｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. HADES

I finally saw the sun.

Where was I? The surroundings were seen by light... I think we're near a stream. Was this really a penalty? It felt good! 

Our necks were tied and attached to a pole. The chain was used to restrain our necks. Our poles were somewhat far from each other but it was long enough for the four of us to meet.

What are we going to do?

My eyes darted to Prada who looked so scared. She also looked like she was cold. The air was blowing heavily... like it was about to rain. Were we really out of that shithole?

Apollo was... looking around. He looked like he wanted to escape, huh, Just kidding, he cannot leave Dior. Plus, there was no trace of civilization in this place. We were in the middle of nowhere.

Ares was looking at us worriedly. He was always like that... He was the father figure of the group. I wouldn't be surprised if he offered to sacrifice himself.

"Greetings, little ones!" I flinched in my place when I heard Crow. Fuck... there was still a speaker here? "Welcome to the elimination round!"

Should I be glad?

"Your challenge is to find the key to the chain attached to your neck. This is your ticket out of this elimination round," he explained. "If you try to remove the chain without the key, one of you will die. You have thirty minutes."

"I hope the crow would not kiss your death," he added. "Good luck!"

I went to Prada first who was shivering. This fucking Crow was really fucking with us. He let Prada wear a sleeveless shirt and shorts. That was what the boys and I were wearing, but damn, it was cold here!

"Are you okay?" I asked and hugged her to ease the coldness she was feeling. I felt her nod but I continued hugging her for a few seconds.

"We're going to find our keys, okay?" I shouted so that Ares and Apollo could hear it. The both of them nodded at me. "All of us will get out of here alive."

"Of course, bro," the fucking Apollo answered. "I bet you'll miss me in school."

I aimed a middle finger at him and went farther to look for my key. If I couldn't find mine, at least I get to find theirs. I was not selfish now... I realized that I acted like they were not my friends at all before.

I went first to the place where there were many crops. The key would undeniably be small so my eyes might have not noticed it. Fuck, thirty minutes seemed so quick. These thirty minutes would only be enough for me to search in this place... I wouldn't be able to look for the others.

I looked down and started searching. I bent my body so far because the crops were so low. I used my hands to get the produce away from my sight, hoping that I'd get to see a key there.

My back was hurting! Fuck!

My eyes darted back to Prada, Ares, and Apollo, trying to observe what they were doing. Prada was... bathing herself in the water?! She might have been looking for her key there. The water seemed so skin-deep.

Apollo, on the other hand, was tilling the land. He looked like he was searching for a treasure box buried there. I bet he would take the key to the pawnshop. Just kidding. Even Ares was tilling the land with him.

I turned my attention back to the search for my key. My brows furrowed out of frustration because I could not find anything! I was sure that ten minutes already passed. This place was so wide!

Crow must not have wanted us to live.

What did that key look like anyway? Was it similar to what Chanel puked in the first challenge? Damn it! I remember her again! Damn, I wanted to drink beer now.

Speaking of drink, I was thirsty. Should I drink the water in the pond?

I stopped myself from doing so because time was running out. I was already feeling tired now. My back really hurts! It felt like ten years were taken away from my lifespan!

I was still young. However, I felt that this challenge made me reduce my youth.

"I'm free! I looked back to see Apollo walking near me. The chains in his neck were removed, making me sigh in relief. I was glad that at least one of us was safe. But, I hoped Prada would be too.

"That's nice!" I initiated a high-five with him to which he gladly returned. "Where did you find it?"

"I was searching since earlier in the land." Apollo laughed at what he was saying. "Turns out it was just under the tree."

"Can I see the key?" I asked and he nodded. He took something out of his pocket and showed me a gold key. It was different from our previous challenge.

"Okay, thanks." I smiled and pointed at Prada and Ares using my lips. "Bro, help Prada and Ares look."

"I was about to go them, bro." He patted me on my shoulder. "Good luck! I'll help you later!"

"Take care of them first!" I scolded him. "I can do this!"

To be honest, I could not do this.

This place was so big but the key was that small. But, I could not stop. I wanted to see and come back to my friends. Even though some were gone now.

I had no choice but to continue looking for the key in my position. What I knew was the key was not far from here because of our chains. Where the chain ends, that was where the key was.

You're smart, Hades. Shit.

I shouted because of how painful my back felt. Mom, it hurts!

"Hades!" Ares shouted from afar who was beside Prada and Apollo. They all looked at me worriedly. "Are you okay?!"

"Yes!" I answered but Apollo still made his way to me. He was supposed to help Prada! Fucker, go back!

"Hey, go back!" I shouted at him and pushed him away. "Prada needs you more! Time is running out!"

"I'll help you for five minutes." Apollo massaged his temples. He looked tired too. "I'll go back to Prada and Ares after."

"But—" Apollo cut me off.

"Go to the end of your chain and I'll search here, okay?" I nodded at Apollo and went to the end of my chain. My restraint stopped me from going further so I discovered that the key was somewhere around here.

After a few minutes, Ares found his key. He also helped Apollo and Prada search for mine and Prada's.

But now, I was frantically looking for it. Time was running out but Prada and I were not yet free. I had to be quick with searching for mine so I could look for hers. 

I should not let my painful back get in the way.

I sang 'It's about drive, it's about power' in my mind while searching for my key in panic. My mind was spinning. Fuck, I was panicking! I almost slipped because my position was slightly slippery.

"Hades!" Ares called me. "Did you find it?"

"No!" I shouted back while my attention was solely on my position. I felt that it was already time! Fuck, we haven't found Prada's yet!

After a few seconds, my eyes lit when I saw something shining in the corner. I quickly walked over to it and smiled when I saw a key! I called Apollo and waved the key I saw.

"Quick, try it!" He ran over to me to see if the key would work on me. I hope not...

I hoped this was Prada's.

I carefully inserted my key into the lock and heaved a sigh when the restraints on my neck were removed. This did not belong to Prada... but fuck, we'll search for it! The four of us would leave this place and we'll go back to our friends.

"Thank, God," Apollo said as he caught his breath and patted me on the shoulder. "Let's go help Prada!"

We all ran to our girl friend who was still searching for her key. My heart was being torn to pieces when I realized that she hadn't found hers.

Chanel was already taken away from me. I wouldn't allow Prada to be gone too.

"I'll look there." Apollo pointed elsewhere and ran over to it. Ares was silently searching for the key too.

I could not give him an answer because I was frantically looking for the key. I did not even notice that I was tearing up already.

"Five minutes left!" Crow announced which made me panic more.

My hands were shaking and my breath was getting slower out of panic. I could not also look at Prada because my attention was on the search for her key.

I stopped when Prada held my hand. When I looked at her, she gave me a bitter smile. No... I would not allow it.

There's still time, Prada.

"Apollo, Ares! Have you found it?!" I desperately shouted at the two boys who answered 'No.' I wiped my tears and continued searching for the key.

"Prada, search there," I said and pointed to a corner. She nodded and followed what I said. I was already tired since earlier but I chose to pay it no mind because I had something much more important to do.

I roughly messed my hair out of frustration. I could not see a damn key here! Fuck, what if there's actually no key for Prada?! I would fucking kill this Crow!

My back hurt so much.

"Time is up!" My knees weakened when I heard what Crow said. My tears streamed down my face with that.

Fucker?

My chest tightened when I realized that Prada would not come home with me. My best friend... would be left here. One of the people who accepted me for who I am would be gone too. What does that make me now?

"P-prada..." My voice cracked while coming to her embrace.

I saw how Apollo and Ares turned around to cry. Prada was important to us... she is the person I would not trade for anything and anyone. She knows everything about me... It was like I was not allowed to be happy.

Crow took both of my lives away from me.

"I'm sorry..." I whispered while hugging her. I felt her shake her head and especially her tears landing on my shoulders.

"Sorry, we couldn't find it..." Ares said as he teared up, making Prada pull away from me and then hug the two boys behind us.

"We love you." I went near them as we all hugged each other.

The world was so unfair. Was I not allowed to be happy? Would my remaining friends be taken away from me too?

Whoever would accompany Chanel and Prada in the afterlife, take care of them... please? I did not care for them their whole life just to get hurt even on the other side.

- -

FLASHBACK

"Who are you?" My brows furrowed at the girl in front of me. She looked younger than me too. But, why was she so snobby?

"I'm Hades," I answered, wondering if I did something wrong to her. I could not help but frown! I don't want someone holding a grudge on me! "W-what's your name?"

My mom told me that she would meet up with her friend, including her friend's daughter. My mother had many friends but all of their children were nice! This one... why was she so snobby?

"I'm Prada!" She smiled which made me smile too. "I'm six years old!"

She's really younger than me.

"I'm seven!" My smile widened when she invited me to play after that. We both had different tastes but we enjoyed each other's presence. We have been inseparable since then.

We were cute then. But fuck, what happened to us now?

"Prada, stop drinking!" I scolded her while I took the bottle away from her. She was already drunk! We have an exam tomorrow!

"Even if you drink your one-thousandth bottle, it won't change the fact that Achilles does not love you," I added.

She smacked my head.

"Such a friend you are!" She rolled her eyes at me!

I massaged my temples and glared at every guy who tried to come near my best friend. I was distancing Prada from anyone who might hurt her... but she forces herself to fucking Achilles.

Ever since that moment, we were often beside each other. We even went to the same high school! There, I met Apollo and the others... eventually being the best of friends. I also met my ex-girlfriend there.

I remembered how Prada teased me with Chanel, making me fall in love with her! And Prada... she fell for Achilles.

I watched my best friend be stupidly in love with a man who wanted nothing other than sex. I had no problem with them being fuck buddies. I just didn't want Prada to enter a one-sided love.

However, I could not help but be angry when I found out that Prada suffered a miscarriage with her and Achilles' baby.

END

- -

In just a blink, the three of us were away from the stream. We were facing a screen where we could see Prada tied up to the pole.

I'm such a bad friend.

"Bro," I cried in Apollo's embrace. I could not bring myself to look at Prada. This was all my fault! I killed them all!

"I'm sorry..." Ares cried.

I regretted so many things in my life. But I did not expect this was the payment for everything I did.

Prada, hug the love of my life for me.

I cried more when I heard Prada's cries. I also saw Apollo looking away... his tears were streaming down his face too.

When I looked at the screen, the crows were eating Prada's body. I looked away... I could not watch it. I felt weak and cold.

After a few minutes, Prada stopped breathing.

I repeatedly cursed Crow in my mind. But fuck, I should be cursed instead. If not for me, our friends would still be alive.

"The crows literally kissed Prada her death. She is an innocent."