Hades' Gates - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Old Crones and Monster Teachers1

Lanie grumbled silently as Ms. Flanek’s gaze swept the room and eventually landed on her. Everyone’s eyes, including Kaz Martinez’s, followed the teacher’s stare towards Lanie. Wincing sympathetically, Kaz recalled his most recent moments with Ms. Flanek.2

“Ms. Picklejuice, please stand and recite stanza seven from the reading assignment you read last night,” the teacher’s sharp voice cut through the deafening silence like a razor blade. Lanie froze, and Kaz realized that he had not been the only one not to read the bizarre poem on supernatural beings and ancient Greek mythological gods and heroes: Ms. Flanek’s favorite subject. Lanie’s face flushed a beet red, she hated being the center of attention – especially when it made her look like a complete idiot. 3

Kaz was reflecting about how much Ms Flanek’s face resembled the gorgon Medusa’s when her face was thrown into sharp relief; in the odd lighting, it looked rather like green snakes replaced her graying hair before Kaz blinked, and it was restored to normal. 4

Slowly, Lanie stood and knocked her metal chair down onto the cold, linoleum floor which just added to her embarrassment, and said much too quickly, “I’m very sorry Ms. Flanek, but I forgot to read the poem last night…I’m so sorry!”5

Ms. Flanek’s eyes narrowed and Kaz half-expected her to strangle Lanie – If looks could kill, Kaz thought as the bell rang, signaling lunch. Lanie let out a huge sigh as the bell rang and began to shrug on her thin yellow jacked, however Ms. Flanek signaled her to stay. 6

Kaz was getting ready to leave when Lanie stayed behind, and Kaz felt obliged to stay (even thought he was “new” and had arrived at school four months ago), so he lingered outside the doorway unbeknownst to Ms. Flanek. Lanie closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she slowly began walking up to Ms. Flanek’s desk: a short walk, but it seemed to stretch on for eternity as immense doom flooded through every particle of Lanie’s being.7

As Kaz was watching he felt something touch his shoulder – turning around, he realized the gnarled finger that had tapped him belonged to a similarly gnarled crone with her to supposed friends. One whispered so only Kaz could hear:8

“Hades’ Gates now open,9

“Monsters awaken,10

“Crossing river Styx,11

“Revenge awaits.”12

* * *13

Ms. Flanek’s eyes were a cold gray as they locked onto Lanie’s face and her lips formed a tight grimace. “Ms. Picklejuice. Please explain yourself. Now.”14

Kaz shook his head and the three women disappeared; he turned to face the teacher and student, and thought that this was an awful lot of trouble for one missed assignment, then wondered what the poem had exactly been about.15

Lanie’s eyes slowly traveled up from the floor to meet Ms. Flanek’s gaze, but flinched away immediately. “This is your third missed assignment in a week, if this keeps up I’m going to have to call your parents,” Ms. Flanek said menacingly. Kaz dared to peek in, and what he saw was not comforting: once again, he saw Ms Flanek as Medusa (did this have anything to do with those crones?). Medusa/Ms. Flanek switched her gaze to a bug that buzzed around her desk – immediately it fell as a piece of stone rubble to the floor, and the monster changed back into Medusa; Kaz watched to see if Lanie had any reaction.16

Lanie watched as Ms. Flanek swat a bug out of the air and said in a small voice, “I’m sorry…I just have so much to think about at home,” – Lanie’s parents were currently undergoing the horrible process of getting divorced. 17

Ms. Flanek was unsympathetic. “That is no excuse - your grade is hovering around a C right now and you simply can not miss another assignment.”18

Nodding importantly, Ms Flanek dismissed Lanie with a wave of her hand, though as she left, Kaz saw her image flicker between Medusa and Ms. Flanek again; he wondered if he was going crazy. And yet he couldn’t get those words out of his head…19

“Hade’s Gates now open… Revenge awaits...20


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