The screech of spinning tires was deafening. Despite the noise, Hades recognized Serr's peircing howl. His mother screamed in the front seat, his father shouted, Burr curled up in Hades' lap in terror, Serr and Russ pressed close on either side.

Hades was thrown to the side as the car hit something else in the darkness and was sent spinning. His head slammed into the side door and his vision went blank instantly.

Hades opened his eyes slowly. He couldnt feel his heartbeat in his skull, which he found odd. He had been knocked out in the past, he had always felt his heartbeat in his skull then.

A quiet whine brought him to alertness. Burr was quivering in Hades' lap. The dog felt lighter than he should have, but Hades paid no mind to that. He suddenly remembered exactly what had happened.

He looked around quickly. He was alone. The front of the car was crumpled and both airbags sat deflated against the dash. His parents were nowhere to be seen. At his sides, Serr and Russ shifted slowly. Burr crawled out of Hades' lap.

Hades took a sharp breath as he eased himself past Russ toward the door. He expected pain, but felt none, though his upper left leg was curved out to the side slightly. He shoved the door open and tumbled out, somehow managing to get his feet under him enough to stand. His left leg barely supported his weight.

Behind him, the three dogs got up and shook themselves. The shadows clung to their fur, making even the bright white Serr look dark. Hades turned back to watch the three jump from the car. They trotted over to him as if nothing was wrong.

A quiet buzz filled his ears and a bird fluttered down and landed on top of the car. Serr raised her nose and sniffed at the air. She looked around as if suspicious of something. A moment later, she grabbed Hades' sleeve. She started walking.

Hades tried to tug his sleeve away, but Serr didn't relent. When he didnt walk, Burr grabbed his other sleeve and Russ nudged him gently.

Hades followed the dogs, walking slowly away from the car.

They walked for hours. Hades stared around at nothing, listening to the pulses of life from the creatures passing. It didn't escape his notice that his three companions had no pulses of their own.

The night air was chill, and he soon began to shiver. The three dogs pushed closer to him but never stopped guiding him onward. Hades never grew tired, though he was panting. He felt no need to stop.

He suddenly realized he was standing in the middle of a town at the base of a tall statue. He looked up at the larger than life person he didn't recognize. There was no plaque that he could see describing who this was.

Serr and Burr dropped Hades' sleeves at sat at his feet calmly. Russ sat behind Hades in a protective position. The sun began to rise, people began to wake, and still Hades stood. Silent and watchful, leaning against the statue.

Days passed. Hades lurked around the park most of the time. If he wasn't there, he could be found wandering the streets.

People did their best to avoid his presence. If his eyes fell on anyone, they would move faster. He warned a few people that they should avoid certain streets, as it would result in their death if they were to travel down. None listened, all met the predicted fate.

A few weeks passed and a house went up for sale. This wouldnt be odd, but another three houses went up for sale in the next week. Then the general store announced they were going out of business, followed by the bar.

People moved away, nobody moved in apart from stray cats, dogs, and mice. A few owls made their homes in the town. Only one family remained on the edge of town, though they never passed through.

Hades was left alone. Isolated. With his three dogs.

Occasionally, over the years, someone would come. Always their Lifepulse was weak. Always they were on the edge of death. Always were the deaths worse than what Hades had to offer. So he did what he could, whether by his dogs or his own hand.

-

Thunder crashed painfully loud overhead. Rain pummeled the streets, creating tiny rushing rivers. The streetlamps were dark. The power had gone out an hour before.

The town was empty.

It wasn't because it was midnight. It wasn't because of the storm. It wasn't even because there wasn't much to the town itself.

It was because of a boy.

He was soaked to the skin, but didn't seem to notice. He leaned against the statue in the middle of the town square with his eyes closed. Black hair clung to his face, pale fingers tapped the marble behind him. Rain dripped from his pointed chin and long, sharp nose.

He was lost. Not physically lost, but mentally. Tiny spots of life, likely bugs, flicked off around him. The lives of birds flickered in the woods outside the town. Somewhere nearby was the pulsing beat of human life. The boy could feel it in his chest.

Whoever this person was, they weren't in the best of health. The boy waited patiently, not shivering despite the light breeze and wind. The life grew closer and closer.

The boy didn't react, even as an older man entered the town square. He had short brown hair and pale green eyes. A few freckles were sprinkled across his round face. His off-white shirt clung to him and was translucent from the rain. He stopped about ten feet from the boy and waited silently.

The boy didn't move for a very long time. Finally, without opening his eyes, he sighed and spoke. "What do you want?" His voice was laced with the smooth lilt of an Irish accent.

The man bowed. "I come to gain answers, Lord Hades."

The boy felt uncomfortable with the title but he made no correction. "I might not be able to h-help-" he stuttered to a stop. He smelled something. The scent was unbelievably strong, despite the rain. It was a bit like the sharp smell of blood, but sweeter.

The man didn't seem to notice Hades' unfinished statement. "There are legends about this place saying that you can learn about your death. Are they true?"

Hades didnt move from his position. He still didnt open his eyes. "Sometimes. There are also legends of people disappearing when they come here. I'm certain you know of those as well. But do awful legends stop anyone? Of course not." His voice took on a cold, sharp edge. "You may not like what I have to say. I can tell you right now it isn't good."

The man didnt seem surprised. He stayed where he was. "I'd like to know."

Hades stood up straight, opening his deep brown eyes. He stared directly at the man, his gaze was harsh. "You should leave."

Shadows shifted at the edge of the sqaure. They made no sound and the man didnt notice them, he was too focused on Hades. "I seek answers, Lord Hades."

"You seek death!" Hades snapped. He stepped forward, tall, dark, and menacing despite being soaked and shivering. He pointed at the man's chest. "You're all the same! You say you want answers, but that isnt true at all. You say there are legends about learning more about your death or that of a loved one. But those arent the ones you care about, oh no. I know death and I know when someone is seeking it." He stepped even closer to the man, his voice dropping to an icy whisper. "They know when someone is seeking it."

The man stared up at Hades, nervousness flickering in his eyes for the first time. A hint of doubt was there now, as if he were reconsidering his choice to come here. Too late for that. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but couldn't.

Hades went on in a steely whisper. "People should stop coming to me. There's a reason they say nobody returns, because they don't."

The man started to back away. "W-what's here?"

"Me... and something currently beyond my control." Hades spread his arms to the sides. "Cerberous."

The man froze. "Is he... like..."

Hades rolled his eyes. "No. There's three of them. You'll meet them soon enough."

The man now looked completely terrified.

"Now that's what I expected. People always wish to leave when they arrive, but some decisions cannot be undone." A grim smile spread across Hades' face. "I am sorry, but I smelled it the moment you arrived. You won't survive."

With that, Hades turned and walked away. He lost himself in the sounds of the thunder and rain, tuning out the sounds of fear and death behind him.

Several minutes later, two black dogs and one white trotted up to walk next to Hades. All three looked like wolves tonight. Hades stopped and knelt down. The three dogs pressed around him. The white one, Serr, pressed her head under his right arm. Russ, the larger of the two black dogs sat down calmly in front. Burr, the smallest and youngest of the three, bundled into Hades' lap tail swishing happily.

Hades patted them all, then turned his attentions to Serr. "You need to get them to listen okay?" he murmured. "If you can all listen to me, we can leave this place. We won't need to kill those who come."

Serr whined and nuzzled his chest. That seemed like agreement to him.