Alpha's Insanity

Chapter Nineteen

Whispering voices of lost souls echoed off of the walls of the Underworld coming from different directions, screams sounded every few seconds, each more piercing than the last. Red liquid that gave off the metallic stench of blood dripped from the top of the "walls" and ran down the skulls and into the black water of the River Styx. Usually Ryder enjoyed the relaxing sound of lapping water but there was something dangerous about the sound of the River Styx, something sinister that sent haunting images into his mind, images of the most painful of deaths.

A scream sounded as though a soul was gaining speed and flying towards Ryder before he felt his heart stop for a couple of beats and his blood run cold in his veins turning him a deadly cold. He inhaled and exhaled short spurts of breath until he fully regained his composure and he noticed that Kharon seemed completely unaffected yet completely aware of what had just happened to Ryder.

"The murderers are currently being punished at this hour," Kharon informed after seeing the concerned face of Ryder, "I believe that they are being whipped today with flogs coated in barbed wire."

"Won't that kill them?" Ryder asked for it was possible to kill your soul even after death in the Underworld.

"No, they are forced to drink water from the fountain which ensures they can feel the impact of their punishment but they can never die," Kharon continued to push the boat slowly along the Styx.

"But they wish for death?" Ryder questioned although he already knew the answer. Kharon chuckled darkly.

"They beg for death but they won't be granted it until their punishment has been entirely fulfilled," Kharon explained.

"How long does that take?"

"That depends on the sinner, Alpha of Force, for some, such as Damien when he reaches here will never be granted true death- only pain. Those who have committed sins such as stealing when they do not need to, they will only serve a decade at the maximum before their soul is passed back to the Moon Goddess for he to re-judge where they will either go to heaven or they will face true death. They only work as slaves; they don't feel pain like those who have committed serious sins."

A small wooden dock began to come into view in the distance which indicated that Ryder would have to venture onto the next part of his journey. The grass on the shore that they was approaching was sparse and it was blades of black grass that looked similar to needles poking out of the ground and the ominous appearance of the needles only increased when the torch light captured the needles and glinted in the light.

"Travel west when you get to the shore until you reach Persephone's garden which has the River of Hades running through it," Kharon instructed Ryder.

"What do I do when I get there? How do I retrieve the water without coming in contact with it?" Ryder asked preparing to get off of the boat in just a few moments.

"You will be greeted by the Lady Persephone herself and perhaps Lord Hades if he is with his Queen but I must warn you Alpha Ryder, speak to both with the utmost respect. Lord Hades will not take kindly to anybody disrespecting his Queen or himself," Kharon warned and with a sharp nod of the head Ryder stepped out of the boat. He turned around and noticed that the boat along with Kharon had already begun to fade into blackness.

Soft crunching beneath his feet rung out around him as his feet crunched on the grass. A slight gasp left his mouth as a naked woman scurried past him with a gaunt appearance and scars down her back.

"Wait!" Ryder called out to her. She stopped her scurries and turned around to face him, keeping her eyes on the ground.

"Yes sir," she answered hushed as she looked over her shoulder as if something or someone was coming to hurt her.