SHTM ParaMollNan; Molly's Underworld Adventure

Prologue-Achilles' Dream

Is it possible to sleep when you're dead? Especially when you are a ghost and are cursed to never rest in peace? Achilles, a fallen hero from the Trojan War, wondered these things often; and yet he would always fall asleep to them.

To say that his life was a living hell was an understatement. Sure, he had loving parents, his father Peleus was a kind horseman, and his mother was immortal, yet he was not. He didn't care much for it, though. Luckily, he had a friend growing up, Patroclus, who later became his lover. Things were great, that was until he had set his foot (with his dreaded heel) into the Trojan War.

Achilles went into battle killing many men, and battled among the bravest warriors in Greek history; Odysseus, Ajax, son of Telemon, even noble King Agamemnon (whom he hated; but respected) fought with him on the Greek side; but Achilles was grateful for Patroclus to be there with him. That's when things took a disturbingly dark turn.

While trying to distract the Trojans, Patroclus proposed something of a plan. Achilles resisted, allowing his friend to wear his armor, acting as Achilles, leading his army into battle. The plan seemed to work. However, it is a sad contradiction that in order to end war; many lives must be extinguished at once; and in this case, it did. Hector, King of Troy, had killed Patroclus with a spear to his stomach. When Achilles had heard the news via Antilochus, he arrived at the crime scene hop foot. What he came upon was a scene that would make even the bravest men hurl; the bravest men choke up into tears at the sight of its condition.

On the ground of the sea lay the body of Achilles's childhood friend; his companion, his lover, his soulmate... Patroclus, the young man who's tall stature and fair grey eyes were enough to charm any Greek woman; Patroclus, the brave young man who went into war to protect his friend; Patroclus, who gave Achilles long lasting advice and comfort in his life, the brave warrior who had killed the mighty Trojan leader Sarpedon; laying lifeless on the ground, his armor smirched with blood. His fair skin were now pale with death, his eyes heavily bagged now closed peacefully, his body motionless, except for the navy blue cloak upon his shoulders whipping in the wind. The corpse's mouth streaked and splattered with blood dripping from its chin onward. Its hand covered its stab wound near the stomach. Upon the sight of the body, Achilles was hysterical; he tore his hair, cried, and screamed so loudly that the demons of Hades could hear his grief-stricken cries. Achilles couldn't cope with his friend gone; and in an effort, vowed to take revenge. He killed a thousand Trojan men in a rampage over his friend's death, as well as killing Patroclus's killer by stabbing him with a spear to the throat. Hector begged for him to let him live; but Achilles simply stated; "I'll see you in hell first, go into a deep ditch and die." Before walking away from the body, Hector died not long after that.

Fate has weird ways of twisting intentions. And at this point- fate has been enough for Achilles. His soulmate dead, his bloody rampage and a war almost at an end. He was filled with rage and exhaustion. While trying to sack Troy and carry his other lover, Briseis, to safety, Paris, Hector's younger brother, took revenge upon Achilles by shooting a poison arrow directly at his weak spot- his heel- the very heel his mother held him by as he dipped him as an infant into the River Styx. From mostly blood loss and mostly poison, Achilles died, and let's just say the mortal world was a mess at the loss of such a great hero.

After he died, Achilles's rage subsided once in the Underworld, but he was tired and felt exhausted. One by one, the fellow comrades he had during the war died as well, suicide, murder, etc. Achilles thought that torture was enough - but when he had discovered that Hector - the Trojan who had killed his soulmate and killed his spirit - was working for Hades- Achilles, being Achilles, had lost it. He screamed and cursed at the poor bloodied man at the restraint of the ghost of Antilochus. But this was hell. His life was hell. His afterlife was hell. Achilles needed a break. And for hell, he needs one.

At the Underworld's retirement hours, Achilles desperately lay in his bed, trying to sleep, but found it hard to do so. You know those weird thoughts you have while you're in the shower? Well, to say that you don't have them when you're dead isn't true. Achilles had these thoughts on a daily basis- most of these being about if ghosts aren't able to 'rest in peace, then why are they allowed to sleep in the Underworld and such. He would let these thoughts torture his mind until his head was numb, and he finally fell asleep. When Hector had arrived in the Underworld, Achilles constantly worried about Patroclus- he knew him better than anyone else, and he worried about him. Distressed over his thoughts, Achilles groaned and closed his eyes, trying to get a decent amount of sleep for the time being. That's when he had those dreams again... Those dreams he dreaded from his life... Replaying after his death...

"Sir Achilles!"

An alive Antilochus screamed from outside. Achilles was surprisingly alive in his dreams, despite being dead, and this dream was no exception. His skin was the fair color it once was; his hair was long and blonde instead of grey. Achilles ran to Antilochus fast; his breath gasping for air. "What is it, sir?" he asked frantically. Antilochus's voice stopped in its tracks. His throat tightened; his voice came out as a harsh whisper. "Do you know a Patroclus, sir?" he said.

"WHAT?!" Achilles shrieked - then realized his surroundings. His voice quieted down a bit, embarrassed at what had just occurred. He had become defensive yet again. Though he passed on, Achilles was well... still Achilles. Pain sprawled across his fair face, regretting what he had just said in his usual aggressive tone.

"Yes, I-I knew Patroclus... We were childhood friends... Is everything okay? Is he alright?" Antilochus's eyes stared away for a moment, then coming to back Achilles, said;

"Well... I hate to tell you this, sir, but your Patroclus is dead..."

Oh no.. Oh God, no.. Not this dream again. A sickening feeling came from his gut, his eyes clenched firmly shut. Antilochus did not stop there, unfortunately.

"We thought he was YOU, sir. He led us into battle in your guise. He talked like you, he battled like you...hell...he even WALKED like you..."

At this, Achilles's temper rose, and in a abruptive state of mind, slapped Antilochus across the face (he would wake up from this dream to regret this; as he is an honorable man and would never do such a thing) before storming off to the nearby island beaches, where his friend's body had lie.

When Achilles finally came to the rocky surface of the beaches, there he was greeted with an awful sight. The same exact sight that greeted him many years ago. The sight of Patroclus's corpse, still freshly preserved of maggots or any other beast that feasts on rotting flesh. As fair in life, he looked now in death. The blood from his mouth still dripping down his chin, his eyes permanently closed in agony, pain, torment... Achilles, reflecting on what he had done in life, sighed deeply and put a man-killing hand against his great friend's cold forehead. He spoke in soft, winged words.

"Farewell Patroclus, even in the House of Death...I'll miss you lad... I hope you know that you meant the world to me... You swore that I would be the first... you SWORE it..."

To this exchange of words, the dead warrior made no reply. The only reply Achilles received was the wind blowing at the corpse's straight black hair and at the cloak around its shoulders. However, he still stayed with the corpse, his hand brushing against its pale cheek. He leaned in and whispered into the dead man's ear...

"I love you..."

Achilles awoke with a start, gasping for breath - well, if he was alive, that is. For a while, he was stunned, shocked at the whole event that seemed to unfold. For a while, he couldn't sleep and refused to sleep. He lay awake the rest of the night, agonized by the memory of that corpse burnt into his mind, even though Patroclus was with him in the Underworld....