29 days. That's how long he'd been in hell so far.

Just thinking up that line seemed weird beyond reason.

Still, waking up Tyler found himself groaning as he found himself staring at the building interior he'd taken a rest. Room was dead, windows were surprisingly well maintained and the door was working. A motel room, never thought he'd turn to one of these just to get a roof over his head. Still it felt weird sleeping here, might just be due to the fact he never had to crash anywhere that wasn't either his bed or his friend's couch for a night when they wanted him to stay over. Staying at a motel was never something he ever got around to trying.

"But hey, it's either this or the street." He muttered as he sat up and did a few stretches. Sleeping left him stiff to all hell - no pun intended. Finishing his stretches he grabbed his jacket and wiped the dust off of it before heading out, paid his room fee before returning to Pentagram City. He glanced at the Clock Tower.

Next Cleanse

297

Days

"What does that even mean?" Tyler muttered before putting his hands in his pocket and 'd been in hell for nearly a whole month already and he still hadn't figured that out. "Is it their New Year Calendar or something?" He didn't get an answer choosing to instead turn his gaze upward to the Pentagram hanging overhead. The pentagon definitely stood out but… "Ignore that and…" He didn't finish that thought, choosing to instead turn his attention elsewhere as to not bump into anyone as he walked.

He flinched when someone stepped on his tail, and a glance back told him that that was completely intentional. So with a frown he moved his tail wrapping it around his waist like an oversized belt before turning away.

Getting into a fight right now wasn't worth it.

Didn't really like fighting anyway, sure if someone threw down the gauntlet he wouldn't back down, but still.

Avoid a senseless fight. That was what his old man used to tell him. "Wonder how dad's doing…" He muttered before looking down. "Dad's probably putting on a front of being strong. Mean, if he cracks moms not gonna be able to keep it together." He muttered before sighing. "Wonder if they're gonna be able to bury me or not since Covid's going on."

"You too huh." Stopping Tyler turned to the left as he found a young man about to walk past him before stopping themselves. "Covid got you too?

"Yeah." Tyler muttered as he turned to the attention turned to see a cycloptic man who turned to gaze at him. Cycloptic sheep of all things, never thought he'd see in life… afterlife. "You the same?"

"I wouldn't have caught on if I wasn't in the same boat kid." The cycloptic sheep admitted as Tyler just scratched his head.

"Yeah I guess you're right." He chuckled weakly as he held out his hand. "Tyler."

"Zero." The demon took the hand and shook it.

"Zero?" Tyler raised his eyebrow.

"It's more a nickname/title than anything." Zero shrugged. "Covid-19 Patient Zero." tyler's eyes widened as he looked up at the older man.

"What?" Zero just stared at the older man. "You're Patient Zero?" Zero just nodded his head as he looked at the youth."

"Wasn't expecting to see "me" were you?" Zero chuckled good naturedly as he put his hands in his jacket. "That said how long ago did Covid take you down?"

"Uh… 29 days ago." Tyler muttered as he stared at his counterpart.

"Gotta say you look good for a kid who died just a month ago." Zero muttered as he looked at the kids wardrobe.

He took a second to look his counterpart over. "Most people look like they just survived the apocalypse or some shit by now, or adjusted their wardrobe to fit in better."

"Well, I'm… I'm still trying to get everything settled in my head." Tyler muttered as he gestured to the city. "Being here." He gestured to himself. "Being "this"..."

"It takes a while to get everything together in your head." Zero muttered as he tapped his head. "Took me two month."

"Ah~" Tyler muttered as his stomach decided to get involved in their conversation. Zero just chuckled as he saw the younger man hold his stomach.

"Hungry huh." Tyler nodded halfheartedly. "I know a good place near here, wanna check it out?"

"I would, but the motel I've been staying at has just been eating up my souls…" Tyler paused, frowning as he did. "God that feels weird to say."

"Yeah, well, I'll treat you." Zero stated as he smirked slightly.

"Thanks."

The place Zero led him to was more McDonalds than restaurant. Still the food wasn't that bad

Sitting across from Patient Zero, Tyler took a bite from his burger and sighed in relief. He hadn't had a burger in a good while, plus he wasn't too certain how good hell's food was.

"So, kid, what brought you down here?" Zero asked as he took a bite of his fries.

"I don't know." Tyler grumbled as he stopped eating. "I don't think I did anything wrong."

Had to have done something." Zero stated as her leaned back in his seat and smiled. "Last I checked they don't just drop you down here for no reason. Had to have done something wrong, Tyler.

"Well, what brought you down here."

"Smoking."

Tyler went quiet as he heard the word. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I'm down here cause I smoke."Zero stated as he pulled out a box of cigarettes as he lit one up.

"You're joking."

"Nope." Zero stated as he took a drag.

"You can get sent down here for smoking?"

"Yep." Zero paused as he blew out some smoke.

"How does that work?" Tyler asked in disbelief. "You got sent down here for smoking."

Zero shrugged. "You don't gotta be a murderer, or do something really bad; you could have been a good kid your entire life, followed the rules and did one tiny screw up." Zero tapped the table with his finger. "Boom you're here." The look on Tyler's face was understandable; disbelief, confusion, some despair, a touch of anger.

"Why is it so easy to get sent down here?"

"I have no idea." Zero sighed for a moment. "It's pretty much BS if you ask me, but seemingly pretty much anything can get you sent down here." Zero admitted. "I know this one guy named bill, he was a doctor and apparently he got sent down here because he couldn't save a patient one time."

"You're joking."

"You know I wish I was." Zero muttered as he took another fry, ate it and crumbled up his cigarette. "But I'm not, that's the sad thing." Zero stated as he stared at the teen. "So, what do you think you did to get down here?"

"I…" Tyler was at a lost for words. "I" He groaned. "I don't know." He confessed. "Hell, I didn't even believe in this place until I got here."

"You didn't believe in Hell?"

"I didn't believe in Heaven." Tyler grumbled as he rested his hands over his head and groaned. "So… I… wait." Tyler raised his head, looking up as he stared at Zero. "You don't think…"

"I mean…" Zero made this noise with his mouth. "If anything that can get you banned from upstairs that would do it." Tyler made a groaning noise as he buried his head into his arms as Zero just took one of his fries.

"Fuck…"

"Yeah." The two fell into a silence as Zero took another drink.

"So." Tyler began after a while. "Is there any way of getting out of here?"

""You mean get into heaven?" Zero shrugging. "I don't know. I mean I'm down here for smoking, so the list of what you can't do in heaven has to be a few miles long, who knows what you gotta do or give up just to get upstairs." Zero shrugged. "Anything I wouldn't say it'll be worth it."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but hey that's just me." Zero seemed to think for a moment. "Although… I do know that Princess Charlotte is supposedly trying to get people upstairs."

"Princess Charlotte?"

"Lucifer's daughter." Tyler gave him a look. "Yeah crazy right; she apparently set up a hotel to try rehabilitating sinners so they could get into Heaven."

"Lucifer's daughter wants everyone to go to heaven?" Tyler repeated.

"Yeah." But… if she's Lucifer's daughter isn't she like… you know…" Tyler tried finding the words he was looking for. "The Anti-Christ?"

"Yes actually, and I don't get it either." Zero chuckled slightly. "Maybe she's trying to get everyone into heaven so she can take it over from the inside, or maybe she really believes it's possible to redeem people." Zero stated. "I gotta say, I don't really know what to think about it, but hey she's offering a chance at redemption so~"

"Are you gonna try going for it?" Zero shook his head.

"I don't think so, least not right now anyway." Zero continued. "I mean I wouldn't mind getting upstairs, but if I have to give up smoking? I'll stay down here and keep my vice." Tyler just nodded his head halfheartedly. "Still if you wanna give it a whirl, I can point you in the direction of her hotel." Tyler seemed to think for a moment as he stared at his burger.

"Sure…" He muttered after a moment. "I don't see a reason to not give it a shot." Tyler returned to his burger. "I mean… I'm already in Hell, what do I gotta lose in trying."

"That's a good way of thinking about it."