177. A Victorious Warrior
In a final act of desperation, Amy grips the handle of the mirror and, as hard as she can, smashes it into the medusa's face. The mirror shatters, cutting great gashes in the medusa's petrifying visage and raining shard down on Amy, who sustains a few cuts of her own. The gorgon screams in pain and clutches at her face. Amy takes the opportunity to slip out from under the gorgon and hop down from the pedestal. She runs over to where her sword landed and grabs it. She spins around and looks at her opponent.
Fortunately, Amy's foe is now covering her face with her hands, shielding Amy from her curse. Amy runs back to the pedestal, leaps up and brings the sword down into the gorgon's back. The gorgon lets out a final blood-curdling scream, then falls dead.
The battle over, the adrenaline leaves Amy's system and she collapses. For long minutes she lies on her back in the base of the fountain. She can hardly believe she did it, but she just bested a mythological monster in hand-to-hand combat. It is only at this point that it dawns on Amy that she is now stark naked, covered in scratches and bruises, but at this point she is beyond caring. This night has been one harrowing event after another, yet somehow Amy has emerged, a little worse for wear, but victorious. After a few minute's rest, Amy picks herself up. She tears off the tiny scrap of shirt sleeve from her left shoulder and the sad band of elastic that clings to her right thigh. Then she has a good look around.
The gorgon lies face-down on the pedestal. Amy's sword is rapidly corroding from the medusa's blood, which Amy makes a mental note not to get on herself. The sword is now too damaged to take with her. Amy gingerly inspects the gorgon's tunic. She finds a small pocket in the side, which contains an ornate golden comb. Amy decides to keep it as a souvenir. She carefully places it in her hair in a manner that she hopes is attractive. On the monster's chest is fastend a beautiful turquoise brooch pin, which Amy also takes. “I already have a complete outfit,” she thinks, “No to pick up some accessories.”
Amy climbs out of the fountain and makes her way back to the mansion. On her way a gleam in the grass catches her eye. She bends down and retrieves the dagger that the gorgon tossed away at the start of their battle. She then grabs her backpack and puts the dagger and the spoils of battle inside. Upon donning the backpack she can't help but note what a ridiculous sight she is now: naked as the day she was born, except for boots, socks, and a backpack. Ordinarily she would be mortified by her state, but, still high on the euphoria of her victory, she can only smile and laugh.
Every muscle in Amy's body aches, but in a way she feels stronger than she was before. She no longer feels that she is here to survive this mansion; now she feels that she is here to conquer it.
As she heads for the house, she hears a rustling in a thicket off to her right. Her first instinct is to go see what it is, but then her sore arms and back remind her that she already barely survived one fight out here, and she probably shouldn't look for another.
What should Amy do?