Sisyphus stepped in close and spoke by my ear. "So where is it?"
"If you want to know… we'll have to make a trade," I offered, beginning to bargain.
"Hmph… from where I stand, I don't think you're in much of a position to be negotiating with me," Sisyphus threatened.
"That's fine… if you refuse to hear us out. But if we die falling off this mountain, you'll lose your chance to break the curse. The secret of the golden needle will remain a secret forever," I shot back.
"Are you threatening me… background character?" Sisyphus growled.
"Think what you want."
"And how do I know you actually know where Lachesis's golden needle is hidden?"
"I'm willing to swear on the River Styx that everything I've said is true," I replied, ready to make the unbreakable vow.
"Y-yes! I can vouch for him too!" Craby jumped in to support me. "My friend really has the golden needle! He stole it right out of Lachesis's hand! That's how he got his whirlwind-speed blessing in the first place!"
Sisyphus fell silent for a moment. His face betrayed nothing. Was he going to help us, or let us die here? I couldn't read him. He still left Craby and me pushing the cursed boulder up the slope.
We were nearly at the summit, but Sisyphus didn't so much as lift a finger to help. Craby was close to his limit—his face glistened with sweat, lips cracked, breath ragged, and pale as a corpse.
"Sept… I can't… I can't go on… My arms are completely numb," Craby said weakly, his voice shaking.
"Hang on, Kinos… just a little more, and we'll be at the top."
But it was too late—Craby collapsed. Luckily, as he lost consciousness, he instinctively shifted back into his crab form, which kept him from tumbling down the mountain. It seemed that the blood loss from Asphodel had left him dangerously weak. I summoned every ounce of strength I had to hold the rock in place and used my foot to push Craby out of the boulder's rolling path.
My limbs trembled violently. Pain shot through every muscle. I was running on fumes.
I can't hold it anymore!
Just before the massive rock crushed me, Sisyphus ran in and shoved it upward, resuming his burden. My body crumpled to the mountainside as he turned back to shout at me.
"So what do I get in exchange?"
Sisyphus was ruthless. Truth was, he'd agreed to my offer from the start—but instead of saying so, he let Craby and me push the boulder until we were completely spent, just for his amusement. He was grinning with smug satisfaction at the torment he'd put us through.
I pulled myself up from the ground, struggling to contain the fury boiling inside me.
There was only one thought in my mind: You'll pay for this, Sisyphus.