Chapter 74 : Underworld

They began to walk towards the Hollywood sign.

The four arrived at the Hollywood sign.

"Where is the entrance?" asked Annabeth not finding anything like an entrance.

"The map shows the entrance here only," said Percy opening the map

"Does anything look like an entrance?" asked Alex, as he did not find anything that looked like an entrance.

"Yeah, there is nothing that looks like an entrance," said Annabeth as she also didn't find any entrance.

"Search for it, maybe we can find it somewhere?" said Percy

Then he observed the Greek letters on the board and the words began to change in Percy's eyes. After reading them he said

"Woe to all the depraved souls!"

At that moment Percy said that there was movement on the back of the Hollywood sign. The ground began to crack and a small passage appeared on the mountain behind the Hollywood sign.

"It seems like we have found the passage," said Annabeth seeing the passage

"Yeah, it looks like you found it, Percy."

"Okay, let's go."

The four entered the passage, and after that, there was a moment at the entrance and the four turned their heads. They saw the entrance getting closed by rocks.

Soon the entrance got closed by rocks, which cannot be removed, and the entrance also disappeared.

"It seems we cannot use the same route to escape," said Annabeth as she saw the entrance disappear.

"Yeah, now I understand why they said it's difficult to escape the underworld," said Grover.

"Yeah, now I understand it's easy to get in but difficult to get out," said Percy

Alex also saw the entrance getting closed, even though he couldn't be able to find the entrance.

Then they entered the dark cave, which was illuminated by the candles which were in the holes of the cave. There are also human skulls on the wall which were embedded in the wall of the cave.

"It's not a good place to visit, is it?" Alex said it because he didn't like the surroundings.

"It's not even the underworld yet, but the entrance it's already uncomfortable to stay at," said Annabeth.

"Okay, let's start walking. We have to go to the Underworld," said Percy

Trying to find a way to the underworld, they began walking toward the innermost part of the cave.

Then they came across a small lake with a tiny boat and a hooded person on top of it. At the lake, the passage came to an end. There appeared to be no other option except travelling in that small boat.

"Yep, we are stuck," said Percy seeing the dead end

"Who is that creepy guy?" asked Grover pointing towards the ferryman

"I think he is the ferryman of the underworld," said Annabeth observing the hooded man.

"So, can he take us to the underworld?" asked Percy.

"Let's find out," said Grover and approached the ferryman

As Grover approached, the hooded man lifted his head and asked

"Who are you?" in a dull tone

"Hello, we have an appointment with Hades. Can you take us there?" said Grover with a smile.

"The living are not allowed to enter the underworld."

"Die and come back"

Hearing that the smile on Grover's face froze and said

"Please can you make an exception for us, it's very difficult for us to come here "

"Not only the dead can board the boat, leave and die and come back "

"Okay, we don't die and come back, just for this "

Then he walked towards the group and said

"So what now? This guy seems like dead people more " said Grover

"Yeah, now what?"

"Why don't we swim in the lake," said Percy

"Percy, do you want to stay in this underworld forever? If you want you can swim, we don't mind, "said Alex.

"Yeah it's not a normal lake like on earth, it's the underworld. I advise you not to think about it " said Annabeth.

"then what other do you have ?"

"I have an idea," said Grover

"What is that?"

"We have to pay to ride the ferry," said Grover as he took the dollars out of his pocket.

"What are you gonna pay an underworld ferryman with dollars?" asked Alex with a smile

"Yeah, is there any problem?"

"What can an underworld ferryman do with mortal currency?" asked Alex

After hearing that Grover thought and realized

Yes, what can an underworld ferryman use this for?

"Do you have any other better ideas?" asked Annabeth

"No, but let's try something."

Then he walked towards the ferryman and said

"Excuse me, I want to meet Hades. Can you take me there?"

"Die and come back"

"Please can you take us there?" said Alex as he took out a handful of gold coins from his inventory.

Although gold is not the currency of the underworld, its value is still very high. Then he stretched his hand for the gold coins

Alex gave the gold coins to Ferryman

"climb aboard, "said the ferryman after taking the gold coins

Hearing that, the four climbed on the boat and it began to move. They came out of the cave and the boat was flying on the air.

The ground was cracked and there was fire between the cracks when there was a fire. The sky was dark and the clouds were illuminated by red light. As they flew higher, the air became hotter and the flames became larger. The sky was covered with dark clouds. Many objects were floating in the air.

There were many screams of human despair and distress coming from every direction. The screams were of people struggling to survive as they tried to flee the Underworld. Hearing the screams Percy got goosebumps as this was his first time entering a place like this. Groover and Annabeth are doing fine since they grew up in camp and experienced many things.

"What are all these?" asked Percy as he saw many floating objects

"They are the scrap heap of human misery and their unfulfilled wishes," said the ferryman as he rowed the boat.

Then the boat began to move towards a castle which looked like an old western castle. It was surrounded by lava and at the centre, the castle was standing in the air