#theikostask

it  starts  with  a  normal  day  at  the  gym.   devon  is  training,  as  he  usually  did  before  big  fights,  knuckles  wrapped  &  an  empty  makeshift  gym  that  was  located  in  an  abandoned  building.   he’s  alone,  how  he  likes  to  be  in  order  to  clear  his  mind.   it’s  only  been  an  hour,  but  he’s  taken  it  upon  himself  to  quit  his  warm - up  &  move  on  to  a  more  impactful  workout   –––   one  that  requires  him  to  grow  familiar  with  a  bench  press.   he’s  supposed  to  have  a  spotter,  but  he  doesn’t  feel  as  though  he’d  be  doing  anything  too  out  of  his  comfort  zone.   it’s  too  bad  he’d  end  up  being  wrong.

fingers  curl  around  the  bar  as  his  back  hits  the  seat,  eyes  on  the  metal  for  a  brief  moment  before  he’s  inhaling  gradually.   preparation  like  that  would  be  useless  compared  to  the  nightmare  he  was  about  to  unleash.   palms  push  upwards  to  remove  the  bar  from  the  handle  to  begin  his  first  set,  but  the  weight  seems  heavier  than  normal.   it  causes  brows  to  furrow,  but  then  something  weird  happens :   a  violent  flash  of  what  felt  light  lightning  hit,  temporarily  stunning  the  male  &  sending  his  mind  reeling  back  into  a  world  he  wasn’t  completely  sure  was  fake.

his  shoulders  &  palms  were  no  longer  carrying  the  weight  of  gym  equipment.   no,  the  item  being  held  up  was  cold  &  rugged,  jagged  &  sharp - edged  as  it  dug  into  his  flesh.   the  weight  of  the  boulder  he  seemed  to  be  holding  up  becomes  the  only  thing  on  devon’s  mind.   feet  dig  into  the  grassy,  yet  completely  rough,  surface  beneath  him  &  he  knew  he  was  outside.   it  felt  like  he  was  trying  to  move  up  the  side  of  a  mountain  of  sorts.   the  boulder  on  his  shoulders  was  no  boulder  at  all.   in  fact,  it  was  much  greater  than  that.   it  was  the  sky  &  heavens,  a  burden  placed  upon  him  for  mistakes  made  against  the  olympians.   his  body,  although  firm  in  place,  had  been  shaking  beneath  the  hold,  begging  for  an  ounce  of  relief  that  would  never  come.   his  punishment  had  been  to  carry  the  weight  of  the  world,  so  to  speak,  up  without  dropping  it.   every  time  he  thought  he  would  drop,  he  only  grew  stronger.   every  time  it  felt  like  he  needed  to  give  up,  he  stayed  put.   

Side A: Lyssa

A little wicked- Valerie Broussard

One of these days a-coming, I'm gonna take that boy's crown There's a serpent in these still waters lying deep down To the king, I will bow, at least for now One of these days a-coming, I'm gonna take that boy's crown

Crazy Train- Ozzy Osborne

Inheriting troubles I'm mentally numb Crazy, I just cannot bear I'm living with something that just isn't fair

Crazy on You- Hidden Citizens

Wild man's world is cryin' in pain What you gonna do when everybody's insane? So afraid of one who's so afraid of you What you gonna do?

Hit and Run- LOLO

You poured the gasoline and I drove into the flames History will hate us But they'll never forget our names

Pit of Vipers- Simon Curtis

I can almost feel the tick like clockwork Hearing all the voices in my head each time I go There's a game they play that I'm not part of Tearing at the weaknesses and all the faults they know

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing- Set it Off

Baa baa, black sheep, have you any soul? No sir, by the way, what the hell are morals? Jack be nimble, Jack be quick Jill's a little whore and her alibis are turning tricks

Don’t Mess with Me- Temposhark

Cause all your heads are gonna roll I've made your misery my goal So if you want survival, kneel on my arrival This is how I rule the world

Bury a Friend- Billie Eilish

Say it, spit it out, what is it exactly You're payin'? Is the amount cleanin' you out? Am I satisfactory? Today, I'm thinkin' about the things that are deadly The way I'm drinkin' you down Like I wanna drown, like I wanna end me

The Devil Within- Digital Daggers

I'll be here When you think you're all alone Seeping through the cracks I'm the poison in your bones

Savages- MARINA

Were we born to abuse, shoot a gun and run Or has something deep inside of us come undone? Is it a human trait, or is it learned behaviour Are you killing for yourself, or killing for your saviour?

I’m a Psycho- Clooney

I'm a psycho, I do what I like oh, I got one loose screw, better watch your back. I'm a psycho, You can't deny no, I'm as crazy as a daisy, and you're under attack.

Paint it Black- Hidden Citizens

I look inside myself and see my heart is black I see my red door and must have it painted black Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black

She’s a Bad Mama Jama- Carl Calrton

Looks like she's poured into the gold She's bad The essence of beauty

Control- Halsey

And all the kids cried out, "Please stop, you're scaring me" I can't help this awful energy God damn right, you should be scared of me Who is in control?

Evil Woman- ELO

You destroyed all the virtues that the Lord gave you It's so good that you're feeling pain

Freaks- The Hawk in Paris

We’ll have you wrapped around our trigger finger Queen bee yellow, you’re the skin for our stinger We’ll make you swoon, make it hurt just a little We’re the boys and the girls and the freaks in the middle

Side B: Alice

Super Freak- Rick James

She's a very kinky girl The kind you don't take home to mother She will never let your spirits down Once you get her off the street, ow girl

Stayin Alive- Lizzo

Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk I'm a woman, no time to talk Music loud and women warm I been kicked around since I was born

Cold as Ice- Foreigner

I've seen it before, it happens all the time (Ooh-ooh) You're closing the door, you leave the world behind You're digging for gold, you're throwing away (Ah, ah) A fortune in feelings but, some day, you'll pay

Bad Girls Club- Falling in Reverse

She's like a witch, casting spells, hypnotizing She made me drink a potion just to fall in love She got me drunk, tipsy off her love

Creep- Daniela Andrade

I don't care if it hurts I want to have control I want a perfect body I want a perfect soul

Kiss the Girl- Chase Holfelder

But there's something about her And you don't know why But you're dying to try You wanna kiss the girl

Good Girls- Elle King

I can take you down when the damned get wild There's a whole lot of sinning but they're greener for miles Three hits on the 6, there's a number that you dial You can be like me but I'm a real brat child

She’s Kerosene- The Interrupters

She's got a history of making a scene, yeah She's telling stories she’s gaslighting Like he's the executioner and she is the queen But he's the one whose neck is in a guillotine

Seven Nation Army- DMNDS

Don't want to hear about it Every single one's got a story to tell Everyone knows about it From the Queen of England to the Hounds of Hell And if I catch it coming back my way I'm gonna serve it to you

Bad Girls- Donna Summer

Bad girl, sad girl You’re such a naughty bad girl Beep beep, uh-huh

Trouble- Natalia Kills

Happiness is just a glass away, I'm trouble Breath me in, like the summer nights It's only a mistake if we don't survive Kids grown up, but we're not alright, we're trouble 

If I Killed Someone for You- Alec Benjamin

Would you turn me in (Would you turn me in) When they say I'm on the loose? Would you hide me when (Would you hide me when) My face is on the news? 'Cause I killed someone for you

Upside Down- Paloma Faith

Ain't got no cares (ain't got no cares) I ain't got no rules (ain't got no rules) I think I like (I think I like) Living upside down (living upside down)

A Little Wicked- Valerie Broussard

I'll be high up in that tower, he'll be down there getting stoned Beware the patient woman, cause this much I know No one calls you honey when you're sitting on a throne

These Boots are Made for Walkin- Nancy Sinatra

You keep playing where you shouldn't be playing And you keep thinking that you'll never get burnt, hah Well, I've just found me a brand new box of matches, yeah And what he knows you ain't had time to learn

You Drive me Crazy- Britney Spears

Thanatos was never given commands from any one other than Hades. He was loyal to the Underworld god. But to say no to the King of Gods Zeus, Thanatos didn’t have much of a choice. Thanatos didn’t get a lot of details except this mortal man had angered Zeus so much that he wanted Thanatos to chain in down in the Underworld. A simple task enough. It was not hard for Thanatos to locate this infamous king, Sisyphus. He had made a name for himself in the city of Ephyra.  Thanatos wasn’t one for theatrics or needed to put on a spectacle like many other gods. The god visited the king at the dead of night, swiping him away to the Underworld for his punishment.

Thanatos was given instructions from Zeus to chain up Sisyphus. He had very special chains in mind for this king. Thanatos had the king ready for his eternal punishment when Sisyphus had one request. Being the fair god he was, Thanatos allowed this request. That was his mistake. As Thanatos showed how the chains worked, the king was swift to trick and trap the god of Death in his own chains. The iron clasps stung on his wrist. The god was furious but the more he struggled, the tighter the chains wrapped around his body. He was trapped down here. He called out into the void. Only the screams of the dead echoed in the cave. 

//

Levi gasped sitting up on his bed. This throat felt dry as if he had been yelling. Sweat was plastered on his forehead. He hardly ever remembered his dreams. He hardly even had dreams. So for him to clearly dream was rare. His wide eyes scanned his room. He could still hear the screams of the dead. That’s where he dreamt was in. He was in Hell. Or some sort of it. He could still feel the iron cuffs on his wrist. Heavy, holding him in place. He was chained for what felt like years. They weren’t meant for him but he somehow got trapped in them.

His shaking hands checked for the cuffs in the darkness. It’s been days. Almost a week since Levi actually had a decent night of sleep. And on the night he managed to fall asleep he had a night terror. He laid on his back, staring at the ceiling. His breathing was still frantic. If he stared long enough the shadows started to form shapes. Faces almost. The last time he had night terrors this bad was when he was a child. It was back before he wasn’t diagnosed with anything. He wasn’t on any medication to help.

The longer he stared into the shadows, he drifted back to the feeling of being chained, unable to move, unable to do anything. The faces on his walls were the same ones he saw in that pit he was chained in.  His thoughts went to the strangest conclusion that he had actually lived through that. It wasn’t just a creation of his brain. How could that be possible? Levi had never been arrested in his life. The dream felt more like deja vu. He was tricked into those cuffs. Many, many years ago. He was a different person but at the same time it was him.

Maybe she would have been better off not listening to her sisters was one of the only thoughts that ran through Psyche’s head as she thought on the tasks she had to work through so far. Aphrodite was a cruel goddess when she wanted to be, that was one of the only things she was certain about. The woman didn’t want to think so harshly of her sisters in spite of how they had led her down the wrong path and into the predicament she was in now.

Who’s to say she wouldn’t do the same if she thought either of them were offered up to a monster? After all, that was what her father had thought the prophecy meant. She thought she would never be more terrified in her life than she was when she was left on that mountain to wait for whatever monster would be her husband. She never thought she would be so terribly wrong.

For the millionth time, she cursed herself and the people who had praised her beauty in her head. Without that, she wouldn’t be traipsing through the underworld with some ‘beauty cream’ for a vain and cruel goddess who had no need for it. She cursed her sisters, though she wanted to believe the best in them, for using the well-being of her unborn child against her. Had they suspected without telling her? Had they somehow known that her husband was a God even though she didn’t?

Aphrodite was so fearful that even the queen of the gods wouldn’t help her. What a hateful woman. The fourth task was something unheard of. For some reason, though, the queen of the underworld had seemed more merciful than even the goddess of love.

What could Aphrodite want other than the beauty she already had? Curiosity and a dash of hopefulness filled her head and before she could stop herself, she had opened the box. Just enough to peek inside. The blonde pulled back momentarily as a somewhat sweet smell filled the air. Confusion was her last thought before everything seemed to grow a lot quieter and she quickly slipped into darkness.

~

In her small apartment in New York, Poppy’s eyes opened as she felt panic flood through her. It was so dark. She sat up in bed quicker than she had meant to and rubbed her eyes as she glanced over at her bedside table. 3 in the morning. Great.

The dream had been so vivid, almost like a memory. But there was no way. “What the hell,” Poppy mumbled to herself as she rubbed some of the sleep from her eyes. She let out a heavy sigh as she fell back onto her pillow and pulled her covers up to her neck. She’d never really had a dream like that. One where she swore she could feel every emotion like she was there. The sadness, the anger, the confusion. It all felt too real.

Gold Dust Woman- Fleetwood Mac//How Soon Is Now- The Smiths// Edge of Seventeen- Stevie Nicks// Crimson and Clover- Joan Jett// Gypsys, Tramps, and Thieves- Cher// Beautiful Life- Ace of Base// She’s a Rainbow- The Rolling Stones// Livin La Vida Loca- Ricky Martin// Season of the Witch- Donovan// Witchy Woman- The Eagles// Just a Girl- No Doubt// I Eat Boys Like You For Breakfast- Ida Maria// Hex Girl- Moon Sisters// Volcano Girls- Veruca Salt// Express Yourself- Madonna// Dear Prudence- The Beatles

Side B: Personal Playlist

War Pigs- Black Sabbath

Time will tell on their power minds Making war just for fun Treating people just like pawns in chess Wait 'till their judgment day comes, yeah!

Another Way Out- Hollywood Undead

You better run, better run, better run, yeah I'm coming after you When you're sleeping at night, yeah there's nothing you can do There's no place you can hide cause I'm coming after you

Street Fight- Adam Jensen

Try to break me, but I can't break I'm a bad dream, and you can't wake Nothing's gonna kill me, nothing's gonna stand in my way

Everything Black- Unlike Pluto

In a nocturnal state of mind Children of the night But it's the only way alive This black hole's pulling me inside Of this black heart, this black soul Underneath this black, black sky

Brain Damage- Pink Floyd

The lunatic is in my head The lunatic is in my head You raise the blade, you make the change You re-arrange me 'til I'm sane

Look What You’ve Done- Jet

Give me back my point of view 'Cause I just can't think for you I can hardly hear you say What should I do, well you choose

Gladiator- Zayde Wolf

Let me back it up to the start of the climb Faced with an army of vipers and lions I had to keep on reaching up 'cause it was my time To tear down the kingdom and call out the liars

Can’t go to Hell- Sin Shake Sin

Turn that fear into a souvenir The world is waiting and the hour's near So if you need a reason, if you need a sign Open up you're eyes, you'll see they stole your water, turned it into wine

Metal Health (Bang Your Head)- Quiet Riot

Bang your head Wake the dead We're all metal mad It's all you have So bang your head And raise the dead

Ain’t No Grave- Johnny Cash

Well, look way down the river And what do you think I see I see a band of angels And they're coming after me

Wreak Havoc- Skylar Grey

I herd 'em like cattle Cause I'm surrounded by cowards And I don't give a fuck when I walk into battle And that's why I got all the power I'm where you wanna be Ain't no one ahead of me All of my enemies made a decision It's better to follow me

Who Are You, Really- Mikky Eiko

Now you're moving idle and you say you're alone Suspicious that the string is moving your bones We are the fire, we see how they run See how they run, lift me higher, let me look at the sun Look at the sun and once I hear them clearly, say

Bad to the Bone- George Thorogood and the Destroyers

The head nurse spoke up Said "leave this one alone" She could tell right away That I was bad to the bone

For What It’s Worth- Buffalo Springfield

Paranoia strikes deep Into your life it will creep It starts when you're always afraid Step out of line, the man come and take you away

Ohio- Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young

Gotta get down to it Soldiers are cutting us down Should have been done long ago.

God’s Gonna Cut You Down- Johnny Cash

Well you may throw your rock and hide your hand Workin' in the dark against your fellow man But as sure as God made black and white What's done in the dark will be brought to the light

Side B: Damien

War- Edwin Starr

Oh, war has shattered many a young man's dreams Made him disabled, bitter and mean Life is much too short and precious to spend fighting wars these days War can't give life, it can only take it away

Hurt- Johnny Cash

I wear this crown of thorns Upon my liar's chair Full of broken thoughts I cannot repair

Pretty Fly For a White Guy- The Offspring

Friends say he's trying too hard And he's not quite hip. But in his own mind He's the—he's the dopest trip.

Funny the Way it is- Dave Matthews Band

The way your mouth feels in your lover's kiss Like a pretty bird on a breeze, or water to a fish The bomb blast brings the building crashing to the floor Hear the laughter while the children play war

For Your Love- The Yardbirds

For your love, for your love I would give the stars above For your love, for your love I would give you all I could

My Mirror Speaks- Death Cab For Cutie

And when my mirror speaks it never minces words 'Cause these eyes don't shine half as bright As they used to do and they haven't for quite a while

Sleep is for the Weak- The Dreadnoughts

Baltic is at your back You'll head towards the Black Where the river's rising high All along the countryside Enter the hyenas

Viva La Vida- Coldplay

Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes Listened as the crowd would sing, "Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!" One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me

Wish You Were Here- Pink Floyd

How I wish, how I wish you were here. We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.

Rock and Roll- Led Zepplin

It's been a long time since the book of love. I can't count the tears of a life with no love. Carry me back, carry me back, carry me back, baby, where I come from.

Dear God- XTC

Dear God, sorry to disturb you, but I feel That I should be heard loud and clear We all need a big reduction in amount of tears And all the people that you made in your image, See them fighting in the street 'Cause they can't make opinions meet

When You Were Young- The Killers

He doesn't look a thing like Jesus But he talks like a gentleman Like you imagined When you were young

Train in Vain- The Clash

Now I got a job But it don't pay I need new clothes I need somewhere to stay But without all these things I can do But without your love I won't make it through

Wish I Knew You- The Revivalists

Oh I hope you don't mind We can share my mood Two strangers in the bright lights I wish I knew you I wish I knew you Oh I wish I knew you when I was young

The Weight- The Band

I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead I just need some place where I can lay my head "Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?" He just grinned and shook my hand, "no" was all he said

Hard to Handle- The Black Crows

I have got some good old lovin' And I got some more in store When I get through throwin' it on you You gotta come back for more

Honorable Mentions

Somebody to Love- Queen

I work hard (he works hard) every day of my life I work 'til I ache my bones At the end (at the end of the day) I take home (takes home) my hard-earned pay all (goes home on his own) on my own

Fernando- ABBA