Chapter 1
I was perfectly content knocking the order of this pit of infernal suffering down into the ashes of the flames all on my own. I thought I would have no one and would prefer to be alone. For after all, the lone wolf eats the most. Even if the warlords want to watch me fall, they never will. Why would they, you ask?
Because I am the Radio Demon, and I am here to be the agent of chaos and blaze a trail of terror and destruction in my wake.
However, I failed to take you into account. KA-BOOM!
That was all she remembered hearing before waking up in the realm she knew she was cursed to reside. After all, suicides had no place in heaven. Bummer. Looking around, she took in the sight of Hell itself. It was far more like New York City, except everywhere the eyes beheld was a token to sin. Brothels, bars, and drug dispensaries, and nothing left to the imagination. She felt out of place, and in her shyness that was obvious. A stress headache formed and as she went to clap her hands to her temples, she let out a yelp of pain. Looking at her hands, she expected her normal nails.
She gasped at the talons she now possessed, and as she looked down, she was relieved that her body hadn't changed (she was still built like an a-typical senior in college) but was taken aback by the clothes. She had on a tight pair of black, torn pants, a red tube top and a black vest, spiked boots and bracelets. Her eyes widened at how pale she had become; she looked pretty, even for her! I guess death was the only way to be pretty. She grumbled. She grimaced as she noted from feel that her left eye still had the scar from her first fight. Damn it; she couldn't escape that mar even in death!
She wandered over to a window, and her eyes widened even further. She had raven black hair that was akin to a lion's mane, and her eyes…the irises were liquid silver, but her sclerae were black. She looked eerie, but the thought of her now demon form made her feel uncomfortable. She had grown up all her life being told that Hell was an abysmal pit. That the first thing that would happen was hellfire and burning! She felt no different than when she was alive. So much for that…. she grumbled mentally.
She wandered from her manifest point and looked around. Porno signs, signs for pimps and their crews, graffiti and flyers for shows holding debauchery with the highest regard littered the walls, the telephone poles and even the ground. She looked at their colors of reds, blacks and even purple. But, one white flyer stood out. Oddly enough, she was surprised to see this snowflake mixed in with leaves as a sign for a hotel; the Hazbin Hotel, to be exact. Curious, she grabbed the sign and read. She was surprised to see its mission of rehabbing sinners. Could she possibly…?
A loud roar of fire, as well as screams sounded in the air. She felt her heart plummet to her gut. Something was wrong; almost badly so. She turned and saw massive collections of shadows bolt towards her. Instincts told her to run; she heeded them. The screams followed closely, and all they kept panicking over something called "the Radio Demon" and "Exorcists!" An evil laugh filled the air, and in sheer panic, she dove away from the main road into an alleyway and hid behind a wall. The screams grew louder, and the laugh grew maniacal, and after minutes of her heart threatening to beat out of her chest from these horrific noises, the noise violently crashed into silence. She almost thought she was safe, until her gut instincts told her to keep quiet. She soon discovered why. Footsteps sounded, and she covered her mouth to prevent her hyperventilating from sounding into the air. They drew closer, and with every step, she noted they sounded like loafers ever so calmly clicking against the ground. That noise stopped five feet away from her hiding space.
Eyes widening, as well as sweat beading ferociously, she waited. A chortle of sorts escaped the source of fear; he (if she was right) sounded like a radio from the old days. She felt fear, and it was further driven through her widened eyes as a hand with reddish claws grabbed the wall's end. She was less than five feet away from that hand, and she fought the urge to run. If she ran, he would see her; and she didn't know if she could outrun him successfully. The voice spoke with a hint of amusement,
"My, my, someone is hiding from me….." he inhaled, and she felt her gut plummet as he added, "A female; a new one at that."
Oh fuck, oh FUCK! How did he know that!? She panicked internally. She swallowed back the screams that wanted to escape her throat, but before the male demon could move in to see her, a noise sounded outside her alleyway. He said with a tone that made her blood freeze,
"Stay still, little demoness. I'll return shortly."
She heard him follow the noise, and when she knew she could, she bolted. She ran into the heart of Hell, refusing to look back in case he was behind her. She bolted during the chaos and panic, only to sight winged creatures. She ran to them, catching one off guard as she ran to them. Were they authority figures? Maybe. But suddenly, before her words could even be mouthed, a lance dug into her shoulder, making her shriek in pain. The creatures chuckled, and one purred out,
"Not very bright, are you little filth?"
Ari panicked, and saw an opening to escape. Before the creatures could surround her completely, she took her chance and bolted. Running deeper into what appeared to be an alley system, she took shelter behind a dumpster and hid. Hearing the creatures suddenly declare what they called an extermination to be completed, she heard the rustle of wings as they ascended to the sky. She waited for what felt to be agonizing minutes before shakily walking out of the alleyway. However, a soft scraping and sloshing noise sounded to her left, and she whirled to see what it was.
A tall figure was scooping the bodies of the massacre off the ground, their blood leaving a trail of ruby red. She let her gaze trail up, only to catch the beak of a mask she recognized immediately…a plague mask. The figure was dressed head to toe in black leather that dully gleamed in the light of the red sky. He slowed at his work, and he turned face on as if he just noticed she was there. The mask's eyes were void black, hollow like the mouth of a cave. She froze, clearly terrified. With a twisted fanged grin, the figure inquired in a heavy German (it sounded German at least) accent,
"What are you doing out here so early little one?" he took a step forward and added, "The only ones who come out this early are the corpse collectors…"
A demented yet amused chuckle rumbled in his throat as he advanced towards her slowly. She backed away rather quickly, for whoever this was were unnerving. Even more so than the previous Radio Demon she had encountered. The figure purred out,
"Aww, don't be afraid. I assure you, there are more dangerous demons down here than I."
The woman before him, realizing something was seriously wrong almost froze completely in terror. That was, until an old and panicked voice raged in her head, RUN! Heeding the strange voice, she quickly turned and fled. Hearing the hastened footsteps behind her, she panicked as manic laughter erupted into the streets. Not caring how, she began to look for means of escape. She came to cross-roads, only to hear a maniacal chuckle and him asking,
"Where are you going little one?"
She turned right on the street, only to run head on into a taller, gray and pastel laiden demon with long hair, pink and yellow eyes with one patched over with an X. She was standing near a limo, and she looked at the girl who had hit the ground after the collision. She was about to ask what her problem was, when she noticed the figure in pursuit slithering out of the shadows. She quickly turned pale grabbed the demoness by the injured shoulder and as she yelped in pain, hastily opened the door and shoved her in. As she was forced inside the newcomer noticed she wasn't alone. A younger looking demon sat there, clearly surprised at her being there. The other demon rushed in, slamming the car door, and said in a panicked snarl,
"GET US THE FUCK OUT OF HERE NOW!"
"Vaggie what is your-" As the other demon looked out the rear window, she froze as they sped away from the figure to see him dementedly smiling and waving. She added in a panicked response, "Oh….that was your issue."
They looked at the young demon laying on the floor of the limo bleeding. The demon called Vaggie went to investigate the wound only to notice not only the angelic energy coming from the wounds, but the young woman before them was healing the wounds rapidly. Vaggie gasped in shock. She looked to the other demoness and murmured in bemusement,
"Charlie…she's healing…"
"That can't be! It was an angelic blade, right?" Charlie inquired.
Looking at the two stunned women, she could only nod meekly, but her face radiated confusion. Angelic blade? Healing? Why were they so frightened? She wanted to ask but was hesitant to. Charlie merely stared in wonder as the wound healed but left a visible scar on her shoulder. Vaggie gently, but quickly grabbed her, and demanded in shock,
"How in the flying fuck did you do that!? And what is your name?!"
"I-I don't know! I'm so brandy new I should be in a box; no pun intended. And my name is Ari…."
She hesitated at the fullness of her name. She didn't want that revealed. But not giving them your name could be death. Do you want the Radio Demon or that freakshow to find you? The same voice from earlier asked with rationale. Ari settled on her new name. She looked to them both and said quickly,
"Yeah, my name is Ari!" she looked around the limo and finally asked, "What the fuck was going on outside?"
Vaggie looked skeptical about the naivete of this demon, but Charlie could sense the innocent confusion was legitimate. She answered with some fear,
"You arrived during the worst time in Hell. It's called an extermination. It's when heaven comes down to quell the population in Hell. How did you wind up here anyway?"
Oh shit, another question I don't want to answer! She thought angrily. She thought for a bit, and finally decided to tell something to not keep them waiting. Sighing, Ari lightly answered,
"All I remember is falling…that's it."
Charlie looked away at the conclusion of her sentence. She knew Ari was hiding something but didn't press the issue for now. Hearing a soft thud of a hardened surface hitting the seat. Charlie jumped at the noise, and Ari alerted on it. Standing up a little bit, she gasped happily,
"My violin!"
Charlie was surprised. Usually not many objects follow owners to Hell. Ari must've been really attached to it…she thought in musing. She looked to Vaggie, who was equally as stunned. However she cleared her throat. She was going to ask Ari about her pursuer, but her original reason for coming out loomed in her thoughts.
"Well, we couldn't find Angel Dust…What now?" Vaggie asked.
"We go back to the Hotel…Which reminds me! Ari," Charlie started. Looking at Ari's face, she asked with an excited grin, "Want a possible chance of redemption?"
Ari listened as she explained the Hotel and its mission. Ari felt a pleased grin cross her face; she found what she was looking for! She purely smiled, and said with a happy chirp,
"Sure, I'll stay!"
"Great! Let's go back then and get you squared away!" Charlie said with glee.
The limo drove for an hour, but during that time, Ari looked around. Hell was like New York City on overdrive. Even the other drivers were like that. The driver up front was cursing the other drivers, insulting everything from their mother's poor life choices to their car color. Ari could only wonder what her bible schoolteacher would say if they saw this. So much for fire and brimstone. They drove up to a building that looked like a Jenga game gone wrong. She opened the car door and walked out. She walked to the hotel's door, walked into the entrance hall, only to be greeted by a tall androgynous spider demon. Dressed in a risqué manner with pink gloves on each hand (and there were four), he smirked at Ari, only to have Vaggie lunge art him. Cursing in Spanish, she finally snarled in English,
"Angel, where the fuck were you!? We went looking for your ass!"
"Toots, I was here the whole time! Did you not fucking look in my room!?" Angel responded with a shrug and grin.
Vaggie snarled and punched him. Angel grimaced and purred out a moan. Ari just watched from a safe distance. When Charlie walked up to her, she asked hesitantly,
"Is it always like this?"
"Pretty much." Charlie said as she walked in and closed the door.
The two watched Vaggie and Angel brawl. Ari thought to intervene, but due to the ferocity of Vaggie and Angel's snarks, she decided against it. Charlie sighed, and just as she was about to break up the fight, a loud and official sounding knock sounded on the door behind them three times. A stern deep voiced call sounded from the other side.
"Miss Charlotte, may I come in?"