All right, so what do we do next?" I quickly changed the subject and asked the crab about our next move.
"Nothing too complicated… We just follow the torches, like that old boatman Charon said. Right up ahead is the entrance to Erebus, the gate to the inner Underworld."
"So if we pass through that gate, we'll find Sisyphus?" I asked the crab to make sure we were on the right track.
"Probably. The Sisyphus we're looking for should be behind that gate… Let's hurry. We're finally getting out of here." With that, Crab—Kinos—dashed ahead of me.
"W-wait!" I shouted after him, but it was too late.
"Don't call me 'him.' Say Kinos," Crab snapped back.
"Hey, Kinos—don't just rush out like that."
"What is it?" he asked, puzzled.
"I feel like something's waiting for us at that gate… Something weird." I furrowed my brow, trying to remember. "It has something to do with a dog… or something like that."
"A dog?" Crab smiled. "That's fine. I love dogs. They're cute!"
ROOOAAARRR!!!
Suddenly, a deafening roar rang out. Crab immediately darted behind me and peeked out cautiously. "W-w-what was that?"
We crept toward the source of the sound, hiding behind a massive rock. Peeking over, we both gasped.
What awaited us at the entrance to the gates of Erebus was a monstrous dog—its body coated in pitch-black fur, its eyes glowing red like hellfire, and its sharp fangs stained with dried blood. Its mouth chomped down on something with a wet crunch. Whatever its meal was, I didn't want to know.
Everything about it screamed "demon dog." But that wasn't the worst part.
It had three heads.
Cerberus—the guardian of the gates of Erebus.
"That's the dog you were talking about?" Crab asked nervously.
I nodded. "Yeah. That's Cerberus. Cute, huh?"
Crab shook his head furiously.
"You think it'll let us through the gate? Doesn't look very friendly to strangers," he said, voice trembling.
"As far as I know… it only allows dead souls to pass."
"So that means we can go through without becoming dog chow, right?" Crab asked for confirmation.
I glanced at my own body, then at Crab's flickering, pale-blue glow—just like mine. "Yeah… if we're actually dead. But our bodies are… somewhere between life and death. I'm not sure how Cerberus will interpret that. If we're lucky, we'll pass. If not… we're its next meal."
Crab hesitated. "S-so… should we risk it?"
I didn't answer right away. It was a coin flip—50/50. And I hated taking chances.
"Crab… let's not. Let's find another way."
He frowned. "We've come all this way. We can't turn back now."
"Listen to me, Crab. If Cerberus thinks we're dead, okay—we're safe. But when we leave… that's another story. It only lets the dead enter Erebus. It doesn't let them leave."
Crab went quiet for a moment. Then he said, "Then on the way out, we'll sneak past. I'll distract it. While it's focused on me, you run for the gate. You're fast, right, Sept?"
"And you? How will you get away from Cerberus?"
He grinned. "You forget I can transform. If it gets bad, I'll shift and burrow into the ground."
"Your plan sounds decent… if Cerberus believes we're dead. But if it doesn't… we won't have time to react. We'll both get eaten."
"Then…" Crab paused, unsure. "Then let me go first. I'll see if Cerberus thinks I'm dead or not. If it lets me pass, you follow. If not, I'll draw its attention, and you run through the gate. I'll catch up later."
"No. It's too dangerous."
"We have to take the risk, Sept. The success of the plan depends on my shapeshifting. If it lets me in, we're good. If not, I'll draw it away, and you go for it."
"But—"
"Don't worry about me, Sept. I've made it this far, haven't I?"
Before I could stop him, Crab sprinted toward Cerberus.
"W-wait!" I called out, but it was too late.
He ran straight at the monstrous hound. Cerberus, sensing a stranger near its gate, stopped chewing and lunged straight for Crab.