So here we all are, standing in this dark ass cave with a lute that has six glowing strings. I pull mine and Ben's off and hand him his before passing the lute to the others. I don't understand some of the other's need to stand around and prattle on about things when there are pressing matters to attend to...like becoming alive again. The strings did nothing by touch and Ben seemed to have found a way out but it was blocked by a boulder. Prometheus confirmed it was how we needed to leave and Ben asked for my spear. After I handed it to him he began to whack off large chunks of it to make it lighter. Then he, Prometheus, and I pushed while Wuyi used her spear as a lever and started to move. Suddenly Kelly said she was seeing her memory after eating her string and I stopped as the boulder rolled free. Seeing her stand there obviously seeing something I quickly unwound my string and ate it....
...and gods above and below I wish I hadn't. As I watched it unfold it took all my strength to remain standing; I just could not believe what I was seeing. I tried to believe it wasn't me in that memory...it had to be someone else but then I heard my father's voice...and I could not deny the validity of what he said that day, hells he had said it when he visited me. All I could do was stand there saying "NO" over and over again like it would change what I did. Finally everyone had eaten their strings and we were moving out of there. If I never see Hades realm again it will be too soon.
As we climbed the tunnel out the ground became soggier and harder to get through and a sharp pain thudded against my chest. The further we got the weirder the sensation became. It felt like thousands of fire ants crawling over my skin and we soon reached a membrane stretched across a cave opening. Prometheus, his brother, and Kathy walked through without a problem but when we went through it tore open. I didn't give two shits because we were standing on real grass! Overlooking a city. I fell to the ground and kissed the grass, so relieved to be free of Hades and alive...
...well almost. Rhia broke the news that we weren't alive yet. Prometheus and his brother left saying he owed us a boon but staying together would bring down wrath on our heads we did not deserve; I could not have agreed more, and after more useless chatter we headed for town. Once there we found we were in Naples, which I think is in Italy. Wuyi insisted on getting clothes even though no one could see is...they walked through us! We really were ghosts. I sighed my last hope fleeing my body at that point.
We went in the clothing store and Wuyi grabbed pants and a shirt...apparently those don't turn incorporeal like us cause people started reacting....which made Wuyi start doing more stupid things attracting attention. I'd had enough and walked back outside. I was so frustrated, worried and a feeling of hopelessness was settling in. Damn it why couldn't I brush these off like usual!? Why was THIS the first feeling that seemed to linger for more than a moment? Suddenly a man was hurrying down the street and he looked me right in the eye! He SAW me!
I called after him and stopped him asking if he truly saw me to confirm and he said yes. I asked if he could help us and Ben joined us giving the man a start. We explained there were a group of us and we all needed help. He agreed and Ben went to find the others. He came back with the others, Rhia carrying Wuyi for whatever reason and as we were about to make introductions eight foot tall things in shining armor turned the corner...Rhia confirmed what we all guessed, they were bad news and we all hurried after the man who claimed he could help.
We reached his office and he told us they were Keepers...they made sure everyone followed the laws and I would guess that ghosts were against the law. He asked how long we were dead and we seemed to come to the consensus of dying around 2011...it was now 2017. Then he asked what we wanted, saying ghosts always wanted something before they passed on...then it hit him. We weren't ghosts we were specters and somehow that was worse and he no longer wanted to help us. Rhia got him to stand still and I felt myself regain some of my usual composure as I threatened to take his heart. He told us if we found our bodies and sacrificed a living person, a life for a life, we could become alive again. I was fine with this and some of the other were fine so long as it was a criminal,but Kelly says she couldn't do it. Fine. Ben and I talked about trying to find consensus in the group so we explored other options. Creating Shabti to posses, possessing the living, finding books, and contacting Rhia's dad. All were gonna take a lot of work it seems...and finding our bodies may be the toughest since all I know was we died in a tower of some sort.
In the middle of the talking Kathy pushed against a window and it shattered...damn them for making us a take her out of there...revealing a man outside who was possessed. Shit we let others out too. Rupper translated his screaming and it only confirmed what I thought. Why in the hell can't we do anything right? Maybe we should just give in and go back...but then why was an Aztlanti daughter in the GREEK underworld? Why was I not in Mictalan if not with my father? No Hades was not where I belonged anyway. As I turned back Reginald had started to try to dial on a cell phone and Rhia made him drop it. Thoroughly pissed now I lept at him and brought my spear to his neck demanding he tell us about the Keepers. Turns out the Keepers are "aliens" who came through flashes of light saying humans were the first species they encountered. They keep the laws, some of which have changed, and can cure the blind. Those that break the law are not seen from again though.
So here we are stuck between a rock and a hard place. I think we need to find a place to lay low for a moment and discuss the best course of action but I am also rapidly running out of patients and I know one way that could get MY father's attention...
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