Coulro

Chapter 5: Beast of the Castle

My breath shook while I tried to ignore the screams of a man, his pained voice far from me.

When I stepped past the rusted, smashed gate, only then did the architecture of the place really mystify me. A long, winded castle stood tall. A huge plateau of bushes adorned with wilting roses and drying flowers dotted the area. A large circular area surrounded the front of the castle and it housed maggot-infested benches with accompanying trash cans and streetlights

Its jade caps around the towers began to cripple down; exposed wires hung with clear strain. The turrets were made of steel and although they were pretty high up, it was noticeable that the metal had been eaten through with acids or whatever. The building was massive though, and the large, emerald colored drawbridge contrasted the dull iron of the walls, even if the green was chipping off. I stepped over and noticed that there was a moat.

Last time I was here, the moat was much smaller. The water that passed under the drawbridge was usually a little canal that acted as a second ride. I rode it before with my uncle. It was peaceful, and if I remember correctly, it led to an underground part of the castle that housed a bunch of different attractions. A long staircase would tire out people, but if they reached the top they'd come to see one of the checkpoints for the highest roller coaster ride here.

But now the river below was filled with sewage. That, and corpses. Or what looked like corpses. Because a river of blood and guts is pretty difficult to distinguish. I felt lightheaded from looking at the scene.

I backed up with fear because I knew my dumb self would probably keel over and fall in. Whatever caused all those people to die...I don't want to meet it. Could the harpies have done this? They tore up a person, I saw that, but these bodies...they seemed mauled beyond any noticeable body part. Their flesh too, it smells burnt?

I looked around the place. Way too open! I'm an idiot! What am I doing out in the open? I can get swooped up easily! To my left was an unknown part of the park that the map couldn't show, but to my memory it led to the aquatic rides and the sports centers. The more I thought about it, the more my brain felt fuzzy. I felt like I knew this park better than I thought.

My brain had a mental map of the area, and even distinct flashes of how it looked. Names like the gorgon and the harpies felt natural and almost sensible. It made sense. It was BEGINNING to make sense. Oh god, don't tell me I'm getting used to this! I need to keep myself sane here or I'll lose it.

My head hurt the more I thought about it; I snapped out of it and decided to keep moving. Righward is the way to the carousel, and beyond that is the River of Cocytus that although named that, wasn't an actual river or even related to water at all. It was a roller coaster that swerved and turned through a cave and would eventually swoop around the castle. The River of Lethe...that's the ride down below in the moat.

Turning right, I ran straight for the available path. It didn't take long for me to immediately regret that decision. The caravans adorned in red cloth yet seeming even redder with the blood should have been my first warning. The slash marks and scorched spots of soot should have been my second. Third was the roar. 

The roar of the Nemean Lion.

It bellowed out from a circled area of caravans. I remember! This area used to be a dedicated space for carnivals! These are carnival caravans! The trailer caravans formed a sort of barrier enclosing upon the lion. Through the glint of his shining fur did I see the beast. When his fangs puffed with fire, I knew I had to move.

It would be impossible to outrun a lion, especially one that could breathe fire at you. Fighting isn't an option with my noodle arms. And even if I could hurt it, its coat is made of impervious material; it wouldn't be damageable. How do I beat a thing like this? Has it even spotted me?

I snuck around, stopping dead in my tracks when my shoes cracked on something sharp and twiggy. I looked down to see I had stepped on a collarbone. When my eyes were raised up, I felt the heat shoot right past me. Overhead, flames blew past. Panic swelled inside me and I took off running. Where am I going, where am I going?

I couldn't continue to the carousel unless I wanted to be minced or broiled alive. I didn't think of where I was running, only knowing that I had to. My feet pounded the stone, and my lungs kicked into overdrive to accommodate for the rush. Winning state's felt easy-breezy in comparison to being on the verge of either dying from a heart attack, exhaustion or being chowed down. My hair swooshed and frizzled around me. All these little annoyances from my body felt suddenly meaningless when I felt heat nearing me. I threw myself into the nearest cover.

My eyes widened when I realized where I landed. NO! Blood and festered gore flooded my knees and shoes. I managed to not break my bones and feet, but my back still flared with pain from the encounter with Cerberus.

I took a moment to breathe, only for that moment to be sliced quite literally by a lion. His gigantic stature vaulted into the moat with me, and only then did I notice how strange the human body is. You could be on the verge of death, and yet your body wants to pee. And at that moment I really wanted to pee. Get it together! Come on, you can still use those legs for something!

I ran while he tore through the stream of guts. He lashed out with his claws while his barks crackled with fire. He desperately searched for me among the pile of corpses. Look, look for anything! There has to be something you can use to get out of here! And that's when I found it. The tracks that led to the River of Lethe. I ran over to it and placed my hand on the metal. A vibration.

The ride wasn't majorly fast, but it was still fast enough to do some damage. All I need to do is...

I sprinted straight towards him. His eyes caught mine and he changed his stance to pounce on me. Dumb animal, I'm not here to fight! I quickly turned tail and ran in the opposite direction.

Feeling challenged, he chased after me. I have to play my cards right, I only have one chance at this. The timing has to work or I'm his dinner. I roughed the soles of my shoes as I tried to maintain perfect balance while jogging over bodies.

I have to make it, I WILL make it.

I felt his flames approach me, and so I threw myself over. Right as he charged at me, the roller coaster flew by and crashed into him, taking him for a ride. He groaned in pain before disappearing into the murky tunnel lined with crimson water.

"What a stupid, stupid creature," I laughed off.

My nose tinkled at the smell of something burning. OH, CRAP! I quickly dunked my left shoe into a puddle of blood before the embers spread further. I sighed out before fidgeting around uncomfortably. I still really need to pee...

Now, how do I get out of this? I walked around a bit before I spotted my answer. Along the edge of the drawbridge was a long, sinewy strand of vines. This place has really gone under. I looked at my weak, flabby arms and sighed in discontent. This is going to hurt a lot...

When I finally finished climbing up, I sprinted to the nearest bathroom. When washing up on one of the sinks, I looked in the mirror. I don't fucking believe this. Another message? Disgusting!

'Persephone, are you feeling nostalgic? Doesn't it feel nice to come back? I miss you. You were always my favorite.'

I shrugged the thought out of my mind but upon turning around I met face to face with one of those decaying drawings on the walls. Its face was uncanny. It looked like the same clown I encountered from Mr. Cheney. The eyes, the teeth, everything. I recoiled in pain from my headache. Dropping to my knees, only then did I notice the writing on the floor.

'The son you look for has stumbled upon my lair. Spin yourself right around to begin the search. In confusion you find me, and in intoxication you find hell. Find hell. Find me. Find Hades.'

I shuffled to my feet and immediately ran to the paths leading to the carousel. Time was running out, and whatever kept leaving those messages was only going to make the time shorter.