Leon POV
So yeah...that's where I've been. My nose is bleeding now. And the author's still a dick.
I glanced around my cell, taking in the details. It wasn’t as bad as I’d imagined. The bed was decent enough—firm but not uncomfortable, though there were no blankets or pillows to be found. The air was hot, almost stifling, but at least the place was somewhat clean. There was a small curtained-off area in the corner, providing a bit of privacy for the toilet. Surprisingly, it was more modern than I expected, equipped with a proper bidet and even toilet paper.
We also wore this super white clothing as well. With how dark and red some places are, I guess white is the best color down here. It wasn't that thin, but not that thick either, makes me itch really bad though.
As I surveyed the room, a metal slot in the door clanged open, and a small tray slid through. On it was what looked like a meat bar. I picked it up, examining it for a moment before taking a bite. It was chewy and tough to get through, but it was food. Not much in the way of flavor, but it was enough to keep me going.
"It could be worse."
"It could definitely be, you're considered a safe prisoner, so you're here." a female voice said, it was from my right.
"So there's different sections as well?"
"You've never been to a prison before?"
"Well...I wouldn't say prison, but close to it."
"I'm Sasha. It's nice to meet you. Careful of the water."
I couldn't see what she looked like as she introduced herself, I then drank the water, and the temperature was weird and it got a really weird consistency. I don't know how to describe it, but at this point, I can't really complain.
"If you're wondering, yes, they do not separate the male and female prisoners here. We’re all in the same part of the prison. They don't separate us because, down here, they don't see the point. The gods believe that once you’ve been sent to this place, your old identity and your past life will not matter. You're just another soul serving your sentence, male or female, it’s all the same to them."
"What did you do?"
"Oh, I was a murderer, I betrayed some hero by taking his money and killing one of his party mates, he didn't kill me though, and asked some god to send me here for 1000 years."
"How long have you been here?"
"I don't know...400 years? But I should have around 400 left."
I wasn’t sure if I could trust that this was truly a safe part of the prison. I’d need to confirm it later, just to be sure. As we talked for a bit, I heard the door click and I saw John slide his door open as I realized that I was let out of the cell.
"Avoid the guards, they don't do small talk." John pointed
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
I got a better look at the guards, tall legions of skeletal warriors, heavily armed and standing like silent sentinels. Their hollow eyes seemed to follow my every move; they were 2m tall, and they were seriously intimidating, including their armor and weapons. Let's just say I can see why only 1 escaped so far. I then turned to my right and saw Sasha, she was a fellow human, around 170cm tall, and looked to be a woman in her 30s, she had dark green hair and blue eyes.
"Come, I'll guide you." John said, gesturing for me to follow.
Sasha joined us, and together we walked through the dimly lit corridors of the prison. I couldn’t help but notice how lax the security seemed to be. The skeletal guards were minimal. The facilities we passed were sparsely monitored, almost as if the prisoners here weren’t much of a concern. As we walked, I spotted maps on the walls, each one marked with color-coded sections. Our part of the prison was labeled in green, and according to John and Sasha, this color signified a 'safe' zone.
Based on the lack of reactions from the others, and from what I studied from their map, it was true, so for now, at least, I didn’t have to worry about immediate threats. Eventually, we made our way outside to the Field of Punishments. The heat hit me immediately, the air thick and uncomfortable. The ground was cracked and barren, and from the distance, I could hear the occasional scream. The yard stretched out before us, vast and barren, with the ground cracked and scorched.
"We’re still in a safer part of the prison," Sasha said, "Come on, let’s get you to the stall."
"You 2 close?"
"Well, we basically live next to each other, we're gonna have to be."
They then led me to a small stall, where various tasks were listed. John pointed them out, explaining each one.
"You can choose any task you want," he said. "Since you're here, you don’t have to listen to or watch the tortures out there, so don't cross any of the guards."
"Why is your accent changing by the minute?"
"I don't know?"
"We recommend mining. It’s the safest option for someone who’s alive, like us." Sasha chimed in
"The best way to reduce your time is to become a gladiator, but there’s a high risk of dying, so it’s not really recommended unless you’re desperate." John added
"Okay, now it sounds like a fake stereotypical French accent...how many years do you knock off?"
"You'll be fighting the guards...and you'll lessen 1 month at a time."
"Shit, that's not a lot. What happens if I die?"
"You'll be judged again, and you'll most likely end up here again, you'll have a reduced sentence then, but say goodbye to any chance of leaving the underworld and seeing your family again."
"Gotcha."
"How many people are in this family of yours?"
"I got my parents and my brother, they've down a lot for me, so I might as well put the same effort to get back home...is there a chance where you fight other prisoners instead of the guards?"
"Those are on Friday."
"And what day's today?"
"Thursday. But I seriously do not recommend that, the people there are desperate, more than you, they are very dangerous."
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3rd Person POV
The three judges of the underworld, Aeacus, Rhadamanthus, and Minos, sat in their chamber, doing their usual work and making sure to file their documents in order before the door creaked open, and a figure entered, Lux, the goddess who had sent the Leon down to the underworld. Her presence was almost blinding in the dark chamber, but the judges remained composed. Without a word, she approached the central table where a stack of documents awaited her.
"Here to sign the papers, I assume," Minos said, "We've done most of it, you just do the usual and sign at the bottom."
"He’s already been sent to his cell. The sentencing is complete." Aeacus reassured, "Do you want any additional punishment?"
"No, this should be enough." Lux replied
Rhadamanthus then handed over the documents of approval and the final sentencing papers. Lux took them, flipping through the pages. Her eyes scanned the details of Leon’s file, the specifics of his crimes, and the terms of his punishment. As she read, a frown began to form once she reached a certain part of the document.
"If you're referring to his personal file, we've read it." Aeacus reassured, "It's nothing the guards can't handle."
"But...no no no..." she muttered, "He shouldn't be in the green section. He...no..."