Frank pats the right shoulder of his porcine companion and grins from ear to ear.

  "Yes, yes, yes....Nooooo!" Frank cries, as the erymanthian boar dissolves beneath him.

  Frank tumbles fifty meters in the air before falling into a tangle of vines. The vines ensnare the tumbling man and soften the impact of his fall from such an extreme height--preventing grievous injury.

  Frank struggles against the vines entangling his arms and legs. Some vines he rips away with his strong hands. Others, he chews through with his teeth, their bitter juices making him gag. Still other vines, Frank kicks loose by pumping his legs up and down. Finally, he is free.

  He crawls out of the mass of vines and glances around. The gaping entrance of an ominous cave lies straight ahead. The darkness within is anything but inviting. However, Frank is certain he will need to enter that cave, if he hopes to ever see April again.

  Pride, which comes with his previous four victories, swells in Frank's chest. Were he a truly muscular man, he is sure that the twitching of his pectoral muscles might be visible to any casual passersby. He stands stationary for a few moments, testing that theory, trying to make his pectoral muscles jump. Such a move will come in handy while posing as a subject for April's newest portrait. After everything he has gone through on her behalf, it had better be a wonderful portrait.

  "Okay. Compared to those other quests...How bad can it be? This will probably be a piece of cake. You can do this, Frank. Let's go."

  Frank finishes his internal pep talk and inhales sharply. He slowly lets out the breath he drew in, while running in place. Next, he shakes his head from side to side and rotates both shoulders.

  "Yeah. Okay. This is it. I'm gone."

  Racing into the inky darkness of the cave, Frank charges toward his fate.

  ======================================

  Frank creeps through the darkened tunnels for what seems like a small eternity. Water drips from the ceiling, and pools on the floor. Frank's feet are thoroughly soaked, making soft squishy sounds every time he manages to step on dry land.

  "Yuck," Frank grumbles. "Those were some of my best shoes. Ergh. Next time, you have writer's block, Frank....Go outside and talk to a stone."

  Frank glances to his left and catches a hint of movement. Someone, or something, is in here with him. Frank moves in the direction of where he believes he saw motion. He finds himself in a small chamber, barely much bigger than the trapdoor room where he'd eaten a breakfast of sheep's bladder and eggs with the spunky Brewster.

  A woman stands at the center of the chamber, her back to him. Frank's lips curl into a wide smile. He'd recognize that exquisite form anywhere. Once again, the purple woman has changed her clothes. The thin dress she wears is open in the back, from just below her shoulders to about the middle of her spine. Her long black hair blows as if in a soft breeze.

  "I have completed four of my quests. Tell me...What is the fifth?" Frank cries, crossing the short distance between himself and the mysterious woman.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  The enigmatic woman in purple slowly begins to turn. A soft hiss reaches Frank's ears and he angles his head in order to hear where it is coming from. Straight ahead. It is coming from the purple lady.

  The woman turns, her purple eyes staring directly into Frank's. The writhing snakes Frank mistook for long luxuriant hair hiss and strike out at him. Frank's face distorts with sadness and defeat.

  "Oh cra--"

  The words freeze on Frank's tongue, as his tongue turns to stone.

  ===================================

  The ringmaster strolls confidently across the tent and plucks the crystal ball from its place on the circular table. April is knocked off of her miniature feet. She presses her hands against the interior of the ball and peers out at the ringmaster.

  "I am sorry, my dear. Your husband fought long and bravely. But alas, he is now a part of my collection. As are you."

  The ringmaster sets the crystal ball back on the table and walks away. April pounds on the inside of the crystal ball and screams. Percy happens to walk past. He leans down and smirks at the trapped woman.

  "It is always the same. Well, almost always. The master is...She is very beautiful. You want to hate her, but you cannot. That's the way it goes."

  Percy lightly rubs the crystal ball before shuffling away. The clown's shuffle is more pronounced than before. As if he is extremely tired. April pounds on her crystal prison, appealing to what she sees as her only possible ally.

  "Percy? Percy, please help me. Help me, Percy. Please, get me out of here. Please."

  Percy peers sadly over one shoulder and shrugs. His voice is tinged with sadness and resignation.

  "I cannot. I do not know how. You are hers now. As am I. Perhaps, you will see your husband again. Perhaps not. I cannot know. Goodbye, April. The master will do with you as she pleases. I have no say in it."

  Percy disappears through the back tent flap. April continues to call out to him.

  "Percy. Percy! PERCY!"

  =====================================

  The Cave

  The ringmaster sheds her Medusa illusion and strolls confidently over to the statue which was once Frank Martin. She runs her hand over his stone left pectoral muscle. Putting her head beside his left ear, the ringmaster whispers as she did before.

  "So brave. But so foolish. I can't deny I am disappointed. You became too dependent on your companions. You did not anticipate a clever deception. It was too easy."

  Percy appears in the cave beside the ringmaster. The ringmaster turns to Percy and runs a hand through his hair. She kisses him lightly on the cheek.

  "You have done well, Percy. I'm impressed."

  "I will be whatever you need me to be," Percy says.

  The clown's body slowly morphs from that of the old roman, to the wily Brewster, and back again. A loud snort escapes Percy's lips and he covers his mouth in embarrassment. The ringmaster politely removes his hand and kisses him tenderly.

  "Another test...Another success. You have served me well, Percy. Very well."

  Percy and the ringmaster remain in each other's arms for quite some time. Percy separates long enough to stare down into her face.

  "I wasn't lying. You are a great kisser. The best."

  The ringmaster issues a loud laugh.

  ====================================

  The Art Expo

  "Wow! What an unusual painting," a young woman says, pointing towards the wall.

  Her husband steps forward, narrowing his eyes to take in every detail of the eerie picture. He shivers violently, from disgust, and backs away from the wall.

  "Creepy is more like it. The tiny woman...It's like she's really in there. It's so lifelike. More like a photo than a painting. Probably computer generated. It's just too real. Come on, Deb... Let's go look at something else."

  The young couple wanders off to find other artwork to admire. April stares unseeing through her crystal ball prison--from her spot on the exhibition hall's decorated wall.

  The end of this story