“Achilles, I beg of you… Don't throw me to the dogs down at the docks… My parents will offer you quite a sum. When I go, please let them gently carry my body back home… That way, my people…My family will be able to grieve properly. Think about what's morally right.” Hektor's voice sounded desperate as his breath became heavy—-he remained still as he looked fearfully up at Achilles, who still towered above him.

    Achilles's expression contorted into a snarl. “Don't you dare preach to me about morals, animal. I'd slice you into a million pieces, making your death long and painful if I could… For what you've done. But, I assure you, I'll make sure no one stops those mangy mutts by shore from tearing your cold flesh apart. And even if I was offered all the gold in the world… More than my home could house, you'd still not be able to buy yourself out of this fate. Your mother… She'll have to come down to the docks and gaze upon your shredded remains if she so wishes to say goodbye.”

     Hektor felt his heart temporarily stop beating—-silence falling for just the briefest moment in his chest cavity before starting up again, once more. He swallowed, feeling like he was just about to choke on his own breath—-he felt like he was on the verge of suffocating. “I see… I see now. Nothing I say will change your mind. You're well rooted in your decision. Patroclus really did mean a lot to you. Your love… Slain by my blade all in the name of a Trojan victory …And for that, I am sorry.” He paused for the briefest moment before saying, “But the gods won't overlook this honorless act… They'll remember… Place their full wrath upon you. Even with your bravery, that'll be nothing when the day of retribution comes.”

     Hektor's heart rate spiked once more as he felt the edges of his blurry vision start to go black. This is it, he thought to himself one last time before letting the shadows wrap their cold fingers around him, pulling his soul down to the earth. 

     Achilles laughed as he saw Hektor's body fall limp. “Sleep painfully now… The dogs will feast greatly tonight. And when the time does come, my fate will be whatever Zeus decides.”

─┉─¡! • !¡─┉─

    Hektor felt lightheaded as eyes slowly fluttered open—-the details of his own death felt a tad bit hazy.

    The sounds of flowing waters echoed nearby as Hektor slowly lifted his head off the wooden surface it had been resting upon just a few moments ago.

   Hektor rubbed his forehead, blinking a few times. He felt a series of intense pains in limbs and abdomen. He winced loudly, but this sound was drowned out by the river.

    Hektor blinked his eyes closed, wishing for the pain to go away.

     When Hektor's eyelids fell, he could see faint silhouettes of beaten up dogs, missing fur with fangs bared, tearing away at his own body.

     Hektor's eyelids lifted once more, rather quickly as he let out a startled noise. “What… was… that?” His voice shook ever so slightly.

    Charon let out a quiet chuckle from his place at the front of the small, wooden boat at continued to rock back and forth when the river waters glided against it. 

     “What's so funny?” Hektor replied to Charon as his gaze lifted away from the bottom of the boat. He crossed his arms over his chest—-that was in excruciating pain at the moment—-defensively.

     “Nothing really,” Charon responded, still suppressing a chuckle. “Just that noise… You sounded like a little girl, you know.”

    “I did not!” Hektor exclaimed after clearing his throat. 

     “Well, regardless,” Charon's voice echoed. “You were still scared.”

     “Warriors don't frighten,” Hektor replied, calming himself. “It's not part of the job.”

      “Don't frighten, eh?” Charon raised an eyebrow. “Then what was that earlier? Before you died? You tried to flee.”

     “That was different,” Hektor grumbled as the boat continued to rock. “Far different.”

     “How so?” Charon then questioned.

     Hektor bit down on his lip for a brief moment before releasing it. “I knew Achilles was on his way.”

    “And you were afraid of what he'd do,” Charon speculated to which Hektor nodded.

     “I knew he'd have a burning vengeance,” Hektor replied. “I knew there would be upcoming bloody battle.”

     “What did you do to piss him off?” Charon asked, starting to sound invested in Hektor's tale.

     Hektor sighed, looking down once more. “I killed his lover… Patroclus.” 

    Charon froze for a moment at that response. “That's beyond fucked up, you know.”

    “I'm aware,” Hektor said, exhaling. “I didn't know who it was at the time. To me, I had just been having another enemy on the battlefield—-though, Achilles took it personally.”

     “Yeah, I'll bet he did,” Charon responded, making Hektor only feel worse.

    “I just didn't know that Athena took pity on him…” Hektor exhaled. “She made him un-killiable.”

    “And you had nothing but a spear?” Charon asked.

    Hektor nodded. “And honor… Though, Achilles didn't uphold that.” He slumped back a little against the edge of the boat.

    “He cheated,” Charon added. “The terms of the duel was for it to be one-on-one.”

     “And I apologized for my actions,” Hektor said, nodding. “Though, I don't think it meant much to Achilles.”

      “Honestly,” Charon began to say. “The more I hear about this, the more this Achilles guy sounds like a total dick.”

    “He was distraught,” Hektor said, feeling the need to defend Achilles. “His heart was broken… all because of love.”

     “Love or not,” Charon said. “...rage still blinded and drowned him… Enough for him to want to seek revenge.”

     “He even threw my body out to the dogs,” Hektor said, still feeling the terrible aches of that act all throughout his body. 

     “Bastard,” Charon grumbled. He cleared his throat. “That must've been why you sounded startled earlier.”

     “I felt the pain of being torn apart,” Hektor confessed. “Is that normal?”

     Charon nodded. “Most people that come through here feel what happens to their bodies in the normal realm… For at least the first few days. Not many people have a violent eternal sleep.” He exhaled. “You'll be fine… You'll just feel like this for a day or two… Though, I can't imagine what you're feeling is pleasant.”

     Hektor quickly shook his head. “No. Not in the slightest.”

    “Thought so,” Charon replied as the boat came to a halt. “This is your stop.”

    Hektor felt like the words were caught in his throat. “My stop?” 

    Charon nodded. “Yeah. That's how it works now that you're dead. Now, off you go.”

    Hektor sighed as he slowly stood, feeling a bit unsteady as the boat still continued to rock. He made his way towards the ground near the river, stepping off the boat. He casted one last glance to Charon before the boat continued off into the distance.