Raised from the Depths: The Apple of Their Eyes [A Percy Jackson FanFiction]

Twenty-five: Boat rides and a monster dog

Charon led me towards the elevator, guiding me inside. There, he pushed the button to the lowest floor. I swallowed nervously, my mouth drying as I imagined the horrors that awaited me beyond these doors.

Suddenly, the elevator dropped. It wasn't as slow as most elevators, but it was slow enough to keep the contents of my stomach from reappearing. I was actually quite grateful that it wasn't going to be an agonizingly slow descent; I wanted to get this over with.

As the elevator continued down, the lights above seemed to become dimmer and dimmer. It was quite the contrast to 'What Makes You Beautiful' by One Direction playing gently in the elevator. Charon seemed to change in demeanor as well, slouching over slightly as he took his sunglasses off, revealing his soul-sucking eyes. Somewhere along the way, he pulled out a sheet of black cloth and threw it over himself. His expensive Italian silk suit disappeared under the shaded robe, and with the hood draped over his head, the only thing visible was Charon's chocolate brown hands.

Finally, the elevator jumped to a stand still, and my legs seemed to lose feeling as the doors slid open to the sicking ding. Out in front of me was ground, gravelly ground that seemed to have thick mist clinging to it. Splitting the ground in half was a churning, midnight black river that seemed to swirl, splash, and foam with a mind of it's own. There was a small trireme tied to the shore as it was tugged with the current of the river. Lined up by the boat in a immense mass were shadowy figures of people that seemed to blend together with the sheer number of them. Across the river, semi-swallowed by a dark fog, was a tall, impassable fence with barbed wire facing inward.

"Follow me, Affinity." Charon said from next to me, stepping out of the elevator. His voice sounded hoarse than before as he seemed to glide over the ground, leaving no imprints on the shifting floor. As we approached the boats, the spirits began to call out to us in moans and groans. If they were attempting to speak words, the individual speech was lost as the sounds crashed together in my ears.

Charon helped me up onto the boat and turned to the spirits, directing them onto the vessel. I watched curiously with a raised brow before Charon stepped on and began rowing the trireme across the River Styx. I turned to him, and despite knowing this was not the atmosphere to ask questions, I couldn't swallow my curiosity.

"I thought the dead had to pay to get into the Underworld?" I wondered as Charon pushed against the persistent current with his oar, working his way across.

"In the golden days in Ancient Greece, the living would place two drachmas on the eyes of the dead so they could pay to enter the Underworld. Those who didn't have the money would either forever roam the shore of the River Styx or go to the surface as ghouls and haunt the family that neglected them. When the spark of our ancient world moved West, the custom became long forgotten, and no one could pay to get into Hades. Your father eventually had to lift the rule; there were too many spirits on the shore, and that's bad for business." Charon explained.

I furrowed my brows. "And that's money out of your pocket?" I guessed, crossing my arms.

"Exactly." Charon sighed. With a final stroke, the trireme beached itself on the gravelly shore.

"This is where I leave you. Good luck with your mission, whatever it is." Charon wished me with a head nod.

"Thank you, Charon." I said, before pausing and turning. "You know, you aren't so bad." I smiled.

I could feel the shock Charon emitted from under his robe, but I was already on my way off the boat, so he didn't reply.

I stepped onto the shifting ground and trudged towards the gate, the spirits of the dead trailing behind me, their voices like hums in my ears.

As I approached the gates, surrounded by thick wall fences as tall as skyscrapers, I could see a huge silhouette standing in the doorway. Three pairs of eyes glowed red and I stopped where I stood, letting the spirits pass through me.

I took a deep breath. I knew the myth of Cerberus. He guarded the Underworld, and only let the dead through. On top of that, nothing ever passed through him, back out again. Those three mouths of razor sharp teeth made sure of it. But I kept thinking of Sol and Mico's face. I had to be brave.

I walked forward, towards the towering dog. He was barely visible, and not just because of the fog. I really just couldn't see him, he was like everything down here. Transparent. On his neck, I could see a chained collar that wrapped around all three heads. The other spirits were passing right under his feet, so I went to do the same.

A growl ripped from all three of their throats, causing me to cover my ears. They all bared their razor sharp teeth and bent down to my level. I tried to stop myself from shaking as I looked straight in the middle one's eyes.

He studied me for a second, before sniffing me intensely. The force of the air being sucked into his nose pulled me against his nose like a magnet, but he didn't seem to mind. After a moment or so, he paused, as if contemplating, and lifted his head, barking something ear-splitting to his other heads. They seemed to understand, and all three stood firm as more spirits approached behind me.

"What?" I finally spoke, finding my voice. "You're just gonna let me through? Just like that?" I pressed. Cerberus only snorted, seeming to nod his head.

"But that's not how it's suppose to work!" I protested.

Suddenly, beyond the gate, a familiar voice called me. "Affinity?" He called, and I watched in shock as I saw the figure of Nico standing just beyond the gate.