"I want to feature him. A. Faulkerson."
Nicomaine Dei Mendoza is a young budding journalist. A daredevil one as others often describes her. She always takes the most challenging or even the most dangerous assignments. She always loves to push herself to the limit. Whether it is dealing with high-profile criminals or rebels, she never backs out. Once she is intrigued with something, she will not stop until she'll be able to investigate them and uncover the mystery behind it.
"Are you sure you want to feature that famous yet elusive mystery novelist?" Their editor-in-chief asked her for the nth time that day.
"You have asked me that several times. I bet you know the answer already."
"Can you choose a different one? I have qualms on this. That guy is only known for his pseudonym. He hasn't even shown his face even once despite the popularity of his novels. He is an even greater mystery himself."
"EXACTLY." Dei's eyes lit up with excitement. Isn't it a nice idea if I landed an exclusive feature about him?"
"He could be dangerous. Don't you hear rumors about him?" her EIC reached over her desk and whispered, "he might be as dark as his characters, aren't you scared?"
Dei chuckled and looked at her EIC in disbelief. "We are journalists. We don't believe in rumors. By the way, you know me... I am stubborn. I only came to notify you, not get an approval. Thanks."
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Hades is often perceived as a hideous being but no one has really seen him. People are just terrified because he is associated with the underworld. I bet you are the same. Your fascination with dark themes causes people to have chills running down their spine when they hear your name. But no one has seen you so how can they judge right?
So am I like the writer from the underworld? Will you be my Persephone then?
Dei almost bolted out of her seat when she saw the reply to her chat. She had any available information about him checked and traced until she was able to find an online forum he used to participate before. She tried her luck and it seems to be going along her side.
Can I?
Dei replied immediately. She was impatiently tapping her fingers on her keyboard, waiting for a response. And then... one beep...
Meet me on 3rd street at midnight.
BINGO.
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Midnight, 3rd St.
The street was dark except for the bright full moon that illuminated a seemingly abandoned mansion at the end of the road. The atmosphere is eerie for someone stranger to this place but for Dei, she didn't feel an ounce of fear. Instead, there was excitement and anticipation pumping in her veins.
"So Ms. Persephone, there you are..." a deep voice from nowhere called her attention. She turned around and she saw a handsome man with fair skin that glows under the moonlight.
She was astounded upon seeing such an innocent-looking face to be behind those twisted and dark tales of mysteries. "Hades isn't that hideous after all..."
He is a nice combination of danger and mystery that she wants and like how the moon pulls the ocean tide, she was helplessly drawn and attracted to him.
"I heard you are a journalist and you want to make me as a subject," he said which surprised Dei.
"How did you—"
"I may have kept myself away in my own "underworld" but it does not mean I don't have ways to know more about your outside world, my Persephone." He said with a knowing smile.
"Will you allow me that?" Dei asked.
"I have one condition, though.... And that is... if you're willing to be my subject too..." He said as he walked slowly towards her.
"Subject..." she repeated, like she was in a trance. Watching him getting closer had her frozen on her spot. She was simply entranced by him.
"Yes, my subject." And by the shadows, his eyes darkened and a wicked smile crept upon his face as he led her to the old mansion.
Persephone has been captured.
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She did not know why those people in white wanted to lock her in this room. She did not know why they have to separate him from her. She did not know why they take him away and leave her alone within these four walls of seclusion.
Hades would want her Persephone back! Persephone would find a way to go to Hades!
Down the pocket of her pants, she pulled a handful of tablets she has been secretly hoarding for several days. She looked at them with a smile on her face.
Pomegranate seeds... These will lead me back to you.
She glanced at the sight of the bright moon upon the lone tiny window in her room.
"I'll be with you soon..."
With the moonlight as the sole witness, she downed all the tablets and several minutes later, she landed with a thud on the floor.
Then there was silence.
