~~~~~~~~~~~

Location: Hell, Palace
Time: 3:30 AM

*Razor just wanted to stop as he got to the top of the first staircase. He had easily gone up a mile, and he just wanted to rest. He looked back at Jade, who was feeling the same way, generally, and the two sat for a small spell, after a few minutes rising again. Razor limped on, and looked through a doorway, his heart stopping as he saw what lay on the other side of the doorway. There were two thrones on the far side of the next room, treasures laid all about. Razor shook his head and continued on, soon seeing another staircase up.*

Razor: You've got to be kidding me…

*Razor sighed, and started up again. This one didn't take quite as long, probably only a 300 yard ascent. Razor stopped at the top and looked around. All he saw were rooms, and a big hallway. Not many demons were out and about, and Razor chuckled at the thought of them all being asleep. Razor continued up the next flight of steps, and winced as he suddenly heard an alarm go off. Razor hurried up to the top floor, but was stopped as demons came running down the steps. Razor was waiting for them, and when one suddenly stopped, the one behind him ran into him, knocking the first right into Razor's readied quarterstaff, and he fell to the ground in a white inferno. Razor smiled softly to himself, and positioned his quarterstaff again, starting to run directly into the demons in front of him. They all dropped to one side or another to either get out of the way or die.*

Location: Hell, 1st Floor Palace
Time: 4:50 AM

Razor got to the top, and saw a prison-like set, guards and sentries and torturers looking over the people, not letting them get comfortable enough to maybe rest.*

Razor: Bingo…

*Razor walked forward, looking in each cell, for his brother*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Location: Hell, 1st Floor Palace
Time: 5:00 AM

*Something caught Razor's eye in one of the cells. He didn't recognize the figure, but it looked more solid than the other spirits in there. It suddenly dawned on Razor that the hedgehog was still alive, but in terrible shape. Razor limped into the cell, using his quarterstaff for a crutch, and walked up to the chained-down hedgehog. He looked at the chains for a moment, and shrugged.*

Razor *to himself*: It worked on everything else…

*And with that, he swatted at the chains with the quarterstaff. To his surprise, the chains broke, and fell to the ground. The hedgehog rubbed his wrists, and looked at Razor, smiling slightly.*

Hedgehog: Hey, thanks Razor… I didn't think you'd find me…
Razor: How did… you know my name?
Hedgehog: Don't you remember me man? It's me, Garret…
Razor: Garret? Wha… What on earth are you doing here?
Garret: I… I followed you—
Razor: You what!?!? How could you… anybody be that stupid!? Are you color blind, did you not see the red glow around that subway station!?
Garret: I know… I…
Razor: …Wasn't thinking, that's what!
Garret: I'm sorry man, I didn't think you'd get so bent…
Razor *to self*: … Alright, alright… I need to calm down… I need to just stop… clear my mind…

*Razor pulled out his emerald, and remembered what it took last time… Razor smiled as he felt the white glow come beneath his fingers, in the emerald, and shot the energy to Garret. The white glow globed around Garret, then sunk in. Garret raised an eyebrow, but Razor had no time to explain.*

Razor: Follow me…

*Razor limped out of the cell, and headed down the hall some more. He saw a patrolman come down the hallway, spot him, and break into a sprint. Razor waited. As the demon got close, pouncing, Razor ducked, sticking his quarterstaff straight into the air. Razor winced slightly as a drop of the demon's blood hit him, burning through his skin. Razor rolled away, and shuddered as he saw the demon fall in two halves behind Jade and Garret. Not wanting to risk further problems, Razor found the demon's heart, and plunged the staff into it, watching as the two halves caught light. Razor limped off in the direction he was going, looking through the cells, not getting much luck.*

Location: Hell, 1st Floor Palace
Time: 10:00 AM

*Razor glanced into a cell, which was near the main entrance, and blinked when he saw his brother, drooping, chained to a wall, which held him standing… Razor breathed a sigh of relief mixed with pity, slipping into the cell. Streak offered a confused look when Razor came in front of him, but nothing more, except a cough. Razor smiled, and patted Streak on the shoulder, removing his hand as Streak's shoulder jerked, obviously pained by the touch. Razor tried the same trick he tried on Garret's chains, but the chains on Streak stayed fast. Razor looked on the chains for some sort of lock or hint, and on the lock he saw an engraving. As he read, the Spirit of the Agate suddenly paraphrased it, telling him what to do.*
Agate: You have to freeze the lock before being able to remove it in any way.

*Razor nodded, and pulled out his emerald, concentrating carefully. Streak looked at him, amused. It was nearly a half an hours wait, but eventually Streak winced as the chains froze over. Razor smiled, and took a swing at the frozen chains with his staff. This time, the chains shattered, and Streak rubbed his now-slightly-frostbitten wrists gratefully.*

Razor: Great, now let's get—

*Razor was interrupted by a sudden strike to the chin, propelling him off the ground. Razor cried out as he plowed through the ceiling, landing on the roof. Razor groaned, and rolled to his feet, looking around. He couldn't see anybody, and he slowly backed up. Razor whipped around fast as he could as he felt warm skin hit him. He almost smiled as he saw a completely black demon take the strike, knowing quite well from his dreams who it was. The demon glared at him, and slashed Razor across the face with his claws, which moved so fast that they were only a black blur before Razor rolled over in the air, landing on his back. The quarterstaff went flying, landing at the demon's feet. Razor powered the ground, running in a crawl, getting to the quarterstaff. As Razor grabbed hold of it, he cried out as the demon stomped down on his left hand, crushing it into a permanent grip around the quarterstaff. Razor cried out.*

Razor: Gah! F………

*The burning sensation filled his mouth again, this time a hundred times worse, and Razor paused for a moment, and his sight went red for a moment, quickly dissipating, though the thoughts lingered.*

Razor *thinking*: Avenge… bring Lucifer to his knees for what he's done to you…

*Razor swiped the quarterstaff upward, slicing Lucifer square in his groin area. Razor smiled, jumping to his feet as Lucifer keeled over for a moment, blood dripping from the area Razor struck. Razor drove the quarterstaff forward, but Lucifer grabbed it, and with a pained expression on his face, pushed Razor to one side. Razor lost his balance, and fell back into the hole he had come out of. Razor landed on his back, with a smile on his face, using the quarterstaff to spring back to his feet. Lucifer jumped back down into the hole, and stopped in mid-air as Razor pointed his quarterstaff straight into the air. Lucifer floated down in front of Razor, who replied by taking a swing at Lucifer's head. Lucifer ducked, and Razor turned the quarterstaff over, bashing Lucifer in the back of the head, which gave way to the staff, bleeding profusely. Lucifer was knocked to all fours by the blow, and Razor smiled slightly. Lucifer suddenly vanished in a flash of red, and Razor chuckled, thrusting the quarterstaff behind him, penetrating Lucifer's knee. Razor turned around, and twisted the quarterstaff around, then maneuvering Lucifer back to where he was kneeling. Razor removed the quarterstaff, only to strike Lucifer in the side, taking him to his knees again. Razor almost laughed as he heard Lucifer growl suddenly; a low, threatening growl. It struck Razor as funny, because even though it sounded vicious, it also sounded as though Satan were in great pain. Razor suddenly felt himself get thrown back, landing on a wall, falling, stunned. He saw a figure before him, similarly colored as Lucifer, but with red streaks throughout the skin and wings, and blue eyes. The figure picked Razor up, then dropped him. Razor landed on his feet, and the demon drew a katana to him. Razor swiped his quarterstaff at the demon's side, who jumped over the swipe.*

Demon: Tow bo r'w ralsit!
Agate: "Lay off my father"
Razor *thinking*: His… father? Excellent…

*Razor ducked under a slash of the demon's katana, and drove the quarterstaff upward, splitting the demon's chin slightly. The demon groaned, and Razor spun him around, using his quarterstaff to hold the demon in place. Razor looked from behind the figure, and smiled as he saw Lucifer's eyes widen slightly. Razor stood with a smug smirk, and talked to Lucifer.*

Razor: So this is your son, eh?
Lucifer: …Let him go!
Razor: Would you be interested in accepting a trade?
Lucifer: …A trade…? *laughs*
Razor: I have two demands, Lucifer… one is that you let my brother, me, Jade, and Garret go. The other is that you don't let any of the demons outside of this room attack us… let us go back to where we belong. Those two things, and I let your son go.
Lucifer: Get real

*Razor saw Lucifer start to raise a hand, and Razor dug the quarterstaff deeper into Lucifer's son, causing him to cry out in pain.*

Razor: DON'T, MOVE! I see you move one more inch or if you decide to leave my sight I WILL kill him!
Lucifer: Okay… fine… I'll grant your first request… you and your friends are free to go… I cannot get all the demons in Hell to not attack you, however. While I do rule them, I do not have that much control over them. I do not have time to escort you.

*Razor thought for a moment, and smiled*

Razor: What about you escort me off the palace premises and won't let guards from the palace come after me?
Lucifer: …Kuroki… do as he asks.
Kuroki: But…
Lucifer *warning tone*: Kuroki…

*Kuroki growled, and nodded. Razor let the demon go, and the demon walked out of the cell, waiting for the group to come out. As they came out, he turned, and walked briskly towards the main doors, opening them. The group followed him to the edge of the premises, where he stopped, looking at them all with cold regard. Razor nodded to him, and headed across the street to a fire escape. Most of the crowd had died down, so he didn't have to hurry. He allowed the others in the group to first, and struggled to climb the ladder on his own. He could barely manage it, but he managed to clambor onto the roofs. It was about 1:00 PM. Razor stopped at the top, and sighed.*

Razor *sarcastic optimism*: Only 8 and a half miles to go…