More than Meets the Eye

Sarah felt as if she was floating. She was incredibly confused, the last thing she remembered was her driving and yet now she was in a dark and unfamiliar place. However, suddenly she was pulled back down, and she felt herself falling, her surroundings changed rapidly. In one moment, everything was brightly lit yet all she could see was an endless expanse of green and in the next she was surrounded by an icy waste, shivering and her teeth chattering loudly.

Yet in the very next second, she found herself standing atop a mound of earth, before her a river that stretched as far as the eye could see and she realised she was no longer cold. Sarah, still not sure of what to think of this surreal out of body experience, quickly decided to make the most of it and looked around. Only to hear a calm voice behind her.

"Miss, I am sure you have many questions, if you follow me, I can try to answer them to the best of my ability."

Turning around in surprise, Sarah came face to face with a handsome middle-aged man with

piercing green eyes and a head of white hair. Seeing him bow before turning around and walking off, Sarah still a little dazed hurriedly ran to catch up.

"Umm, Mr, where am I exactly and how did I get here?"

"Oh, someone with sense and not panicking nor chucking a fit. Usually the first thing people do is rush up to me and cry or show some other silly response to myself. But I regret to inform you Miss Longford that you have indeed died, blunt force trauma to the head leading to internal bleeding of the brain. And this place is none other than the River Styx which my great master holds sway over."

It didn't take long for Sarah to process the situation, after all her years as the daughter of a career diplomat and occupation as an investigative journalist had prepared her for more confronting situations. She felt being dead was a lot less scary than on the path to death after all it was already over, and nothing could change it. Sarah was never someone to constantly pick over things that could not be changed and instead looked ahead as only the future could still be changed.

"So, Mr, you're telling me that I am dead and am on the path to meet Hades? Umm I'd hate to burst your bubble, but I have never been particularly religious, and I can definitely tell you I have never prayed to Hades. So why am I here?"

"Miss Longford, the reason why you're here just like the many before you and undoubtedly the many that will come after, is simply because you have died. Believing or not believing in something makes no difference in what happens after your death. Well, actually, people with nominated faiths get dealt with differently. You can think of us as overspill, we mainly deal with people that are non-religious per se, such as yourself. But we must hurry as the Master is terribly busy."

"So, heaven, hell and all that exists? But wait, does Hades deal with everyone that dies personally? Isn't that terribly inefficient."

"Yes, there are many mysteries to this world of ours that your primitive science simply cannot explain. Was it not that author of yours, Mr Clarke who once said 'any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic', so perhaps one day someone will finally crack the code. Perhaps we are all but a series of ones and zeroes. But my Master has a quota he tries to fulfil each day and luckily for you, you are his last for today. Being able to meet the great Hades should be the greatest pleasure of your life."

"Umm, is that so? So, what happens to me now?"

"Well, Miss Longford, the master will judge you in line with the ancient traditions and should he deem you worthy you will be given a temporary place to stay and after one hundred years you will be given the opportunity to enter the cycle of reincarnation."

"Wait? Reincarnation isn't that a Buddhist thing? And what happens if I am unworthy?"

"Well, Miss Longford, this will depend entirely upon the nature of your crimes. The harshest punishment is to be sent to the Christian Hell and the lightest punishment could be a simple imprisonment for a few years. However, you have no need to worry, as I can tell you have lived an honest life. As for the possibility of reincarnation, well that's is due to certain arrangements with the various heads of religions."

"Oh, so do I get to know what happened to me and how my friends and family are?"

"Miss Longford, I am unable to disclose the affairs of the mortal world. However, I can inform you that you died in a car accident. Ah, we are here now. You will find my Master waiting inside."

Sarah had been so engrossed in the conversation as well as her own thoughts, in addition to trying to process the fact that she was dead, that she had not realised that they had been walking for a long time and had arrived before a majestic palace.

She had once seen an artist's rendition of the Palace in Troy and had been greatly impressed then. However, seeing the distinct classical Greek architecture moved her dead heart ever so slightly. Hearing the man cough once to remind her to go in, she nodded back in slight embarrassment before walking up to the doors.

The doors opened automatically, swinging inward and revealed a luxuriously decorated room. Her eyes drawn to the throne and the figure sitting in it. Playing with a bident, a handsome man who looked to be in his early forties was looking at Sarah with curiosity.

However, before he was able to open his mouth, a loud crash came from the side. Sarah looked over with surprise and saw a beautiful woman who was absolutely furious, striding in, focused solely on the man on the throne.

"Hades, you lying bastard! Explain to me why I should not rip your balls off right now!"

The man on the throne who had only moments ago been filled with arrogance suddenly became incredibly meek and quickly ran down to beg on his knees.

"Uh, beautiful wife, this husband knows he is wrong. I was drunk and stupid, one thing led to the next and when I woke up, she was there. I am sorry, I don't love anyone else but you. You have to believe me, it was an accident. You can ask Hermes, he was there, he and Dionysus insisted I try his new beverage, I didn't know it was that potent. Please, I know I was wrong, I will accept any punishment."

Hades so caught up in trying to beg for his wife's forgiveness failed to realise the temperature of the room had suddenly become even colder and when he heard Persephone's cold emotionless voice, he finally realised he had dug himself a bigger hole.

"What woman? You said you slept with another woman? Who is the whore? Where is that shrew? How dare she. How dare you. Hades! I have had enough. I am sick of your lies, when will they end? I sacrificed everything for you and this is how you repay me. Fine! I am leaving!"

Persephone threw the papers she had in her hands at Hades face and quickly strode out of the room. Hades seeing the heartbroken expression on Persephone's face realised she was being serious and hurriedly ran out to catch her before she left. He caught a glimpse of the paper thrown in his face and saw the name Ashley Madison and ran even faster to find her.

Sarah who was left behind amidst all this commotion stood there processing all she had seen.

Seeing that Hades was about to leave she shouted out

"What about me?"

"Bah, I don't have time for this." And he waved his hand as if swatting a fly and in the next instance Sarah experienced a crushing pain.

As her mind worked in overload she could barely focus before a soothing feeling covered her. She had lost her sense of touch. She then heard a voice in her head.

"Sarah, I can help you. If you are willing to be my Champion, I can heal you. My name is Athena."

Left with no other option, she decided to accept Athena's offer and then her mind fell into darkness.