`` Are you the devil '' the child asked [ WP ]

'Haha, my dear boy no, well not in the way you mean. Yes I do rule over a kingdom of a damned, here deep below the surface of the earth. Yes, I have been known to trap particularly evil souls in pits of hellfire, but I did all of this long before the idea of the devil was a glint in a man's eyes. No I am Hades, ruler of the underworld and I am left to question how exactly you got here. As Greek tradition states; `` a man must be buried with two gold drachma upon his eyes with which to pay the ferryman.'' A tradition long ago abandoned by the people of the world above. Tell me, how did you cross the river Styx?' 
 
'I just saw this boat tied up on a dock. I could see lights over here and I did n't know where I was and when I get lost my mom told me I should always find a policeman cause they'll tell her.' 
 
 I lifted the hem of my robe and stood up.'You mean to tell me you stole the ferryman's boat and rowed it a quarter mile over the river to the city of the damned to find a policeman?' Fire glinted in my eyes as I stood over the now cowering child. 
 
'I did... did n't mean to steal sir, honest. I... was just um, borrowing it. I'm sorry.' He looked down, his arms wrapped around himself. 
 
 Poor kid, I thought to myself.'relax kid, I'm not upset with you. That idiot let a child steal his boat, so what the hell have I been paying him for? and how the hell did you manage to row all the way over?' 
 
'My dad taught me, we canoe out on the lake every summer and then we go fishing, I usually do n't catch anything but last year I got a salmon and dad let me take it home and we got to eat it.' 
 
'You're a real outdoors man kid.' I rested my hand on his shoulder.'I'm sorry to say though, any policeman you meet here is unlikely to help you.' 
 
'But..I need someone to help me, why ca n't they? Mom said policeman are nice and they'll call them and then they can pick me up and take me home.' 
 
'Well first off, policeman was n't really a job option when most of the guys around here died. I suppose you could track down a city guard from Thebes or Athens or another city that actually employed them. But then you'd encounter the second problem, that being it's unlikely they know what a phone is, where to find one or how to use it to inform your parents. And third, even if you were able to track down a phone and the correct number it would be rather useless given your currently deceased.' 
 
'Diseased?' He said a confused look on his face. 
 
 I sighed' No, deceased, as in dead, gone and buried. Whatever happened to bring you here was a one way ticket pal. But congrats on being the first soul in over 1700 years to make it over the river.' 
 
'So- I....I ca n't go home?' He started to shake a little. 
 
 I knew the easiest thing would be to take the kid out and just toss him into the river. He'd be dragged down by the lost souls in the abyss and that'd be the end of that. But I could n't help feeling sorry for the little guy, it's not like he choose for this to happen. 
 
'Hey I have an idea, I know a guy down the road and he makes great honey cakes, puts these little walnut bits on top. It's great. What do you say?' 
 
 He crossed his arms and looked me straight in the eye.'No sir, I'm not supposed to go anywhere with strangers or take any food from them.' 
 
 by Zeus' beard!'I already told you my name kid, so technically I'm not a a stranger now am I? In fact, you are the stranger here, because you have still not introduced yourself. Which is also rather rude, given you've invaded my home here.' 
 
 He thought this over for a moment then stuck his little hand out.' Patrick Thompson, 54 Lakeside Dr, Granville, Indiana.' 
 
 I smiled and ushered my new friend out, for the first time in a long time, we had a new citizen. 
 
 
 

