Night Chronicles (Volume One)

The Book of Hades

The midterm exams are coming nearer and nearer and every student at the academy is already in a hurry. Anxiety kicks in as rumors spread that the exam will not be easy. The library is now also packed with students cramming to finish their projects, thesis, and even review for the exams. While the top students in each section are being gathered because they will be taken to the museum for a special field trip; and I am one of them.

As we rode the bus, my best friend forced herself to sit beside me regardless of my continuous effort to convince her that I need to be alone.

"Violet, please... No one wants me to sit beside them." She pleaded, so I looked around hoping to see another vacant seat, but everyone's seated already and all the seats are already occupied as well so I have no choice but to just let her. I sighed deeply and nodded as a sign that I am letting her sit beside me, and that gesture made her grin victoriously. "Just don't be too noisy." I coldly said then looked outside the window as the bus started to move.

The journey to the museum was not that long, but I was surprised that my best friend Rose was able to keep her mouth shut for the entire trip. Something must have triggered her to be silent because she's not usually like this. I tried to walk towards her but eventually stopped when our guide took us to the first artifact that we are going to see today.

"Alright, I want everyone to gather around..." She started, "...This is the first artifact that we will be seeing today. And this is also the most prized item here in the museum."

"What is it miss?" One of the students asked as I made my way to the front, then a familiar feeling of recognition kicked in as I got a closer view of the item.

"It's the book of Hades." I answered flatly.

"That's correct. It was said that this book keeps the secrets of the underworld." She proudly said but everyone turned their gaze on me when I said "No. It doesn't."

"Excuse me?" The guide said, but I got back to my senses and excused myself not knowing that my best friend followed me.

"What was that all about?" She asked worriedly. "You wouldn't understand." I said with tears in my eyes as I started to walk away.

"Try telling me then." She said with conviction, and after a few seconds I finally gave in and said: "That book is not the real one. The real book of Hades is with me. And it doesn't contain the secrets of the underworld. The book is written by Apollo, the god of literature. And it tells the love story of my parents, Persephone the goddess of spring, and the god of the underworld and its riches: Hades himself." Then secretly showed her the real book.