Hey guys! For all those who are actually reading this, this is my first fanfiction so it might not be the best work I will do.
I would like to thank my friend, Storm-Eyes-Osprey for helping me out and doing the cover. You rock, Storm! (By the way, check her stuff out if you haven't seen it already.)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the universe or characters from the original Percy Jackson series.
Uuuuurrrrggghh… where am I?
"Mom?" I shout almost in an angry tone; my pyjamas are soaking…
Wait. I'm not wearing pyjamas. Why am I wearing clothes?
What the hell is this place?
I take a deep breath, stand up, and observe my surroundings. The place is shrouded in a darkness so deep, it's almost deafening, like I can hear it. My head feels fuzzier than usual, that's for sure. My face is covered in a cold layer of sweat, as if I woke up from a nightmare…
Or am I in the nightmare...
Suddenly, two glowing dots penetrate the darkness, causing me to squint in order to focus. Jeez, that light is blinding! Am I outside? Mom must be starting the car. But why? There's no street lamps on either. While attempting to figure out my location, the lights gradually move towards me.
"Who's there?" I cry out. Well that totally sounded manly. Nice one, Ben.
The lights grow closer and closer. They're not lights. They're eyes. Attached to a hideous, disfigured body. As I am frozen in fear, the creature starts towering over me like a predator… that found its prey. I try to scream, speak, just say something – but I can't. I can't do anything.
It seemed to be roughly wrapped in bandages, but what could be seen of his body was enough to make a grown man cry. Hanging pieces of rotting, burned flesh hung on to it, exposing bone in some places. The rancid smell of decomposition makes me try to gag, but even that is impossible for me to achieve. Glowing yellow slits stare down at me, filled with hatred and anger. All of a sudden, a thin, twig-like arm extends to show a letter in its hand. Cautiously, I reach out to take the flimsy envelope from the creatures grasp. Touching my fingers to the paper, the creature slowly lets go, as if it had been holding the letter for so long, its extremities on its hand had seized into place.
"Is this for me? Or do you want me to send it or something…" I ask.
Silence. Of course. Taking that as an invitation to open the letter, I reach around and tear open the envelope. It comes off easily, almost soft to the touch. Classy, extravagant handwriting is scrawled across paper, almost too crazy to read. Whatever it is, it must be important. Dyslexia doesn't help, either, but this needs to be read. Here goes:
Benjamin Farrow,
The Fields of Punishment is a horrible place, filled with pain, fear and torture. If you value your life, and your afterlife, then obey my commands.
One does not simply escape the Underworld with bribery or blackmail. It takes lots of skill, practice, and a genius mind to get out with what I can say is ease. You Benjamin, are far from exceeding my level of power. However, this does not mean I can't teach you. You are young, but have a mind like no other. If you want to escape eternal pain, then do as I say. I do not wish to be spending the rest of eternity in Hades' disgusting prison, and neither do you, I would assume. My one request, is for you to find a replacement for me to go to the Underworld, so I can exist peacefully among the other spirits – or terrorize those who ridiculed my fine work in the magic circle. If you do not succeed, then you shall take my place as a prisoner, lost in the Underworld, suffering from excruciating pain and terror.
I shall follow you in your dreams until I find someone I think is an acceptable replacement. If you do not follow my orders, then I will personally visit you and murder you. Between now and then, I will teach you useful ways of trickery, illusion and deadly traps to assist you in defeating your opponent. Hopefully, this will make my existence here significantly easier. No need to get my hands dirty.
Best of luck to you,
Sir Ennis Farrow
A few seconds pass by as I take it all in. Hades? Fields of Punishment? Murder?
"Are you Ennis?" I ask, confused with who this thing is. Is he just a messenger, or the man who wants to kill me?
It sighs, in a way that sounds like exasperation. Of course it was Ennis. Oh man, why do I have to be stuck with a murderer? Suddenly, I remember something. His full name.
Ennis Farrow.
He's a RELATIVE? I have a murderous relative, who's dead, right here in front of me! Who has he killed, his family, his wife? No, I wouldn't exist. While I am trying to calm myself down, Ennis holds up a quill and another piece of paper. I take it with caution. It reads:
Care to assist me?
Signature:_
His eyes burn through me as I consider my chances. If I don't sign this, I will be sent to an eternity of pain, if I do sign this, I may have to kill someone innocent, or even worse, someone I love. However, they may be someone evil, like a terrorist, or a kidnapper. I sign the note.
Ennis disappears in a puff of smoke.