“You!” Hunter’s eyes shot open and everything was bright. He was in a familiar room and there was a kind of hopeless feeling inside of him. Like he would never be free again. Free to smile or laugh or show any emotion at all. Except despair. Despair was rampant. His eyes adjusted to the fluorescent light, squinting at first, but eventually correcting his focus. He saw a man in a nice suit, standing behind a podium and glaring at him. Hunter looked at him and let out a heavy sigh. The memories were sluggish coming back to him, but after a moment it all came back.
“Oh, crap. Charon, I really—“ Hunter started, but was interrupted by Charon putting his hand up and then gesturing for him to come to the podium.
“What are you doing here, kid? Planning on getting me yelled at again?” He asked, looking him up and down. Hunter stopped a moment and did the same, noticing that he didn’t seem all there. He could see his entire body, but it seemed restless. Like it was shifting and adjusting. “Wait a minute….Are you…Are you actually dead?!” Charon smiled devilishly and leaned forward on his podium. Hunter thought a moment and sighed. The last thing he could remember was fighting Prometheus. He had caught him in his chains. Maybe he was actually dead. The idea made Hunter feel awful. Like someone punched him in the stomach. More like kicked him in the stomach wearing a steel toed boot. He had started thinking that he might actually have a normal life. He might not be alone all his life. Now that was a guarantee. Hunter took a deep breath and then nodded softly.
“Yeah, Charon.” Hunter swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. “I’m dead.” Charon laughed a quiet cackle and drummed his hands on his podium.
“Well, take a seat, kiddo! I just decided it’s going to be a long want for you, Hunter. A very, very, VERY long wait. That’s for my promotion that I still haven’t gotten! Hades chewed on my ass for an hour and a half for letting you in again.” Charon laughed evilly and cleared his throat. “We’ll be right with you. Please take a seat.” Hunter looked up at Charon who smiled a pleased smile. Hunter felt empty. He turned around and walked over to an empty seat, gingerly sitting down. It felt like a long time that he just sat there, staring at the ground, not knowing of anything else to do. He shifted from having his elbows on his knees to having his leg up on the other. Or from burying his face in his hands to folding them behind his head. Hunter couldn’t describe the painful terrible wait that he was going through. Thousands and thousands of years with absolutely nothing to do and no escape.
“Hi, I’m looking for a Hunter.” Hunter looked up at his name and saw a beautiful woman at the podium talking to Charon. He looked up and almost jumped out of his skin.
“I’m sorry? What…What is it that you-What?” Charon stammered in confusion. The woman sighed and leaned on the podium, getting oddly close to him.
“Kerry, do you remember that pretty little thing that I sent you…Oh what was her name?” She said, fixing his tie. “Oh, Jessica. Jessica, she was beautiful. How is she?”
“She uh…Well, we’re having dinner at 9.” Charon said, clearing his throat. The woman smiled. She had her back to Hunter, but the look on Charon’s face showed that she was smiling.
“Well, how well do you want that dinner to go?” Hunter thought for a second. There was only one person that he knew that would or could do anything like that. Hunter stood up and walked to the podium.
“Aphrodite?” Hunter said, raising an eyebrow. The woman turned and a smile spread across her face.
“Hunter! Oh my goodness, it’s so good to see you!” Aphrodite said with a giggle as she wrapped her arms around him. Hunter tensed a little. He wasn’t sure why, but the sensation of a hug surprised him a little. “Alright. Charon, you’ve got yourself the perfect date tonight, as long as Ig et this strapping young soul in exchange. Hunter froze a minute.
“Wait. What’s going on?” Hunter said quietly.
“Oh, right. Sorry I’m late, dear, but ugh. Typhon was such a pain in my—“
“No, why are you doing this?” Hunter asked quietly. He wasn’t complaining, but it made him curious as to what was going on. It’s not every day a soul just gets brought back to life by the goddess of love. Aphrodite moved a little closer and smiled deviously.
“Well, I thought that maybe you and I…afterward…” Hunter shook his head. “Oh, well, fine. I didn’t have high hopes for that plan. Hunter, I know the future and I know that you dying today is not in the history books. You’re going to be great. You’re going to be in a fantastic position where people love you and care for you, but you’re going to have to take care of them. It’s going to be hard, but Hunter…You’re good at difficult stuff.” She smiled and put a hand on his cheek. “I’d be lucky for a son like you.” She smiled and kissed Hunter on the forehead. “We’ll be seeing you, Kerry. Good luck tonight.” She winked at him and then took Hunter’s hand. “Alright. Try not to throw on the back into your body. It’s icky.” She said before blowing a kiss at Hunter.
Hunter’s eyes shot open and he gasped as air shot into his lungs. His vision was hazy, but it eventually focused on the grey eyes of Prometheus staring down at him. He was smiling and the chains were slack on Hunter’s chest.
“Here is your hero!” Prometheus bragged to the crowd that had gathered. “Your Hunter! The one that saved your precious camp!” Hunter kept his eyes almost closed, but he could still see his knife in Prometheus’ stomach. Hunter took a deep breath. He would only have on shot at this. Hunter grabbed his pendant and summoned his knife before grabbing the knife in Prometheus’ stomach. With a twisting motion, he stabbed the knife in and carved up and down Prometheus’ stomach, leaving thick gashes in his armor. Prometheus gasped and stepped back, releasing Hunter who scrambled backward and prepared for another attack, but suddenly there were several arrows that sunk into his back and Hunter looked over to see the hunters walking up being led by Artemis herself. Prometheus cried out in agony as he sunk into the ground, disappearing completely. They had won. The war was over.