by Candy Crum
“I have to save him!” Jess said, running back toward the water.
The gryphon dropped down in front of her, knocking Jess back with her large beak. Jess pushed forward again, but the gryphon was not allowing her to go any further. Tears began to fall down her cheeks as her frustration and worry consumed her. Jess gasped as she thought of something.
“Attack the Hydra,” Jess said. “Attack it. Repeatedly. Don’t give up. Force it to let go of him, then lure it out to me!”
The gryphon’s feathered brows furrowed.
“I’m the descendant of Hera,” Jess said. “I didn’t know who I was before, but I do now. I should be able to stop that Hydra. It might not have plans to kill Cass, but it could if the witches lose control of it, or just by accident. Attack it. Don’t let up.”
The gryphon turned and dove into the water, her powerful wings allowing her to cut through the harsh current. Jess could faintly hear screams from the innocents behind her, behind the wall of flames.
The wall of fire had begun to spread, moving towards wrecked vehicles and igniting the spilled fuel. The people began running further away, hoping to escape the dangerous explosions that were about to occur. Lightning webbed across the sky as the wind picked up. Continuous thunder began to roll, one boom right after another. It sounded as though the sky were growling.
The wind howled, knocking several of the weaker pedestrians over. A few younger and stronger men stopped to help them up as others assisted the men in piggybacking those that could not walk on their own. The wind only made the flames worse, spreading them down the field and interstate as more fuel caught fire. It was inevitable that the gas tanks would soon be next, creating one violent explosion after another. Hundreds of vehicles taking turns blowing.
One of the men in the front slowed as he saw a tanker truck parked. He had no idea how long it would take for the flames to reach it, but he knew it would be disastrous when they did.
“Run!” he shouted. “There’s a fuel tanker up here! Run as fast as you can!”
Screams erupted as the people ran terrified down the interstate. The lightning touched down in several places off in the fields as more webbed across the sky. The people had no idea what was happening on the other side of the wall of fire, but knew that it must have been a terrible place to be as a loud roar ripped through the skies.
“Krónos akoúsoun tin ékklisí mas gia voítheia!”
Jess could hear the loud chanting of the witches from where she stood. She wanted to run to the sides of her friends and help, but she knew that she had to save Cass first. The gryphon burst out of the water, a large fireball quickly following. She landed on the bank next to Jess only moments before Cass came flying out of the water, landing hard on the ground and rolling several times.
“Cass!” she yelled, running to his side. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” he replied, his voice forced as he struggled to catch his breath. “I was somehow able to create a barrier around me down there. The Hydra wasn’t able to touch me until the gryphon came. That thing grabbed me with its tail again and slung me out. What is all that chanting?”
Jess looked over her shoulder. “It’s the witches. Something’s happening. The wind has picked up and it looks like a bad storm is coming.”
“Jess! Cass!” Joe called. “We need you!”
Jess stood, extending her hand to Cass and helping him up. As they turned to run, the Hydra rose from the water, a loud roar escaping its many heads. Jess no longer wanted to engage the Hydra, after having seen it up close and so angry, but she believed that she had no other choice. It had emerged in full from the water and it was able to kill anyone that it wanted if it so chose to.
Jess’ entire body shook as she stepped forward, but she felt something growing inside of herself as well. The gryphon stepped forward to stop her from walking any further as the Hydra let loose another loud roar, but Jess halted her with just a raise of her hand. The gryphon stepped back, allowing Jess to pass.
The Hydra came rushing out of the water, sending shockwaves of fear through Jess’ entire body. She used what little knowledge that she had of where she’d come from, and what little power she felt growing within her, and stood firm.
Jess stopped in the Hydra’s path. Planting her feet shoulder-width apart as she locked eyes with the center head. Her hands opened at her sides as her will grew. Just as Darius had earlier, Jess pushed, her power bursting forth like an invisible wave. The Hydra roared in protest, all of its heads beginning to scream as her will was forced upon them. The Hydra’s steps slowed before they stopped altogether just a few feet in front of her. She could feel a hum of energy reaching from her to the beast mere feet ahead as it took hold. Finally, Jess felt it encompass the Hydra in full, having wrapped around it like a blanket and subdued it. The Hydra lowered all of its heads and its front legs lowered as it bowed before Jess in total submission.
“What the…” Cass asked from behind her, his eyes wide. “How...”
“Did you just see that?” Brittany asked, referring to what Jess had just done.
“I need to start now,” Kylie said. “I’m ready. Get them over here.”
“What are you going to do?” Joe asked.
“I’ve gone over it enough in my head. I’ve waited too long and I can’t wait any longer. The spirits are gathering and ready.”
“Krónos akoúsoun tin ékklisí mas gia voítheia,” the witches still chanted.
The wind blew even harder as lightning crashed to the ground closer to the group. The water from the river rushed by, blowing up on the bank in large splashes.
“Their opening a portal!” Brittany said.
Blue light glowed from within the barrier, the center spreading open to reveal a deep blackness.
“I have to do this now!” Kylie said.
“Just go!” Joe shouted.
Kylie looked around her. “All of you!” she shouted to the spirits. “Link hands!”
The spirits followed her command, linking hands as they formed a massive circle around the witches, the barrier, and the Fated. Jess and Cass managed to run up just before the circle had closed.
“What are you doing?” Alee asked.
Kylie locked eyes with the witches, both of them smiling from within their barrier. Kylie’s rage grew, but she gave a very dark smile of her own. Ariyah’s eyes widened as she broke her chant, ready to protest, but it was too late.
“I’m opening the portal to Hades,” Kylie said, voice final.
Kylie reached out, grabbing on to the linked arm of one of the spirits. Pain seared through her as a funnel of wind began spiraling around everyone. Her soul opened and then opened more. Just as the witches had been doing before, Kylie was using and widening the portal within herself. A black aura began to appear in her chest, spreading to reveal a black chasm within. The pull intensified as the spirits around her began to get sucked in.
The barrier around the witches faded, as did their portal, leaving them standing there shaking in fear. They tried to step back, but the funnel of wind around them kept them still. Kylie stepped forward, unfazed by what was happening around her as she stood directly in front of the witches. Both Ariyah and Chelsea wept, their tears running down their dirt and blood stained faces.
“Many innocent men, women, and children died here today,” Kylie said. Her voice strong as a deathly reverberation echoed around it. “For your crimes against humanity, you will live the rest of your days locked within the depths of the Underworld.”
Kylie grabbed both of them by the wrist, the portal growing wildly as it pulled in every spirit in the circle. The witches screamed as the vacuum pulled them inside, too. Kylie stared as she backed away, looking into a smoky archway, almost twice her height. It was blacker than the darkest night she’d ever seen in the middle, the edges smoking black and red as the wind still whipped around them.
The pain was gone as she stared into the blackness. That was her freedom. That archway was th
e portal to Hades that had been closed for so long because the gods had lost their power. Hades, himself, had lost his power.
Unable to resist, Kylie stepped forward, the blackness welcoming her inside. She walked, not knowing where she was, or where she’d end up. As she stepped out on the other side, she looked around, taking in the new world around her.
It was dark, but not completely. Torches were lit along the edges, the light dancing off of tiny stones within the earth. Ahead of her was a dark river. The River Styx. Kylie walked forward, leaning down at its edge. The water was black. She was unable to tell how shallow, or deep it was. Still, even in its deathly color, she found it somehow beautiful.
Kylie heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see her friends stepping through the portal. She smiled, running back to them.
“Did you guys get sucked in? Or did you just walk through?” Kylie asked.
“We weren’t going to let you wander Hades alone,” Joe said.
“Where is everyone?” Alee asked, looking around. “You just sent everyone here. Shouldn’t they be waiting for the ferry?”
Kylie shrugged. “I have no idea how any of this works.”
“History and fairy tales have skewed reality. Only those awaiting judgment must travel the long winding River Styx,” a feminine voice said from behind them.
They turned to see Agatha standing there, a smile on her face.
“Those that were innocent are immediately judged and move on to paradise. Those who were cold and evil will move on to the depths of Hades where they will spend eternity paying for their crimes.”
“What about those that were sent here alive?” Kylie asked.
“There have been many that have passed through here,” Agatha said. “There are places in Hades where the living can survive, as Persephone once did. She is still here, though she has fallen with the rest of the gods. There is much for you to learn. Shall we begin the tour?”
“We get a tour?” Alee asked. “Of Hades? I’m not sure if that sounds fun or not.”
Agatha smiled. “Of course you do! I am your tour guide. You are all safe now and cannot be harmed. Now I can tell you all who you are, where you come from, and where you must begin your journey. Welcome to Hades, Fated ones.”
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