The Return of the Titans Read Online Free Page B

veins of yellow streaking across it. On
one side, a curious symbol was etched into the surface. It looked
like a circle with three lines coming out of the top and a cross
sticking out of the bottom. He held the stone and stared at
Wilson.
    “I want you to know
something, Justin,” the old man said seriously. “I won't let
anything happen to your mother.” He reached out and picked up his
mop. At that moment, they heard a crash and Wilson turned quickly
toward the front of the apartment. He looked back at the boy.
“Count to three, then jump into the water.”
    Justin just stood there, balanced on the
edge of the tub. “What?” he asked.
    “Damn it, lad, just do
what you're told. Please! ”
    “Okay Wilson. But for the
record, I think this is crazy.” Justin's mind was whirling in
confusion. They heard a crash against the front door
again.
    Wilson grinned. “I know lad, I know. Now,
I'm going to head them off.” He gestured at the tub. “Get a move
on. And take care, Justin. It's been nice knowing you.” The old man
gave a brief wave then hurried out of the bathroom.
    Justin just stood there baffled, and tried
to think. What is going on? He looked down into the water. Why does
he want me to jump into a tub? This is nuts. There was a third
terrific smash on the front door. Justin was so startled, he almost
fell into the water. Suddenly he heard Wilson shout. It sounded
like a howl of rage. Then his mother screamed “Miles! No!” The hell
with this, he thought and twisted around to step down from the
bathtub. His foot slipped on the edge of the tub and he felt
himself falling. He saw the water and tried to turn so that he
would land on his back. He hit the water with a loud splash, and
kept on falling.
     

 
    Chapter 2
     
    He was surrounded by water. Justin felt as
though he had fallen into a deep well. Where was the bottom of the
tub? He tried to hold his breath as he sank deeper. All he could
see was darkness and the water became bitterly cold. His lungs were
burning but he held his breath until he began to see flashes of
light before his eyes.
    Finally, as he was about to pass out, Justin
gasped and drew in a great breath, expecting to suck in water. He
knew he was going to drown. Instead, he began to cough and breathed
in great gulps of cold air.
    He was lying on his back in a dark and musty
room. After laying there for a minute, breathing in great gulps, he
sat up quickly. His heart was pounding with shock and his mother's
scream still rang in his ears. He looked to the left and right
wildly.
    He was sitting on a rough stone floor in a
small circular room. Several torches were hanging on brackets
around the room, flickering from the walls which were also carved
out of stone. Justin couldn't see any doors or windows.
    He just sat and breathed until he felt a bit
calmer. He realized that his clothing was dry, as if he had never
fallen into the tub, but the ground was wet all around him. I
wonder if I passed out? he thought. Then he stood up and turned
around.
    Standing before him was a massive statue. He
jumped back, his heart in his mouth and then realized that the
large form was not moving. The flickering light gleamed off of
metal and he realized that the statue was made of bronze. It was a
minotaur. He recognized the half-man half-bull figure from some of
the old pictures that he'd seen recently. He narrowed his eyes and
tried to make out the details in the moving torchlight.
    It had to be ten feet tall at least. The
arms and legs were bare and hugely muscled. The figure wore armor,
intricately carved and over its shoulder it carried a large axe.
But it was the face that caught Justin's full attention.
    The bullish head was so minutely detailed
that he could almost count every hair on the mane that flowed down
from top of the head to the back of the figure. A ring that shone
against the bronze like silver hung from the bovine nose and the
eyes seemed to convey an almost human expression. Justin caught