Hephaestus was kind enough to leave the door open for us, another showing off his eerie sportsmanship while we ascended the elevator. Despite being better than walking, we didn't want to be in it. Our gentle lift only worsened the ticking clock, as if it gave us enough time to regret our decision. In response, all I could do was grip our "secret weapon" so hard my knuckles grew white before our ride ended.
Miserable clouds loomed above us, subduing the lights so we could only focus on our target. I thought the squadron at the safehouse was terrible enough. Now I see they only tried to tease the Hephastus' main event. Circling Stan's son was a mechanical serpent the size of a horse. Glowing circuitry fused with sleek golden metal sheets, giving flexibility on par with its inspiration.
Like its brethren, the machine moved in an uncanny human manner, darting its shining red eyes at us like we were snacks. A dangerous thought only balanced by the pressed blade to Oliver's throat. The snake's jaw unfurled enough to give out a coy smile.
"Ah, two minutes and twenty-one seconds early. You two regularly defy my expectations. It's a shame our game has ended, though," he said distastefully.
"We followed your rules Hephaestus. Let Oliver go and back away. We'll do the same thing for Stan and hand him over," Sarah said stoically.
The snake mulled over our rules before eventually relenting.
"I suppose that's fair enough," he says while slicing away Oliver's bindings.
Taken aback, the boy stumbled into the floor, still reeling and scared for his life. However, when he finally lifted his head, those fears quieted away. I knew better than anyone else the power of having a parent in your time of need. Stan and Oliver ran into each other's arms.
"Dad! I'm so glad you're here. I was just in my room, but these crazy people came after me and-" he said before bursting into tears.
"It's okay, son; it's all going to be okay. All you need to do is close your eyes," Stan said fatherly.
Once the boy agreed, all hell broke loose. Like the animal he controlled, Hephaestus didn't hesitate, springing towards Stan at alarming speeds. Even from here, I saw Stan's cowardice paralyze him, only to pull through and duck with his child. Hundreds of hours worth of shooting practice got put to the test as I threw our secret weapon.
Hephaestus told us to bring no weapons, but as I said before, anything in my hands us a weapon, including the broken side mirror from our car. Miraculously the projectile connected, stunning the serpent in mid-air for a few seconds. In Sarah's domain, though, seconds might as well be minutes.
Sarah blitzed past us all using unearthly speed and delivered her heartiest backspin kick. Hephaestus' mech fell like a stone. Sarah tried keeping the momentum, but the serpent countered, coiling its tail around her neck like a noose. I tried intervening, but my body wouldn't let me. I'd been pushing past my limits the entire night, and that last throw was the final straw.
A thousand needles seized my side, giving Hephaestus enough time to lunge with Sarah for the ride. But, unfortunately, I couldn't see my surroundings correctly as I wrestled the dreaded serpent.
Fangs the size of daggers missed me by inches, clawing away at concrete the way one would paper. I tried playing keep away for as long as possible, but my body could do enough as Hephaestus broke through my hold. He then gazed at me with a mix of weariness and victory.
"Ah, fighters to the end, an admirable quality. I wish my automatons could get more data from you, but now it's over."
Coldly Hephaestus prepped his final blow, ready to kill us both simultaneously. And I didn't find fear in that dreadful moment, where death seemed so close I could taste it. Only regret. Because even with my ruined body, I couldn't but think about that damn bucket list. Knowing I'll die without ever filling the pages. To perish without living "my" life beyond the myth and maybe one day move on from so much loss. A fate I thought I'd take to the grave as I closed my eyes.
Amidst my existential thoughts, I forgot to keep track of time, a crucial factor. Instead of facing my death, I heard a large explosion tearing through the night sky, with the sound of gasping air and falling metal. Surprised, I timidly opened my eyes to see Heaphastus's dreaded machine, its frozen fangs grasping me amidst a darkened city. A perfect, strangely peaceful end to a night that was anything but.