"Hey everyone how's it going it's been a while since my last update and I apologize for that. I am ready to post the following few chapters and am already working on the next ones which will come much faster than these ones did probably by the end of this weekend. When we last left our heroes they uncovered the truth of Angel, Belladonna's endgame and the tragic truth that Sasha couldn't be saved which caused a brutal fraction between Charlie and Itchy and Jason slowly losing whatever faith he has. Now each of our heroes find themselves on the brink of despair just what future awaits them now that everything they believe has fallen apart. The answers will continue to unravel in the following chapters as our heroes continue to grapple with the darkness both around them and within them.
: Chapter 19:
The truth that is real
Carface was currently sitting alone in his massive mansion surrounded by mountains of money and gold, there were piles of diamond and jewels. There were swarms of truly beautiful cars ranging from Mustangs, Camaros, Porsches, mercedes and convertibles. There was a truly large swimming pool about the size of full on yard a warm Hot tub right by it. The mansion had the nicest rugs and carpets one could imagine. It was filled to the brink with great pieces of art. It was a dream house and a dream life. One couldn't be any higher on the food chain, it was just a few levels short of being on top of the world itself and Carface couldn't care less about any of it.
Carface threw a golden coin at his swimming pool only for it to narrowly miss. He threw another this time aiming to get it off the balcony it soared off the balcony landing in a massive pile of coins below it, Carface didn't even remotely notice. He grabbed another stack of coins and began chucking them in whatever direction caught his eye. He stared at a pile of countless hundred and thousand dollar bills, it made him feel angry. This was useless it brought no sense of happiness to Carface at all, it was almost mocking him. He hated this disgusting and worthless piece of paper the mere sight of it filled him with rage.
Carface lit a match and threw it on the money watching as the whole mountain went up in flames. Carface found his gaze returning to the window which inevitably led back to Cody's house the place Carface never wanted to see again yet at this moment it was actually where he wanted to be. Carface wasn't certain what happened or how he got there but he was standing in front of the house again, staring out at it, reaching for it, hoping to see Cody welcome him back but he knew that was impossible. Instead all he saw was the same thing he always saw every time he came back here. Cody leaving Carface outside telling him to leave that he wasn't wanted and of course he heard the words that had shaken him all his life.
"It's just business" Cody said them again and again it made Carface wince. Business was cruel it was cold and it was unfeeling. It was just ...empty. Yes that was it Carface had everything but what did it matter if he was alone?
"It's just business" Carface said to himself and for the first time in his entire life he considered just what that term meant.
"Taking your home nothing personal just business. Killing your wife sorry examples need to be made. Killing you, nothing personal but business will be easier if you're gone."
It sure didn't sound civilized it sounded like trampling over everyone else for your own personal needs and passing off the idea that it not being personal made trampling over everyone with no consideration for them acceptable. At least if it's personal you have an actual motive and reason to do it. Carface all these years was trying to pass himself off as some civilized businessman, sociopath sounded like the more accurate term. Carface wasn't a businessman the truth was dawning on him, he was a murderer, nothing more nothing less.
"No!, no it wasn't business Cody! Just admit it you didn't want me, it was personal; it's always personal, don't hide behind that excuse!" Carface roared.
"I killed Charlie because I wanted to! I killed Itchy because every breath he took offended me, and I wanted Charlie to see it! I relished watching him squirm as I was moments away from blowing his loves head off!" Carface ranted.
"It's personal Cody, I did what I did because I hated them! Admit it you hated me, you hated everything about me! That's why you kicked me into the curb! There's no business, I'm a monster I admit it, now you will too say it!"
"Say it Cody, you wanted me gone because you hated me!" Carface screamed to the heavens his voice was dripping with pain, loss, self loathing, rage and deep sadness and loneliness; there were tears in his eyes and they were streaming down his cheeks.
"It must've really hurt for you to finally admit that, to finally see the hypocrisy that was your entire life" Belladonna said her voice was echoing around the entire area; yet it was different this wasn't the cruel and mocking Belladonna Carface knew, she sounded like she was almost crying for him.
Carface felt a real rage grip him Belladonna was one sick monster what purpose did any of this serve? He was also confused by her tone it didn't fit the dog he knew all these years; it made his exact emotions difficult to define, still creating this whole illusion was pretty twisted.
"You're one tweaked dog you know that, what are you trying to do anyway?" Carface asked her in anger.
"Give you what you want, it's what I live for" Belladonna replied, her tone was once again soft and gentle.
Money began raining from the sky all around Carface who ignored it it wasn't a whole lot of use in this place since there was no one here, then again he wasn't certain if it was any use at all.
"It's no use here" Carface answered.
"No it isn't is it, I know that feeling Carface" Belladonna told him gently.
This was confusing Belladonna may as well be a completely different person, even more so she used his first name. That was strange Belladonna always called him by his last name.
"What game are you playing stop with the fake sympathy and just do whatever terrible thing you long to." Carface growled.
Belladonna felt a sting of a pain she was really looking forward to this moment; the moment where she could finally stop being cruel to him and show him who she truly was and what he meant to her. She was pleased he was finally understanding how irrelevant money was; Belladonna would've thought that even before she realized the truth. However hearing Carface call himself a monster sickened her, he was not a monster and no existence should ever have someone think that about themselves. Belladonna floated to Carface and placed her paw on his chin gazing at him.
"I don't enjoy any of this but cruelty is effective in making my point, you're wrong you know" Belladonna told him.
Carface looked at her in confusion what did she mean?
"You're not a monster, none of you are and if I could I would make certain you or anyone else never thought such a terrible thing again. You've suffered thanks to this cruel existence and you lashed out in equal cruelty; this life taints everything it touches" Belladonna said softly.
That was bullcrap, life didn't force you to do anything no one forced Carface to pull that level in that car. No one forced him to kill Itchy, Carface did it because he was cruel. Cody was cruel, his father was cruel. People were the reason life was cruel without them things would be far more pleasant. What the hell was wrong with Belladonna her sense of morality was dangerously unstable and naive. What kind of a person genuinely believes that no one is capable of being cruel in any way, what on Earth did her mother do?
"So what I have no choice no actions or will of my own; no Belladonna I think I'll just accept that I'm a horrible person. Now either leave me to rot here or end this farce, I don't care which" Carface replied.
"If you insist" Belladonna said she then waved her paw and Carface sprung awake taking in his surroundings he was back in Belladonna's fake home.
"So what now I'm probably no longer of any use, you just gonna have your feast now?" Carface asked her though he really didn't care what her answer was, survival didn't really matter to him anymore.
"No, you've suffered more than enough" Belladonna responded.
Belladonna waved her paw and a bag appeared in front of her she then opened it and found millions of dollars, before turning to Carface.
"Hear have it for real, you've served me well" Belladonna told him tossing the bag to him.
Carface stared at the bag and ran his paw along the money trying to feel happy and satisfied but it just wasn't there. He didn't even feel the disgust and revulsion he did during the illusion just complete and utter indifference, he just couldn't bring himself to care.
"What do you expect me to do with this?" Carface asked her with indifference.
"You aren't alone anymore you can find some way to use it, our business is concluded Carface" Belladonna told him gently before disappearing.
Carface stared at the money lifting it up and studying it. Surely there was a purpose for it, some way he could put it to use. Nothing came to mind for Carface a nice meal not feeling it, a shiny car who cares; picking up the ladies, he wasn't in the mood for an empty relationship. Nothing came to mind for him until he thought of someone he had not thought of in a very very long time yet this person was the only one Carface wanted to talk to, the only one he wanted to tell about all this. He took a large sum of money and tossed it to one of Belladonna's empty shells.
"Use that to get me on the earliest flight to New Orleans." Carface said.
He was going back to where all this started. After all this time he was finally returning home or at least the closet thing to a true home he ever had.
Angel was sitting in a void surrounded by light her closed focusing on an energy within her. She reached deep to try and find it while Flo and Annabelle both watched. Angel felt it within her but couldn't quite reach it she pushed even harder trying to force the energy out but this made it fight her only more Angel continued trying to force it to the surface but the more she tried the more difficult and weak she became.
"Don't try and force the energy out heaven is not aggressive" Flo told her.
Angel changed her focus instead trying to grasp it and let it flow through her instead. For a moment Angel felt the energy surge into her but it was fading, what was going on?
"Relax and calm yourself do not fear the energy but rather welcome it like a friend" Annabelle told her.
Angel let herself relax allowing her whole body to calm as she closed her eyes again she allowed herself to open up again letting the energy flow through her without resistance without anything blocking it. She then felt it flow into her, as she did Flo faded and flowed into Angel. Angel's eyes turned gold and her fur began to glow however it then began to unleash a massive light as Angel found endless memories overwhelming her. The countless different Angel entities all raced through her causing her own memories to fracture and become disjointed. She felt herself slipping and whatever control she had was lost completely causing the energy to be unleashed outwards all around the void if they were in a mortal place it would've been burning everything to a crisp. Annabelle held it back with her own energy. As Angel screamed.
"I can't contain it too much, too many of them, I can't control aaahhhhhh!" Angel screamed.
"Angel you are in control of this; it is your power you control it it doesn't control you" Annabelle told her.
Angel couldn't properly focus or even think everything was flashing around her the world was screaming at her all of humanity was screaming at her.
"Too much pain, too much suffering I can't I can't aaahhhhh!" Angel screamed in agony.
Annabelle was confused how was Angel taking all that in she shouldn't be able to but if she was then she needed to be removed from control immediately.
"Flo resume control!" Annabelle said franically.
Flo freed herself from Angel's evolving essence and seized control of her body allowing all the angel entities into her she then allowed herself to relax calming all the energies Angel was releasing. Angel felt like her mind was going to burst that was way too much for her to endure; what the heck just happened well maybe she could get answers. Flo allowed Angel to emerge from her essence.
"What happened there what was that?" Angel asked.
"You tell us" Flo replied.
"I don't know for a moment i thought I could feel billions and billions of souls; it was overwhelming all their cries for help for deliverance some for love, I can't really remember the feeling." Angel said.
"That's because we purged it what you experienced is what caused Belladonna to lose her way we can't afford that with you" Annabelle told her.
"You touched creation your evolution is beyond anything I could imagine soon I believe it will be complete" Annabelle stated.
Angel still didn't get this whole evolution thing her essence was evolving into what? Would she be the last one was that what Annabelle was implying that she would be the last rebirth?
"Are you saying I'm the last" Angel asked her.
"Perhaps but that belief is also why you failed" Flo told her softly.
"What do you mean by that?" Angel asked her.
"You are not countless beings Angel you are being reborn across thousands and thousands of years, you are me and I am you. Amelia is you and she is me. All your past incarnations have personality traits similar to your own there are differences but deep down the core is the same" Flo told her.
Angel was trying to understand what that meant did that mean all those people's lives didn't matter or did it mean her's didn't matter or somehow did all of them matter she just didn't understand what any of this meant.
"What does that mean for Amelia or you or even me what of our existences?" Angel asked.
"We are all one those lives still happened and they still matter to those who knew us and to us as well. You remember what you learned and what i learned, what Amelia learned and many others. You understand so much now Angel more than anyone before you" Flo told her with a smile.
"But I don't know any of what you went through I can't tap into that knowledge" Angel said.
"You will and once you do their history will become yours and you will transcend your very being angel and mortal alike" Annabelle explained.
"What happens when that happens what happens to me?" Angel asked.
Annabelle wasn't certain how to answer that question her whole existence was puzzling she was one being yet the different entities and souls were fully sentient even after death and rebirth. That was what was so different there had been cases of reincarnation before but never one where every previous life evolved the soul. This was puzzling in fact Flo's description wasn't right. They weren't one being that's what was so confusing, however if Angel touched creation maybe the truth was revealing itself, Annabelle was right about her and it would soon be time for Annabelle's endgame.
"You will enter heaven likely it's cosmic center beyond that I'm not certain just yet" Annabelle stated.
"So I'll have to leave everyone, all of them, Charlie, Anna Marie, David, Sasha, Jason" Angel replied pausing before she said Jason's name.
Annabelle couldn't answer that question since like most things she had to tend to, the answer was very complicated and Annabelle was still working out exactly what the answer was and how she would work it out in the first place.
"Maybe, you can't stay in the mortal world" Annabelle told her.
"Why can't I, who gives you or anyone the right to determine if I can stay or not!?" Angel demanded.
"Angel we're not forcing anything but your evolution is reaching a point where you can't be in the mortal world the consequences would be devastating" Flo answered in a compassionate voice.
No that wasn't fair Angel didn't ask for any of this she didn't ask to be some all powerful evolving cosmic being she never asked for any of that she shouldn't have to leave her home or the one she loved because of this.
"I didn't ask for this none of it; why am I having this forced on me?" Angel demanded.
"It was an unexpected event Angel we just have to work with what we have and make the best of it" Annabelle answered.
"I can't leave Jason, I can't" Angel said trying to fight her sadness.
"There's no choice if you don't you will lose control and your energy can kill him" Flo told her sadly.
Angel sagged her head in sadness this was wrong why did she have to do this why couldn't it be fought, why wasn't her life her own choice?
"You wanted the truth Angel, you wanted to know who you were why you were at that church; this is why to prepare you so you could contain the energy and complete your transformation" Flo told her while resting a paw on her shoulder.
"Why why is this so important?" Angel asked.
Annabelle knew she had to answer at least one question Angel asked she couldn't answer what this means for her loved ones since it wasn't known yet. She couldn't answer what she was turning into since Annabelle couldn't disclose that information. She could at least tell her this.
"Angel what's happening to you may very well be the only way to stop Belladonna's apocalypse and save your world" Annabelle told her.
Angel couldn't argue with that the logic was sound. She was being bred to do what was necessary to ensure Belladonna didn't destroy the world and everyone in it. Angel could accept that. She loved Jason and wanted to spend her life with him but if she didn't do this then he would die and so would everyone else. Angel had a higher calling and everyone was depending on her to fulfill it, and she would it would emotionally kill her but she would.
"I understand, there's too much at stake and I can't let so many die for my own needs, you're right this is necessary for everyone and I will not let Belladonna ruin so many lives" Angel said with certainty she then turned to Flo and nodded before closing her eyes again to focus as she felt the energy flow through her all over again as Flo watched.
Annabelle listened to her words and watched as she resumed her training. She deeply valued life as well as the world and had a deep passionate and personal love driving her yet not enough to let it cloud her emotions. She was committed to the greater good no matter what, in this moment Annabelle knew she finally knew the answer she was fairly certain to begin with but now there was no doubt she knew.
Jason walked into a lone room it was empty with the exception of Angel who was in some kind of trance doing something. He walked up to her looking at her form hoping for her to react in some form she was still not reacting. Jason placed his chin under hers and nuzzled her gently.
"Angel can you hear me I need to see you please I need to know you are still here, Angel please" Jason said in sorrow.
Angel was focusing and felt the energy flow all around her and within her she embraced them allowing them inside her essence. Angel felt the energy growing again it was beginning to expand and the essence were about to burst from her control. Angel focused on her duty to the world her need to protect it and all those in it. She felt the other angels beginning to meld with her their memories uniting with hers but she was still struggling and could feel all the voices around her again. Countless prayers surrounded Angel endless voices calling out to her. She tried to drown them out but it was becoming overwhelming Flo was about to take control but Angel fought against her this increased the imbalance in her. Angel couldn't fully focus as she was bombarded by countless prayers she then heard a voice she recognized calling out to her, it was Jason.
"Angel please" she heard him and without even thinking she answered his call, Angel teleported out of the void back into her body.
Jason was looking at Angel in sadness it was clear whatever this training was would in the end have to send Angel away to heaven likely forever where they would be separated and he would never see her again. The thought filled him with great sorrow most things did these days. He nuzzled her again only for Angel to gently return it. He pulled away and watched as she opened her eyes which stared at him with a gentle compassion and even love, which Jason was certain was what she was feeling; he was pretty sure he was feeling it too it took Belladonna's vision to show him but he was certain.
"Hello Jason" Angel said softly with a sweet smile.
"Angel I wasn't certain I would hear from you tonight" Jason replied.
"You're never far from my mind or my heart" Angel told him while placing her paw on his cheek she then wiped a tear away before moving her paw off of it.
"You seem more confident" Jason told her.
"You know there's no reason to hide it" Angel stated gently.
He knew that was true he had no doubt about it at all but she didn't maybe she should maybe he should tell her what she means to him what his answer was and how much he wanted his future to be with her. Jason tried to find the words why was it so difficult for him to say this when it was so easy in his dream? Jason stared at her before looking down nervously Angel merely gazed at him lovingly her smile as loving as her gaze. It was weird now Jason was the nervous one.
"I suppose so, I, uh I" He struggled to say but became lost in his words.
"Jason what's wrong why did you call out to me?" Angel asked him.
So you actually heard it" Jason said.
"I heard your prayer" Angel answered.
His prayer how could Angel hear prayers unless she was nearing the end. She was close to the end of her journey and then she would be gone forever no she couldn't leave, Jason couldn't lose her too.
"No, my prayer no that means you are an angel now and that means you'll be gone soon, just like my mother" Jason said trying to fight back tears it didn't work.
"Don't give up on your mother yet Jason" Angel told him while wrapping her arms around him and hugging him.
"It's futile I just overheard Annabelle saying she wouldn't save her no one would, she's dead nothing can stop it" Jason said in tears.
Angel let him sob in her arms his pain caused her great agony but she was happy to be here for him now she wanted nothing more than to take his sorow and pain away she couldn't do that directly but she could comfort him.
"Maybe, I don't have a direct answer to that but you know as well as I do that your mother will still be there we all will be no matter what" Angel told him with a comforting and compassionate smile.
"I don't want you to be with me in spirit I want beside me in person, I don't want to lose my mom and I don't want you to leave Angel" Jason sobbed.
"I'm not going to lie to you there's not much I can do my transformation is reaching a point where it's dangerous if I stay... for you" Angel said pausing before adding the last part.
"I am leaving to protect you to protect everyone and Jason. I won't be gone forever I know we'll see each other again I promise you Jason we will; you'll always have me and one day we will meet again" Angel told him.
Angel wiped another tear from Jason's cheek before smiling at him, she then leaned forward and kissed his cheek softly; there was no need for anything else Angel was here to show him compassion comfort and unquestionable love, but devoted love not passionate she would show that another time and she knew she would some day no matter what.
"Our times up for now I have to return before i unleash a holy inferno that burns Davids house to the ground" Angel said with a bit of a playful smile she giggled for added measures, it took Jason's breath away.
Angel was about to close her eyes again but before she did she hugged him one more time she broke the hug and closed her eyes allowing her training to resume. Jason watched as Angel returned to her trance it was futile all of it. He loved her and she loved him and all it would bring them was pain. Jason touched his cheek rubbing the spot Angel kissed it was so warm and comforting so peaceful yet it wouldn't matter none of it would. Angel would be gone and that kiss would be all he had of her. What was the point of them even falling in love with each other if they couldn't be together. His love was pointless all of it was what purpose did any of it serve beyond pain?
Jason stood motionless he then walked back to his room and stared at his reflection in the mirror it wasn't fair none of it was, all he wanted was for his mom to survive and to have a life with Angel was that too much to ask? Jason felt a crippling pain in him it was overwhelming like a knife stabbing deep into his chest after it was dipped on burning coals. He felt as if he was being stabbed and the knife penetrating him was burning him from within then he thought of Angel and the knife was twisted causing him even greater agony. He wanted to be free of this pain he wanted it to just be gone how could he hope to get rid of it.
"This hurts so much I don't care how just please someone take it away just take it away, I can't endure this!" Jason cried.
"No one can it pains me to see you like this but it's unavoidable this pain we can't escape, it's inevitable isn't it Jason?" Belladonna asked him having appeared in front of him.
Jason was shocked how was she in his room how did she get inside unless she wasn't was all this just a dream again did he ever talk to Angel?
"Enough games Belladonna stop taunting me with Angel's fate!" Jason shouted.
"I did nothing of the sort what she said to you was real you just passed out shortly after you don't remember it" Belladonna told him.
"Why are you here why can't you leave me be?" Jason said his voice almost pleading.
"You called me here Jason, you asked for your pain to end and now I am here to do so" Belladonna told him.
No Jason wasn't succumbing to her that would only bring more pain a lot more and yet Jason would honestly prefer that physical pain to what he was enduring now, no no stop thinking like that it was exactly what Belladonna wanted him to think he couldn't give into her, he couldn't.
"No i'm not giving my soul to you" Jason stated.
"You act as if you have a choice if I want you Jason I'll claim you there's nothing you can do to stop it the moment I consume your soul is inevitable, however as I said I won't do it I will let you discover the truth" Belladonna replied.
"Then what are you going to do?" Jason asked her.
"You seek to be free I will show you the answer now do you wish to be free of this pain?" Belladonna asked him.
Jason knew the answer it was obvious who wouldn't want to be free of this pain? What kind of person would actually want to endure this agony a lunatic that's who, there was only one answer and Jason couldn't lie he knew Belladonna already knew his answer there was no point in lying or hiding it.
"Yes I only want to be free of this" Jason said in sorrow.
"Very well" Belladonna told him she then extracted her claws and stabbed him right in the side allowing her claws to slip between his ribcage.
Jason gasped and his eyes went wide with shock he tried to let out a scream of pain but all that came out was a pained gag. He looked at Belladonna who merely had a look of complete emptiness. Belladonna then began to twist her claws around his ribs. Jason let out a horrible scream of agony as he felt Belladonna forcibly twisting his rib. It was a pain beyond anything he could ever imagine it felt like his ribs themselves were actually twisting. Belladonna stopped she then began yanking her paw back and forth slamming between his ribs repeatedly. Jason screamed again thrashing around his body tried to fall to the ground but Belladonna kept him suspended in the air. She then began scraping her claws against his ribs actually clawing and tearing at them causing Jason to scream again. What point did any of this have how did this help him let go of his pain, this deeply intensified it. Belladonna then did the impossible she made the pain worse, she hooked her claws on one of his rib cages and then used it lift him off the ground dangling him in the air and yanking on his ribs, Jason screamed but this time it turned into an agonized gag. He continued gagging and even began coughing up blood as Belladonna twisted her claws again digging them into the bone. Jason continued to let out agonized gags and gurgled cries.
"Fight the pain ignore it it's irrelevant" Belladonna told him.
"How can i fight this?" Jason choked out.
"Pain is only a perception of our mind created by our nervous system it isn't real this, physical pain is an illusion" Belladonna explained.
"No matter what I do to my victims be it skinning them alive, boiling them, melting their organs and muscles into their bones, filling their veins with every poison in existence, it's all an illusion you're body is just a shell it's not you how can you feel something that is just a false perception?" Belladonna told him.
"I can't, I can't" Jason said in crippling pain.
"Yes you can you just haven't had enough" Belladonna said, she then grabbed Jason and kissed him deeply this was one of Belladonna's preferred methods of false pain, and Jason would either let go of it or the pain would become inner and eat away at his blood stream and organs, fake ones anyway.
Jason fell to the ground or at least he tried to he was still dangling from Belladonna's claws by his ribs. He dangled in the air and began to shake and convulse. He couldn't breath and felt a painful burning in his throat and a crushing pressure in his chest soon the burning spread to his chest as well. He felt like his whole body was being burned from within at the same time he felt like something was slowly crushing his chest and throat. A sick nausea filled him as he began to vomit. He could feel his blood coroding his throat and his body motions shutting down. His heart felt like it was going through two or three heart attacks all at once. Jason found it hard to believe but this pain was way worse than the first.
"Do you even feel the other pain anymore or is this one overwhelming it but how can that be; does this negate that I am dangling you by your ribs yanking away at them; so if one pain is greater it negates the other or do you feel both, if so which is stronger?" Belladonna asked Jason.
Jason continued to convulse and shake while Belladonna yanked on his rib again, Jason continued gagging and choking though what was causing him to choke he didn't know.
"Jason how can I poison you if you have no vital organs you're a spirit a soul everything you're feeling you only feel it because you think you do, how can you choke on your blood you don't have it" Belladonna said.
"This pain is meaningless no matter how much I make you endure it is empty" Belladonna said she then snapped her claws and Jason's whole body was lit a blaze causing him to flail and scream as the fire burned through his fur and to his skin and flesh. Jason tried to scream but the poison coursing through him wouldn't fully let him.
Belladonna watched as Jason flailed as the fire burned through him he also shook and convulsed choking and gagging as the poison raced through him she twisted her claw in his rib again and began yanking it back and forth while digging it in his bone. He still wasn't understanding very well time to show him directly.
"This pain doesn't matter, Jason but this this one does" Belladonna told him she then sent an image searing into his brain.
Jason saw Angel in the grip of a Belladonna who proceeded to stab her between the ribs before lifting her up by them causing angel to scream in horrible agony, it cut into Jason like nothing before stabbing into his chest and straight to his heart.
"No, no" Jason tried to choke out.
Belladonna then proceeded to set Angel ablaze starting with her legs and slowly burning it's way up Angel's screams echoed all around Jason driving themselves deep into his skull. It was a completely new pain beyond anything else he would long to have his body burning again, poison eating away at him, being dangled by his ribs. Belladonna let the fire begin burning Angel's chest at the same time she sent Jason another image it was of his mother going into a seizure as the disease ate away at her she shook and coughed up blood as his father tried to stabilize her but he ultimately couldn't, Sasha let out a last painful gag and her breathing ceased.
"No! No stop stop hurting them please stop!" Jason cried out.
"Jason how are you speaking right now if toxins and poisons are coroding your throat?" Belladonna asked him.
Jason considered her question it should be impossible how was he speaking in fact Jason didn't feel anything while he was watching that nothing at all, did Belladonna stop it no she couldn't of she was even asking him how it was possible; in fact now that Jason was focusing he could feel the pain again but in that moment when he was watching Angel be tortured and his mother die he couldn't feel anything happening to him why?
"I could, n't fe el a" Jason tried to choke out.
"You stopped it once do it again, I won't" Belladonna said.
Jason fought the pain and forced himself to speak it was brief but he got out a few words.
"I couldn't feel anything when you were hurting them" He said when he said that Belladonna removed her claws stopped the poison and put out the flames.
"Yes, that's the secret Jason. Every soul I consume everything I put them through a lot of which is way worse then what I just did to you is an empty illusion you are not a physical being you can't feel anything if you will yourself not to" Belladonna explained.
"I set them free by showing them how hallow this pain is" Belladonna stated.
"If pain is fake why wipe out the world?" Jason asked her.
Jason didn't understand physical pain was an illusion one you could escape but emotional pain that was impossible one can't escape that without becoming inhuman. That was what was so fundamentally wrong with this universe the only pain you couldn't escape was the one that was inevitable that would always exist every action resulted in some kind of pain and it couldn't be ignored because it went to our very souls.
"Jason physical pain is fake emotional is all too real that's not a perception of our mind or nerves it's part of her souls. It was the pain of your loved ones that stopped you from feeling anything else, that cannot be avoided this life is built on death meaning everyone will inevitably lose everyone they love that pain you felt Jason it's inevitable and is your very destiny all of our destinies" Belladonna told him.
Jason stared at Belladonna and was now beginning to understand she was right nothing brought his father greater pain than his mothers inevitable death nothing not even Hell. Nothing brought Jason greater pain than her death and the idea of losing Angel. Belladonna was right physical pain could be escaped but emotional pain was eternal there was no end to it. He was just tortured in ways few could comprehend and it was the pain everyone goes through every day that was truly the most unbearable. That was sick and wrong, wrong on so many levels.
"Watching my mother die and seeing Angel knowing she'll be gone soon are the worst pain I could ever imagine" Jason said.
"Even what you did to me wasn't enough to drown it out, how can any world be driven by something that terrible?" Jason said in disgust.
"That was the question I asked myself and I never could find the answer I eventually accepted there wasn't one, it broke my heart to do so but it was the only answer there was." Belladonna replied her voice filled with sadness.
Jason deeply felt for Belladonna she didn't want to think this she didn't want to have to do this heck she tried to avoid it but no one would do anything to fix what was wrong with the world, just her. It was her against the universe she pleaded with her mother to help her and her mother wouldn't instead she threw her in a cage to protect this terrible existence. After all this Jason was shocked Belladonna didn't hate humanity didn't hate all of them instead she still cared she still wanted to take away pain. She never changed, everyone talks about how she fell how she changed but now Jason understood she never changed. Belladonna was the same compassionate, pure and loving angel she was all those years ago. Jason finally understood her and he finally understood why.
"I do understand, I finally understand why." Jason told her.
"I love you Jason, I love every soul within me and I love every soul in this world even if I don't show it all I want is for all of you to understand the cruel existence you have been given for no reason at all. I do terrible things but even if what i do seems cruel, or sadistic it's all because I love you and want to free you from this pain that consumes you, the real pain not the one they planted to distract us" Belladonna told him she then grabbed Jason and kissed him deeply and passionately on the lips.
It was like a molten fire burning away at him but Jason didn't focus on that he could feel it, his mouth burning and his body pretty much being turned into an oven that cooked his insides, but Jason ignored it; instead he kissed Belladonna back this pain was meaningless it was just meant to distract him from how empty and terrible his own existence was. Jason felt Belladonna's tongue in his mouth running along his own it burned and blistered it while boiling his saliva her own saliva was boiling as well burning up the inside of his mouth, but he didn't care this was all a sham it was an illusion, Belladonna's love was real. His mother would soon be gone. His father would be a broken shell without her and Angel was leaving to protect this deeply flawed world, only Belladonna stayed with him, only she was able to make the tough choices that truly would set him free. In that moment Jason decided she was right she was always right and now she was going to fix it she was going to set everyone free. Belladonna was the real saint the real being of pure goodness. If she was the creator if she was God Jason had little doubt the world would be a paradise; whatever she wanted he would help her. Belladonna placed Jason on the ground resting herself on top of him one kiss turning into several which Jason returned even as each one burned his flesh, muscle and bone. Belladonna pulled away allowing Jason to stare up at her as expected his wounds were all gone. His pain was just a meaningless illusion except for the one that defined his life and everyone else's as well.
"We can escape this pain but not the one that defines our existence. You're right Belladonna, this life is meaningless your mother should've let you change it" Jason said.
"I'm not changing it Jason I'm wiping it out because I can't change it anymore, so if this is the only way to end pain so be it" Belladonna said.
"I believe you, if you think this is best then I trust you. You discovered what no one else could what I never considered" Jason told her.
"I need you to do something for me and it will require a deep betrayal" Belladonna told him.
It didn't matter whatever betrayal was ultimately irrelevant his relationship with everyone he knew was on borrowed time in the end it would fade away like dust in the wind, that's all they were. They would die and be forgotten and no one would care. Any act of love he showed his parents was useless. The only true act of love he could do was the one Belladonna just did for him, show them the truth and free of them of the unnecessary pain that defined their entire lives. That was the only act of true love he could do, the only act of true love anyone could do.
"If it will free them of their pain it's not a betrayal it's the only love I can give them" Jason told her while gazing at her with love and devotion.
Belladonna smiled at his answer before pulling him close.
"Yes unfortunately so, but for now there is a love I can give you" Belladonna told him she then didn't even give him time to react before she pulled him in and planted a deep and passionate kiss.
It was true passion unlike anything Jason ever comprehended, she held nothing back. Her kiss started off softly moving ever so slowly a true gentleness to it. Her tongue moved slowly around his mouth taking it's time to brush against his own tongue softly. Belladonna was slowly making her every movement count. Her lips caressed slowly around letting Jason take it in every sensation about it. She would wait until she was certain Jason had been able to savor the taste then she would move to the next area of his mouth, and let him take it all in again then she would let him kiss her back. Jason was lost in the sensation of Belladonna's passion he wanted to kiss her back but he just couldn't take it all in the moment it became clear to him that Belladonna was deliberately going to slow to let him savor all this, his heart soared. She really was a saint he envied the souls who got to actually be watched over by her. Jason finally started kissing her back and Belladonna's kiss became more passionate and fiery. Now Belladonna was kissing Jason with such ferocity that it shocked him considering how gentle she was moments ago.
Jason was now being overwhelmed by her completely there was no way he could keep up with her fire. Even as Jason was returning one kiss Belladonna was already instigating a second one. Her tongue which had softly brushing against his own seconds ago was now exploring every last inch of his mouth. He felt Belladonna's tongue doing what could only be described as a lap dance around his own before running along the sides of his teeth. Her lips caressed all around his barely even giving him time to actually breath, not that he needed to breath here at all. Belladonna's saliva filled Jason's taste buds and he couldn't even describe it, how on Earth could her saliva taste so good, and her lips were even sweeter. However the physical sensations paled in comparison to the spiritual one, it was the complete opposite of her torture. Belladonna let Jason feel her very soul each kiss filled him with a feeling of true love. It was almost as if each kiss was Belladonna telling him you are loved, I love you, over and over again. Her tongue was almost begging him to let her show him, as if saying you are beautiful everything about you is a gift and I love everything about it. His heart was racing, tears were filling his eyes, his soul was feeling so light. He felt like he could fly at this moment.
Where did she come from, what was she, how could someone embody true love so perfectly. His soul was in paradise even as his body was being put through complete and utter hell. His fur and skin was burning, a molten lava flow was literally burning through his muscles melting into his bones. The poison she filled him before with was completely over flooding his veins to the point that you could visibly see it spreading across face and body. It looked truly horrific pain beyond comprehension, it was horrific agony full on torture. Jason in the moment couldn't feel any of it, that was just what Belladonna did filled your soul with so much love and passion and you can't feel anything else. So long as you open up your heart and soul to her all that awaits you is love beyond your comprehension. Every suffering each soul in her went through was their own choice. He had little doubt Belladonna told them the truth almost instantly they just refused to accept it and fought against her. Once you just accept her the pain ends and all you feel is how much she loves you.
Jason had no doubts anymore he was completely committed to her. He had eyes for no one else not even Angel; while he still loved her his heart was Belladonna's first and foremost. He would do anything for her anything to help her accomplish her dream. Belladonna made countless sacrifices she even had herself become something she despised all to insure no one ever felt pain ever again. That was a sacrifice only love could motivate and Jason would make the same sacrifice for her. He was going to help end the world and he didn't regret it. Those people were trapped in endless suffering. His father was weeks maybe days away from enduring the rest of his life without the woman he loved more than anything. This was mercy this was the compassionate thing to do. His eyes had been opened by a saint he believed everything she said and felt nothing but love and adorement for her. She set him free and now he would help her set everyone else free.