Creative Writing

Orpheus & Eurydice

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Orpheus tugged at the strap around his shoulder, carrying his instrument on his back, as he urged himself to move forward. To keep going.

How long has it been since he started his journey to get back to the Overworld? Orpheus didn't know. It felt like years.

Orpheus was trudging through the dark tunnels for at least a couple of days. He wished the journey back wasn't so long. He wished that there was some sort of light rather than walking through this seemingly endless darkness. Though, this was one of Hades' rules for Orpheus to bring Eurydice back to life.

Each step that Orpheus took, he heard the stones below his feet crumbling. And with each step, he could hear the faint steps of Eurydice following behind. She must've been further behind. Orpheus felt a lump in his throat. What if she was tired? What if she needed a break? Orpheus wanted to ask her if she was okay but he couldn't. All he could do was keep going, keep walking, and he could not look back.

Was she even really there? Or was Orpheus just hearing the echoes of his footsteps from behind into the dark abyss? Orpheus wanted to turn around and check, but if he did, then Eurydice would return back to the Underworld, under Hades, the King of the Underworld and God of the Dead, rules.

No. Orpheus couldn't risk that. He couldn't risk losing his love again. It'd just break him.

Orpheus forced himself to walk onwards.

Walking uphill was tiring. Orpheus' legs were killing him. He wanted so badly to rest, but he didn't want to wait any longer to get back home with Eurydice. He would rest as much as he could once they were back.

Orpheus couldn't understand why Hades made such conditions for their journey to the Overworld. Orpheus so badly wanted to turn around, to talk to Eurydice, but... he couldn't. He had to stay in front of her, he had to lead the way out.

Orpheus thought that he managed to convince Hades to let them go, to let them be a happy newly wed couple once Orpheus had sung his song and played his instrument, the lyre.

Clearly, he was wrong.

Orpheus looked up ahead and he saw the ray of sunlight up ahead. Orpheus' eyes widened and he felt himself smile. He sped up his pace as he realised he reached the end.

As Orpheus came close to the light, he slowed his pace down and he felt something strange in his gut. Orpheus stood put for a moment, staring up at the exit ahead.

Would Eurydice really want this? Would she really want to live life in the Overworld and cheat death like this?

What would happen if Orpheus died? Could she return to the Underworld if that happened? Or would she be doomed to stay up in the Overworld without him? Orpheus couldn't let Eurydice suffer alone up there. He couldn't part with her through death again.

Orpheus could hear the footsteps getting louder from behind him. Eurydice was reaching closer. She nearly had caught up to Orpheus.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Orpheus held his breath, there was a lump in his throat again as he stared at the light up ahead. He may have been going insane but Orpheus swore the dripping noise was getting louder, and faster.

Why was Hades testing Orpheus like this? What does it mean to fail this test? What does it mean to pass this test? The King of the Underworld couldn't possibly just let a soul leave, could he?

"Orpheus?"

Orpheus' heart ached at the sound of Eurydice's voice. Orpheus took a deep breath and he hung his head low, staring down at his feet and at the gravel down below him, at the stones surrounding him.

Orpheus swallows and he raises his head up. He slowly turns his head to look over his shoulder, slowly turning around to face Eurydice. Eurydice's eyes widen once Orpheus turns to face her.

The Overworld wasn't going to provide Eurydice with what she needed. She couldn't cheat death. The Underworld was best for her.

"Wait for me?"

Orpheus' voice doesn't tremble for a moment. Orpheus' voice is soft, it's quiet, but it's filled with warmth. With love.

Orpheus keeps his eyes on Eurydice. She's slowly fading away. Her eyes are tearing up and that makes Orpheus want to hold her and comfort her, but... she was fading.

"I will."

Eurydice's voice is much quieter than Orpheus'.

They hold eye contact and Orpheus smiles at Eurydice. As Eurydice managed to smile back at Orpheus, she disappeared right before Orpheus.

Eurydice was back in the Underworld, under Hades' command.

Orpheus wholeheartedly believes that Eurydice would wait for him. That she would wait for the day that Orpheus would return to the Underworld, this time without getting there with a challenge.

One day, Orpheus and Eurydice would reunite. This just wasn't the way that it was meant to play out.

Orpheus looked into the darkness down below for a few more moments before he turned around, where the light was. Orpheus treaded up towards the exit, feeling less excited than before but a warm feeling in his heart that he had made the right choice.

Orpheus exited one of the entrances to the Underworld and he blinked as the sun shone bright and nearly blinded him for a moment. Orpheus brought his hand up, covering his eyes before he blinked and looked at the green grass and all the flowers that were thriving. Orpheus brought his hand down and he looked around.

Spring has returned.

Orpheus looked over as he noticed a figure. Orpheus looked at the woman who stood there, smiling sweetly at him but her eyes shone bright with sympathy. Orpheus recognised the Goddess, she was there down in the Underworld when her husband had given Orpheus that test to lead Eurydice out of the Underworld.

Orpheus bowed down to Lady Persephone and once he stood back up, she seemed to have gone. Orpheus looked to where she stood before and saw red roses sprouting from the ground. Orpheus felt that aching feeling in his chest again. Orpheus heard the chirps of some birds and he looked over to where he heard the singing. Orpheus stared at the two yellow canaries, chirping as they cuddled up close with each other, both seemingly happy and in love. Orpheus felt a small smile form on his face and he began to walk on.

Orpheus passed the test. He had proven his love for Eurydice, just as Hades proved his love for Persephone. By letting their lover go and having faith that they would see each other again when the time was right. 

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Word count: 1135