Do You believe in Santa? ✔

chapter 8

In a Dark and gloomy place Alexis and Daniel lie there on top of a black floor that is wasting away. Everywhere you look the black floor sits on different levels and each part eventually cracks falling into the dark abyss.

Daniel wakes up groggily. "Alexis what the hell happened?.." He blinks suddenly and looks around at his surroundings. In fear he quickly shoves Alexis awake. "Um Alexis..I think you'd better see this."

Alexis smacks his hand "Daniel just leave me to sleep.." He yells at her again "Alexis! wake up".

Alexis groans "Okay..Okay I'm up!". She swallows suddenly whilst taking in her surroundings, "Where are we?."

Daniel looks at her "You tell me..After all, this is all your fault."

Alexis gets up to her feet and snaps "You can't possibly blame me for all this..I didn't bring you here remember?."

A voice suddenly booms from the shadows "No But I did."

Alexis strutters "Who are you?"

"I have many names.. Hades,The Devil,Lucifer,Apollyon,Abaddon... You can call me whatever you wish."

Daniel yells "Where are you...Show yourself you coward!".

The clouds part as if they were magically controlled by this evil force and at the same time the groud shakes.

Alexis and Daniel blink unsure of what they are seeing. Mist covers The Devil slightly making it hard for Daniel and Alexis to see what he really looks like.

All of a sudden the mist clears and Alexis and Daniel both see Hades The god of the underworld. Alexis shakes her head. "Daniel are you seeing exactly what I'm seeing?."

Daniel nods "It's Hades.. but how I don't understand, He's just a myth isn't he?."

The voice booms angrily "You Humans are such fools.. You Believe I am a myth do you?, Does that mean you believe the same with Santa?."

Alexis and Daniel looks at each other un sure what to think. Daniel pushes her angrily "I told you this was your fault.. I told you this is what happens to those who do not believe in Santa."

Alexis snaps "Okay.. Enough with the I told you so's already.."

Alexis's mind was whirring "Why is that that we can see him change suddenly from the Devil to hades?.." Then it dawns on her and she elbows her brother hard. "Daniel I got it.. The reason we can see him as Hades is because we both enjoy reading about Greek myth."

Daniel nodded "Yeah but that's only because Granddad was supposedly half Greek."

Alexis rolls her eyes at him "That's not the point, He thinks we believe in Greek myths right?."

Daniel nodded "Right.."

Alexis continues on a roll now. "But he thinks we don't believe in Santa."

Daniel shakes his head "No he thinks you Don't believe in Santa.."

Alexis sighs "Yeah ...okay that's true.." She turns to the Devil "But your trying to tell us that all these things are real.. The Greek gods and Santa are basically real."

The Devil chuckles and nods with his viscous horns. "So..You finally figured it all out..."

She grins at her brother "See.. I'm not just a pretty face after all.."

Daniel mutters under his breath "No.. your just an idoit." He turns to the Devil "What's going to happen to us now?. Will you let us go?" Daniel pleads with the Devil "Can't you see my sister made a stupid mistake?".

The Devil considers all this in silence. Daniel looks down at the floor that he is standing on and notices already the floor itself has begun to crack. He bites his lip nervously wondering how much time they have before they too fall into the deep Abyss.

The Devil finally speaks. "I have two options. One, I can let you fall into the Deep Abyss where all the murderer's and Titan's live or I can let you go." He empties his throat. "But do I believe you have learnt your lesson?".

Daniel nodded "Tell him Alexis. I'm not dying with you for something that you've caused..Ive got far too many plans."

Alexis frowns at her brother "Your going to pay for that."

Alexis turns to the Devil. "I have learned a lot from this experience but no offence and all that but I really don't want to go through this again or meet you ever again."

The Devil smiles "I have made my decision. I will return you from you from whence you came  but under one condition."

Daniel nudges his sister and shows her the crack in the floor. Alexis replies to the Devil. "Anything... I'll do anything."
Daniel groans "I knew their would be  some kind of condition!". He frowns at his sister "See sis.. Everything you do has consequences!.. Like I said I'm not dying with you because of something you've done." He thinks to himself "After this I refuse to clean up any of her mess ever again."
The Devil grins clearly enjoying this "Never disbelieve anything again."

They both nodded to the devil agreeing." The devil sighed "One last thing before you go.. If you could swear on the river Styx that would put my mind at rest and make it legally binding."

Alexis and Daniel nodded and raised their Right hand. "I swear on the River Styx I will never Disbelieve any myths or legends ever again."

A crack of lightening flashed across the sky the promise is now binding. The Devil nodded pleased with himself "Just because you were not born when they happened.. Does not mean it isn't true"

He added finally "Now If I were you I'd get back on Santa's Good list...Goodbye children I have a feeling we will be seeing each other again."

A flash of light flashed over them and suddenly they find themselves back in the hospital ward where they were originally.

They see their mother running towards the panicking.."Where on earth have you been?".

Daniel could see his mother's disappointment in her face and was unsure what to say when his sister spoke "Don't blame Daniel.. I fancied a walk."

Her mother sighs in relief "Well at least your safe.."

Daniel sighs with thoughts going around his head remembering the custody battle between his mum and dad. "Mum I've been thinking.."

His mum looks at her son.. "What about?."

Daniel gulps wondering if he's made the right decision. "I've decided I don't want to live with Dad anymore.. I want to live with you."

His mother blinks back the tears "Good..good .. I'll be right back I um.. need to visit the bathroom."

When she was gone Alexis hits her brother "What did you do that for?. I thought you wanted to give dad a chance..?"

Daniel shrugs "I changed my mind.. Someone's gotta look after you both and make sure you don't do anything stupid like making the devil mad."

They both grin and burst into laughter both so happy to be alive. The nurse comes over to discharge Alexis. Daniel helps his Sister up as they both meet their mother by the Toilets and together they disappear off into the sunset ready to enjoy their lives together.