~*~
The floor was cold. Her sweating palms told her that much. Her eyes had screwed shut with the first spasm of pain that had ripped through her chest the moment the bullet had entered her body. Strangely, Rukia thought…she felt heat somewhere nearby.
"Keep moving, you lazy asses!" snarled a rough male voice. Assuming it was meant for her, she braved opening her eyes. What the…
People. Humans from all walks of life and circumstances walked on by, branching off into two lines around her. Her eyes flickered to their faces tinted by a grayish unnatural pallor; almost like a corpse's. Where am I? Nervously her gaze wandered upward along the craggy rock walls, smoke rose from a lower level, seeping to the ceiling in miasmic waves.
"Keep going. Keep going." Urged the same voice from before. It came from up ahead, she discerned and sounded not the least familiar. Carefully she stood, the mass of people moved ever onward, unmindful of her among their silent ranks.
This isn't…slowly she began moving. Once she had glanced over her shoulder to the far place it seemed the horde of humanity filtered from. Immutable darkness, a void of pitch-black night met her curious eyes. No. Don't want to go there…forward.
Surprisingly even though she kept walking, her steps made no sound as she realized. No one else's did either. What is this place? Again she wondered, her ears straining to catch a faraway moan, like the swell of a thousand voices lost in agony. They were going toward it.
The first real tendrils of fear snaked throughout her being. Protectively her arms wrapped around her middle and she came to a standstill. The people went on past the gateway of warped metal blackened by soot. A plaque hung over their heads and she strove to read it.
Abandon hope…all ye who enter here.
Despite herself, she smiled tremulously at this. What was this…some kind of—
"I SAID KEEP MOVING, MAGGOT!!!!!!!"
The screech came from directly behind her. The long shadow of a broad-chested man fell over her. Rukia turned, realizing then that she was one of the few left. The others had all evaporated into the gloom beyond the ominous plaque and gateway. "Who—who're you calling a maggot, asshole?" she muttered, matching the fierce glare the tall teal-haired man sent down at her.
"You of course." He spat out, sending a chewed plug of something rust red down near her feet. Angrily she placed her hands on her hips, tilting her head back to look at him full measure. "Who the fuck are you and what the hell is this place!?"
"What the hell is this place?" he repeated amused.
Rukia felt she was being made fun of, "just answer the damn question."
"Don't you know? This is Hell!"
~*~
Note: Don't own Bleach.
I've had this idea on the back burner for about a year now.
:) Ulquiorra will show up next chapter.
:) No flames or idiotic spammers. But reviews are appreciated. :)