Chapter 1: Orpheus

Orpheus gazed at the body in shock. “No!” he weeped over her. His sorrow was immeasurable, and his
loss was incomprehensible. Few minutes ago, he had been helping his dearly beloved run away from the
shepherd. “What a creep” he had thought as he heard the scream, not knowing of the tragedy about to
occur. He gazed at the lethal bite, the two dots of red, and the pink surrounding. He had vowed to fix this,
to fix what happened, to fix the death. Orpheus wandered around the area, drops of pure sorrow cast down
his face, trying to find a way, a way to get her back. He knelt down upon his knees and prayed “Phoebus
Apollo, help me find a way to the underworld.” “Hahaha, noice lol. - I mean I totally care about this
conversation. What do you need?” Apollo focused, “Oh, Orpheus what’s up?” “Why! You are worse than
Zeus, somehow!” Orpheus cussed. “Okay, since you give cool jams, that’s okay. Wait, what happened to-
Oh.” Apollo knew what happened, “What can I do?” “Give me a path to the underworld, to get Eurydice
back.” “I’m sorry, but I do not-” Apollo’s eyes glazed over “ Within the devil’s throat you shall find, the
thing to fix the sorrow in your mind-know.” Apollo’s eyes returned to normal. “Thank you, great
phoebus.” “For what?” Ringing came from Apollo’s pocket, “Gotta go!” With steely determination,
Orpheus headed towards the waterfall curtains.
The rock was rough as it scraped against Orpheus' skin, leaving marks of blood on his shoulders.
The mist blocked his sight, like a wall. The deeper he went, the colder it was. Orpheus felt a lead ball set
itself on his diaphragm, tingling, and waiting to fall. Orpheus' lyre was scarred, the strings making noises
when in contact with cave walls. His blood ran cold as he began to gaze at the underworld, an ebony hell.
The ground was dotted with many spirits chirping like bats. Orpheus was in horror that all of
them used to be people, with lives, and loved ones. Orpheus saw this judgment table in front of the gates,
and the towering beast in front of him.
Orpheus gazed at the hellhound, the three heads, the ivory white fur, pale and tinged with rose
remnants, and the mouths with drooping down wrinkly cheeks, the void of the noses, the teeth tinged red,
the spine coated with many vipers like his father, reminding Orpheus of the bite. Cerberus was the size of
Apollo’s chariot, with the teeth of his mother, Echidna. Cerberus launched at Orpheus, ready to bite.
Orpheus ran away, carrying his lyre, which felt like a thousand pots. A twang came from one of the
strings, and Orpheus got an idea. His fingers brushed against the lyre, making something more powerful
than the underworld. Something more primal. Cerberus stopped, relaxing, just barely long enough.
Orpheus crawled along the floor, continuing the song, until he had gotten past the pure metal gates. Once
he was past the gates, he gazed at the inscriptions, and he saw death. Tragedy. “Sneaking away is a young
man’s game, Orpheus.” The voice sounded bitter in distaste, like a king. “Who are you?” Orpheus did not
dare to look back, for he feared who it was, but he mustered his courage to say that line. “The bull and the
ocean, both disgusting,” MInos gave Orpheus chills down his back, “You know who I am, don’t you?”
Orpheus pivoted, his sandals scraping against the mud. “I know.” Orpheus forced a note against his lyre.
“Cursed thing” he thought, “Lord of Delphi's, and it doesn’t work.” MInos stood, focusing on Orpheus,
“You will make a fine performer for Hades’ palace, young man.” Orpheus felt his bones turn to gold, soft,
and heavy. He could barely see, but he ran to the tall dark castle, fumbling as the ground turned into a
mangle of tiny mountains.
When Orpheus had reached the palace of Hades, he was coated in a fine layer of mud, and
smelled like the dead. “I’ve come here to make a proposal,” Orpheus offered, “Give me Eurydice, and I
shall leave. You may put whatever price or limitation on my exit, as long as I get Eurydice back.” “Your
father, Apollo came to us with that same request,” Hades replied, “But you are a mere mortal, no chance
to overcome death. I shall give you an offer then. You can have Eurydice, but you must not gaze at her
while you are exiting. Let us see what shall happen.” Orpheus got the gleam in his eyes, full of hope. “I
accept.” “Very well then. Eurydice shall follow behind you from now until you exit the underworld.”
Hades confirmed. Orpheus exited the palace, and began his trek to the upper world.
Orpheus’ sandals were caked in mud, and gave a squelch underneath his feet. He felt like he was
being pulled under the mud. His knees ached from walking so long, but he had to keep going. For
Eurydice. After hours of pain and aching work. Orpheus saw the thin slit of sunlight in the curtain. He ran
outside, and gazed at Eurydice
She slipped into the darkness, so close. Her glowing eyes vanished. Oh god.” The pain was fresh,
like an opened wound. It was his fault. He fell down on his knees, and weeped. His lyre told the world of
his sorrow, of his pain. The chords sung of his loss, each note of his story. Each string plucked sent the
world into a deeper depression. The earth itself rebelled against the happiness in the grass, sending it into
a dull pine green. Eurydice was dead.