Attempt 1768

The metal bars holding my prison closed rattle and I look up to find a demon pushing in a cart. Ah, it must be dinner time. The food is always good at least. Hades feeds me well and often, so I never have to worry about keeping my strength up.

I watch the new demon I've never seen before wheel the cart in, glaring at him as he moves. He's done nothing wrong, not yet. The dense creature is just doing his job, but he has the unfortunate consequence of being here when I'm still angry at Hades and his bullshit.

"Dinner consists of pan seared filet with red wine pan sauce, some roasted vegetables, and some sort of potato that the chef failed to inform me of what it was," the demon declares as he positions the cart in the middle of the room. He pulls off the lid on top. "Is there anything else I can bring you, m'lady?"

I smile mockingly. "A key to the door?"

His eyes flicker around the room. "Alas, I don't have access to the key myself, m'lady. The door is opened for me. I can be of no help."

Scoffing, I stroll toward the cart and look at the food. "Of course, you can't be. Letting me out would spell your death."

He nods vigorously. "Exactly, m'lady. I shall excuse myself to?—"

His words cut off abruptly as the air in the room begins to shimmer before the both of us. I'd been halfway to popping a roasted carrot in my mouth, but I freeze now, my eyes on the relatively small oddity that begins to grow. A pinprick at first, within a few seconds, it's the size of my head and then larger, until it shimmers from floor to ceiling. There's no distinguishable end and beginning along the edges, only that strange shimmer.

My mind tingles with a memory, a similar look to the thing that appeared when Hades brought me to Under. It can't be. . . can it?

The demon looks between the growing shimmer and me, equally confused. It's large enough for a person now, and it's like the demon suddenly realizes what it is the same moment I make the decision to use it. I don't know where it goes, but that's a risk I'm willing to take. I don't know when this opportunity will come again. I take a step forward and the demon tenses.

"No, m'lady. I would not advise it."

I glance at him and then back to the shimmer. This is it. This is my chance. I won't have another like this. There's no time to question where it came from or where it leads. I can think about that later. I can worry about what happens after it's already happened.

Without waiting another second, I launch myself toward the shimmer, springing with everything I have. Unfortunately for me, this dinner demon thinks himself some sort of noble hero or warrior or something. He decides I'm not escaping on his watch, so he launches himself at me.

Unfortunately for him, I'm faster.

Unfortunately for both of us, when he slams into me, we both go tumbling through the shimmer together. . .