Whispers Of The Underworld

💀🌹Chapter 20🌹💀

Apollo and Artemis left Hades' room, their hearts heavy with worry. They quietly closed the door behind them and walked down the dimly lit hallway of the Underworld. The air was thick with sorrow, a palpable reminder of the recent tragedy.

As they reached the exit, Apollo sighed deeply. "It's been a week, Artemis. He hasn't moved from that chair," he said, his voice laced with concern.

Artemis nodded, her expression equally troubled. "I know. He hasn't eaten, he hasn't slept... he just sits there, holding that photo of him and Andre," she replied, her voice breaking slightly. "I'm really worried about him, Apollo. This isn't like Hades at all."

Apollo ran a hand through his hair, his frustration and helplessness evident. "After... Andre... He's completely stopped taking care of himself. He won't speak to anyone. We can't just stand by and watch him waste away like this."

Artemis glanced back toward Hades' room, her eyes filled with sadness. "I don't know what to do. How do you help someone who's lost their will to live?" she asked softly.

Apollo shook his head, his eyes downcast. "I don't know. But we can't give up on him. Hades has always been there for us, for everyone. We need to find a way to reach him, to help him see that there's still something worth living for."

As they exited the Underworld, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to lift slightly, but the weight of their concern remained. They walked in silence, each lost in their thoughts, trying to figure out how to bring Hades back from the brink of despair.

Meanwhile, in his room, Hades sat in his chair, his body motionless, his eyes staring blankly ahead. The once vibrant and powerful god of the Underworld was now a shadow of his former self. His hair was unkempt, his face gaunt, and his clothes hung loosely on his frame.

In his hands, he clutched the photo of him and Andre in the garden, their smiles frozen in time. He hugged it to his chest, as if trying to hold on to the memories of happier days. The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the occasional sound of his ragged breathing.

Days passed in a blur of monotony. The Underworld's usual activity seemed to fade into the background as Hades remained in his self-imposed exile. Visitors came and went, their attempts to reach him met with silence. Nyx, Thanatos, and even Persephone had all tried to console him, but their words fell on deaf ears.

Hades was trapped in his grief, unable to see a way out. The pain of losing Andre was a constant, gnawing ache in his heart. He felt as if a part of him had died along with Andre, leaving him hollow and empty.

As the week drew to a close, Apollo and Artemis returned to the Underworld, determined to try once more. They found Hades in the same position, unmoved and unresponsive.

Apollo stepped forward, kneeling beside Hades' chair. "Hades, please. You need to eat something. You need to take care of yourself," he implored, his voice filled with concern.

Hades didn't respond, his eyes never leaving the photo in his hands. Artemis joined Apollo, her hand gently resting on Hades' shoulder. "We know you're hurting, Hades. But Andre wouldn't want you to suffer like this. He'd want you to live," she said softly.

There was no reaction, no sign that Hades had even heard their words. The weight of their helplessness was almost too much to bear. They exchanged a worried glance, knowing that time was running out.

"We can't give up on him, Artemis," Apollo said quietly, his resolve hardening. "We have to find a way to reach him, to remind him of who he is and what he means to all of us."

Artemis nodded, her determination matching his. "We'll find a way, Apollo. We have to."

As they left Hades' room once more, they vowed to do whatever it took to bring their friend back from the edge of despair. The road ahead would be difficult, but they knew that they couldn't let Hades succumb to his grief. For the sake of Andre's memory, and for the sake of the Underworld, they had to find a way to heal his broken heart.