Category : Stories

Sub Category : Fantasy

“Welcome aboard young one.” a strange voice echoes.
‘A ship?’ I don't often dream about such things. This could be a fun dream for once. A ship could take me all kinds of great places far away from home. I open my eyes with excitement brimming in my heart.
My heart instantly sinks as I perceive my surroundings.  Above me is some sort of cavern wall.  A creepy place complete with dim red light and shadows that almost look alive, almost. I groan with annoyance as I accept that this is going to be yet another nightmare.
“It is always best if you just accept your fate at this point.  Even I cannot bring you back up the river.”
‘Bring me back? Back where? And why is this ship so lumpy?’ growling in frustration I roll over to get up. I suddenly feel myself begin to fall so I roll back to the other side.
“Probably best not to fall in there lad, there is no going back from there.” The voice suggests.
‘Would have been nice to know before I almost rolled onto that. ’ partially sitting up the young man peers into the would be water. A rolling pool of purple goo would better describe that what they floated on. Directly in front of me, a ghostly hand reaches aimlessly from the current as if frozen in time as it's dragged below.  “W-where am I?”
“You're on the river Styx” the voice replies.
The young man trembles as he realizes what this means.  Looking to the source of the voice he finds a figure in tattered robes. “D-does that make you the ferryman?”
“Very astute observation, but before you ask, no you are not dead.”
“Then, how am I here?”
“You already know the answer to that.”
A flash of memory from before this sleep comes to mind. A memory of unbearable pain mixed with relief. “You're right, I do.”
“If I am not dead, then how am I here?”
“There are things left unsaid. You're being given a chance.”
“I don’t understand.”
“This too shall pass.”
‘Maybe I had best leave it alone, probably best not to anger the ferryman.’ I am a little lucky to understand who the ferryman is. My mother taught history and used to tell myths and legends as bedtime stories. The ferryman carries the dead to their final destination.
The boy takes another look around. This large river cavern seems to have a dull red glow but no sign of where it comes from. As for the so called ship I am sitting on, it's little more than a raft with old battered logs tied together with twine. Below us, the river glows with an eerie light. It's all the kind of thing that feels like a horror movie.
As the raft moves along some new lights started to appear. These lights glow with a faint blue light.
“The waiting.” the ferryman says without prompt.
“What are they waiting for?”
“Loved ones.”
“I suppose that makes sense. I wonder if my mother is here.”
“Up ahead.”
Jumping to my feet I jerk my head to see what the ferryman has indicated. Sure enough there was a blue light up ahead slowly transforming into a shape.
As the raft floats closer the light transforms into a ghostly image of a woman adorned in a simple dress.
“Mom!” I shout excitedly.
“Yes Jonathan, I am here.”
“I have missed you so much. I just had to come here with you.”
“This is not the way to me Jonathan. You're path will not take you to me. If you continue as you are there is only one place to go. You will spend uncountable years paying for your sin.”
“My sin?”
“Taking your life leads to damnation.”
“But I can't live like this mom! Without you the whole world seems so dark.”
“Then make it bright Jonathan. Your father needs your help to make it through this; without you he will be lost.”
“All he cares about is his alcohol now.”
“That is about to change. Your actions today will change everything for you two. Open your heart to him and you both will heal. Now it is time to return to him. I will be with you all the way.”
Her transparent form begins to fade away.  Tears flood my eyes as grief takes hold. “Goodbye mom.” I whisper painfully.
“Goodbye for now.” comes her response as the cavern dims.
Soon all the light fades around me and I am left with just the raft and the Ferryman with his lamp.
“I will see you again.” he says before even he fades away. Darkness closes in and I am left alone in the dark. This darkness is different then the one I have come to embrace. I am not alone here.