Hades

globes

The globe between my fingers was blurry. Tears were making everything blurry and watery.

Hades had left. I had peeked to make sure. The door was shut.

Slowly I leaned back in the chair.

I missed home. I missed my life, and I missed knowing where I was. Lucinda was kind, and Hades was, yeah, he didn't try to be mean or morbid on purpose.

Was it so strange that I was overwhelmed? I longed to get my life back.

I put the globe back on the desk and tapped at the bigger globe. It had the side of an actual globe of the world.

It sprung to life. I gasped without sound. That came as a surprise.

It had a keyboard, which seemed so weird, yet it also had the option to just speak to it.

Someone knocked on the door.

How the fuck did you turn this thing off?

I tapped at the screen twice, as if it was a smartphone, and it went back to its old-ish brown color.

"Come in," I answered.

Lucinda peeked in. A huge smile was on her face. "Are you ready to go shopping?"

I sighed. "Yeah." Might as well get it over with, so I could hide in my room or explore the castle. It seemed so empty, yet it lacked the horror feeling.

I got to my feet and followed Lucinda.

The town center was a small ride away. Lucinda drove a small chariot type of thing, and parked outside the center.

The center had a mall, with people milling around, chatting and talking, and leaving with bags and ice cream.

Lucinda held my hand, as if I needed guidance. She'd explained I couldn't see everyone, given some might be people I knew, and they couldn't see me here. But she didn't think there was any, so we were safe.

The store was huge, and it matched my style. Leather jacket, tight jeans and different shirts and dresses in dark colors. I found what I needed, Lucinda paid, and within two hours we were riding back towards the castle.

Lucinda chattered away.

"Do you need help with the bags?" She asked, helpful as ever, as we reached the castle.

There were a lot. "Nah, I'm good. Thanks though."

She smiled.

I grabbed all the bags – they were heavier than expected, because Lucinda made me buy a shitload of clothes – and walked up the stairs. The way to my room I knew.

Within the confines of the room, I let the bags fall to the floor.

There was a different, medium sized globe in the room, now that I knew what it was. I tapped it, and a loudspeaker appeared. I smiled and searched the music. There weren't any bands that were alive. Dead people? Plenty, but no one still living.

I made a playlist of random songs, the titles fit my mood. With the music playing, I was able to loose myself in the process of putting the clothes away. The pajamas were removed, and I put the tank and shorts I'd bought on the bed. Those types of clothes were more me.

Lucinda knocked on the door and put two sandwiches on the desk before leaving again.

With all the purchases put away, I sat down and ate a sandwich, sipping water as I went.