Black Heart of Coldness

Master Porky Minch: I'm Porky and I know it. *dances to Sexy and I know it by LMFAO* Check me out. Check me out.

Lidio: ...Oh my God... *tries not to laugh as he starts typing what Master Porky Minch is doing*

Master Porky Minch: *music stops and he looks at his computer* Oh... dang I gotta make the next chapter.

Lidio: Oh, finally! Took you long enough, you piece of blonde lard.

Master Porky Minch: It's not my fault! I've been waiting for the 3rd chapter.

Lidio: Oh, sure. Just blame everyone but yourself. That's so you.

Master Porky Minch: Hey. Do not throw a Little Yellow Book moment at me, you pitiful Patrick Star wannabe.

Lidio: *gasps* ... *turns around and runs away, sobbing*

Master Porky Minch: God, I swear... *sits down* Ok... let's do this.

?'s POV

I stood among the forest as it was sent ablaze... the smoke... the burning trees... oh God... I was really back...

It all came back to me now... I stood there, in the middle of a burning forest... I looked around, trying to find anyone else that might have survived... but all I saw were burnt skeletons, fried charcoal black, all the flesh and skin of them was burnt off...

Why did it have to be like this?... Why couldn't those damn half-bloods leave me be?... Why did they have to bring such a horrible fate on themselves?...

All of them were barely recognizable. Whatever possessions on them that weren't completely devoured by the inferno that consumed their owners were damaged to the point of being no longer repairable.

Despite all the death that choked the air of any comfort for me, all I could utter was one word... a name... "Layla..."

I couldn't bare it. I needed to find her. I ran deeper into the woods, among the burning pines, calling that name out over and over again, as if it were the only name I knew.

"Layla?!... Layla! Where are you?!"

I did nothing but shout that over and over again. There was nothing more on my mind, all other desires banished from my heart.

"Layla! Where are you?!"

It didn't take long for me to get an answer. I soon came to a hold, as I saw, impaled by the branch of a tree, the corpse that changed my life forever.

I went over to the body, and despite the raging inferno that threatened to bring ruin to the whole forest, it was perfectly intact, save the wound from the impalement. Her eyes were closed... her red hair had come to a complete stand still... and the blood that was seeping out her lips...

"...No... no!..."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Just when I thought the nightmare would never end, I awoke on the ground with a jolt. My breathing was fast and with great force, and my hands were shaky and wobbly as I held myself up with them.

I continued to pant and gasp, completely terrified of what I had just seen. The same dream that plagued me of my sleep for quite a few nights had come back, and despite him trying his best to move on, they seemed to have haunted him more and more as the days rolled on.

When I looked over at my alarm clock, it said that it was 2:03 P.M. I must had fallen asleep while watching the news and either Jaws or Horny carried me to my room. I hadn't been getting much sleep for the past couple of nights, and I think they were aware of that... despite them being mythical creatures, they're really the best friends I could ask for... in fact, they're the only friends I could ask for... at least, after that one incident...

I gave a sigh as I lay back on the ground, staring at the 'roof', or better yet, the ground above me, as I rethink to that whole scene. Those words she told me... those last things before that day... "Just try to look at the positive things in the world for once." ...Would she have still cared for me... if she knew she was to die that day?...

These dreams that dared rob me of my sleep were driving me insane... it even got to the point where I pulled out a pistol that I kept in the belt of my jeans, and held it to my head, threatening to blow my own brains out. "...Why can't you just leave me be?..." I muttered as I tried not to cry.

As I sat there, my gun at my head, I heard a knock on the door. I gave an irritated sigh as I put the gun down and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Go away." I said rather coldly.

The door opened, and I heard Shades talk in a rather soothing voice. "You had the dream again... didn't you?"

I looked over, and Shades was there, wearing her usual shades. "Oh, Shades... what do you want? Can't you see I'm kind of busy?"

Shades crossed her arms, obviously not taking no for an answer. "Oh? Busy doing what? Holding a gun to your head again?" I didn't make any response. I just sat there, thinking. "...Look... I know that you think that you have to keep your feelings to yourself... and I understand you never want to talk about it-"

"Then why are you asking me about it? If you know that I don't want to talk about it, don't make me!" I said coldly to her. She became silent and stared at me. I really didn't mean to sound so angered to her. I know that she was just trying to help, but the stress was wearing me out quite a bit. "...I can't even go to sleep without being reminded of that... memory... every freaking time I close my eyes, she's there... haunting me..."

That's when Shades slithered over in front of me. She took off her shades and using her hand, tilted my head up, saying, "Look at me." I looked into her eyes, which couldn't turn a god into stone; whether that could be considered fortunate or not in my case is beyond me. "You don't have to be alone... I'm always willing to help you if you need it, and you know that Horny and Jaws think the exact same thing... we're here for you... you just need to tell us what we need to do."

Looking deep into her eyes, I could tell that she was honest. Despite how much we might fight, and how we're always pulling these jokes and pranks on each other, I know that those beasts and I really care for each other. Whenever I needed to turn to someone, and neither god or man could console me, these 3 mythical beasts were there. They weren't monsters at all... they were my best friends...

"Ok... I... I'll try..." I said, looking back down.

Shades gave a nod before putting her sunglasses back on. "Alright, come on. I got you a ham cheese and mayo in the fridge, and you haven't eaten lunch yet." she said as she helped me up. I followed her into the kitchen, rather hungry.

When we got in there, Shades got my sandwich out of the fridge and gave it to me. I immediately began eating it. It was really nice of her to make lunch for us... then again, after making her breathe fire this morning, maybe she just wanted to make sure I don't burn her tongue like kerosene.

Both Jaws and Horny walked in with an enclosed envelope. "Yo, purple head... we got a letter today."

I thought I knew who it was from. "If it's from the United States government, I already paid my electric bills. If it's from the Catholic Church, I'll accept their God when he strikes me down with lightning."

"...No... it's not from any of them... it's from the King of the gods." Jaws said.

That got my interest. "Hand me the letter." I said. As Horny forked it over, I muttered, "Well Zeusy boy, it took you Olympians long enough to write to me" before tearing open the envelope and reading it out loud.

"To any and all servants of Olympus,

It has been brought to my attention that earlier today, an attack was made against our children in Camp Half-Blood. An army of cyclops are responsible for the attack. We know not the identity of the leader of the attack; what we do know, however, is that he is in possession of powers no mortal should wield.

I am calling a meeting to all gods to come to Olympus for a meeting. This is no trifling matter.

Zeus"

This admittedly took all of us by surprise, and put us into silence. None of us said a word. We just looked back and forth, as if expecting somebody to say something. I decided to be the one to break the silence. "...Are we actually sure... this is coming from... Zeus himself?..."

To this, Jaws picked up the envelope, and pointed to the center of the envelope, which held an uppercase 'Z' with a lightning bolt through it. "This is his symbol... it wreaks of god... there is no doubt that this is from Zeus himself..."

We just remained silent... I didn't know what the others were thinking... I didn't know how they would react to this situation... but what I did know was that none of them expected me to start laughing like I did.

"Hehehehe... Hehahahah. Hahahahah! Oh, this is just stupendous! This is the best news that I've gotten since the Conga taunt in Team Fortress 2!"

Horny tilted his head in confusion. "Best?" he asked. "There was a full-scale assault on that place, and you say this is good?"

"Hahahaha! Yes, my bull-headed friend. This is truly magnificent!" I looked at them.

The look that they gave me was like I was tripping on LSD or something. "...Um... Shades, are you sure that the mayonnaise on that sandwich of his wasn't expired?"

"How do you not get it?" I asked them. "There hasn't been a single attack on Camp Half-Blood since the great Titan King Kronos! If Camp Half-Blood is suddenly getting attacked, that means they have an enemy! If they have an enemy, it means we can finally get some action!"

Shades seemed to have gotten it, being the more intelligent of the 3. "I understand now. After being bored out of your mind waiting for something big to happen, you're ready to just dive into this."

"...Oh... uh... I knew that!" Jaws said. "I knew that the minute you read the letter."

"Oh please. You wouldn't know your way through a McDonalds Play Palace if you had a map." Horny said with a laugh.

"Shut up. That was once time." Jaws retorted and crossed his arms.

"So... this... doesn't bother you too much?" Shades asked.

"Of course not, my fair snake-haired friend..." I said as I threw the note to the side. "In fact, with such an event as a new foe, I think it's about time we take a day to get some fresh air."

"...No... you're serious right now?!" Jaws questioned happily.

"Finally! After all these cramped up weeks being in here all day!" Shades said clapping her hands together.

Horny took a step forward out of glee and said, "Are they talking about what I think they are?"

To answer his question, I laid it down. "Tomorrow, we take the day up in the city. We can go to the movies, go shopping, get a few bites to eat, and it'll all be in the upper world tomorrow."

"Oh, Hell yes!" Horny swore as he did a fist pump.

"Great. I thing I could use a spare pair of sunglasses anyway." Shades said musing over what we could do.

"Now that is what I call a celebration!" Jaws said as he too did a fist pump.

I only smiled and sat down. "...But this just comes to mind... how are we going to shop or get things to eat?" I questioned. "I mean, we don't have any money they'll take, considering they won't accept anything like drachmas or jewels-"

"Hey... you've got a gorgon, a minotaur, and a cyclops with you. They're gonna give us service... or else we'll just use more... how you say... 'creative negotiations'." Shades said reassuringly.

To this I gave a nod and said, "Well, I'm glad that I was able to teach you guys something."

"Yeah... alright, come on! Back to the game! The Buckeyes are absolutely dominating Penn State, by about 40 points!" Jaws said as he and Shades ran back in the living room, both holding an Ohio State little flag.

"They're what?!" Horny said. He immediately put on his Penn State cap and ran back to watch the game. "Hey! You're not winning that bet this time!"

With a chuckle and a shake of my head, I put my feet on the table and rested my hands behind my head. They may get annoying at times, but overall, their ability to make me laugh a little makes up for it. And so, I just sit there and think of all the things that I've been through with them...

"...When the heck did they start liking football?"

Q: With all the mythical beasts in every single mythology, my favorite would have to be the Basilisk (the bird one, not the huge serpent). Tremendous physical strength, looks that can literally kill, can fly, and toxic breath? Heck yeah! So, if you could be any mythical beast in any mythology, which would you be?