Madison was my given name. I refused it. The figures were disappointed in me when I told them to call me Lee. The figures insisted I be called Madison. I never liked that name. I decided to at least attempt to listen to the figures. The figures wanted me to to get one hundred. One hundred what, I asked them. Just, one hundred, they replied back. I wasn't able to get to one hundred. All I got was eighty-five. The figures took away nourishment for fifteen, what I needed to get to one hundred. By my number five, I knew it. This was my nightmare. I'd wake up one day. I'd awake from this nightmare and realize I'd been living in a dream the whole time. Tears appeared on my skin as I tried to wake up from this nightmare.

Seven passed. My number thirteen meant nothing to me, but meant everything to the figures. You should know what to do, they told me. We shouldn't need to teach you. I tried, I really did. I remember a crash and the ceramic pieces lying on the floor. They took away nourishment from me that day. The figures made sure to cover up the tears on my skin as I walked to my personal hell the next day. The figures at the pit weren't any better. My numbers dropped at the pit. From eighty-five to seventy-one. The figures both at the den and inside of the pit made loud sounds, loud enough sounds to make my ears ring after they were done. Stop! I would try to say. All I heard back from them was ' You could do better Madison.' I tried to tell them, I was Lee, not Madison. Every single time they ignored me. The smaller figure around me would always be laughing, but I couldn't tell if it was at me or at themselves. Purple surrounded my eyes as I stopped forcing myself to sleep, listening to the only quiet I ever had as the figures in the den fell asleep.

I told Madison to fall asleep. I told her, to ignore everyone else, not to be dragged down into a deeper pit by these figures! But Madison heard every single word the smaller figures would tell me. Cross the river. The smaller figures would tell me everyday. My skin turned a disgusting purple because of them. I ignored them, using the tears and bruises as a way to stay sane. But Madison listened to them instead of listening to me, Lee. Madison took control. Madison was the one to make us walk to the edge. Madison let us be pushed onto the pillars at the bottom. Madison made us cross the river. Madison did not survive the swim.

I, Lee, am the one who survived the swim. Madison is gone now. It was her fault, she made us cross the river. I alone must cross the final river. No matter what, or else I'll never be able to rest peacefully. I drew out my coin from underneath my tongue. I paid the toll to climb into the boat. I waited as I was rowed across the river. I lined up. I stated the name the figures gave me. I was almost rejected, almost thrown back into the river, but was given another chance to say my name. My real name. With a smile, I was finally, finally able to say, ' My name is Lee Saman. Age 16,' and be accepted.

And that's how I came here. Myself, as Lee, not Madison. I live here now, as you will too. So far, I've been able to peacefully sleep now that Madison is dead. I've awoken from my nightmare. Those figures are nothing more than figures now, as they will not be able to see me ever again. I hope your journey of how you got here is a more pleasant tale. Not as drab as mine. Of course, you have just arrived, so you may not know your own story yet. It's always nice to hear others tales and stories. So, tell me dear listener, how was your ride across the River Styx?

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Any questions?