All Heroes Fall

I moaned and sat up. Rubbing the back of my head I looked around. Where was I? All around me, darkness. Blistering heat assaulted my body and the sweat made my shirt cling to my body. I stood, while trying not to fall over. And walked until I found something. Anything. I stumbled across a big lump of fabric. I assume it is my backback. But one can never be too sure. Sure enough, after rummaging through it, I found the flashlight I had stashed in before I had left the Argo II. Turning it on, I didn't get much relief. I was in a cave. And lying 40 feet away from me, was the body of Arachne. She was sleeping. And soundly by the look of it.

I sure as hell didn't want to wake her, so I followed the wall out of the tunnel. I had been her captive for weeks now. She had been draggin my death out. But now, she'd gotten careless. Because one way or another, I'd die here. I had known the moment I pushed Annabeth out through the Doors of Death into the mortal world, that I would die here. But it was worth it. I'd die in her place a thousand times over. Just as I was about to round the corner, a light thump echoed out in the cavern. Above, was Arachne's layer, and where Annabeth and I had first fallen. Arachne stirred, but did not wake. There was a scroll of paper, lying in the center. I hurredly picked it up, and rushed out of the cave.

I walked. And walked. And walked. And walked. I didn't stop until I came to a fork in the road. There was a sign posted in the middle. To the left, led the way to the River Styx. To the right, the Doors of Death. Well, I sure wasn't going to get another Achilles heel, so the Doors of Death it was. Nice to know if you ever get lost in Hell, you'll have signs to point you the way back. As I walked down the path I rummaged through my pack. I pulled out my phone. No cell service. Nice Hades. Way to think of the people. But, there was service back up top. If I could get to the doors of death. . .

I ran faster. I didn't know for sure, but I could tell. It would be a long way to the Doors of Death from where Arachne dragged me. But the sooner I get there, the sooner I see Annabeth. And nothing sounds better than that right now...

Notes