katiekitten
The Compromise
The Story of Phlegyas.
It's a oneshot, but I didn't feel like putting that in the title. XD
'Tis my entry for the Myths and Legends competition, and is supposed to be horror. Try three. XD I'm not so certain about the ending, but I've tried to read it through. XD;;; What the story is about... The title is a huge clue. I'll give the explanation thing afterwards. XD
Well, here it is. I'm not entirely happy with it, but nevermind. XD Enjoy!
Smatterings of raindrops pounded onto the windshield, flaring briefly like stars in the light of passing street lamps before they were wiped away by the twin set of window wipers. The silver Volvo slid smoothly along the dark road, rivulets of water streaming along its smooth sides to scatter behind in a trail of sparkling silver. The woman inside squinted through the curtains of rain, releasing the gear stick temporarily as she raised a hand to wipe a dirty-blond strand of hair away from her small hazel eyes.
“Come on,” she whispered, carefully manicured hands clenching tighter on the steering wheel. “Just a little faster…”
The car’s engine roared as she switched to a higher gear, her black gown glittering briefly in the headlights of a passing car. She blinked away tears as she glanced at the speed dial, watching the small hand move slowly from 60 to 80. The time flashed on a digital screen besides it, proclaiming it to be eight PM. The rain started to fall harder now, a never-ending torrent that seemed to cover everything, cascading from the purple sky above as lightning flashed across its surface. She jumped as its accompanying peal of thunder crashed above, sounding more like the growl of an angry beast rather than the sound of electricity renting the clouds in half.
I’ve got to get there as quickly as possible. She thought desperately, her foot lowering until it was nearly pressed against the floor. He can’t leave before I see him, he can’t. Not before I’ve said good bye.
Thunder boomed out again, briefly drowning out her thoughts and the sound of the pattering rain. A tear trickled out of the corner of her eye and she brushed it away angrily, focusing her watering eyes on the road as the car went even faster.
I made a mistake. A stupid mistake. Stupid, Stupid! She hit the steering wheel, bearing down on the clutch for a second as she put the gear up a final time. She couldn’t bear to think about how he looked when he walked in on her and Micheal, the look of hurt, betrayal... I’m sorry, Theo. She thought, a tear dripping off her chin. I’m so, so sorry…
“Come on Claire, pull yourself together.” She whispered, her light, lilting voice strained as she raised a hand and wiped her eyes. “You still have time. Don’t think about the past, it’s too late to change that now. Just look at the road and keep driving.”
She gazed out through the windscreen, but her eyes were distracted, unseeing. What if he’s left already? She thought, despair clawing at her heart. What if he’s on the plane right now, gone, forever? Oh god, no. Please no. Anything but that. She drove on blindly, tears streaming down her cheeks. I should never have done it, I should never… never…
The distant thrum of an approaching car broke through the sound of the storm, but she ignored it, too caught up in her own thoughts.
What am I going to say to him if he is there? That I’m sorry? She laughed shortly, hollowly, her vision blurred. That’s not going to cut it. Oh god, what am I going to do?
The sound grew louder, more insistent, and headlights now pierced the gloom. They were switching too and fro across the road, joined by an odd, high pitched whine.
I… I…
The sound was louder now, the whine turning into the shrill shriek of rubber being dragged at high speeds on a slick surface. For a split second everything seemed to stop, the rain frozen midstream, the headlights of the approaching car lighting up Claire’s distracted face, the horror struck expression of the other driver, before-
Crash!
There was a horrible screeching of tires and crumpling metal as the two cars collided at full force, Claire’s scream lost in the rush of noise. The Volvo’s front crumpled, the Land Rover that hammered it reducing it to a pile of pulverised metal as it spun off to the side of the road. The Land Rover came to a screeching halt ten meters away from the crash site, its windshield cracked and it’s fender dented.
Silence.
Steam rose slowly from the silver car as the driver of the Land Rover shakily got out of his car, blood trickling from a scrape above his eye. He ignored it as he staggered towards the other car.
“H-Hello?” He stammered, stumbling down the small dip at the side of the road and approaching the driver’s side door. “Ar- are you OK?”
He peered in the window and gasped, hands scrabbling for the door’s handle. Claire lay limply inside, her chest crushed by her steering wheel, blood oozing over her silk dress. Her head rested on the airbag, her dirty-blond curls darkening as blood saturated them and dripped to the floor. The scarlet beads streamed past her glazed over eyes, glistening as she stared dumbly at the cloud shrouded sky.
Her body convulsed, her final breath hissing out of her lungs as the man pounded on her door, yelling for her to hold on. She felt her life slip away, the stresses and worries crumble as the sound of rushing of water echoed in her ears…
She was standing in the middle of a desolate field, a dull, grey sky stretching from the far horizon uninterrupted until it sank into the flat, ash colored sand behind her. A bottomless river tore through its center, filling the air with its muted roar as it clawed at its banks as if trying to drag her into its fathomless depths. She scrambled away from the edge, chest heaving, panic flaring in her eyes. This place didn’t feel right, the air cloying in her mouth, her every breath fighting against this smothering wave of… something, she had no clue what. She shivered, eyes wary as she struggled to her feet, head whipping around as she took in the sights.
What… What’s going on?
The river seemed to roar in reply, the grimy waters rising slightly and lapping over the edge of its banks. She looked down at herself, staring at her black dress in confusion. Why was she in it? She couldn’t remember anything, who she was, why she was here-
A deep sigh seemed to echo across the frothing waters.
A flash of memory triggered in her mind and she staggered back, raising her hands to her chest.
I was… I was…
Images flashed past her eyes, whirling around her mind as she struggled to maintain control of herself. Raindrops sliding off cold steel, head lights dancing through a veil of rain, the look of hurt and betrayal on Theo’s face, before pain, pain, pain-
But…
The squeal of tires before the world turned into chaos, the agony as the dashboard was crumpled backwards, the faint whisper of the rain as it washed away the scarlet drops that fell, silently, from her fingertips.
No!
At her last shout the river erupted in turmoil, the waves lapping eagerly over the banks as something stirred beneath the clouded waters. She scrambled backwards, tears slipping down her cheeks as she watched the frothing river.
Thromp.
A deep hum seemed to shake the air as the water writhed, spitting and hissing in anticipation as it crept further up the slope. She watched, eyes wide, as a light blue head burst out of the river, its sharp, beak like snout pointing to the sky. Water flowed from its smooth, blue tinged skin, scattering as it dragged its two, featherless wings away from the rivers grasp and beat them down.
Thromp.
The power of the movement caused the river to tremble as the creature was raised fully out of the water. It hovered above the surface, wings working smoothly to keep it in place as it arched its neck, lowering its streamlined head until it could meet her eyes.
Claire.
She shuddered at its wordless acknowledgement, her eyes captured in its deep blue gaze, as fathomless as the river beneath it. Small streaks of white seemed to roll across the surface of the iris, rolling and breaking like the waves of the sea. The movement was hypnotic, trapping her in that cold, unforgiving stare.
Do you fear death?
The final end?
She shuddered again. Its voice was a symphony of many, a clashing sound that seemed to echo across the featureless landscape. She found herself answering automatically, fear causing her voice to shake.
“Y- Yes.” Her voice broke and she started to tremble, another tear slipping down her cheek.
It seemed to smile, the sides of its mouth tilting upwards for a split second before returning to its emotionless state, so quickly that she was unsure that it had ever happened.
Why?
She took a deep breath, trying to find her voice. “I- I’m not- not rea-”
Ready to die?
She nodded, a sob welling in her throat. No, I’m not ready. She thought, memory flickering back to Theo’s face. I have so much I want to do, so much… I like my life, love it. I- I don’t want to be gone!
You fear an end with no return. The darkness of nothing.
She nodded again, the sob forcing its way up her throat. Suddenly released from her paralysis, she bowed her head, tears flooding down her cheeks. Fear clawed at her heart, ringing true with the creature’s words. The river continued to tear away at its banks, howling with excitement, but she ignored it, too caught up in her own fear. I… I…
You don’t have to die. It informed her quietly, almost kindly.
What?
She looked up, startled by the creature’s words. It watched her levelly, mouth twitching into a smile at her reaction.
I don’t?
A spark of hope blossomed in her heart, tingling through her bones. It was reinforced by this feeling of trust that streamed from the creature, telling her somehow that it was not to be feared, that it was going to help her.
No.
Her fear ebbed away, replaced by an undying gratitude to this strange creature. She pulled herself to her feet, the little shred of hope returning energy to her veins.
“How?” She whispered, eyes bright with unshed tears.
Come closer.
She walked obediently forward, not noticing the way the river lapped eagerly at her feet. She paused at the bank, watching as the creature slowly approached and landed delicately on its back paws in front of her. It raised its head, a soothing expression on its face.
Closer. It whispered, slowly raising its wings. She stepped forward until she was close enough to touch its glossy chest, its huge wings spreading out on either side. A wave of calm swamped her senses and she closed her eyes, a haunting song echoing in her ears.
Sleep. It whispered, closing its wings around her. She didn’t resist as the warm darkness tugged at her consciousness and she slipped into oblivion.
A shrill wind swept across the lifeless landscape, skimming over the river's surface as it tore its way towards the horizon. A large shadow rippled just beneath the calm surface, cresting in a burst of shimmering water as it came to a spinning stop in front of a small figure huddled on the crumbling bank. Twin featherless wings spread out to steady itself as the large, birdlike creature hovered, pale blue tail slowly slipping out of the water. It focussed its cold blue eyes on the quivering human before it, a new energy sparkling in its depths.
Do you fear death? It asked simply, its voice a strange harmony of many others. A single one rose above the rest, a light, lilting feminine voice that spoke in the same monotone pitch as the others. The creature lowered its head towards the trembling being below it, lips curved in a gleeful smile. The final end?
...See what I mean? XD I tried to make the ending tie into the middle a little, but it didn't really work. The beginning was just so you know why she didn't want to die, how she died, ectra. XD I'm guessing you want to know where on earth I got this idea from? XD
It was when I was writing Immortality, my original entry to this competition. I was thinking about all of the legends, and how they could all tie in together. You know, Mew being the creator, the fire, water and lightning legends the guardians of their elements, and I was thinking about Ho oh and Lugia, and how they'd tie in. Everyone always calls Ho oh the guardian of life in general, and I thought that left Lugia out a bit. He only gets to be the guardian of the sea. XD Then I remembered greek mythology, with the river Styx and the boatman. (Who I know actually patrolled a different river, something beginning with P, but I twisted the story. A lot. XD) I thought Lugia could be the boatman. But I didn't know what to do with that, it didn't seem like... enough.
So I asked a friend of mine about the river Styx and the boatman and he told me that he'd heard that the boatman passes on his burden to someone else by getting them to take a coin from him. That got me thinking, and I came up with this. XD A very twisted version of the tale. Lugia's the boatman, but instead of passing on the burden, he rejuvinates himself by absorbing other people's souls. But to do that, it works like the giving of the coin, he has to convince them to come close enough. He only needs to do it every hundred years or so. XD
By the way, Phlegyas is the name of the original boatman. =D He was the son of Ares, and was condemned to ferry souls across the river Styx. You should look the story up, it's quite interesting. =D
...Long boring explanation over. XD;;
It's a oneshot, but I didn't feel like putting that in the title. XD
'Tis my entry for the Myths and Legends competition, and is supposed to be horror. Try three. XD I'm not so certain about the ending, but I've tried to read it through. XD;;; What the story is about... The title is a huge clue. I'll give the explanation thing afterwards. XD
Well, here it is. I'm not entirely happy with it, but nevermind. XD Enjoy!
Styx
The Story of Phlegyas.
The Story of Phlegyas.
Smatterings of raindrops pounded onto the windshield, flaring briefly like stars in the light of passing street lamps before they were wiped away by the twin set of window wipers. The silver Volvo slid smoothly along the dark road, rivulets of water streaming along its smooth sides to scatter behind in a trail of sparkling silver. The woman inside squinted through the curtains of rain, releasing the gear stick temporarily as she raised a hand to wipe a dirty-blond strand of hair away from her small hazel eyes.
“Come on,” she whispered, carefully manicured hands clenching tighter on the steering wheel. “Just a little faster…”
The car’s engine roared as she switched to a higher gear, her black gown glittering briefly in the headlights of a passing car. She blinked away tears as she glanced at the speed dial, watching the small hand move slowly from 60 to 80. The time flashed on a digital screen besides it, proclaiming it to be eight PM. The rain started to fall harder now, a never-ending torrent that seemed to cover everything, cascading from the purple sky above as lightning flashed across its surface. She jumped as its accompanying peal of thunder crashed above, sounding more like the growl of an angry beast rather than the sound of electricity renting the clouds in half.
I’ve got to get there as quickly as possible. She thought desperately, her foot lowering until it was nearly pressed against the floor. He can’t leave before I see him, he can’t. Not before I’ve said good bye.
Thunder boomed out again, briefly drowning out her thoughts and the sound of the pattering rain. A tear trickled out of the corner of her eye and she brushed it away angrily, focusing her watering eyes on the road as the car went even faster.
I made a mistake. A stupid mistake. Stupid, Stupid! She hit the steering wheel, bearing down on the clutch for a second as she put the gear up a final time. She couldn’t bear to think about how he looked when he walked in on her and Micheal, the look of hurt, betrayal... I’m sorry, Theo. She thought, a tear dripping off her chin. I’m so, so sorry…
“Come on Claire, pull yourself together.” She whispered, her light, lilting voice strained as she raised a hand and wiped her eyes. “You still have time. Don’t think about the past, it’s too late to change that now. Just look at the road and keep driving.”
She gazed out through the windscreen, but her eyes were distracted, unseeing. What if he’s left already? She thought, despair clawing at her heart. What if he’s on the plane right now, gone, forever? Oh god, no. Please no. Anything but that. She drove on blindly, tears streaming down her cheeks. I should never have done it, I should never… never…
The distant thrum of an approaching car broke through the sound of the storm, but she ignored it, too caught up in her own thoughts.
What am I going to say to him if he is there? That I’m sorry? She laughed shortly, hollowly, her vision blurred. That’s not going to cut it. Oh god, what am I going to do?
The sound grew louder, more insistent, and headlights now pierced the gloom. They were switching too and fro across the road, joined by an odd, high pitched whine.
I… I…
The sound was louder now, the whine turning into the shrill shriek of rubber being dragged at high speeds on a slick surface. For a split second everything seemed to stop, the rain frozen midstream, the headlights of the approaching car lighting up Claire’s distracted face, the horror struck expression of the other driver, before-
Crash!
There was a horrible screeching of tires and crumpling metal as the two cars collided at full force, Claire’s scream lost in the rush of noise. The Volvo’s front crumpled, the Land Rover that hammered it reducing it to a pile of pulverised metal as it spun off to the side of the road. The Land Rover came to a screeching halt ten meters away from the crash site, its windshield cracked and it’s fender dented.
Silence.
Steam rose slowly from the silver car as the driver of the Land Rover shakily got out of his car, blood trickling from a scrape above his eye. He ignored it as he staggered towards the other car.
“H-Hello?” He stammered, stumbling down the small dip at the side of the road and approaching the driver’s side door. “Ar- are you OK?”
He peered in the window and gasped, hands scrabbling for the door’s handle. Claire lay limply inside, her chest crushed by her steering wheel, blood oozing over her silk dress. Her head rested on the airbag, her dirty-blond curls darkening as blood saturated them and dripped to the floor. The scarlet beads streamed past her glazed over eyes, glistening as she stared dumbly at the cloud shrouded sky.
Her body convulsed, her final breath hissing out of her lungs as the man pounded on her door, yelling for her to hold on. She felt her life slip away, the stresses and worries crumble as the sound of rushing of water echoed in her ears…
…
Falling…
Down
Down
Into the Abyss.
…
Falling…
Down
Down
Into the Abyss.
…
She was standing in the middle of a desolate field, a dull, grey sky stretching from the far horizon uninterrupted until it sank into the flat, ash colored sand behind her. A bottomless river tore through its center, filling the air with its muted roar as it clawed at its banks as if trying to drag her into its fathomless depths. She scrambled away from the edge, chest heaving, panic flaring in her eyes. This place didn’t feel right, the air cloying in her mouth, her every breath fighting against this smothering wave of… something, she had no clue what. She shivered, eyes wary as she struggled to her feet, head whipping around as she took in the sights.
What… What’s going on?
The river seemed to roar in reply, the grimy waters rising slightly and lapping over the edge of its banks. She looked down at herself, staring at her black dress in confusion. Why was she in it? She couldn’t remember anything, who she was, why she was here-
A deep sigh seemed to echo across the frothing waters.
A flash of memory triggered in her mind and she staggered back, raising her hands to her chest.
I was… I was…
Images flashed past her eyes, whirling around her mind as she struggled to maintain control of herself. Raindrops sliding off cold steel, head lights dancing through a veil of rain, the look of hurt and betrayal on Theo’s face, before pain, pain, pain-
But…
The squeal of tires before the world turned into chaos, the agony as the dashboard was crumpled backwards, the faint whisper of the rain as it washed away the scarlet drops that fell, silently, from her fingertips.
No!
At her last shout the river erupted in turmoil, the waves lapping eagerly over the banks as something stirred beneath the clouded waters. She scrambled backwards, tears slipping down her cheeks as she watched the frothing river.
Thromp.
A deep hum seemed to shake the air as the water writhed, spitting and hissing in anticipation as it crept further up the slope. She watched, eyes wide, as a light blue head burst out of the river, its sharp, beak like snout pointing to the sky. Water flowed from its smooth, blue tinged skin, scattering as it dragged its two, featherless wings away from the rivers grasp and beat them down.
Thromp.
The power of the movement caused the river to tremble as the creature was raised fully out of the water. It hovered above the surface, wings working smoothly to keep it in place as it arched its neck, lowering its streamlined head until it could meet her eyes.
Claire.
She shuddered at its wordless acknowledgement, her eyes captured in its deep blue gaze, as fathomless as the river beneath it. Small streaks of white seemed to roll across the surface of the iris, rolling and breaking like the waves of the sea. The movement was hypnotic, trapping her in that cold, unforgiving stare.
Do you fear death?
The final end?
She shuddered again. Its voice was a symphony of many, a clashing sound that seemed to echo across the featureless landscape. She found herself answering automatically, fear causing her voice to shake.
“Y- Yes.” Her voice broke and she started to tremble, another tear slipping down her cheek.
It seemed to smile, the sides of its mouth tilting upwards for a split second before returning to its emotionless state, so quickly that she was unsure that it had ever happened.
Why?
She took a deep breath, trying to find her voice. “I- I’m not- not rea-”
Ready to die?
She nodded, a sob welling in her throat. No, I’m not ready. She thought, memory flickering back to Theo’s face. I have so much I want to do, so much… I like my life, love it. I- I don’t want to be gone!
You fear an end with no return. The darkness of nothing.
She nodded again, the sob forcing its way up her throat. Suddenly released from her paralysis, she bowed her head, tears flooding down her cheeks. Fear clawed at her heart, ringing true with the creature’s words. The river continued to tear away at its banks, howling with excitement, but she ignored it, too caught up in her own fear. I… I…
You don’t have to die. It informed her quietly, almost kindly.
What?
She looked up, startled by the creature’s words. It watched her levelly, mouth twitching into a smile at her reaction.
I don’t?
A spark of hope blossomed in her heart, tingling through her bones. It was reinforced by this feeling of trust that streamed from the creature, telling her somehow that it was not to be feared, that it was going to help her.
No.
Her fear ebbed away, replaced by an undying gratitude to this strange creature. She pulled herself to her feet, the little shred of hope returning energy to her veins.
“How?” She whispered, eyes bright with unshed tears.
Come closer.
She walked obediently forward, not noticing the way the river lapped eagerly at her feet. She paused at the bank, watching as the creature slowly approached and landed delicately on its back paws in front of her. It raised its head, a soothing expression on its face.
Closer. It whispered, slowly raising its wings. She stepped forward until she was close enough to touch its glossy chest, its huge wings spreading out on either side. A wave of calm swamped her senses and she closed her eyes, a haunting song echoing in her ears.
Sleep. It whispered, closing its wings around her. She didn’t resist as the warm darkness tugged at her consciousness and she slipped into oblivion.
***
A shrill wind swept across the lifeless landscape, skimming over the river's surface as it tore its way towards the horizon. A large shadow rippled just beneath the calm surface, cresting in a burst of shimmering water as it came to a spinning stop in front of a small figure huddled on the crumbling bank. Twin featherless wings spread out to steady itself as the large, birdlike creature hovered, pale blue tail slowly slipping out of the water. It focussed its cold blue eyes on the quivering human before it, a new energy sparkling in its depths.
Do you fear death? It asked simply, its voice a strange harmony of many others. A single one rose above the rest, a light, lilting feminine voice that spoke in the same monotone pitch as the others. The creature lowered its head towards the trembling being below it, lips curved in a gleeful smile. The final end?
THE END. =D
...See what I mean? XD I tried to make the ending tie into the middle a little, but it didn't really work. The beginning was just so you know why she didn't want to die, how she died, ectra. XD I'm guessing you want to know where on earth I got this idea from? XD
It was when I was writing Immortality, my original entry to this competition. I was thinking about all of the legends, and how they could all tie in together. You know, Mew being the creator, the fire, water and lightning legends the guardians of their elements, and I was thinking about Ho oh and Lugia, and how they'd tie in. Everyone always calls Ho oh the guardian of life in general, and I thought that left Lugia out a bit. He only gets to be the guardian of the sea. XD Then I remembered greek mythology, with the river Styx and the boatman. (Who I know actually patrolled a different river, something beginning with P, but I twisted the story. A lot. XD) I thought Lugia could be the boatman. But I didn't know what to do with that, it didn't seem like... enough.
So I asked a friend of mine about the river Styx and the boatman and he told me that he'd heard that the boatman passes on his burden to someone else by getting them to take a coin from him. That got me thinking, and I came up with this. XD A very twisted version of the tale. Lugia's the boatman, but instead of passing on the burden, he rejuvinates himself by absorbing other people's souls. But to do that, it works like the giving of the coin, he has to convince them to come close enough. He only needs to do it every hundred years or so. XD
By the way, Phlegyas is the name of the original boatman. =D He was the son of Ares, and was condemned to ferry souls across the river Styx. You should look the story up, it's quite interesting. =D
...Long boring explanation over. XD;;
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I also thought the scene with Claire's bleeding body in the smashed Volvo was a particularly well-described part sketched in my mind. There was some lovely phrasing when describing the rain (which I love <3). The writing describing Claire's blurry vision and crying was incredibly realistic, and I found myself sitting in the driver's seat of the Volvo with my vision being distorted by tears.
I can go on a two day road trip in one, yet barely last an hour in another. XD 'Tis odd. *hugs again*