jutting in and out as if making it an archway. It stood there, without any help at all from anything, alone and disguised within the trees and darkness.
"We don't know. It's just here," Cooper said. "We've asked around, but no one knows the answer."
"Have you stepped across?" Hannah asks, taking a step towards the gate.
"No. We weren't that stupid!" the youngest hissed.
"How are you stupid for walking through it? Gates are meant to be walked through. "
"This gate gives me the creeps," William said and started moving back towards the camping spot. "Let's go back now."
"But I want to see what's on the other side," Hannah whispered.
I was about to turn and follow William when I saw a man standing near the gate, watching us. His eyes were calculating, his mouth in a firm line, his skin was as pale as moonlight. Behind him, the leaves rustled and I sucked in a breath at what was there. "Oh shit!" I hissed.
All eyes turned to me, even the pale man. "What is it, Nicole?" Joel asked.
"How do you not see it?" I say, pointing up at the large figure. "It's not exactly hard to miss!"
"Nicole, all we see are trees and bushes..."
I rub my eyes and look again. The Geryon was still there. "It can't be! That's impossible!"
The pale man's eyes narrowed on me and I looked back at him. I saw something cruel and menacing in his gray eyes. Something cold and heartless, but somehow alive. He smirked and winked at me, crossing his arms and leaning against the gate. The Geryon knelt behind him, now staring at me too. He had yellow eyes and too many limbs. What I thought were thick tree branches were really his arms. What I thought to be tree trunks were his legs. It was weird and frightening.
"Nicole!" William hissed urgently.
I glance at him but went back to staring at the figures only I could see. "I'm crazy, aren't I?"
"Maybe..." Cooper whispered. "But we can test that later. Right now, we need to go back and go to sleep. It's almost dawn."
The others started making their way back, and I slowly followed but ended up stopping and turning back. The man was still staring at me, but the Geryon was gone. Gray eyes met mine once more, challenging me to speak or do something. The depths within them were endless, a void I could not withstand. They sucked me in and held me, and I was useless to try and fight back.
A little girl appeared beside him, glancing from me to the man and back again. She smiled and punched the man in the arm. He looked down at her and grinned, before looking at me again. I was about to end my staring contest with him and walk away when the girl disappeared and reappeared right in front of me. I took a step back and stared at her, feeling cold all of a sudden. Black hair ran down to her chin and her cold eyes scanned me up and down. "Does she speak?" she said loudly.
I gasped and backed away. The man chuckled darkly and said with a deep voice, "Definitely. She saw Lorvog and nearly shouted at her friends."
The girl giggled and floated up towards my face – floated! "She doesn't seem to be scared. Should I bring the Qiqirn to help with that?"
The man shifted and tilted his head to one side. "Perhaps. It is an ugly thing, after all."
The girl disappeared and I was left alone with the man, staring straight into his eyes again. Next moment, there is a low growl, and from behind the man comes a...a...wolf? I furrow my brows and stare at the poor beast who looks like it lost the last fight it was in. "Is...is it okay?" I ask carefully, pointing at the dog.
The man's eyes widened a bit and held up a hand, stopping the dog. There were tufts of fur all over and its skin was all stretched and leathery. It looked on the verge of death. "You aren't afraid of the Qiqirn?" the man asked softly.
I shrugged. "It's not exactly as terrifying as the name inquires." I glance at the dog and found amber eyes watching me carefully.
"Grown human males run away from them," he growled.
I look at him and raise my brows. "Grown, human men? What are you then?"
He blinked and looked down at himself, seeming either self-conscious or unsure. When he glances at me, he's guarded. "Not what you should be acquainted with. I'm as dangerous as the Geryon you just saw and the Qiqirn at my side. If not more dangerous."
I bite my tongue before asking just how dangerous, then shivered slightly as the girl reappeared beside me. "She didn't scream!" she grumbled.
"Nicole isn't afraid of the Qiqirn, Misrey," the man said slowly. "I am sure she doesn't even know what it truly is."
"It's a dog," I state confidently.
"If you say so," Misrey says and went up to the man. "Are you going to kill her yet?" she whispered not so quietly.
The man straightened which made me tense up. We held each other's gazes for a long minute before he turned. "No. If she's here again, we'll try to scare her. I want to see what she can handle." With that, he disappears.
~~~
Gegenees (Trumthor)
Definition: Multiarmed giant in Greek Mythology.
Geryon
Definition: Another type of giant in Greek Mythology.