Pathway to Hell

Chapter 1 Happy Birthday

Rating: PG 13
Disclaimer: Still don't own anything never will (sob) Please don't sue!
AN: Sequel to Innocence. John is in Hell yep he's in Hell crap why's he in Hell? As usual please Review I love your reviews so tell me what you think!

"Get up John, what this is all you have? The great John Constantine"
John coughed his whole body was screaming in agony how long had he been down here?
Finally he took a deep breath, pulling himself to his feet. It took every ounce of strength he had. His muscles ached and his legs swayed but he managed to hold himself.
"I got a lot more than you think asshole." He spat at him.
"Not for long"
John felt Lucifer's fist connect with his stomach and once more he was left sprawled on the red hot dirt.
"Having fun yet?"
Lucifer grabbed John's arm and roughly pulled him to his feet.
"You're mine John! We have an eternity together better get used to it." He laughed right in John's battered and bruised face.
His body had grown so frail his once strong proud figure was covered in gashes. His white shirt was caked in blood, his tie lay forgotten miles behind.
"Get over yourself! I'm only here coz you cheated! You tricked me, is that the only way you could get to me? Is that how pathetic you are"
"Oh… John that almost hurt." Lucifer said in his annoying sing song voice.
"You're here because you're as stupid as you look! Selling your soul really John I thought you were smarter"
"Evidently not." John said quietly.
"Ah don't John you're spoiling me!" Lucifer gushed in glee.
"Fuck you"
John was greeted with a hard blow to the head. Everything went blurry finally fading into darkness.

I woke up quickly. My heart was pounding, my head spinning.
I reached up running a hand through my drenched hair.
It had been 12 days since John had entered hell and ever since that day sleeping had become impossible. Every time I closed my eyes I saw John he was constantly in pain and it was all my fault. How could I have let this happen? How could I have been so naive?
I rolled over to face the sleeping form of Chas. He looked so peaceful you wouldn't know what he had been through by looking at him.

"It's Chas, I can't find a pulse…"
My heart stopped God no. This wasn't happening not now. I had just lost John if Chas died I wouldn't be able to cope, I wouldn't have the strength to carry on.
"No, no Chas please you can't die!" I cried crawling over to his delicate body lying lifelessly on the floor.
There was a pool of blood forming behind his head where his skull had connected with thehard concrete wall.
I put my hand over the gash, attempting to stem the bleed.
"Murphy call 911!" I screamed applying a little more pressure.
"Chas you can't die! I love you, remember? You're the only person I've ever loved! Ever! Chas I've never had anyone! Then you came into my life. I need you! If you give up one me now…"
I closed my eyes. I had all these powers if I couldn't use them now what use were they to me?
I cleared my mind taking a deep breath. I imagined a white light flowing from inside me, down through my arm and into Chas' dying body.
"Please God, I need you"
"Gaia…"
My eyes snapped open. He was alive Jesus Christ he was alive!
"Chas, I love you." I cried kissing him softly.
"Love you too." He smiled before fading out of conciseness.

I smiled I was so lucky to have him. That day had scared me shitless but God gave me a second chance with him and I wouldn't blow it. The ambulance came, they told me it was a miracle he had survived. He had a concussion and a couple broken ribs. The doctors said it was amazing his head wound wasn't more extensive.
I closed my eyes again.
"Gaia help me!" John cried his face a lump of battered flesh, streaming with blood.
My eyes snapped open.
I quietly tore myself from the slightly damp sheets. I walked towards the bathroom trying to keep the little food I had consumed the previous day from coming up.
Breaking into a run I made it just in time before throwing up violently. I took a deep breath, wiped my mouth and walked over towards the small mirror mounted on the wall.
My complexion had changed considerably. I hardly recognised the person reflected back at me.
I was deathly pale except for the huge black bags under my eyes.
I had cut my long hair extremely short (trying to manage the wet mop in the middle of the night was a nightmare). My once sparkling blue eyes no longer shone as brightly as they previously had.
"Happy birthday Gaia." I said softly to myself.

I walked into the living room, there were books everywhere. I cleared a small space on the couch sitting hesitantly on the edge.
It was 3.45am, there was no way I was getting back to sleep tonight. Instead I decided to look through some more books.
I knew it was useless but I had to try. John was trapped in that terrible place going through so much pain, so much torment. Knowing I was responsible was almost too much to bear. Once again my tears began to fall.
"John I'm so sorry." I sobbed hopelessly.
"Hey, Gaia it's not your fault!" Chas said walking towards me.
He placed his hand on my shoulder attempting to provide some comfort to my guilt ridden mind.
"Chas…" I cried softly.
"Shhh… I'm here." Chas said leading me back into the bedroom.
"I can't sleep, you know I can't"
"I know just sit I wanna talk to you." He said climbing onto the bed beside me.
"Gaia you aren't eating, you're not sleeping look at yourself! You can't go on like this, you're gonna kill yourself. Whatever food you do eat you throw up, you're skin and bones! Gaia you're not the person you used to be." He said shaking slightly under my cold stare.
He was right I hated this but I was responsible I knew I was, how could I just forget it?
"Gaia we're doing everything we can for John but there's just no way to save him! He signed the contract, it's binding"
"Then we go to Lucifer offer him something better"
"Like what? Gaia John's my friend! He helped me when no one else would, I want to get him out of there but it's impossible! We've read every passage on this and there's nothing! Gaia there's just no way we can do this"
"I'm not giving up Chas not ever, John needs me and I will help him no matter what the consequences. This is tearing me apart"
Chas leaned forward placing his lips upon mine, they were so soft. I let my eyes flutter shut as he slowly eased me onto the pillow.
"I need you!" I gasped pulling Chas down onto me.
"I need you more." John screamed.
His eyes were bloodshot, his face was battered.
"I'm sorry!" I cried.
"Gaia? Are you okay?" Chas asked pulling away concern in his eyes.
"Every time I close my eyes I see him, he's always there"
Chas looked at me, he was so concerned. I was putting him through hell but how could I stop it? John had obviously chosen to do everything in his power to get me to help him and I must say it was working.
"Gaia I'm really worried"
I sighed taking a deep breath. I ran my hand gingerly through my hair willing away the pain I felt in my heart.
"Chas I need to go down there. I'm going back to the portal, I'm gonna get John out of there"
"Gaia…"
"No, don't Chas. You have no idea what this is like"
He nodded softy got up and headed towards the kitchen.
He returned with a massive purple birthday cake, 17 candles perfectly placed on top.
"Happy birthday." He said softly.
"Make a wish…"
Yeah make a wish, maybe this would bring me some luck.
I took a deep breath blowing all 17 candles out.
I wish John was safe, that I can get him out of that place and everything would be okay.
I smiled.
"Purple, my favourite colour. Thanks"
"You betta eat this Gi, it 'twas expensive." He said licking a little icing from his finger.
"Go on then I'm starving!"
So we'll have cake and candles and I'll enjoy my birthday if only for a few hours but I swear to God at first light I will make my wish come true, I'll find that piece of shit father of mine and I'll get John out of that hell hole. That's a promise.