Hades Airlines

“Good evening, dearly departed. On behalf of Hades Airlines, it is my pleasure to welcome you aboard flight 666 with service to Elysium and continuing service to the Asphodel Meadows and Tartarus.” The flight attendant said with a bright smile that bordered on terrifying. Maybe it was the lack of flesh on her body. “Your pilot for this flight is Charon. I am Darya. Samuel will also be of service on this flight.”

As the plane jolted slightly, I glanced down to make sure I had properly buckled my seat belt, but I couldn't find it. I felt a moment of panic. For some reason, I felt uncomfortable with the thought of her singling me out because I wasn't wearing it. Upon inspection, I realized that none of my companions had seatbelts either.

“In the event of a crash, your seat cushion serves as a floatation device. To remove it, pull up and take it with you to your assigned exit chute. After leaving the aircraft, place your arms through the straps and hug the cushion to your chest.” Darya continued. “Please remain calm and wait with your floatation device until one of our colleagues comes along to pick you up.”

That was weird. I’d flown several times before. I knew it was part of their job to go over safety protocol, but they’d never made it sound like they expected it. Then again, there seemed to be a lot of turbulence.

The flight attendant beamed and indicated the space above our heads. “If the cabin loses air pressure, no oxygen masks will be released overhead. These will not be needed as you are no longer breathing.”

Wait. What? I looked around at my fellow passengers. No one seemed concerned, but then again, the guy sitting next to me was missing half of his head.

How had I even ended up on this flight? Hadn't I been driving home from work? My boss had given me a double shift, and I was exhausted. The last thing I remembered was a bright light.

Had she said Hades Airlines? I had never heard of it. The image of a three-headed dog on the wall behind the flight attendant did nothing to dispel my unease.

As I pondered this, a light turned on above someone’s seat a few aisles in front of me.

“Excuse me,” a man’s voice said as the flight attendant approached him. “There has been a mistake. You see, I should be on a different flight.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Salah. We are aware of your beliefs.” Darya said reassuringly. “There was an issue with your original flight. Aken will meet you at Elysium to escort you on the remainder of your journey to the Hall of Maat, where he will weigh your heart.” This pronouncement seemed to placate him, and she stepped away to continue her duties.

I reached up and hit my call button. “Excuse me, miss?”

“Yes, Mr. Davis, what can I do for you?” she asked as she glided over to my seat.

“I need to get off this flight. I am supposed to be home with my wife and children. I can’t be…I can’t be dead.” I pleaded.

“We prefer to use the term nonliving.” The flight attendant said. “I’m sorry, but you didn’t survive that car accident.”

“I…I don’t understand. I thought when we die, we go into the light or something. And then we go to Heaven. I mean, I don’t think I’ve done anything to cause me to go to Hell.”

She smiled at me as if I was a child. “When you go into the light, in most cases, you face judgment according to your personal beliefs. Then you are sent to one of the rivers - either the Archeron or the Styx. From there, Charon transports you to the Underworld.”

I vaguely remembered learning about Charon in school. “I thought that was by boat.”

“We do still offer service by boat, but the current population and the sheer number of people dying on a daily basis require some changes. Neither river is wide enough nor deep enough to support a cruise ship. It is far more efficient to transport the bulk of the nonliving by plane.” She explained before stepping away.

I still had questions but held my tongue. The whole flight was odd enough that all I could do was hope it was a this was some completely deranged dream. I wasn't particularly religious, but I prayed with all my might that I would wake up next to my wife. That I could have at least one more day with my boys.

Darya grabbed the radio again. “Alrighty then, Samuel and I will make our way down the aisles to collect your payment. After that, we will begin the drink service.”

Payment? Shouldn't that have been arranged before we even boarded the plane? I patted my pockets, looking for my wallet. Where had it gone? Maybe I had lost it in the crash. There was something hard in the front pocket of my uniform shirt. I pulled it out to find a heavy coin.

“Mr. Davis?” Darya was standing over me. “Your payment?”

“Uh, this is all I have,” I said, holding out the coin.

She nodded and took it in her bony fingers. “This will do. Enjoy your flight.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” I heard Samuel say further back in the plane. “If you don't have a coin for your fare, you’ll have to leave.”

“Leave? What do you mean leave? We are miles up in the air,” a man exclaimed.

Samuel gestured to someone or something in the back of the plane. There was a scuffle as a pair of dark, leathery creatures dragged the screaming man to the front. They shoved him into a plexiglass tube. It spun closed, and he dropped from sight.

I looked out my window but couldn’t see him among all the clouds. Most of the passengers seemed completely unbothered by what had just happened. A woman who looked as perplexed as I felt got Darya’s attention.

“What will become of him? Can he survive a fall like that?” she asked.

“He is already deceased. The fall won't hurt him. He will gradually lose his form and his mind out there. It is not a fate I would wish on my worst enemy.” Darya said. “Although, those traveling to Tartarus might have it just as bad. They will spend eternity paying for their actions.”

I noticed that the beverages handed out varied for different passengers. Most received water. A few seemed to have some sort of alcohol - wine, beer, possibly mead. Even the water looked different. The guy next to me received what appeared to be slightly murky tap water.

“Here is your Lethe water, Mr. Davis. It will take the edge off your concerns.” Darya said kindly. She was very nice for a skeleton.

I accepted a glass of crisp, clear water that almost glowed blue. After a hesitant sip, I sat back with a smile. It was slightly sweet and somehow tasted like every delicious thing I had ever had as a child.

In no time at all, Samuel made an announcement that we were nearing Elysium. He asked for those who would be disembarking there to make their way to the exit chute. The majority of the departing passengers were wearing some type of uniform - military, medical, fire, or other careers where people put their lives on the line to protect others. They all seemed cheerful but humble. Mr. Salah was among them, although he was more apprehensive. He likely wouldn't relax until he completed his journey to his satisfaction.

The clouds had cleared, and I could see what looked like paradise. It would be nice to spend eternity there, but I hadn't done anything with my life to earn that. I wasn't that I was a bad person. I tried to be the best that I could. But I hadn't saved anyone’s life the way these people had.

I hoped that my destination was the Asphodel Meadows. I didn't know much about it, but it had to be better than Tartarus. I had heard it described as the deepest, darkest pit of the underworld. It sounded like Hell without the fires. The souls that went to Tartarus spent eternity performing onerous tasks only to have to do them all over again after completion. Kind of like an office job. Or at least, that's the way my wife had described her work at times.

I watched as, one by one, these heroes stepped into the chute. They crossed their arms over their chest in mummy pose, looking for all the world like they were on one of those nearly straight drop water slides my sons liked so much.

What were their names again? Tyler and, oh yeah, Patrick. And my wife was Cindy. Even as I dragged that from my mind, I found it difficult to remember what they looked like. Everything about them faded away.

“Come on, Mr. Davis. It's time for you to go.” Darya said as she gestured for me to move. “We’ve arrived at the Asphodel Meadows.”

I blinked and looked around, not sure how much time had passed. She gave me an encouraging smile, so I rose without question.

My row mate did nothing to make my passage to the aisle easy. “What about me?” he demanded.

“Your passage is to Tartarus, Mr. Taylor. Or is it Mr. Campbell? Maybe Mr. Murphy? You’ve used many names in your life.” Darya replied.

“Tartarus?! Why? I'm just a businessman. Look at what that man did to me,” he cried, indicating the crater in his head.

Darya smiled in a calming manner. “He will be judged when his time comes, just as you were. Murder is murder, so you may eventually see him in Tartarus. Then again, they may have mercy on his soul after your shady business deals brought him to that point.”

She put a hand on my shoulder and pushed me gently toward the line of people waiting for their turn to enter the chute. Everyone appeared relaxed and happy to complete their journey.

I couldn't remember anything of my life before death as Samuel handed me into the tube. That was fine, though. I felt bliss as I wrapped my arms over my chest and placed my hands on my shoulders. The floor gave way, and I fell into nothingness.