Chapter 2
The Brink
This was the great hall in the Underworld, and in the centre once stood the familiar chessboard where the ruler of this world plotted his attack on the paradise in the clouds.
Alas, his best laid plans had been foiled. And now all that remained in the centre of this vast rocky room was another entrance to the deathly River Styxs. This is where I had to send the gift the Fates had granted me plummeting down to the glowing green abyss.
I should have been ecstatic beyond comprehension, but in all truthfulness, I was not nearly as optimistic as I was only seconds ago when I struck my deal. Realisation had taken hold and I was now petrified. Once I did this there would be no going back, and even though this world needed their Underworld god (whether they liked him or not), I knew that nobody in this Grecian kingdom was going to be pleased to see their Lord of the Dead resurrected to torment them once again. Even Pain and Panic did not bear expressions of anticipation on their faces, instead they rattled and shivered with eyes wide open as they stared at me.
I too was afraid, I shall admit. But the die was cast, so to speak, and I was standing on the brink of no return. Or at least the brink of the river, despite the safety of a jagged iron fence that only reached as high as my waist. Hardly enough to prevent me, or anyone, from taking an early bath.
Having already taken the glowing gift from my bag, I now held it over the edge at arm's length. It was at this point that I noticed that it was my turn to start shaking. My fist wouldn't keep still as my fingers trembled around their grasp of the orb. I took a few deep breaths to try and steady myself, I even found myself quoting Ellie from The Last of Us in my head; 'Just stay calm.' I told myself. 'Stay calm.' I also recalled that this quote in the game was preceded by the words; 'Don't worry, I've done this before'… That was the part I couldn't relate to… Well, there's a first time for everything, right?
With another breath I regained control. I finally relaxed my fist and my once tense grip slackened enough to allow the object to slip from my fingers.
Down it went. Into the green yonder, falling so far away I could no longer see it. I didn't see a splash or anything. All I saw as I looked down over the edge was the same eerie sight of slimy souls meandering in the emerald water… Nothing was happening.
Was it possible that the Fates had given me the wrong tool? But how could they? There's nothing about this world that they don't know. But then again, they might have given me the wrong gift deliberately. To set me up or something… 'Why would they set you up?' Another Ellie quote passed through my mind…
…As if my nerves weren't shot enough, when an almighty rush of emerald green water exploded from the hall's core, rising like a waterfall defying gravity itself…
Pain panicked and Panic joined in the panic as they sped off to cower behind their master's unholy throne. I was now alone as smoke began to fill the room, blanketing my surroundings and swallowing me in a black mist. I didn't cough on the fumes as much as I gasped repeatedly, my anxiety transforming into cold fear. What had I done? What was happening?…
…All my questions would be answered soon enough, as the fumes cleared and the dark, black, stoney hall was revealed to me once again… But that wasn't all that was revealed to me…
Robes like jet black smoke, an ominous skull pinning them together, fire of a cool sapphire blue burning so fiercely… And a menacing grin of spiked teeth and sinister intent aimed in my direction…
"HOLY OLYMPUS DOES IT FEEL GOOD TO BE OUTTA THERE!" …
[Read in comic format :D]
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