November holy shit why didn't any of you say anything like "Hey, it's been five months, you really should update this story."

Yeah, definitely off to a great start.

I started walking, searching for water. If I could find some, I would probably be fine.

Once I looked around, I knew something was wrong. Sure, don't get me wrong, I'm sure Tartarus is huge. But I didn't see a single monster within my range of vision, which made me slightly nervous.

Despite that feeling, I started searching for anything that could be of use. The temperature was so hot that it was sickening, but I tried to ignore it. That wasn't the main problem at the moment.

I found some ambrosia in my pocket, but decided to save it for now, not knowing when I would need it to save my life.

"Right," I mumbled to myself, adjusting Riptide in my grip. The blade felt foreign and heavy in my left hand, but it had to work.

-x-

Trudging through hell wasn't exactly my definition of fun.

I had been walking for about an hour, and my legs threatened to collapse from under me.

I had found "water" in an Underworld river, and while it didn't do much in terms of making me feel better, I was still alive, at least.

I admit, drinking the firewater seemed like a stupid idea. But at that point, I hadn't had another option.

"Where are all of the monsters?" I muttered. That in itself was unsettling. I had been walking for an hour, and hadn't encountered a single monster.

Taking an empty bottle of water that I forgot to throw away, I carefully filled it with firewater and slipped it back into my pocket. I started walking away from the river, and towards the darkness.

Because, knowing my luck, the way out would be the most dangerous one.

-x-

As soon as I entered the darkness, I knew something was wrong. Based on what I had been used to hearing for the time I had been down here (which wasn't that long, but still), it was too quiet.

Suddenly, it was like a light turned on. The shadows vanished, and I was surrounded by monsters. I steadied myself, ready to fight, although I knew that it was unlikely that I would survive.

"Who dares to enter my territory?" The voice gave me chills, but it was unmistakably familiar. In one of my dreams with Luke, he had been talking to something with this same voice.

"I-I do," I answered, scared out of my mind. "Sorry... I didn't know that this place was 'territory'."

"Foolish demigod. What are you doing down here?"

"Oh, I don't know," I said sarcastically. "Probably because your cursed shoes pulled me down here."

At that, the voice actually laughed. "So, Luke finally did something right."

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

The monsters parted in one area, leaving that as the only path I could take. "Come forward, Percy Jackson. Then, we shall see if you are worthy of joining my cause."

"Whoa, hold up. I never said anything about joining you."

Kronos chuckled. "What other choice do you have?"

So...

I'm not dead.

But seriously, five months? I need to get back into my updating mood desperately.