The Day Death Died

The Day Death Died - Chapter 19

I lay beside Edwin. There was nothing I wanted more than to find answers and just laying in bed was not going to do that.

Who can possibly control the Keres? Maybe whoever is in charge of death? Who's in charge of death?

"Hey, Edwin?" I called out.

"What?"

"Who is in charge of Hell?" I asked.

"It's not hell exactly," he explained.

I turned my head a bit and glanced back at him. "Oh?"

"Yeah. It's more of an underworld."

"Huh. Okay. Who's in charge of that?" I questioned.

"Well, he's known by a lot of names, but I guess Hades is probably one that you're familiar with."

"Hades? God of the dead and king of the underworld?"

"Uh, yeah. That's him."

"He's the one who would be in charge of death? Dead? Like our boss?

"We..."

"And if he's real, then Zeus is real?"

Edwin side-eyed me and put down the book he was flipping through. "Yeah. Why?"

"Well, the Keres and Erebus and Thanatos are all Greek deities."

"Yes," he said hesitantly.

"And Erebus and Thanatos have two other brothers, correct?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Maybe they can help. Why haven't they been here?"

Edwin shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not sure. Hypnos and Oneiroi don't usually meddle with their sisters' dealings."

"Perhaps if they did we wouldn't be in this situation right now," I snapped. "Either way, since they haven't or won't do anything, then I will."

I jumped up from the bed and looked around. I needed to go on a trip so I need supplies. I grabbed a knapsack and shoved clothes into it.

"What are you planning?" he asked.

"I don't know. I have no idea, but I have to try before everyone is dead."

Edwin sighed heavily. "Well you can't go alone."

"Then go with me. We'll find someone who will help and we're putting a stop to this."

"How though? They're Gods. Their power far exceeds ours."

"That's your problem, Edwin," I said, putting my backpack on. "You are too negative."

"I'm death. Of course I'm negative."

"Well stop it. There is always a way. There has to be someone more powerful than the Keres."

"Well, I guess we could try Hades."

"Yes. God of the Underworld. God of the dead. The man who is our boss. Or bosses bosses boss?"

"Yeah. Something like that."

"Have you ever met him?" I asked.

"Not exactly."

"Explain, please?"

"So, when the higher level deaths go through their training there is this video we watch."

"Please, don't tell me you have those cheesy training videos like at a restaurant?"

"Yeah, we do."

"And Hades..."

Edwin closed his eyes and nodded slowly.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"That's the only time you've seen him?"

"Have you ever seen the CEO of any company you've worked for?"

I thought for a moment. "No, I guess not."

"Think of Hades as the CEO of the underworld. He doesn't really need to interact with us deaths. He has more important things to do then get involved in the day to day trivalities of what we do."

"He's going to have to now because this goes beyond just a few simple souls or day to day trivalities. This is a massive attack on humans for no reason."

Edwin nodded.

"Where is he?"

"Uh, the underworld."

"How do I get there?" I asked.

"You don't. We don't go there," Edwin said.

"I don't care about what we do and what we do not do?"

"This is highly irregular. I don't think a death has ever actually gone to the underworld. We usually stick to where we are designated to."

"Edwin! Stop. I don't care. We're going. We're stopping the Keres. At least I will. I would prefer your help, but I can do it on my own."

"We need to find a portal to hell."

"Oh is that is? Just find a portal to hell?"

"Yeah and you're in luck. There is one in this town."

"Shut up."

"Seriously."

"You know, last week I would have been super surprised by that information. Today though, yeah, no. I'm not. It's just not surprising because where else would there be a portal to hell other than in the town where a demonic deity attack killed 90% of a high school population? I sighed heavily. "Where is this portal?"

"Where do you think?" Edwin asked back.

I closed my eyes and pursed my lips. Because I knew. Everything was a terrible, horrible cliche at this point. "Ugh, the high school? The one place that is almost impossible to get into right now."

He nodded at me.

"We really have to go back there?"

He nodded again.

"Fine. Fine. Let's go. If I get arrested..."

"You won't," he promised.

"Even if you weren't sure, we don't have any other choice." I zipped up my bag and opened my bedroom door looking around.

The house was silent as I crept to the stairs. I had to step over the fifth step down. It was the creaky step that seemed to echo throughout the entire house. It was the one step that I absolutely knew would wake dad up if he was sleeping already.

"What are you doing?" Edwin asked from the bottom of the stairs.

"Walking, Ed. Not all of us can control super snazzy powers like you. I'm not risking messing something up and drawing attention to myself."