Chapter 1: Achilles

'I am sorry Alexander, I am so sorry."

I whispered in his ear, but he seemed not to hear at all. He was crying so hard that it pained my heart.

"I am here Alexander, right by your side."

I whispered again, but he did not even look up at me.

"Please stop Alexander, it breaks my heart."

His fists were clenched so tight, and his whole body was shaking like a leaf in a whipping cool autumn wind. He looked so vulnerable like a little boy; the boy whom I fell in love with a long time ago. I shared the dream and passion with him, who believed in the myth and outlived the myth. It was so easy for me to follow him until the end, because I loved him unconditionally.

I caressed his golden threads, but he even did not shift.

"Look at me Alexander, please look at me!"

I raised my voice in frustration, but he did not respond. I wanted to hold him and comfort him so badly. I tried to gather him in my arms, but my arms just went right through his body. I helplessly watched him crawl up on the bed and lie by my shell. It was obvious that he did not recognize that I was here. All I could do was just watch him break.

I felt a great force suddenly pull me away. I tried to hold onto something, anything, but the effort was useless. I cried out in desperation.

"Alexander, don't let them take me! Alexander….!"

My surroundings became dimmer, and I was floating in nothingness. It was dark but I still could see. There was enough light to make out shapes just like at night with a full moon, except there was neither a moon nor a sky.

I heard a thump of water, and saw a dragon-tailed dog. It must be Cerberus who stood for an eternal guard. I knew where I was. I was at the bank of the river Styx, waiting for a boat to cross me over. With a faint sound of ripples, I saw a boat skim onto the shore. Charon reached to my hand, and I noticed that I was holding a coin in my palm. He snatched it as he pulled me on the boat. I looked back one more time wishing to find a way back, but all I saw was nothing but empty darkness.

I was on the journey of no return. I should not feel cold, yet I was freezing. I should not have tears, yet I was crying. It was funny that you still remembered those feelings without carrying the shell of your body. The boat moved in silence. The lost souls emerged to the surface trying to grab and get into the boat. Nevertheless, they faded in a thin mist right before they reached the boat. Their desperate expression gave me a chill, and I shivered in their silent screams.

Soon we arrived on the other side, and Charon pushed me off the boat. I was blinded by bright lights, and almost stumbled back in the river. Strong arms scooped me up to save me from the fall, and I noticed that I had my old body back except there were no scars. As my vision adjusted to the light, I saw the face of the person who was holding me.

I gasped and murmured, "Alexander?"

The golden locks shook from side to side. Now I saw the differences, this person was taller, and had piercing light blue eyes of summer sky. He spoke in a low voice as if he was afraid of frightening me.

"I am Achilles, and this is Patroclus." I saw another man whose eyes were the deepest color of emerald green standing right behind Achilles. So this was Patroclus whom I worshiped and tried to live up to. They smiled at me tenderly, and Achilles continued.

"Your Alexander will be here soon, very soon. But until then, we will keep you company to ease your pain."

"I know exactly how you feel, I was there. But he will come, and you will be with him again, forever, as my Achilles came to me," Patroclus assured me.

Achilles and Patroclus guided me deep into the Elysian field, the land of heroes ruled by Rhadamanthus. Gentle breezes caressed the tender grass of green waves. Flowers of all colors sparkled in the bright light, just like reflections of the sun on the dancing waves of the Aegean Sea. Thick canopies of trees cascaded cool shades around the crystal clear spring.

Achilles cupped my face with his warm hands, and spoke to me looking straight into my eyes; his gaze was soft and sincere.

"When your Alexander crosses the river, we all come here again to greet him. With four of us together, the world would finally be complete, and we will start a new myth. It will be the beginning of the new world in the Elysian field."

Now I felt my pain had eased. I whispered to myself in contentment, "Alexander, I will be waiting for you with our heroes; Achilles and Patroculus. Please be strong, and grieve no more as we will be together forever in this land of eternal love."

End