Hello Everyone, and welcome to this story. This first chapter is going to be short, but they will get longer from here, I just want to set some things up before the main story begins. This story will be told from a few perspectives, and I might not directly say who...but it'll be pretty clear who is narrating at the time. So buckle in and get ready to go on an adventure!
"The chance given was the life they lived before, the punishment is THIS!"
Alastor's words kept ringing in her head like an echo in her mind. The Hotel has been open a few months now and is doing better, heck, it actually has residents trying to better themselves now, she just wished there was some sign that the treatment could work.
So far there has been no reassurance that her plan could even work, that it even was possible to rehabilitate or help sinners down here. Maybe they just needed more time, maybe they weren't trying hard enough, maybe they had to do better to keep temptation away from their guests. Whatever the case is, she'll try to, no, she WILL find a way to make it work. Maybe Vaggie has an idea on how to redeem these people, or Angle knows the secret. If she could just pro-
"Charlie, are you in there? You're gonna miss your own event if you just stay in your room"
"I'm coming Vaggie, just need another minute"
"Well, hurry up. We're waiting for you to get started."
As Vaggie's footsteps started to fade, Charlie composed herself and got up off the floor. Her "event" would hopefully change the minds of sinners and bring more guests into the hotel. This idea was actually Vaggie's, something called a "charity ball"? Never hearing of these in Hell, Charlie relied on Vaggie alone to help with the preparations, decorations, and necessary arrangements. Angle helped at times when he wasn't flirting at Husk or who knows where. Alastor tried offering his help but Vaggie wouldn't have it, she didn't want any voodoo strings attached. They had some real food, a section of the ballroom for dancing, and Her dad would even be there to promote the event! Even though he doesn't believe it'll work...but everything is in place, and she can't let everyone down now.
Looking at herself in the mirror before heading down she noticed that her hair was a bit off, so she picked up her brush and started brushing. She was dressed in a full tuxedo which Vaggie said made her look "like someone important that people need to listen to and nobody could ignore." and mumbled something about looking cute in it too. But, she shouldn't keep everyone waiting.
Putting down the brush, Charlie moved to the door, turned the handle, and opened it. Swiftly moving out to the hallway she elected to take the stairs to the second floor, wanting more time to think. "How can we do this? How can I redeem my people to stop the slaughter every year?"
Her musings continued until at last she stopped at the second floor. Taking a breath, sighing "Okay, let's do this" and fully dressing herself with a smile, she opened the door and walked out onto the balcony overlooking the room, and it was packed. Everyone was mingling, Angle was flirting with Husk (who was ignoring him), Alastor was behaving, and Vaggie was looking at the clock, then noticed Charlie and called everyone's attention. At that, everyone looked at Charlie with expecting eyes, waiting for her to kick off the event.
"Hi everybody, and welcome to the Happy Hotel!" She looked at Vaggie for support and received two thumbs up. "So, I know many of you don't believe in my redemption plan, and are probably here for the food, but please give us some of your time. Redemption is something I strongly believe in. I want you to feel the way I do about this hotel, and I hope that by the end of the night, you will believe in it too." The crowd was starting to stir and was growing restless, with one shouting "where's the fucking liquor?!" To which Alastor replied "My good fellow, the prohibition is still ongoing in this establishment. If it's spirits you desire then I suggest leaving this dry party"
Half the crowd started leaving, and with them the only chance of this event succeeding. "HEY, DON'T GO!" The crowd stopped and looked at Charlie with ire, waiting to hear what she had to say. "Please don't go, we need your support. Without your support this plan will fail. Do you want to be the ones who are killed next year? Or have your friends killed in front of you? Even if you don't care, I do. I care about every one of you. I wish you'd all come and try this, but I understand if you don't. Please, just give us one night to convince you, and if you aren't convinced then fine, but I'm still going to try...I...i..."
A tear fell from her eye and dropped to the lower floor, to which a second and a third joined. Charlie turned to hide her face from the crowd and started to walk away. That's when she felt a hand on her back, a hand which had comforted her many times before. Vaggie pulled her into an embrace and started to console her. It took a few minutes until the tears stopped, but when she was ready, Charlie turned back around to the crowd below her. When Charlie opened her eyes, she saw that nobody had left, and they were all staring at her. She heard someone remark "this is too wholesome for my liking"
After composing herself, she spoke to the crowd once more. "Thank you for staying, and giving me this chance. Now, without further ado, let the Happy Charity Ball begin!"