𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑, luke castellan

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

After hearing the words of the sanctuary's guardian, Keira wished she weren't worthy of carrying the Greek Fire torch.

She was certain that the  terrifying experience of drinking from the Acheron would leave a lasting imprint. Rising to her feet with great effort, she retrieved the torch from the skeletal hands of the spirit.

Moving her body was a laborious task. She still felt the twinges from Luke's attack and the abdominal pain that had started when she saw Jon. Her shoulders throbbed from bearing the weight of the collapsing building.

As the spirit slowly stepped aside, granting her passage, Keira ventured into a narrow, dimly lit corridor. The air grew thick with humidity, making it difficult for her to draw breath amidst the oppressive atmosphere and the physical strain induced by the haunting visions.

Echoes of voices, whispers, and distant cries of tormented souls surrounded her. Among them, Keira thought she heard the voices of her father, brother, and Jon, their words blending with the eerie sounds of the surroundings, leaving her uncertain whether they emanated from the walls or reverberated within her own mind.

Keira couldn't help but recall the words of the priestess when she asked about any recommendations or information regarding Hades' sanctuary in Seattle. She also couldn't forget the priestess's serious and terrified expression, in line with her advice to stay away from it.

Perhaps she had been right.

Acknowledging that Nik had chosen a suitable place to hide the Knee, Keira wondered how he had made it down here. Nik wasn't known for his bravery, and this place was terrifying for anyone. He probably descended with the help of Hades or one of his powers. Keira couldn't help but wonder whose memories Nik had encountered by drinking from the Acheron.

She continued walking, tormented by her thoughts, for what seemed like hours. However, it was challenging to measure time down there. The air became increasingly humid, and although Keira noticed that the width of the walls remained constant, it felt like they were closing in on her as she advanced.

The voices and screams grew louder and more numerous as she approached the center of the sanctuary, and Keira began to understand the words. Some pleaded for mercy, others asked to return to the world to say goodbye to their loved ones, and some simply cursed. The voices were desperate, and some even came from young children, sending shivers down Keira's spine as it reminded her of her stepbrother.

Amid the murmurs, Keira occasionally distinguished voices referring to her, shouting things like 'vain', 'selfish', 'murderer', 'liar' and 'heartless'. She pressed her lips together, trying to clear her mind by thinking of other things and focusing on the mission, but the loneliness made it impossible to navigate without paying attention to the whispering voices.

For a moment, just a moment, she regretted making Luke angry and causing him to abandon her. It would be good to be traversing this path with someone and not alone, even if he wasn't precisely the person Keira would choose to be in a dark and damp place with. She couldn't help but wonder if he was in Seattle, and if so, had he found this place as well.

After a long walk, she spotted, through the dim light of the fire, that the path opened into a slightly larger chamber. The change of scenery excited her, offering a break from the monotony that the journey had become. When she set foot in the chamber, the whispering voices fell silent. An awkward silence enveloped the place, and for a moment, Keira feared that something bad was about to happen. She would have preferred the voices to keep speaking rather than endure the silence that penetrated her bones.

Suddenly, three figures appeared. They had a translucent silhouette, but unlike the guardian of the sanctuary, they looked more human. They had clothes, skin, but they were of a transparent gray color. Each of the three women appeared gravely injured by different means.