The Crossroads: The Stolen Memories

The Underworld

We took a bus to the entrance to the underworld with our remaining cash.  We were saving the drachmas.  I wasn't sure how we were going to get back but we would have to figure that out later.  Analyse decided she wanted to go with us.  That sort of surprised me.  It's not everyday you offer to go to the underworld with some people you just met.

We got to the entrance and I couldn't help but feel a connection.  I have been here before, I thought.

I look at the others.  Analyse seems pretty calm, Logan doesn't look very sure about going in, and I couldn't tell with Bianca.  She was getting good at hiding her emotions but I was starting to be able to read them.  It was hard to tell now but she looked somewhat scared.  She didn't have her usual confidence aura.  It was still there but it seemed faltered.  But still she was good at hiding it.  Me I didn't feel very scared.  In fact I somewhat felt at home which was messed up.

"Come on."  I said opening the door.  Inside was a man.  He was paler than snow.  He was bony like he hadn't eaten enough.  He wore a nice black and white suit.  It was fancy, but he looked dead.  It was as if someone killed him during his prom night.  I recognized him as Charon.

I walked up to him and said hello.  For a brief second I saw surprise in his eyes but he quickly hid it.

"Zoe."  He did a little bow of his head.  How did he know my name?  And why was he respecting me?

"Yes.  Um Charon, could you give us a lift across the Styx."

"Ah Zoe.  I respect what you have done for me and the underworld very much but I can't do that right now.  Hades is not expecting you and he is not in a very good mood.  Some drama with Demeter I suppose."

I wanted to ask what the heck I had done for the underworld but I decided that would not go well for me.  Plus it wasn't the time for that.

"I can pay you Charon."  He looked very convinced for a few seconds then shook his head glumly.

"You know Zoe that I would not make you pay to cross.  You just can not go right now.  But you can still pay me if you want."

I laughed a little.

"Look dead brain."  Said Bianca to Charon who was now angry.  "We need to cross that river.  We are here to stop the drama between Demeter and Hades.  We are on a quest and you are slowing us down.  If you don't let us do this people will start dying of hunger.  Lots of people, and you will be overloaded with deaths to take care of.  You don't want that do you?"

"You are lucky you are a friend of Zoe's, girl.  But you have a point.  I will let you cross, but this better not come back at me.  Also you have to pay me."

We handed him our drachmas and he led us through a long stairway.  It eventually led down to the river Styx which I felt like I recognized.  He paddled us to the other side.  The souls in the water yelling at us the whole time about how life is a despair.  Logan didn't look too good.  He face was pale and he was covering his ears.

I patted him on the shoulder.  "It's going to be all right."  I told him.

Once we got on shore Charon went back the other way and we were left to go find Persephone and Hades.  We were stopped by Cerberus the three headed dog who growled at us.  I wish I had my memories.  From what I could tell I have been down here before so maybe I had dealt with the dog before.  

"I'll distract him.  You guys keep going."  I said.  I took a step forward still feeling super weak.

"Here doggy, doggy, doggy.  Want a treat."  He barked excitingly.  "Oh yes you do want a treat, wait just a minute."  I pulled out my notebook to draw a life size biscuit.  I didn't know if I could actually make it though.  I still felt  drained, but I had to try.  I drew it and said μπισκότο σκύλου. It worked.  I picked it up and it was surprising light.  I threw it at Cerberus, whose left head caught it.  All three heads started fighting over it and I quickly ran away while they were distracted.

I could see my friends in the distance so I ran up to them.  I didn't realize what they were doing at first and then I figured it out.  They were all kneeling down.  In front of them was a man with long black hair, pale skin, and a black toga.  Next to him was a woman.  She had gorgeous long brown hair.  She had a laurel crown.  She was wearing a yellow toga with flowers all over it.  She reminded me of a summer day.  Hades and Persephone, I thought.  I followed my friends lead and kneeled down to them.