Ch 1: The Hell Hounds Return Home

Endless...Endless...This boundless desert...The wind which carries the screams of the tortured. The water which flows with the hatred and greed of the people. The blood rain which falls with the tears of the trapped. The moons which light the way of the scared, like two children lost in the infinite night sky. Each grain of sand holds the souls of the fallen; encasing the souls of the dead. Lost...Lost...Lost in this desert you shall be...till God himself falls you shall be here...you shall be one of the very grains which your feet shall crush. You shall crush your own dreams. This desert which is deprived of light, only the crimson glow emitted by the Lost Children light your path, however, that glow shall also remind you of the destination which you walk to. The constant glow of the Lost Children shall remind you that you have no destination; that your path is something you shall constantly wander on. Endless...Endless...This boundless desert; more commonly known as Hell. There was a pause in the speech when a deep and echoing voice laughed. Welcome home...

Zoro shot up from the bed, cold sweat streaming down his face. He took deep breaths, trying to calm his twittering heart down. Once he managed that a piercing headache started to storm in his skull. He cringed and fell back onto the bed. Almost pulling his hair out from the pain he rolled onto his side and began grunting, as if it would help. He started taking deep breaths again, this time trying to push away the pain. Once the pain did ease away enough he slowly opened his eyes. It took a minute for his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room but once he did realized that he was in some kind of attic.

He glanced down at his bed which turned out to be more like a dusty mattress with a rag for a sheet. For the first time in his life he actually wished to be on his hammock in the Going Merry; anything seemed better than this. He looked around the room once again, but he didn't dare try and sit up for the second time. There were some boxes stacked in the corner with a few spiders' wed on the ceiling, but other than that it was fairly empty. There was, however, another bed on the other side of the attic. Zoro stared at the rag-like sheet as it rose up and down like waves; obviously the other person was in a deep sleep.

Suddenly the sleeping person moved and Zoro saw that it was really Akio sleeping. Without thinking he lounged towards him. "Ak-" While in mid-air another agonizing headache attacked him and he fell onto the unforgiving, wooden floor. With a loud thump his face smacked the cold ground. He didn't move; he's learned his lesson now. Any sudden movements caused severe headaches. So, Zoro just waited for this one to pass while staying in his sprawled out position. His rag sheet was only covering his feet and that didn't necessarily help with the freezing air. As the idea to slowly reach and pull the rag more onto his body entered his mind he immediately shooed it off. There was nothing and no one that could make him move from his spot.

As this headache's pain died down again he decided to reach out and poke Akio in the back. "Hey...Akio..." He whispered. "Wake up..." Akio moaned and squirmed a little but he stayed asleep. Zoro frowned and started incessantly poking his back. "Akio...wake up..." He said with his face still smushed against the floor. *poke poke* "Akio..." *poke poke* "Don't make me do this all day..." *poke poke* "Aki-" Surprisingly Akio finally turned around to face him.

"What the hell do you want?" He yawned. Just for fun Zoro poked him two more times in his forehead. "Stop it-" He snapped but he was quickly overwhelmed with a fitful cough.

"Are you okay?" Zoro asked curiously, however, his words did not get past the roar of the coughs. Akio sat up and tried clearing his through. Zoro raised an eyebrow. Why can he move without getting headaches? He thought enviously. As Akio's coughs continued Zoro lowered his poking hand to the ground so his palm touched the wood. He stared as Akio's chest heaved once he managed to control the coughs.

"Are you okay?" He asked again. Akio looked down at him, slightly creped out.

"What are you doing on the floor?" He asked with a whisper. Zoro could hardly hear him.

"Let's just say I can't move..." Zoro looked away, embarrassed at his silly position. Akio looked around the room just as he had done.

"Do you know where we are?" He asked with a raspy voice. Zoro shook his head.

"What's wrong with your voice?" He asked after him.

"My throat burns every time I talk, but not as much when I whisper." Akio explained.

"I'm getting headaches every time I move; laying here helps the pain ease away." Zoro looked away again. Akio nodded and turned towards the small door in the room. In the silence Zoro fumbled around with the chain on his neck, picking it up and letting it drop. The sound echoed. He sighed and rolled onto his back, later cursing himself for moving as he grasped his head in pain. Akio glanced over his shoulder and watched him helplessly. But then the door opened. The hinges creaked and it kicked up dust as the door swung open. Akio waved the dust away from his face and looked up at the man who walked in, more like limped in. It was an old man with a hunched back and a sour smile.

"Eh-you're up...finally" He said eyeing the two up.

"Who are you?" Akio croaked while holding his throat.

"My name's Gray," He frowned, showing off the spaces within his teeth. Gray seemed to remind Akio of another old man back in Chika named Yu. "You're going to ask what happened, aren't yea?" Gray automatically sat down on one of the boxes in the room. Akio blinked at him and Zoro was able to ignore the pain enough to roll onto his side to get a good look at him. "Well," He began. "I found you two outside my store here and was kind enough to allow you to stay and rest up." He leaned on his knee and growled.

"We're very thankful." Akio whispered. "Do you know what happened to us before that?"

"Before? Well I have no freakn' idea, but I did find you two with wounds. You," He pointed to Akio with a long, bony finger. "You're head was practically cut off, hanging on by a tiny piece of skin." Akio shuttered at the thought, he rubbed his neck thankful it was on now. "And you," He pointed to Zoro who frowned at him. "You had a bullet hole in your head."

"W-Where are we?" Zoro asked, now confused.

"Are you two idiots? You're in Hell...Geez," Gray stood up and motioned towards the small window covered by dusty curtains. "You should rest up now; I'll be down stairs if yea need me." With that he left the room and everything grew quiet again. Zoro crawled over to the small window, trying to keep his head as still as possible. He moved the curtains aside; his shoulders slumping at the sight. They certainly were in Hell. He recognized the desert anywhere, the sky which was always pitched black, the Lost Children's glow-he recognized it all too well. He sighed and turned around, leaning against the wall.

"So, what now?" He asked rubbing his head. Akio was silent. Both were just remembering what happened, why they came here. Gloom hung in the air.

"Everyone..." He said after a while.

"Yup," Zoro stared at the ceiling. "We still have to find everyone." He looked down at Akio and saw his expression. "Do you want to rest first, does your throat hurt?"

"I don't want to go back to sleep." Akio replied without looking at him, the floorboards seemed to be more important. Zoro sighed; to be honest he didn't want to sleep either. Those words he heard, the speech that everyone hears when you enter Hell; the fact that he had to hear it a second time-he didn't want to believe it. He knew that Akio heard that speech as well. Hell, he was just playing a game with them, but he was the only one having fun. Silence entered. In both the silence and the darkness sleep seemed inevitable. Zoro felt his eyes grow heavy. He was in the most uncomfortable position, leaning against the hard wall, but even so sleep took over.

Having fun? A deep voice asked. Zoro opened his eyes. He was somehow in a dark cavern, the roof of the cave was so high up he couldn't even see it and the walls of the cavern were so far apart he could barely see them. It's good to see you again. The voice said. Zoro turned to the middle of the cave and saw an enormous, black creature surrounded in a black mist. Because of the mist it was hard to see its body. However, piercing, crimson red eyes could be seen. The eyes stared at him. This creature was so tall that Zoro had to look more than just straight up and the creature's eyes were so huge that they were probably taller than Zoro. Much like the desert of Hell Zoro also recognized this creature all too well.

Hell... He growled. Hell laughed.

Isn't it nice to be home? He asked. I find it very amusing to hve found you here again...so soon after I granted you freedom. His eyes didn't blink.

I don't see how being your Hound is the same as being free. Zoro argued. Hell laughed again.

You always amuse me! He said happily. I can't wait till our little game starts. Hold on...It already has. Hell glared before the black mist filled the entire cavern.

What the hell do you mean? Zoro snapped, trying to see trough the mist.

"Zoro!" He suddenly heard Akio's voice and he felt his body jerk. "Zoro!" He said again, shaking him awake. Zoro's eyes shot open. He stared at Akio.

"Finally you woke up." Akio sighed. "You've been sleeping forever." He straightened himself up. Zoro blinked a few times and rubbed his head.

"Does your head still hurt?" He asked, looking down at him worryingly.

"Just...a little..." He said dazed. "Does...your throat still..."

"No, not at all." Akio smiled, assuring him. Zoro began to pick himself up from the wall but found that his body was extremely sore. Akio noticed his expression. "Ah-I know, it hurts to move. But hey you can't really argue, I mean...we did just die." Zoro reluctantly stood up. "Here," Akio tossed him something which looked like his rag blanket. He lifted the rag into the air and realized that it was a tan-colored cloak. A shitty one, but it would protect them from the desert storms. He watched Akio put it on. Akio noticed his stare and stared back, their gazes locked.

"You saw him too...didn't you?" Zoro said, annoyed that his friend didn't tell him.

"Yes, I did." He sighed. "But I'm not going to let his 'little game' stop me. We still have to find everyone. Who knows how much trouble they got themselves into?" Zoro put his cloak on. It was made of very thick material and it was also rough against his skin. It had a nice hood which fit nicely on his head and the cape part went all the way down to his ankles. He took a few steps around the room and stretched his legs out. The cape fluttered behind him with every move he made. He almost felt like a superhero, of course he would never tell anyone that.

"Hey, um-what about that old man, Gray; is he seriously going to let us stay for free?" Zoro asked shocked.

"Well, about that..." Akio smiled sheepishly while he slowly moved towards the window. Meanwhile they could hear footsteps moving towards the attic.

"Hey, before you guys leave you have to pay me!" Gray hollered. Akio opened the window with trembling hands.

"Come on." He whispered, stepping up onto the sill. Gray's steps got closer. Akio jumped out the window. Zoro was about to follow him when he froze and turned back to the room. He couldn't leave. He looked around franticly. Where were they?

"Open up!" Gray ordered, banging on the door. Akio was smart enough to lock it. Zoro stumbled through the dark attic. Where were his katana? Suddenly he tripped over something. He put his hands on the object and realized that it was his katana.

"Hurry up!" Akio called from outside. Zoro quickly slid the three swords onto his sash and ran for the window. He could hear Gray fumbling with his keys outside the attic. As soon as the correct key opened the door he had already jumped. Outside he practically landed onto of Akio. His cape fluttered even more; now that he was out the two sprinted off into the desert. They could hear Gray's cursing behind them but neither looked over their shoulder at the small shack.

"I-I can't believe we just did that..." Akio said, still nervous.

"You're so badass..." Zoro mumbled.

"S-Shut up!" He stuttered. In the desert the Lost Children casted a crimson glow on everything, tinting it red, but it was better than nothing. Zoro and Akio were at least able to see. They ran up a dune and slid down the other side. Both gasped while scanning the area. All they could see where sand dunes stretching on for miles and miles.

"Just like old times, right?" Akio chuckled. Zoro grunted, somehow he didn't find this funny.

"So," He said ignoring Akio's horrible attempt at humor. "Where do you want to start?" He looked around, seeing nothing but sand.

"I'm guessing you don't sense anyone?" Akio sighed, hoping that he would. He kicked his foot in the sand. "Well...to be honest, I kind of want to eat." Zoro turned to him 'are you serious' is what his face said. Akio grabbed his stomach. "I'm really hungry." He whined. Zoro sighed and slapped his forehead.

"Fine, I guess it can't hurt." He took out one of his katana and lifted the blade up to his palm. Without hesitation he slit his palm and dripped the blood onto the sand. Because of the Lost Children's glow which tinted everything red, the blood was hardly noticeable. But soon, the ground began to shake.