Eventually Penelope got tired of waiting and pushed past Mckensie "It's safe," She decided "Just some big…lion thingy. Correction, a lion thingy with a human head? It looks like it's sleeping". Miriam palled, rushing forwards and pulling Penelope back. "It's a sphinx," Her voice was hushed and concerned. "A what?" Penelope cocked a brow, how does she not know what a sphinx is? Okay to be fair I only know what a sphinx is because Miriam knows what a sphinx is and seems to be incapable of not sharing everything she learns. Not hating though, I learn a lot from Miriam. "A sphinx," Miriam repeated "they're these big creatures that ask you riddles and stomp on your if you don't answer correctly". Great way to explain sphinxes Miriam, good job. If you can't tell I'm being sarcastic. "So we've got a pop quiz…great," Penelope sighed. Opal pulled away from the wall, tilting her head like my old dog did before he got hit by a car. Sometimes I miss Bones. "I'm pretty good at riddles," Opal offered, Penelope turned with her hands on her hips "You're the worst at riddles?". "Guys," Mckensie hissed, her eyes darting from between down the hall and our group "I think it's waking up". Oh that is very not good. Miriam tugged everyone away from the hallway, visibly panicking a little. "Okay…okay, we've got this. Just don't let it see you-" Miriam palled, looking at something behind us. I didn't have to turn to know what was behind me and I really didn't want to, Opal had no such issue and screamed at whatever she saw when she turned around. Penelope was a blur of motion in my peripheral but Mckensie backed off, smart girl. I stood, pulling Miriam up with me and placing her between me and the creature. The pictures didn't do the sphinx justice, it was taller than my house and smelled like dead things and horror. Its teeth were large and sharp, its talons looked like they could shred me apart with no difficulties. I have never wished I had my dagger more. Miriam moved to stand beside me, holding my hand tight. "Stay calm," She whispered, giving me a soft look. "Who DARES disturb my slumber," The sphinx's voice is low and gravely but it's hard to find it as scary when it's saying the most stereotypical monster line ever. "We come to answer your riddles, oh great sphinx of Thebes" Miriam held her head high, shoulders back, chin up. My mom would applaud her for her posture if she wasn't face to face with a ginormous monster. I searched for Penelope, she'd been thrown up against the wall by the sphinx and although she isn't unconscious she's close. Opal was by her side, trying to stop the blood coming from her sister's chest. I gave her a small nod, I trusted Miriam enough to tell Opal to stay out of her way. I had a feeling Mckensie is behind me but I didn't turn my back, that would be a death sentence. The sphinx's lips curled into an inhuman smile, a cruel smile. "So you wish to solve my puzzles? Very well, but I warn you little human should you fail you will not see the next sunrise," The sphinx growled, it was a lot more scary that time. Miriam nodded, swallowing loudly "I understand," Her voice trembled slightly but she stayed strong. The sphinx sits down, it reminds me of how the lions in the zoo looked before they were about to pounce but instead it opens its mouth to speak, "I am the gate that opens three ways. To pass, you must speak the phrase. The first is a fire that leaves no ash, It feeds on thought, on spark, on flash. It builds no towers, bears no stone, Yet without it, you're alone. The second is silence trapped in air, It waits in halls, it echoes there. It has no breath, it has no skin, Yet it repeats all you've been in. The third is carved in living thread, It's written by three stranger's hands. Take the first letter of each true name, then read them right, and not the same. They lead to truth, to broken flame, And shape at last the hidden claim. What is the phrase?" wow I'm really glad Miriam's here because I did not understand a word of that. Miriam seemed…taken aback "That's not the riddle, it's-" Miriam went silent at the realization that not every sphinx would give the same riddle. It's so simple but something none of us were prepared for, least of all Miriam. The sphinx curled its lip upwards, revealing teeth too sharp for my liking. I waved everyone into a huddle, five brains are better than one even if me and Miriam are basically sharing brain cells at this point(She's got all the smart ones). "So we're kinda screwed, anybody here not bum at riddles?" I tried to keep it light but I could feel the sphinx's eyes burning into my back. The group is practically silent, Penelope looks around before she answers "Opal's pretty good at riddles," She decided. Opal flushes up visibly "I'm…not that good," She protested. "Better than nothing," I shrugged, nobody else spoke up so that's great I guess. "We'll start working on it, you make sure that…thing doesn't get any closer," Miriam looked at me directly, there was a level of trust in her eyes that I didn't often see. I felt better knowing she trusted me. I turned back to the sphinx, it didn't look any closer but I could be a little delusional. I think the hunger and crash outs are getting to me. Penelope moves to stand beside me, her eyes trained a lot harder on the creature. It looks like she's trying to make it explode with her brain, is she even blinking? Mckenzie leans against the wall, watching the sphinx with more curiosity than fear. "So we've got to solve a riddle or get eaten?" She questioned, taking her eyes off the sphinx for a moment to look at me and Penelope. "Eyes on the beast," Penelope chided immediately, her scowl audible in her tone. I didn't turn to look at Penelope, I do not want her mad at me, but I answered Mckenzie, "Yep, good thing we've got the smartest girl in Athens with us.". Yes I am talking about Miriam, she's got the highest grade in the whole school and she's got more street smarts then any private school kid. In my opinion she is one hundred percent the smartest girl in town. No, I will not be taking questions. "Huh…that's a lot less scary than what I had expected. I thought we'd be doing some gladiator challenge or something," Mckenzie clearly had more physical expectations for this challenge. "I know there's some monkey bars by the fountain if you're looking for a challenge, we can check there again if this doesn't…work out," I wish I hadn't said that the second the words left my mouth. It seemed wrong to even think that this might not be the answer, that we may not get out today. "That's if we can find the fountain again," Penelope sighed heavily, in my peripheral I could see her running a hand over her face. Okay we are really being downers today. Based on the fact nobody else spoke for a long time I could guess this conversation is over, good job Adisson. Great job.
