I awoke with a sudden gasp, my eyes shooting open as they slowly adjusted to my new surroundings.

I felt a stifling heat and struggled to move.

Soon realizing I was laying upon a hard molten rock, facing upwards as I looked up at a blood-red sky.

My whole body ached and every moment was agony, but eventually I was able to lift one arm and then the other,

slowly raising my hands up to my face so I could touch my cheeks.

I couldn't explain it, but my skin was ice-cold, even though the temperature was boiling hot.

And suddenly my ears were filled with a cacophony of sounds, shouts, screams, even though the temperature was boiling hot. And suddenly, my ears were filled with a cacophony

of sounds, shouts, screams, animalistic roars, gunshots, in the clink of metal against metal.

I had awoken to chaos, and my instincts told me I was in mortal danger. I used my hands to push

myself above the rocky surface, but my head was spinning and I felt dizzy,

and suddenly I was aware of two figures standing over me.

I couldn't focus on their faces in that moment, but I could hear their voices as they spoke.

Fresh meat from Minos' army, said the first.

The voice was deep, but I could tell it was a woman. Come on, soldier, on your feet, said the first. The voice was deep, but I could tell it was a woman.

Come on, soldier.

On your feet, said the second gruff male voice.

The unidentified man put his hand out to help me up.

I paused for a moment, feeling hesitant, as I naturally didn't trust this stranger,

but in the end, I accepted his assistance, placing my hand in his.

The mystery man's palm was ice cold, but his grip was true, and so I was soon pulled up to my feet,

my leg shaking for a moment before I steadied myself. Next, I looked to the man who'd helped me up,

noting his scarred, weathered face and the cold look in his

...