VII: The Party
In grade one, I was cast as the lead in a play my class was going to perform in front of all the parents. I was excited because I had really memorized my lines carefully and I knew everything off by heart. I had no problem performing for the teachers and all the little kids. I was so proud of my amazing memory, I had so much fun saying the stuff too. My character was so bold and daring (at least by 6 year old standards), I felt so empowered.
Then, as I stood before everyone, my lines on the tip of my tongue but for some reason frozen there. Everyone's eyes were bright in the darkness, peering at me in such a way I felt so scared. I felt like I was in a nightmare, the one I had been having non stop for a few months when I was young. I was alone, in the dark and all these yellow eyes would burst through the blackness and just watch me. I'd cry myself to death in the dream, so scared of what the eyes were planning, that I worked myself into such a panic. I'd always wake up, my heart racing and my bed wet with either sweat or piss. Hey, I was fucking six years old, this shit was terrifying.
Anyway, when I stood before all the parents, this was what I saw. I screamed out in terror and started to bawl my eyes out. This boy, the coolest one in my class, pointed from across the stage, hidden in his corner but clear enough in the silence. "Roxas cries like a little sissy girl," then everyone erupted into loud, roaring laughter, especially when I turned and looked at them, still crying like a sissy girl. I have no idea if they really did laugh, after all this was a crowd of adults, my parents included but I heard laughter none the less. I ran, I even left the school grounds and I ended up at the park across my school, where my mom later found me and took me home.
I'm reminded of this as I stand in the middle of this crowd of demons, some crawling along the walls, some flying over head. It doesn't matter how they're here, because one this is for certain...they are all staring at me, their eyes glowing in an array of colours. Axel puts a hand on my shoulder and leads me towards the seats, tossing himself tiredly onto the big throne, then motioning for me to sit in the little one to his right. I blink stupidly, and the uproar behind me makes me turn my back quickly, Axel using this to his advantage and pulling me down into the seat by my shoulder.
The only way I can describe the feeling on my ass when it touches the cushion, would be like this: imagine a convertible left on the highest sand dune in the desert, then in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest, burning its brightest, someone just drops you onto the black leather seat. I yelp out in pain and grasp onto the armrest of the throne. It's texture is disgusting, then again it's made from human remains and rock, how great can it possibly feel? Axel looks horribly comfortable though, his eyes even looking about to slip closed in slumber. My eyes are tearing and wide open, the seat really burning my ass but I can't stand up because he's pinning me down, with the hand on my shoulder.
The demons are still howling and making terrifying sounds this entire time, and Axel suddenly stands up, using my shoulder to help him get to his feet. He looks over the crowd and this is when I notice how much demons are actually packed in here. Somehow, all the way down in the corner, I spot the female demon, the blonde one who stabbed me in the back. I cringe back into the seat and this is when Axel speaks, his voice booming over every other sound. "Shut up, all of you!" The sudden silence amazes me, the difference leaves my ears ringing and I stare as every demon watches Axel, the redhead just taking a slow minute to put his hands in his pockets. It amazes me how different the real devil is from the one the Catholics speak of. His personality is actually something strange, and it makes me wonder how wrong all religions are. I know for a fact they are right about him being a monster, the horns and soul devouring is enough evidence of that. It's just strange to meet him in person, so to speak. I was expecting some half man, half demon thing with red skin and a bald head. The sharp teeth are probably the only thing that matches what I had envisioned for Satan. "Now that you've all calmed down, I'd like to introduce Roxas...a little something I personally picked from earth..." The pause is only barely half a second, but it's there and I hear the switch in Axel, almost like a gathering of phlegm. The voice that comes out when he speaks again, is the most frightening thing I've ever heard in my life (or in my death, I guess) and if I had bowls, I'd have emptied them I swear to you. "Which makes him mine," It's best described as a deep, demonic growl...only scarier than that. The rock walls seem to shudder before he starts to chuckle, turning and smiling at me. Axel comes back and sits down beside me, looking over with a little grin, much dimmer than the previous smile. "How about a little welcome party...hell style?" I stare with no expression and he just rolls his eyes before standing up and looking like he's going to give some big pep talk. "Now my demons, my precious friends...how about we celebrate the fact that I've got a new little play thing?"
They all start howling again, only this time it's different. There is laughter heard, scary demon laughter so it's not anything enjoyable, like the excited hoots and hollers of people. I shiver violently on the throne, watching as they all begin to hurry out of the ballroom, the opening in the wall widening to let more out. Axel turns to me and extends his hand like some courteous gentleman and I stare down at the pale palm before standing on my own. He grunts before walking away and as soon as he's far enough, I know what to expect. I brace myself and right on cue, the pain makes me tumble to my knees. He gets away from me so quickly, it's as amazing as it is annoying.
I feel like a potato bug, curling into myself and I cry out in agony before taking a deep breath and straightening up. The breath does nothing, like I knew it would but hearing it comforts me somehow. I look towards Axel and he's waiting for me, laughing with his hands on his hips and a devilish grin. "Why does this always happen?" I shout, my voice shaking as I struggle to stand up with my wobbly legs, then forcing myself to step forward. Axel crosses his arms over his chest and waits for me to get at least a little closer to him. The slowly easing pain, makes me pick up the pace and Axel looks pleased. It makes me almost want to stop and run the opposite way, just to wipe the look off his face but I don't want to go through unnecessary pain. I don't have any pride or dignity anymore, so what's the point?
"It's my version of a shock collar," Axel grins and swoops down so quickly to kiss me, I have no time to pull away. I can feel the edge of some sharp tooth stabbing into my lip and I whimper, trying to pull away but he holds me there firmly, prying my mouth open with his strong tongue and just kissing the hell out of me. I feel slightly light headed when he pulls away and I have no idea why, but he winks at me. Instead of leaving me behind again, he grabs my hand and starts tugging me along behind him.
"I still don't understand why me..." I mumble out of nowhere, the thought just popping into my head randomly and Axel looks down at me, I watch his pupils scan over my face before connecting with my eyes and letting a wide smirk play on his lips.
"Just your luck little one...your soul had been given away even before you were conceived," he laughs like it's funny but I just stare horrified. I wait for what feels like one whole minute, then two, three, four, five...ten, fifteen...He stays quiet and I glare so violently I almost pop my eyes out of my head or at least it feels that way.
I don't have the chance to say anything else, to question just what the hell he's talking about, because I'm taken into the biggest place I've seen in hell so far. It's just a vast emptiness but there are souls and demons and everything else roaming around, some dancing, some being tortured. Looking around, I see there are demons and souls doing just about anything you could expect at some crazy party. The only thing I don't see is beer cans and booze, in place of that, there are just this metal cups I spot everyone with. I shut my eyes tight, and imagine that this is all just a bad trip. There is no way this is what hell is really like, demons and souls can't party together...it's absurd. Axel must sense my thoughts because he starts chuckling, throwing an arm across my shoulders and leading me towards another pair of thrones. I stare, wondering just how many of these there are spread out in hell.
"Darling, hell isn't so bad...it's not always torture and death! We've got drugs, sex, gambling, liquor and some of the finest music...we can throw parties," he winks before clapping his hands, pointing at someone(thing) far away and suddenly, loud music starts and I can't tell you what, because it's a melody I've never heard, played by instruments I never even knew existed. I spot Riku through a crowd of souls all standing together sobbing and I imagine it's the suicides that have been taken from their dwelling and brought to this party. It sure looks like it, the group of people (which is quite large) is just huddled together with this gloomy aura all around them. Riku spots me around the same time and he waves crazily, breaking away from the group and jogging towards me until he spots where I am and sees Axel perched on the throne next to me. He stops abruptly but Axel motions him to continue, a grin on his lips that makes me worry.
"A-axel...Roxas..." Riku says in a small voice and I look at him, not really knowing what to do. I get the strongest urge to rip the bunny ears off, especially when Riku's eyes linger on them for more than just a few seconds.
"Mmm, you two know each other?" Axel asks with boredom lacing his tone, his body twisting in the seat and he throws his legs over the armrest, leaning back against the other one just as a demon comes with a platter, offering some strange ass fucking hors d'oeuvres and another with a tray of drinks. Axel grabs two and hands me one, I take it mostly because if I don't he'll just let it drop into my lap.
Riku is offered but he declines and as the demons (waitresses?) walk away, I hear them comment on how typical it is for a suicide to say such a thing. I watch in awe, looking around and seeing the party is in full swing. Axel is bobbing his head along with the music and I look down into my cup, still finding all this so fucking insane.
A/N: I figure all sorts of crazy junk happens in hell...I mean, it's gotta with all the people down there.
Anyway, hope you guys like this...I wrote it all in one sitting, it just came to me out of no where.
I sat down and thought "Let's write something fucked up..."
Blame anything you don't like...on my pathetic brain. I promise you it'll try harder next time. -whips brain like a slave driver-
