The God of Death paused and drew in a long, slow breath. He enjoyed the torment of the souls under his control. He stepped deeper into the dark depths of Hades, the place where he kept the mighty King Malik of Petra captive.
More than ten years of power, control, and wealth had been granted to the king. Yet only five years of suffering in Hades? Pluto felt it wasn't enough. He wanted Malik to suffer more. Wickedness spilled from his face and his whole body. He was created to be vile. Evil.
When he reached the prison cell, Pluto glanced back at the prophets who had followed him. They understood his silent command. They quickly backed away, closing the tall and heavy doors so their god could speak to the grieving soul alone.
"Malik!" Pluto's thunderous voice echoed. The once-powerful king's painful cries answered from inside his chamber. Malik turned, unaware of his own tortured appearance. Pluto studied the misery in the man's eyes, a sight that pleased him deeply.
"Enjoying your stay?" Pluto mocked, a cruel smirk twisting his lips.
Malik didn't reply, only trembling in agony.
Pluto paced slowly, his heavy footsteps shaking the floor. His claws rested behind his back as he spoke again, calm but cruel.
"I don't expect you to love it here," he said. "This realm is full of torture. But do you know what I love most? Souls are brought here every single day. If they hated Hades so much, they wouldn't end up here, right?"
He cast his crimson gaze toward the gates.
"And of course, Hades always accepts them. Why wouldn't we? We live for suffering… anguish… and tears."
Laughter burst from him, sharp, loud, and terrifying. The walls trembled. The sound was enough to shred the ears of any soul nearby. When he finally stopped, he looked back at Malik.
"I've come with a deal."
His voice dropped low, dark and threatening.
"I can reduce your torture here for eternity. Give me what I seek." His claws scraped the ground. "Refuse… and your torment will become worse than anything you can imagine."
Malik screamed as another wave of pain surged through him.
"Shh…" Pluto clicked his tongue. "This is the price you pay for belonging to me. What did you expect when you came to me? To sit and dine? Oh, Malik. This pain will last forever. Even after I take over Petra , your once bright kingdom, darkness will cover every corner. You caused it. And I will never waste my chance to destroy your world. Your people will serve me, and their blood will fuel my power."
Malik struggled through the agony, forcing out broken words. "W-what do you want…?"
Pluto smiled slowly.
"Years ago, you had a child. Not your wife's… another woman's. Where is that woman? And where is your son?"
The prophecy rang in Pluto's mind, a child born from royal blood… the only threat to his rule. If that child lived, Pluto's reign over the earth could fail. And failure was not an option.
Malik's eyes widened. He thought of his daughters, slaughtered by Pluto. His queen, killed before his eyes. Malik had never imagined having a son. Any woman who bore a girl was silenced, killed to protect his image as a "great king."
Pain surged hotter through his body. He trembled.
Pluto forced his voice into Malik's mind. "Think! Who is she? Show me her face!"
Malik tried to block the memories, the one woman he betrayed cruelly… a woman who once loved him. He remembered her head displayed on a stake… all because she was pregnant with his child.
Malik screamed, trying to redirect his thoughts. He remembered his rise to power, betraying his brother's bloodline, gaining the throne with the devil's gift. Ten short years as king… before Pluto came to claim him.
"You didn't keep your word!" Malik cried, voice shaking. "I regret ever trusting you!"
Pluto snarled. "You are in MY kingdom. I own you. I already control Petra. It's only a matter of time. Now, tell me where your mistress and her son are!"
Malik's eyes flickered. A son? Alive?
He held onto one thing, hope.
"I will never tell you," Malik hissed through gritted teeth. "My son will live. He will restore Petra. While I suffer here, my bloodline survives. You can't take that from me. I still have my mind!"
Pluto roared in rage, slamming him with more torment. Malik fell to his knees, but he smiled through the tears.
"You think your son will bring peace?" Pluto's voice trembled with fear, real fear. "I will kill him myself. You will watch as I tear him apart!"
He lifted Malik by the throat with a monstrous tail, scaled, spiked, and dripping with venom, before throwing him against the burning floor. Malik wheezed, choking for breath.
"Once-great King Malik," Pluto spat. "Now nothing but a whimpering soul. You are mine!"
He burned Malik with another surge of power before turning away. The doors opened. Pluto stepped back into the cries of countless lost souls.
It was only the beginning.
Darkness would come for the earth, and Pluto would take what he believed belonged to him.
****
Landon sat with his legs sprawled out, hand against his cheek. He tried to remember the dreams flashing in his mind, strange images that disappeared too fast. Frustrated, he sighed loudly.
He waited for his mother to return. Before leaving, she kissed his forehead and walked into the endless darkness with only a burning torch , the only way to see in the night.
Everyone outside risked their lives. Monsters lurked in every shadow. People whispered prayers as they ran, hoping the darkness would spare them.
Landon prayed silently for his mother's safety.
He opened the small wooden window a little, letting the cold breeze wash over his face. Dark clouds swallowed the sky. He stared quietly, trying to understand why the world never saw daylight.
A sudden banging made him jump.
"Landon! It's me! Open up quickly!"
He rushed to unbolt the door. His mother stumbled in, panting and shaken. He helped her carry the bags before locking the door tight.
Morgan sat heavily on a stool, exhausted. Landon saw the fear lingering in her eyes.
"There's no sun… no rain… the crops have all died," she whispered, unpacking what little she could buy. "Food is running out."
Only a few vegetables remained. A little rice. Bread. Anything was a blessing.
Landon knelt beside her and gently touched her arm.
"Mother," he said softly. "We must be strong."
Those words made her break. She held him tightly, tears flowing. She would do anything to keep him alive.
She wiped her tears quickly. "Ah, I brought something for you." She pulled out a small wrapped cake. Landon's eyes brightened.
Morgan cherished that tiny piece of joy. It reminded her of his birth, the friend she lost that night, the secret she still kept.
But then—
A loud growl shook the walls.
Morgan's heart stopped. People screamed outside.
She turned, and froze.
"Landon… the window!" Her voice cracked in terror.
He ran toward it instinctively.
"No! Don't!" she screamed.
But it was too late, a monstrous arm reached through the window, claws scraping the stone. Landon stared into its glowing blue eyes.
And the beast… stopped.
The growling died. The monster stepped back as if afraid. Blue eyes locked with Landon's, showing him something.
A vision.
Two giant doors… slowly opening…
Then the creature fled into the night.
Morgan grabbed Landon, shaken to her core. "Thank goodness you aren't hurt." She slammed the window shut and locked it.
Landon stared blankly at her.
"I saw something," he whispered. "The beast showed me. Two doors… opening."
Morgan shook her head. "It must have been a dream. Forget it. We survived, that's all that matters."
But Landon continued to stare at the window.
"No. It wasn't a dream. The beast knows something. Something I'm meant to see."
His voice trembled with confusion and a fear he didn't yet understand.