When Death Comes to Visit |ONC 2021

Beginning of the End

My world spiralled, twisted, tangled and flipped as I travelled for an unprecedented speed through worlds. It only took a minute, but while you're being warped spiralling towards the earth from the underworld, a minute can be a long time. 

I was reluctant to be going on this special one week trip to the above, but as punishment for being fooled by King Sisyphus not once but twice in the past, I've been sentenced to this grievous but fitting damnation.

I suppose it was my fault for falling for the age-old trick of showing just how secure the shackles were in Tartarus, by using myself as an example. Of course, it was too good of an example and I ended up getting stuck down there myself for a while, letting King Sisyphus escape his judgement. The horrible toll my incompetency took on earth was a catastrophe, men who outlived their dying days still roamed the earth evading their judgement.

Not to mention King Sisyphus's ridiculously clever second stunt to which I do think I should have seen coming after the first. I didn't keep my eye on that slippery weedy man as he managed to convince Persephone to guide his way out of the underworld - to say one last goodbye to his wife. That of course, was a lie.

So here I am, ready to face my recurring punishment once again since the last, a hundred years ago. Which didn't end well mind you. There's a reason why my presence on earth is only permitted for a week, but that's a story for another time.

My ears popped as I finally broke through the portal between the underworld and the land of the living. My wings sprang open instinctively at the gust of undercurrent, I swooped up allowing it to pull me with it as I gained my bearings. Tall high rise buildings, motorways, high-speed trains. I breathed in deeply through my nose, then my mouth, tasting the air.

I was in China. Wuhan to be exact.

I landed and changed forms just behind a building, usually, I'd allow myself to personify the being of their beliefs and bask in the glory of being worshipped. I, of course, was a Greek god, the famous and feared Thanatos but here they would see me in line with their beliefs, I had many names across the nation you see.

For now, I was to observe and live among them, for that was part of my punishment. So, I zapped my wings in to appear human and stepped out onto their busy streets with my hands in my makeshift pockets and began to observe.

I walked through the city centre among the throng of people, by my calculations it was around midday. I'd been here only once before and enjoyed the serenity of this city's lakes and parks. It was nothing like the underworld, well, maybe a bit like Elysium minus the hassles that come with life. I passed a stand selling newspapers and goods, it was essential I kept up with human politics and news. I scanned the page of the nearest newspaper, my eyes first seeking out the date; December 28th, 2019. Ah, just a few more days until most humans record the new year, but this was China, they would not recognise it until the end of January 2020.

Perfect, I'd miss all the celebrations and be back in my domain of darkness with my checklist of those poor souls who'd; bite the dust as some mortals say.

As I roamed the street's I was careful not to touch any human as I went past for it would mean certain death for them. I, of course, can kill them in other ways but direct contact with me is a sure way to meet your demise. That was the beginning of my lovely trip to earth.

I'd spent exactly six days and ten hours wandering the province, I didn't need to be anywhere else. Everything was at my fingertips here, I'd learned all about the advancement in technology the humans had made. I'd even gotten myself one of those iPads and iPhones. Humans were funny things. All of their popular gadgets began with the letter I; I was yet to find out why.

The iPads would be a perfect addition to the underworld, it would make my scheduling much easier than relying on those feeble parchments that Hades' sends me each season. It even had a feature to record things! Now I'd never be blind-sided by another conniving soul. I was going to be the star of the show back in the underworld, it would be all people spoke about.

I'd made sure to carry other items I'd acquired, most though needed electricity and I couldn't have been any luckier that the underworld had installed a fully electric system. Since my last visit to earth, I'd made sure to make reasonable adjustments just as I planned to do now.

For my last two hours, I spent my time eating all the delicacies I'd caught a fancy to. My favourite drink was the vanilla milkshake, I'd spent every day going to the dessert place and having my fill. I knew the owners there well now, nice people I guess. Unfortunately for them, I'd seen their profiles on the system the fates had created and it clearly shows they'd both be dead in fifteen days. So I indulged in their homemade ice cream and shakes, making a mental note to put in a word for them in the underworld. They'd make great personal chef's for me whenever I thought of the creamy succulent shakes.

While there were most certainly perks of being here on earth I was comfortable living in the underworld. That was home, and there I didn't have to disguise who I was. I wasn't going to miss it. I was more than happy to be returning home, my schedule and routine were the things that kept me out of the politics and drama my family found themselves in.

I was perfectly happy on my own and while this had turned into a punishment, that dessert certainly turned it into a joyous visit.

Full on ice- cream and chocolate syrup I looked to the sky, it was almost time for me to take my leave.

"Ahhh" I rubbed my belly as I felt the contents slosh within.

"I'll be seeing you two very soon," I said in mandarin to the owners behind the counter.

"We're glad you liked our services." the small pudgy man said to me bowing at the waist.

I certainly did, and I had big plans for those two.

I walked out onto the pavement and rolled my neck and shoulders mentally preparing myself for my flight. I could see my self hurling my guts out on arrival to the underworld after having my fill.

I unleashed my wings and with a gentle bend in the knee, I launched myself into the sky. With my wings spread wide, I swooped among the clouds towards the portal that led me here. It was a small blip in the sky that you'd hardly notice if you didn't know what to look for. It was a cleaving right in the middle of a cloud, of course, not all portals to the underworld were like this, I just took the sky express route.

My eyes darted from one cloud to the other, trying to recognise that cleaving until I finally saw it in a grey cloud. I flew towards it, eager to get away from this place. I tucked my wings in close to my body as I plummeted towards the gap but something strange happened. It didn't automatically open up to accommodate my size as it usually did. Before I knew it, I ploughed through the cloud, breaking it apart as the cool wisps glided over me. I was on the other side of the cloud mid-air, not falling towards the underworld like I should have been. Baffled, I looked back in time to see the cloud reform into its fluffy shape.

"Ok, I muttered, "Let's try this again.

I circled the cloud, backing up more to adjust, maybe I'd missed the cleaving. I flew towards it at full speed, straight like an arrow. Once again I found myself cooled down by the cloud on the other side of it. I tried again and again and again, from all different angles to no avail.

"No, no no no no."

I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. I'd somehow been locked out of the underworld. That meant I was locked out from every portal.

"Shit!"