Straight On Til Morning

Chapter Three: Visits From Strange Men

“Put the bat down, Olivia, my dear. I’m not here to harm you.” The stranger’s voice presented an unspoken ‘yet’.

The man’s back was still to me, so I couldn’t see his face, but his voice was hypnotically silky. I didn’t know how he knew my name. Or that I was holding a baseball bat.

“If it’s all the same, I’d rather hold on to it, thanks. Who are you, and what are you doing in my room?” I tried to keep my voice from wobbling.

The stranger turned to face me, clasping his hands behind his back. He was taller than either Harlan or Hunter, and I had thought them taller than most. His hair was black and curled over his ears. He wore a suit, all in black. His eyes were the only real trace of color on him. They flickered with varying shades of green and gold. I felt my grip on the bat loosen slightly, as he began to speak.

“I have many names. The one most familiar to you might be Hades. I’m here to help you discover how to heal your friend, Harlan, the lost one.” His eyes were sad, and so deep that they frightened me.

I began slowly backing up. Clearly, this guy was crazy, and somehow he got into my room, and found my name. My eyes flitted over to the window. Yup, it was still open from last night. That must have been how Mr. Crazy got in.

“I already told you, Olivia, I’m not going to harm you. If you’d like, I can prove to you my otherworldliness.”

I wavered momentarily, but soon found my resolve. “HUNTER, come here!!” I called.

I heard him racing down the hall. I blinked, but the stranger was gone in a poof of smoke.

“What’s the matter??” He burst into the room.

“I- there was a man here a moment ago! He was right here in my room! He said his name was Hades, like the Greek god!” I gesticulated frantically.

“Olivia... You’re not feeling well, are you? I think you and Harlan have gotten some weird kind of virus.” Hunter’s voice was full of sympathy.

“They are not ill.” The stranger’s voice was heard before his form came into view, whirling into existence in a cloud of black smoke.

“Holy...” Hunter gasped as Hades popped into being in front of us.

“I told you who I am, Olivia. Are you prepared to believe me now?” He looked down at us kindly.

I nodded, afraid that if I spoke it would just be an incoherent mess of disbelieving and curse words.

“Excellent. Now, listen well. Your friend, Harlan is lost. His soul has been... harvested. One of my own kind has committed this heinous act, and that is why I am here to help.”

“Can we get it back?” This was from Hunter, as I was still incapacitated by surprise.

“It will be a long and terrible journey, but in a word: yes.”

“Tell us how.” I finally spoke.

“First, I must tell you who. You were visited by a small male child yesterday, yes?” I nodded in reply. “That was the once-great god Pan. In this realm, I believe you know him as Peter Pan.”

My eyes widened in surprise.

“He is nothing like the stories you humans tell. At least not anymore. Once, he was the god of the wild, protecting nature and guarding it from the greed of mankind. He was the god of carnal desire, frolicking in nature with his many nymphs. Once he was kind and benevolent, a protector of all creatures. But, as mankind’s audacity grew, and you humans took more and more of the wild places, transforming them into concrete jungles, Pan found himself shrinking, both in stature and presence. He did not like this.” Hades’ voice was bored and silky, and though he sounded disinterested in the whole thing, I suspected more was at stake here. I was not disappointed when he continued. 

“The loss of his status was too much for him, and he turned to trickery and evil ways. His latest practice is soul harvesting, and that is what has happened to your friend. As the god of death, this is not something I will stand for, and that is why I need for you, Olivia, to kill Pan.”

“Me?” I squeaked. How could I kill a greek god??