Chapter 12: Encounter With The Slayer

To Charlie, life in Hell had become so bleak, so meaningless.

She sat at the window, staring out over a city wrought with paranoia and fear. Her subjects, these beings of such complex feeling and emotion, despite the sins they had committed, had always been redeemable in her eyes. She sought to find the good in everyone and everything.

"VAGGGIIIEEEEE!"

It played in her head, on rewind, over and over.

Watching the life drain from her face.

The hand of the Demon Slayer crushing her windpipe.

Her eyes, met with Charlie's, pleading.

Don't give up.

Charlie didn't feel like doing anything but giving up. As far as she knew it, this was the end of her world. One green armored man was going to bring about the end of everything she loved and held dear to her heart.

And, to escape this fate and situation, she did something that most of those with depression did. She fantasized.

Every day of her life, since her birth, she had heard about 'Earth', about humans, about their cultures and passions and hobbies and lifestyles. She'd been told by her mother that her first word was 'human'.

For as long as she was alive, Charlie was fascinated and in love with the idea of humans, with the world they lived in, everything they did. All she wanted was to have a taste of that here, in Hell. She wanted to turn these endless, hostile wastelands into greenery and forests and mountains. She wanted to see her citizens turn from ruthless, cold-blooded, evil cretins into joyous, passionate, lively beings with goals and aspirations, to see love and happiness blossom throughout this world.

One day, Charlie dreamed of going to Earth and seeing all of the beautiful sights and people, of experiencing the cultures, tasting the food, going to 'concerts' and 'sporting events'. She wanted to frolic in meadows of flowers, climb mountains, explore jungles, and so much more.

Was it too much to ask? To want to reach beyond this pitiful excuse of a world and find something emboldening, bright, and beautiful?

To want...to live?

"CHARLIE!"

Charlie yelped in fright as a high-pitched, bleating voice burst the silence of the room. She looked at the window sill to see Razzle, her small, satyr bodyguard. He was shaking and sniffling, looking severely wounded.

"Razzle! What happened?!"

"I...I have to tell you something! I have to!" He bleated. "I saw something out there! It was...it was the Demon Slayer!"

"What?!" Charlie gasped. Before she had run off to Elysium City, she knew that her bodyguards, Razzle and Dazzle, wouldn't let her go without alerting someone of her escape plan, so she sent them on a decoy mission to 'scout out' the wastelands and keep an eye on the Demon Slayer (at a safe distance). "What about him? And where's Dazzle?"

"He...he was shot! He got shot, but...but...he came back to life!"

Charlie didn't comprehend what Razzle was saying.

"Wh...What are you talking about?"

"He turned to dust...then...then he reformed, or something! He came back to life, but-but...he seemed different! He said something about a 'Doom Slayer', then he ran over to the Slayer's army and-"

"Wait, what? What do you mean, 'army'?"

"He has an army! The Demon Slayer has an army, and I recognized some of them, Charlie! They were friends, people you knew! There- there was Benny, and-and Hector, and Ruddie and-"

"Hold on!" Charlie said, grabbing Razzle by the shoulders. "Did...did you see...Vaggie?"

"YES!" Razzle shouted, tears streaming from his eyes. "I saw her! She was standing guard at the outpost, and she had a confused expression on her face, and-"

Charlie's hands fell from Razzle in shock.

Vaggie's...alive?

"I-I don't know what to think! Dazzle just ran over to the Slayer and just..just bowed! I managed to escape to tell you, but-but I have to go back and-"

"We're going!" Charlie exclaimed, grabbing Razzle, and was about to jump out the window when she hesitated, remembering how much defenses had ramped up, especially with security around her to prevent her from leaving.

"What's this about an army, darling?"

Charlie looked back to see Alastor, standing in her room once more, holding the same pose he always had.

"Wha-...I don't know what you mean…" Charlie murmured.

"Oh, Charlie, do not worry. I am on your side here!" He exclaimed. "I helped you out once, I can help you out again. You wish to see this Demon Slayer for yourself, yes?"

He walked towards the window Charlie was at, peeking outside.

"If what your satyr is saying is true...then it sounds like you need to go and get Miss Mexicano back to us!"

He waved his staff slightly, and immediately there were several sounds similar to power outages and fuses blowing up.

"The security has been disabled. I'd say you have about five minutes before they get here to investigate. Oh, and take this." He said as he handed her a black cloak, which she quickly put on.

Charlie's face broke out in a wide grin, and she stepped on the window sill, prepared to get out and find the outpost. She was determined to convince the Demon Slayer this time, even if she had to tear through an army of her own citizens to reason with him.

However, before she jumped out, she looked back at Alastor.

"Why are you helping me, Alastor?"

Alastor's grin widened.

"Well, Miss Charlotte, unlike many other people, I find your reckless and naive spirit CAPTIVATING to me. You never stop continuing to surprise and entertain me. I haven't felt this excited in months. And of course, why would I want to stop a young princess from doing everything they can to reach their loved one?"

He gestured to the window.

"Do what you will, Miss Charlotte. Know that I am cheering you on."

Charlie smiled, feeling a surge of energy as she felt this encouragement.

"Thank you, Alastor. I owe you so much for this."

With that, she leapt out the window, with Razzle in her hand, and onto the ground below, where she then ran down the street, throwing her hood on. Alastor watched her go, his grin still on his face.

"Yes, you will be so awfully entertaining for what's to come…"

Vrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmm…

"We're only a few minutes away, I believe." Razzle murmured, still shaking.

Charlie had taken a run-down buggy she'd found on the edge of town, in the abandoned junkyard, and had driven towards where Razzle had said the Demon Slayer's outpost was. It had been a few hours now, and the sight of the Capital had disappeared completely only an hour into the drive.

"Listen, Razzle," Charlie started. "Whatever happens, you cannot attack anyone there, especially the Demon Slayer. Got it?"

"But, Charlie, if you're hurt-"

"I'm definitely going to die if you try anything. This man cannot be beat by just the two of us, I can guarantee you that. Just let me handle everything, okay?"

"...Okay."

Charlie nodded, then looked up to see something in the distance. Razzle turned pale white.

"...There it is."

Skrrch.

Charlie stopped the buggy and peered at what Razzle was referring to. In the distance, it looked as if there was a large amount of construction going on, with a guard tower in place behind a large, fenced-off area. She could see plenty of activity within the area as well, mainly construction.

"What are they doing?"

"I don't know, but if we're going to go in, we shouldn't appear sketchy like this."

"You're right. Let's get in there."

"Wait, what?"

Charlie pressed down on the petal and began driving closer to the outpost, much to Razzle's concern and panic.

"Oh, oh no! Oh no! Are you sure about this Charlie?! Are you sure about this?!"

Charlie was silent as she focused on getting closer. She noticed that movement began to become more fervent and quick-paced, and assumed they had seen her vehicle now.

"I'm going to drive close enough that they can see my face, and then I'll get out-"

"CHARLIE!" Razzle screamed, pointing upwards. Charlie looked up-

CRASH!

Everything had suddenly been thrown sideways in Charlie's vision as the buggy careened sideways, rolling over several times and throwing Charlie out of the vehicle and onto the ground.

Dazed and disoriented, Charlie flipped over, coughing up dust.

Click.

Charlie froze, hearing the sound of a gun cocking. She didn't dare turn her head up for fear of provoking whoever had the weapon in their hand.

"It's that demon again."

Charlie was confused at the sound of a robotic voice beeping, but decided not to comment.

"Can you understand me, demon?"

"...Are...are you talking to me?"

"You are the only demon in this vicinity."

"Y-Yes! Yes, I can hear you!"

"But you aren't a soldier in the Slayer's army."

"Er...no, I'm not, but-"

"You were at Elysium City. How were you able to speak to the Slayer?"

"I-I...I don't know."

A moment of silence passed, and Charlie's nerves were on edge. She noticed Razzle in a nearby dune, hiding, watching her. She tried to subtly motion for him to stay down and out of sight.

"Who is that behind the dune of sand?"

"W-Wait, don't hurt him! He's, uh, my pet!"

"Your...pet?"

"Y-Yeah! He's fun to play with, very cordial, and house-broken!"

"He'd do well to come out here as friendly as possible, anything else will be met with lead."

"Okay, I'll tell him to come over!"

She looked up slightly to get a better view of Razzle, motioning for him to come over.

"RAZZLE! COME OUT AND STAND NEXT TO ME!"

Very slowly, and hesitantly, Razzle came around the dune of sand, inching towards her, his hands up as he visibly shook.

"Th-There, see? He's good now."

Click.

The sound of a gun un-cocking filled Charlie with relief.

"Can...can I turn around to see who I'm speaking with?"

"You may. Don't try anything. He will not hesitate to eliminate."

Charlie nodded quickly, and slowly turned around to see the Demon Slayer, standing only a few feet away from her, looking down at her with his shotgun in hand. He seemed a lot taller than before, and his armor had splotches of crimson red all over it, though it didn't seem to be blood. The orange visor was reflected off of the sand, and thus she couldn't see into his helmet and look at his face. The robotic voice seemed to be coming from the Demon Slayer's helmet, but he himself didn't seem to be speaking.

"H-Hello, Mister Demon Slayer."

"Everyone keeps calling him that, but he is the Doom Slayer."

"Alright, then. Doom Slayer."

"You will come with us, so that we can talk more about this whole...situation."