𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒆 ― percy jackson

014. THE LORD OF THE DEAD

                        No more than three spirits tried to converse with the girl. Curious about her beauty, and wondering about her past. Yet, their voices were lost in the wind, whispers stacked upon whispers so incredibly incoherent it was beginning to make Aurora frustrated.

                         Nonetheless, They crept along, following the line of new arrivals that snaked from the main gates toward a black-tented pavilion with a banner that read:

     JUDGMENTS FOR ELYSIUM AND ETERNAL DAMNATION

     Welcome, Newly Deceased!

                         Out the back of the tent came two much smaller lines. To the left, spirits flanked by security ghouls were marched down a rocky path toward the Fields of Punishment, which glowed and smoked in the distance, a vast, cracked wasteland with rivers of lava and minefields and miles of barbed wire separating the different torture areas.

                         Even from faraway, you could see people being chased by hellhounds, burned at the stake, forced to run naked through cactus patches or listen to opera music. They could just make out a tiny hill, with the ant-size figure of Sisyphus struggling to move his boulder to the top.

                         Screams of horrors echoed the air and all Aurora could do was clench her eyes shut.

                         The line coming from the right side of the judgment pavilion was much better. This one led down toward a small valley surrounded by walls—a gated community, which seemed to be the only happy part of the Underworld. Beyond the security gate were neighborhoods of beautiful houses from every time period in history, Roman villas and medieval castlesand Victorian mansions. Silver and gold flowers bloomed on the lawns. The grass rippled in rainbow colors. You could hear laughter and smell barbecue cooking.

                         Aurora gasped in disbelief and took a step closer towards the marvel, "Elysium."

                         In the middle of that valley was a glittering blue lake, with three small islands like a vacation resort in the Bahamas. The Isles of the Blest, for people who had chosen to be reborn three times, and three times achieved Elysium.

                         The gates stood tall, maybe about a couple of hundred or so feet up almost to the top of the cavern with beautiful gold fences decorating the walls.

                         The laughter was so beautiful, it almost made Aurora tear up . . . almost.

                         "So," Percy walked beside her. "What's your play?"

                         He received no response.

                         As if in a trance, Aurora ventured closer to the gates but also closer to the guards.

                         "Um, Aurora," Grover squeaked. "Wrong way."

                         Suddenly the security ghouls noticed her,  "By the order of Lord Hades, you godling are ordered to stop or suffer eternal torment in the Chamber of Chaos."

                         Percy whirled to Annabeth, "Chamber of chaos?"

                         Even Annabeth looked dumbfounded, "I-I don't know. I've never heard of it—"