Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain

In the myths of Greek legends, when a person died, his soul would then wake up near the shores of styx. If the deceased soul had a small coin called obulus with them, then a single boat would appear in front of them. And a ferryman would take them across the river.

This coin wasn't something extraordinary, unique, or karma rule based currency like other religions _ it was a normal coin placed in the mouth, or eyes, or chest of the deceased during the burial rights. Usually parents of family members do this easily as it costs nothing.

But if one had no coin to speak of, his soul would then forever wander the shores of styx. They will never be able to cross the realm of living, and over time turn into vengeful spirits, wraiths, or ghosts.

The same was the fate of people who jumped into water and tried to swim their way across it, they'll be burned and buried in the endless stream. Turning into the undead skeletons whose only purpose of existence is to pull other souls down the same fate.

The river of styx had many functions it was known for, but one of it's main purpose was the journey to forgetfulness. It was said that while crossing the stream, souls would slowly start to forget their mortal affection and lifelong memories. Thus accepting their fate, and accepting their death by the time they reach the underworld.

How? No one knows.

(A/N - To be honest, I don't remember which tv show or movie I heard this one line from, but I've remembered it like a dozen times while writing this chapter - it goes like this - "The journey ahead starts when you accept that your journey has ended." - I just thought it kinda fits well here.)

..

Myths, legends, rumors -whatever Amy knew or ever heard about the Styx flew in her mind as she stared at the corpse in front of her in confusion.

She felt sure that the corpse in front of her was real, (as real as it can be in an illusion) and that it was her _ but what she couldn't understand is what was it doing there.

After spending such a long time in Apate's illusions, she had learned a few things about the goddess. And one of them was that Apate thought of herself as a prideful artist.

And one thing every proud artist has in common, is that they can never accept their art is worse than others. Even if they're unoriginal and copycats by nature, their pride wouldn't say we are stupid and lack creativity, instead they'd say that they just took inspiration and perfected things further.

Apate was the same.

That's why even though her punishments were pulled from others, she added her touch to make it 'perfect'.

Be it the cell stream slashes instead of a thousand cuts, or burning underworld filled with serpents, or body nailed to a cross and getting picked out by crows _ she took inspiration from others and added her touch.

So Amy was sure that even though Styx now was an illusion, it must have similar effects as the myth, or even worse.

"Who are you?" Amy spoke to the corpse again.

Was it her? But how'd she die? Where? When? Why didn't she remember it? And mainly, why was she seeing it now?

As if to answer her question, the pale corpse of her 'doppleganger' opened her eyes and met her gaze.

The first thing Amy noticed was that her eyes were empty. And as she looked further, she felt being pulled deeper. Those vain holes were like pathways filled with darkness. Like two tunnels walking side by side, merging at the end where the light shines.

Amy didn't even realize when the world around her disappeared and changed into something else.

When she did, she noticed she was floating above the land, like a ghost. Her body was ethereal, and she couldn't touch a thing. She could phase through solid objects like air, and she didn't feel anything except a chilling cold.

"Am I dead?" The doubt couldn't help but come to her mind, but then Amy hurriedly shook her head. "Apate wouldn't dare to kill me. Not for no reason at least."

"Then this must be an illusion, but where am I?" Amy spoke and roamed in the unfamiliar house, among the unfamiliar faces.

She was in a house filled with decorations scattered around for a birthday party. There was no crowd, or cake, meaning it was already over. She floated towards the windows to look outside, yet couldn't see anything. She roamed the house and glanced at the photo frames and albums yet the photos inside them were a blur.

Uncertainty and confusion gnawed at her heart and she couldn't help but curse again about why she couldn't channel her chaos yet… .

She was still limited by the 'mirror' and couldn't cross it. So she just gave up on solving this problem, and decided to _ kill herself.

Even if Apate saw and chose to ignore her suicide, Gauri, who's missing God knows where, would be forced to show up and save her. _ . And even if Gauri is unreliable, with her life in danger, her earrings can be triggered and pull her brother to rescue.

And though she felt guilty doing this to him again, but it was the only option. After all, if this styx river really works, she might really lose herself here.

(Ps she realized quite a while ago, that even though the pain was real, and she was on the brink of death dozens of times _ her earrings never shone in light.. Meaning these illusions were probably just spiritual attacks, which served no danger to her life.)

Amy was getting ready to blast her soul bound artifacts, when she saw her own familiar face again. She was standing by the door with a smile, watching a couple flirting and playing games with each other.

{I won.}

{No, you didn't. It's best of three.}

{Youuu.. Fine. But this is final.}

Your next read awaits at empire

{Of course. Now close your eyes and turn around.}

{.. Umm. _ you know that's cheating right?}

{What? I'm just drawing, that's the game isn't it?}

{Yes, but your fingers are…}

{Tshh, don't disturb me, or I'll have to start over again.}

{Anhh… .. Stop laughing. I can't help it, it tickles.}

{I know I'm a little rusty at romance but, aren't you supposed to laugh at tickles and not moan?}

{...shut up.}

Amy looked at her doppelganger's smile and then floated towards the loving pair who didn't seem to notice her presence and were busy in their world of two.

From where she was standing she could just see the back view of a man hugging his girlfriend from behind and tracing his fingers over her flat stomach under her clothes.

The pair who served dog food to her single heart, seemed to be playing a children's game, where the boy drew something with his fingers, and the girl tried to guess what it was just by sensation.

***

(Humph, children's game, my ass.)

[What the fuck, who's speaking? _ Is that you, author? I think I told you not to meddle in the story openly again. Don't write your thoughts for these readers to see.]

(I can't help it. How is this_ this_ just look at where his fingers are going.. How dare she call it a children's game. If this bastard doesn't stop, and I let them continue, they will make new children right there.)

[.. .. .. Umm anyway, I understand. But whatever. Don't do this man. Don't jump into this novel bro. Let them read the chapter, or they'll think you're lazy and don't want to write so you're increasing word count like this.]

(What? How dare those ungrateful bastards..)

[Anyway, it was my job to inform you. I'll erase their memories this time, but please don't do it again, okay.]

(Fine, you do that. I'll just start the chapter again.)

***

Amy walked to the front of this pair, and stared at their faces. Only to see them covered in fog, just like the photo frames.

She tried to look down and see their bodies, hoping to find some identifiable feature, but after seeing their game just getting carried away, she just gave up and floated back to her doppleganger.

'Damn it. What is this duo doing? In the kitchen no less. Dirtied my eyes for real.' Amy cursed and tried to wipe her eyes, only to curse Apate when her hands passed through her body.

'What bad luck.'

While Amy was busy wondering what Apate wanted to achieve by showing her this.. when her doppleganger who was a silent spectator all this time started coughing and walking towards the pair.

Her coughs were followed by a hearty laughter which was probably when she saw the embarrassed looks of the dog pair as they got away and turned their faces away from each other.

"I was just looking for a late night sweet snack, but _ you two continue, I'll just go back and order some ice cream or something." Her doppleganger spoke with a cheeky smirk and then pretended to turn around and leave.

Amy knew these antics, and expressions well, cause she often uses them too…And she was right.

Just as she guessed, her doppleganger just took two slow steps before turning around and speaking again. "But I'm new to the city and don't know much. Brother, do you mind…"

'She has a brother too?' Amy muttered in doubt while staring at the blurry man's figure.

The man was about to reply and agree to her demands, (like her brother always does) when the girl slapped his shoulder, pushing him back and walking over.

"Forget this, idiot. He lost so let him do the dishes, we'll go get ice creams."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Her doppleganger was stunned for a second, but then smiled when she saw the girl taking her hand in her arms.

"Hey, I didn't lose.. And dishes weren't even in the bet."

"They are now."

The man spoke loudly from behind, but the girl's reply shut him up.

The doppleganger smiled while staring at her brother, raising her free hand to grab her ear as in apology, and then let herself be pulled outside.

"Don't worry, bro, I'll bring your favor too." She said as the door closed behind them.

Amy, who was still floating at home, still staring at the so called 'brother' , trying to see past his fog, suddenly felt a force pull her body away. By the time she reacted, she was somewhere else.

She was now floating on what looked like an open road. She looked around in confusion for a second, before a light blinded her eyes, she noticed a car coming her way.

"Fuck." Amy cursed and closed her eyes, while raising her arms to block her head.

But after a few seconds passed, and the expected collision didn't happen, nor she felt any pain _ she opened her eyes. Only to see a row of strange vehicles passing through her body.

"Ohh yeah, I'm a ghost now." Amy thought and chuckled in relief , before looking over and frowning at the sight.

There few steps apart, on the roadside, her doppleganger was standing with the foggy girl, giggling and laughing every few seconds, while holding a large cup of ice cream in her hands.

'Is it weird that I want to slap myself(her)? Or more weird that now I want to steal her snack?'

*******

(Foodie Amy strikes again.)

[Damn it, author. Not again.]

(Ohh, sorry sorry. My bad. I won't do it again. Promise. God swaer)

[... I feel something's wrong, but I can't see it.]

(....cough cough, why are you thinking so much about it? Erase their memories and let's focus back on our chapter.)

[I would. But isn't the word count enough? It's over 2k words now. That's double the size of many small dick authors.]

(Fine. We'll continue tomorrow.)

[Wait.. Wait. Author. Come back for a second.]

(What happened? Why'd you call me back.)

[Ummm aren't you forgetting something?]

(What? You want me to wish them good night? But I don't do that.)

[What? Why?... Wait, that's not what I was asking about.]

[I wanted to ask about the Apate and Amy face off you promised two chapters ago. Nyx vs Gauri too. It's been 3 chapters now, Where is it?]

(That _ . . Umm ahmm that..wait, First you tell me, What's my name?)

[Why? Isn't it devildarkness?]

(It is. And as the bible said, don't trust the devil.)

[... Wow, you're not even refusing it now huh. Real life getting to you, it seems.]

(Good night buddy.) Tut tut tut

[He's gone, just like that huh. The fucker even said he doesn't do wishes. What's good night then, your nan's naughty word.]

(...)

*******