Chapter 3

There must be one. Vaggie stared at the ceiling, nose crinkled, fist curled tightly into balls, and a thumping pain in her temples. The list of potential patients overflowed in the trash bin just next to her feet. Documents littered the floor alongside slews of other records.

Her hand caught on the keyboard clicking through the ever-changing catalog of sinners they tried to scout. Vaggie swiped through all their names, erasing them from their database tossing another day's work. The manager continued to click and clack the delete button so much that it drowned out the buzz of the lights and that it was a wonder the board did not break.

Reality was not kind. Reality was not fair. She knew this. She understood this. There were bound to be some sinners who would refuse them outright, some with a morbid interest who would ultimately stay away, but she failed to believe that not a single person would take their offer. Free housing, food, and protection from the daily bloodbaths and hazards. Out of all the souls somebody had to be fascinated.

There must be one. Waking up at the crack of morning, dragging herself out of bed, and speaking with awful, ungrateful sinners needed to amount to something. People could not be so rotten that the chance for peace and happiness scared them more than being assaulted in any number of ways. Watching the clock tick by Vaggie leaving the office and making her way to a wide room with dummies.

The bits of paint plastered on them formed faces of demons that begged to be skewered. Vaggie spread her feet flourishing her harpoon and stretching her muscles. She melted into her dance of twisting and turning, cutting open her targets in a flash of gray. Using her knives, she pirouetted stapling the flying bits to the ground. What she missed plopped to the ground, their contents bouncing off the ground, one another, and into the moth's hair. She would leave it there for now no need in getting all worked up before bed. It then occurred to her that having such a mess may perhaps put off anyone who could want to come to her training room.

The thought amused her for an instant. She caught herself before her imagination took hold, gathering up the cotton she cleaned her space. Vaggie split the curtains surveying the streets of hell. A sinner who she believed to be a teenager spray painted the side of a building with words cursing the heavens. Next a flurry of explosions rained down around them forcing them to drop the can and sprint off. The bomber then took a moment to huck an explosive at a billboard belonging to the porn studio.

The sinner's forgotten mural formed a twisted smile with crosses for eyes underneath the lettering. Writing crude language would not ward off the annual killers. It would only inspire them to track down the person who blasphemed their domain. It was a useless act, unnecessary and only contributed to more absurdity. Vaggie sighed recalling her weapon she crept into the nearest shower. Luckily, they had plenty of open rooms although none of them were as clean as they should be. The corridors held filth, gossamers, and dust. Not too far away from them were the mop buckets and dusters that remained in their packaging.

There must be one. Vaggie and her partner had prepared for patients. They had signs labeling the staircases, elevators, rooms to stay away from and other amenities provided by the hotel. Their future proofing seemed silly but Vaggie was getting some use out of it so there was a positive.

By the time she finished showering the light of her life had still not reappeared. In Vaggie's opinion the princess should be giggling in her bed dreaming of puppies or rainbows while drawing the blanket closer to her body in relative peace.

She did not see the point in calling. Charlie would be back when she collected herself, nudging the box of half-eaten pizza, Vaggie rested on the couch. She curled into a blanket, her gaze on the front door.

The melodic rhythm of a knock aroused her, whisking the thin veil of slumber. Eyebrow cocked the moth girl stumbled to the door. "Forget your key?"

"Uh no," Felix began. "I'm here for the job."

"Oh," Vaggie mumbled absentmindedly shutting the door. She made it halfway down the fall then her eye snapped open. "Oh!" She darted for the door. "Come in."

On trepid feet Felix stepped through the doorway, his shoe catching on a bit of muck that stained the carpets. His body shuddered like he was being caressed by a myriad of tiny fingers. "Is all the staff off duty?"

"No," Vaggie said. Now it was her turn to shudder. Someone was here to take part in the Happy Hotel's crazy idea, and they had the place looking like a pigsty. Maybe they should attend to that before they invite any more patrons?

She overtook the boy and cleared a space for him to sit. Vaggie gestured to the spot and crouched behind the front desk producing a pad and papers. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Vaggie and I'm the manager here."

"You are? Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"Why would you think that?"

"Oh, excuse me. It's just that you're a little…" Felix trailed off.

Vaggie looked at him quizzically thinking he was about to make some sexist comment however catching sight of his finger tracing the air caused her to peer down. Strike two. She was dressed down in her pajamas. Not that he was much better.

A light blush burned her face as she pointed her head towards her clipboard. "I was winding down for the day." She said quickly. Vaggie was not lying but the look on her might cause him to think about the lecherous actions that might happen when someone is ready to end their evening. That seemed to be enough to sway him as he opted to bob his head. "Good," Vaggie coughed. "Please state your name and any qualifications you might have."

"My name's Felix. Qualifications: I worked in retail for a few years, I'm good at picking up after people, and I cook decently."

"How did you hear about us?"

"Found this flier." Felix showed her the advertisement covered in scrappy, crude language. "Someone was having a bit too much fun with it."

"Obviously. Are you affiliated with any overlords?"

"I don't know anyone down here."

"Can you tell me any work strengths you may have?"

"I tend to work better by myself."

"What are your weaknesses?"

"Kind of a twofer here. What you ask of me will be done as long as it doesn't infringe on my beliefs."

"Beliefs like what?"

"Ah, I'm a Christian." Felix said. "I hope that's not going to be an issue. I get that we're in hell in all, but you know."

"Got it. Don't need to explain yourself. And lastly, why do you want to work here?"

"I was in the area, and you were open."

"Fair enough," she responded. Simple and straightforward answers with no hesitation between the words. He was either putting on an excellent front or what Vaggie almost desperately hoped for was that he was telling the truth.

Even if he was lying there was no way she could be picky with someone waltzing in and asking them for employment when they had come up empty. All their advertisements had only brought in one person but as far as Vaggie was concerned that was more than enough for now.

Vaggie unclipped the papers and slid them across the table kicking up flakes of dust. "Fill out all the necessary information. I'm gonna go get the owner on the phone so we can get you set up as quickly as possible."

"Thanks." Happy Hotel's manager skirted away from him and began tapping away at her phone only to hear the dial tone loop.

After a few minutes of scribbling on the papers Felix twiddled with the pen. He had gotten a rather ominous vibe from the building's outsides, but the inside was simply run down. A torn welcome sign hung above the front desk, a mini fridge sat in the corner, and there were far too many cobwebs. Saying that it was in a sorry state would be putting it lightly at the slightest glance and the wallpaper peeled.

Felix swiveled from his chair inspecting the plants. He started to fiddle with the leaves as the pot started to open its eyes, watch him stroke it, and purr. Felix, feeling the vibrations, slowly retracted his hand as the pot shook violently towards him. Felix hurriedly began to pet the plant once more lulling it back to its catatonic state. Far from the kind of place where Felix could imagine anyone spending their time.

However, the clutter never seemed to touch the many posters, paintings, and photographs on the walls. Some of them were in black and white, others in color. A group of neon-teethed demons and a trio of blondes dominated the gallery with their sheer numbers. The Morningstars and the Von Eldritchs.

Felix ended his viewing at the final portrait of the blondes that looked remarkably human. Perhaps the two on both ends were the parents and the girl in the middle their child. They all looked like someone sculpted them of the finest marble. Their clothing made it seem as though they could pop out of the portrait at any moment. Seeing the pair in person would surely give anyone pause and freeze the whole world due to their innate beauty. The duo posed confidently settling into their actions, but the girl only offered a feeble grin and downcast brows. The look of someone putting on appearances.

- HeavenBound -

Charlie twiddled her fingers. She kept her head tucked between her shoulder and took brief glances at her father's desk. The sound of someone falling, the roar of laughter, the clink of drinks punched into the room. The happiness of the demons conversing next to her tightened her chest as the room she resided in seemed to become larger and even more empty.

"Head back. I'll only be a minute." Lucifer teased with a playful shove.

"Don't be like that Lulu," Lilith tutted. "I can handle this with far more thoughtfulness."

"It's a daddy daughter type of talk sweetie. A little push in the right direction. To help her."

"It had better only be that." Hell's queen demanded. "Or I'll be sure to make you pay extensively for it," The woman said, grabbing a fist full of his hair then tracing down his chest.

"Don't tempt me." The Devil rumbled. The best woman in all the afterlife and the greatest man as well. A duo so perfect that none in the afterlife could ever hope to match them. There was truly a love that surpassed all and anything they produced would be a perfect reflection of them. "Charlie, the apple of my eye, you look even cuter every time I see you!"

"Hi Dad," Charlie preened. "Is something wrong?"

"Does something have to be wrong for me to want to see my muffin?"

"So, there's nothing wrong?"

"Well," he replied, extending the word. "I didn't say that. Before we get into business can I get you anything? A drink maybe? A snack? Asmodeus brought these delightful caramel apples. He said he got them from the best farm in Wrath, delicious little things, absolutely to die for."

"I-I'm fine."

"Fine then! I guess I'll have to scarf down all these treats by myself! When I'm as big as a blimp I want no sniggering out of you!" he chortled. Charlie mustered a giggle in response knowing it would best to keep with his pace. "But enough of these good laughs. How are you enjoying that old property of ours? I'm sure it's more than accommodating."

"It is!" squeaked Charlie. "Vaggie and I need to clean it up…a lot but when word gets out what we're doing we'll have tons of patrons! When that happens you and Mom can come through to see it."

"I bet," Lucifer flicked Newton's cradle. The clacking of the balls drowned out the pulsating noise of the party. Lightly skimming over the stack of papers on his desk Lucifer plucked a page from the middle not disturbing the integrity of it. He paced back and forth eyes descending before his head snapped to Charlie. "Darling I've been getting a bit up in years. Can you remind me what happened to the art studio you opened up?"

Charlie gulped a light chill invaded the room. "It…it started off well. Tons of sinners were coming in to check out the art, but it fizzled out when we started doing classes. No one was interested in expressing their positive sides through art."

"Mhm. What about Habitat for Hellborns?"

"Same situation," she lingered. "No one wanted to volunteer their time."

"Your clothing donation fund?"

"We didn't even get a pair of socks."

"Your toy drive? Your food bank? And what about the most recent one? That little cafe you started. Now I thought that could have gone somewhere. Selling sweets, coffee, tea, biscuits, with the smooth sound of music playing in the background. What was your selling point?"

"It was a…" Charlie's words died on her lips. Anything she said would seem like an excuse and whatever lesson her father wanted to teach her would result in disheartening results. "A cafe for togetherness and positivity."

"And now you're trying to make this Happy Hotel a place to redeem sinners. Pumpkin I'm beginning to see a pattern here. You're giving your time to sinners who don't appreciate it."

"T-there…they…I mean I'm sure they want to but they're-"

"Stuck in their ways. That's why they ended up down here. All their vices and malice are what brought them to hell. None of them care about becoming better because they can't be."

"But I-"

"Charlie, you know Daddy only wants to help you. It breaks my heart to hear about how hard you're trying to help. You could be accomplishing so much more than trying to assist bitter sinners. I know you fancy yourself a trier." Lucifer withdrew his prickly caress from his daughter. He poured himself a small glass of alcohol and drew the curtains from his office. He sloshed the concoction around as the streets below aglow with neon signs calling for drugs, sex, and murder bloomed for their king. "On the inside I know how hard you're trying but, on the outside, it doesn't look too good. No one puts their trust in somebody who can't produce results. And what do we say about those who can't make things happen?"

"They're failures." the pair sounded.

Hell's princess hunched over into her chair. Her eyes darted around the room from the papers of all her failed projects, the pictures of their family, and a flash of his ever-present smile. The ever-shrinking girl collapsed in as the cold began to retreat but only from her swelling eyes.

"That's…D-dad…I still need to try anyway. I get a good feeling about this idea. The sinners are my people too and I think they can do a little better. If there's even the slightest chance, I can take help I need to take it."

Still so naive. Lucifer once thought that seeing the angels rip sinners apart like paper tigers would get her to curse the heavens. Perhaps she needed to see that the degenerates she loved so much fall short of her impossibly high expectations or perhaps she needed to have a conversation with his Father. A rebellious child but at the very least he knew she truly was cut from the same cloth.

"Oh alright," The king exhaled downing his drink. The room instantly warmed as he took Charlie by the hand and twirled her. "I really do spoil you. I swear you're too cute for your own good."

The crowd of overlords roared into a frenzy as Lilith belted out another line. Seeing her beloved family prance by she raised her voice higher pointing to them singing praise to the beauty of the realm they inhabited. Charlie found herself able to stand a little taller on the ride down. He's trying to help.

Razzle skittered into the front of the limo as they saw their master's approach. Dazzle supported the door on his back. "Gentlemen keep up the good work," he said to the bodyguards. "As for you Charlie, remember what we talked about."

"Of course, Dad." What should she say? That she would try her best? That this time she would succeed? That's what she wanted to say. Instead, Charlie gripped her pants, she let her father see the face he enjoyed the most. "Thank you! I love-" Before she knew it the door was already shut, the shriek of the wheels filling the parking garage. "You."

Charlie rested her head on the vehicle's window. She watched the reflection of her blank stare. Even so they reflected the dilapidated streets. Her stomach flipped. "The angels will cleanse this realm! May we seek comfort in the salvation that destruction will bring! Surely they will provide us with the longing we seek."

Hell was surely filled with its fair share of crackpots. The flock bowed to their priest on bended knee in prayer. Their request would be fulfilled despite their prayers knowing this Charlie wondered how awful their lives must have been to be praying for an even greater death. There needed to be a way to fix all this sorrow and sadness.

- HeavenBound -

The entrance creaked at Charlie's touch. That was peculiar. She swore that the door was locked when she left. Hopefully no intruder had made their way into their hotel. For their safety. A momentary run in with the manager turned any proud sinner into a ball of mincemeat if Charlie was not around. "Vaggie," Charlie called. "Do you have a guest over?"

A quick scan showed a visage. Who was this? A sinner engrossed in the portraits of her hotel. Shadowlike in form and a full head above her in stature. His shirt was lightly stained red and full of burn marks. Most individuals would have turned and ran at the very sight of such a stranger in their home, but Charlie waddled down the hall headfirst. Charlie reached out; Felix's ear twitched as he returned to reality flickering out of the way from her outstretched arm.

Charlie tumbled into dust bunnies. She was buried beneath a jumble of papers, boxes, lumber, plants, and the other gratuitous amounts of junk lying around. Felix blinked twice; eyes widening. He expected to hear some form of groaning or a mumble of pain, but nothing came so he neared the mess. The girl bobbed her head then exploded out stars in her eye and a giddy squeal growing in her chest. "Hello!"

"Hi."

"My name's Charlie!" Her well-shaped cheekbones rose as though they were about to burst from sheer happiness. "Welcome to the Happy Hotel!" Her voice boomed. "Oh my gosh, have you been helped yet?"

"Yeah, Vaggie just went to go call someone."

"You already met her awesome! Ok let's find you a room and-"

"Charlie," Vaggie called. "You made it back just in time."

"Vaggie!" The blonde hurriedly stamped her feet. "We finally got one!"

Despite the atmosphere of exuberant cheer Felix felt the sudden urge to head for the door. In less than thirty seconds of knowing this girl she was blasting with the energy that put litters of puppies to shame. Immediately Vaggie took hold of her partner and pointed her towards their guest. "Charlie this is Felix he's here to-"

"Check in?"

"To work."

Saying this didn't damper Charlie's spirits at all. In one instant she seemed like she was going to faint only to revive having her energy doubled. She was ablaze with delight swirling her cheeks. Vaggie released her knowing that constraining the ceaselessly vibrating tornado of cheer would be pointless. "Really!?" she teeheed. "We need to have an orientation! We need to get you a uniform! Vaggie what's he here to do? What do you want to do?"

She was a bit all over the place. Not ditzy that was for sure. By Felix's estimate this girl must have been the owner Vaggie was talking about. Either that or she was the onsite owner while her parents were the ones in charge. He wondered if their situation was as bad as this hotel's state as Charlie continued to talk at him. Felix shoved a finger in his ears. She could stand to lower her voice.

"Whatever you need me to do." Felix raised a hand. "I'm guessing you guys want to make some headway on cleaning this place up first."

"We've been meaning to do that for weeks!" Vaggie cupped Charlie's mouth.

"What she means to say is that was next on our to-do list."

"Yeesh." That was extremely pathetic, but Felix knew it was better to keep that to himself. Vaggie and Charlie didn't seem like bad people, a little disorganized but if what he heard was true, they were starting out. The hotel business was quite the undertaking for only two people. Based on their current interactions Vaggie seemed to be the brains of their operation and Charlie the eccentric rich girl.

So much to do! So much to do! Charlie breathed. The chance she was waiting for had appeared right before her. Charlie knew a few preparations had to be made and she was going to do this right. "Thank you so much for coming by! I'd love for us to start right now but Vaggie and I are going to need a little time to get things organized."

Felix sighed with relief remembering his employment from earlier that day. If he wasn't so desperate, he would never have taken the job let alone this one. "Well, I did walk in during the middle of the night. Is it nighttime? The sky sort of doesn't change colors from what I can tell." he finished with a whisper.

"Eh it does kind of. Sometimes." the mothlike demon answered.

Even Vaggie's cool veneer had dropped due to Charlie's presence. "Cool. I'll go ahead and get out of your ha-" A pinch formed in Felix, a rumble of his stomach. Felix's veneer slipped. He grabbed his stomach hoping that some force would make it stop. The girls shared a glance after that Charlie all but shoved the pizza box into his hands. "Oh, I can't-"

"Uh uh! I won't have Happy Hotel's newest employee going hungry!" She firmly placed her hands on her hips. Her stance starkly contrasted her portrait.

"Thank you." Felix grimaced at her lively attitude. It seemed like he wanted to say something aloud but said it in his mind. "I'll be getting out of your hair now."

"Right," Having experienced just a degree of joy, nothing could bring Charlie down for the rest of the night. She was practically floating. "We'll be in touch soon!"

The caution in his eyes never ceased. "Sure thing. Have a good night." On his way down the parking lot Felix gnawed on his cold pizza. Pineapple.

"We did it!" The grey woman rolled her eyes. She was going to have to deal with it all night, but it was far better than dealing with a depressed Charlie.

"I was worried you were going to scare him off for a second. Dude seems like the low energy type."

"No big deal! A couple of shifts here and he'll be out of his shell in no time! I'm thinking we'll get all the cleaning supplies gathered up as soon as we can, get some material for a uniform, and some cleaning masks, and call him back over so we can all put dents in this mess!"

"Finally seems possible," Vaggie flicked through the papers their latest addition signed. "Unless the guy's lying about all the stuff he wrote down- oh no."

"What?" Charlie questioned eyeing the paper. On the first lines of the page listed address there was a complete blank. There was no way this could be from negligence because every line from top to bottom was filled, even the comments sections. Vaggie pinched her nose while Charlie shouts filled the hotel. "He doesn't have a place to live!"

- HeavenBound -

The canine scarfed down his remaining slice of food. Felix brought his fingers into his mouth devouring the crumbs. With a hunch in his back, he stared down at the gravel walkway, an unmistakable gnawing pain still in his stomach. The red eyed crows pecked at the box. They chomped at one another's bits for the slightest bits of crumbs eventually they settled for sharing the box and divided it among the largest birds.

His body stiffened on the bench, the draw of a mattress calling to him. Maybe I should have- Felix immediately stopped that train of thought. He shut out all thoughts of the place aside from returning in a day or so and working. Turning his attention to the other park dwellers he saw many people simply going about their business. There was a group of demons grouped together reading magazines, playing frisbee, hellhounds were on their phones, or simply walking around. Felix wanted to scowl but discovered himself unable.

This was supposed to be hell. The fact that he had even a moment's reprieve gave cause for his eyes to rush about. Would someone fly off at the handle or were they all secretly plotting against each other? Laughter. Felix rubbed his eyes shaking his head in thought. It had to be because so many people had fallen here, a worse version of Earth. There's no way anyone could be happy down here but immediately he thought of the owls, the imps, and the girls. Only short interactions to be sure but there was something there. Could it be genuine happiness or making the best out of a bad situation?

"I'll be damned." a voice croaked. The car came to a halt. "Get a look at this shit."

"Black dog, suspenders. Are you sure about this Boss? Could be some random fella."

"Nah, nah Mickey check out his fuckin' shirt. No way he came down here just like that. Nope, that's our quarry right there. Call the rest of the boys over so we can flambe this piece of shit."

"I don't think I got any molotovs on me."

"It's a figure of speech Mickey."

The sound of two hefty doors closing caught Felix's attention. Down the walkway two shark demons filled the park. One spit out his cigar while the other took his right side. Felix was a little surprised to see them covertly he examined the pair. He was somewhat tense as alarm bells rang in his ears, their eyes certainly on him. His assumption proved correct. The fat shark produced a shimmering gun as the other took out a pair of knuckles.

A shot pierced the rabble catching the unsuspecting civilians whether they be man, woman, or child. Felix vaults behind the bench as a sizable chunk of it splinters into woods from the buckshot. Grit teeth the man scrambled behind a tree. "Come out. Come out. Or don't, it'll make it more fun when I find you!" The boss chuckled. "You think you can just fuck with my boys like that? I'm the king of this side of town!"

Above the carnage a cyclopean demon watched in delight. She playfully bounced her bombs from one hand to the other as sinners ran around terrified. Just to add to the chaos she began flinging them down.

Felix scowls, staying low to the ground. Did they really bring grenades? Plenty of terrified people were still running around too scared to move thanks to the addition of explosives. His opponents had firearms and if they were willing to attack him in public for simply messing with them, they must have a strong influence over the area. Perhaps it was to repay a debt or perhaps this was a convenient excuse to scare everyone? Either way it was best for him to leave, to lose them if he could. Felix leapt to his feet and joined the crowd. He pulled up the side of his clothes, almost making it out of the park.

Mickey smashes his brass knuckles into Felix's ribs. Along him as he went down were several other sinners lying beneath him in a big pile. "Don't think we'd lose you for a second fuckwit." As he brings up his fist again Felix tumbles with the punch. The unlucky hellhounds caught in the attack fall over like pins.

The fit shark charges forward a flurry of heavy attacks striking his opponent. Felix slams his foot and twists using his leg to break Mickey's encroaching attacks. In a black flash the wolf threw out a piercing strike into the shark mobster's stomach. Thinking for an instant he had gone down Felix tried to pull out his arm only for the shark to rise to his feet once more. He pulled in Felix's arm keeping him close.

Using his freehand Felix brought down his fists but the shark refused to go down. Raising his hand Felix aims for the shark's neck yet as he did a searing pain blew through his hand. The Boss sniggers as Mickey rose his knuckles ready to attack. He spared no expense in landing heavy blow after blow anywhere he could until Felix unceremoniously fell limp. "You gave my buddies worse than that asshole! Get the hell up!" Mickey raised Felix another blow slamming into his stomach. Felix meekly raised his other arm groping Mickey's leg. "Trying to get me off won't save you punk."

"Settle down Mick. Can't go killing him just yet."

"But Boss-"

"You'll have your turn. Now as for you," The Boss states with a punch to the already downed demon. "You don't look like much yet somehow you manage to take out by boys. Know what I hate most? Kids like you. Dumbasses who come down here and disrupt the natural order of things. You come into my place and mess with my shit and you think you can just walk out after that? Nope. You're gonna pay. Maybe I'll cut you up and ship you to the cannibals. Or maybe I can rip off your limbs and get you sent down to Wrath. Though you'd probably make a shitty scarecrow. Wait I got one better," he claps. "I'll give your little ass to Valentino. I bet he could use a new whore."

The boss captivated himself with his speech; he failed to notice the sound of ripping next to him. Mickey took notice as his right pants leg was opened the contents of it spilling out. Felix cracked the phone in his hands, raised his palm underneath the shark's maw. The last thing he saw was a harsh flash of light before his lower half splattered to the ground. With eyes angled downward at the remains of his compatriot the Boss's heart sank. He rushed away from Felix scrambling for the nearest person he could find.

The grey hellhound coughed. All she wanted to do was get away from her clingy adopter. Here she was now vision blurry with a limp. Loona struggled to her feet seeing a person charge for her she attempted to swat but her strength failed, and she fell into his arms. The Boss jammed the muzzle of his gun into her body. "Back up! Put your hands where I can see'em! I swear this bitch's dead if you take a single step closer to me."

"Huh?" Felix grunted. "You can't be serious. What do I care if you shoot that girl, I don't even know her!"

"Wha-hahaha! Nice try. You say that, but I bet you'll have nightmares about seeing this chick in the gutter. Or if you let me go who knows what I'll do to her." The shark cackled, licking the girl.

"Let go of me asshole!" Blood dripped from Loona's head. She wobbled on her legs barely able to stay up with her diminishing strength. She took in copious amounts of air. No way was she going to be some freak's side piece.

"So, do what you want."

"Ha, if that's the case then I suppose we go our separate ways for now. I'll be back so don't get too comfortable."

"Whatever you say man." Felix shoved his hands into his pants to leave. "Sorry lady."

Stupid fucking punk. Let this man show you how the strong survive! Click. The boss aimed his gun. Rising with every bit of fury she could Loona smacked her head into the man's chin. "You damn bitch!" Felix spun on his heels and shot. The pixel bullet ricocheted off the other, the side of the gun then right into the mobster's eye.

The girl freed herself taking a moment to clomp her captor. Felix on the other hand looked down at his lightly glowing finger. The mobster recoiled in pain clutching his eye. Seeing that Loona was safe Felix ran through a few sentences of apology in his head. Although the best he could come up with was, "Sorry you got mixed up in all that."

Mentally overwhelmed at her amateurish actions Loona jabbed Felix in his aching chest. Caught in turf war nonsense, captured by some loser albeit for a moment, and pitied by a strangely familiar jackass. She was done for the night. "Fuck you dude."

Felix kneaded the area. He would heal later. In a huff he sauntered to the boss and sat on his chest, ready to blast at any moment. "You're the boss of the sharks? Mind answering a question or two for me?"

"Go fuck yourself you little-" A raised finger silenced the man. "I've got to be the unluckiest bastard in hell. First I've got an overlord breathing down by neck and now some bird's roughing me up."

"Tell me are you the one in charge of prostitution down here?"

"I wish. The overlords have got the best businesses locked up. Why you looking to get your dick wet?" Eyes bore into the mobster. He gulped fearing any other extraneous comments might end his afterlife.

"Question two I'm new down here. What are overlords?"

"You fucking kidding me? You just got down here and you're already-" Felix's nails fiddled around the man's remaining eye. "Alright! Alright! Overlords are the folks above us sinners! They've got real power, real influence! Guys like us fight for their scraps."

"Don't go lumping me in with lowlifes like you. Last question which of these overlords is in charge of pimping out women?"

The mobster grumbled. All of a sudden he got an idea a way to save some face and get rid of his problems. "That's easy you want to go to- "

Cherri Bomb tossed her explosive. In a single tink it exploded in a red haze separating Felix from his hostage. She walked through the mist prepping another bomb as she found him coughing. "Party can't wind down yet. I just got here!"

"Cherri Bomb? Shoulda know it was you when the bombs started dropping." the overweight shark muttered.

"Didn't I tell you to stay off my turf fatty?"

"Shut your fuckin' mouth! Don't think that just because-" He exploded hunched over with the white of his eye showing.

Cherri shook her head centering her attention to Felix who had barely brought himself back to his feet. "Now what about you big guy?" she asked materializing more bombs. "I don't like anyone stepping in on my territory."

Not much of a territory. Craters everywhere, felled trees, and bodies. "You're misunderstanding the situation. I don't want this place."

Cherri Bomb seemed dissatisfied. A coy look spread across her face. He could be telling the truth then again, she didn't care. She bounced the projectiles. Felix gaped at the sight. Her too? Her bombs appeared out of thin air. "Look, I don't want to fight you."

"Holy shit," she laughed. "I wouldn't want to fight me either." The bomb's wicks began to spark. Felix raised his arms an ephemeral glow forming around them. At the sound of hitched breathing, their fight began.