"So what's the catch, gramps?"
"What do you mean, Silvana?"
"Why did you invite me over?" Sil asked munching on the slice of cake.
"I had some cake left over. I can't enjoy it, kuma! I thought you would, ma, ma, kuma!"
"Well, it's okay. So soft and moist." Sil playfully squished it a little with her fork. "That's how I do like my cake. But it's nothing special." She shrugged.
"I thought you would like it. Arle fell in love with it before she got her own home."
Sil didn't know what hit her. Her taste buds chanced on a dime. "What did you do to me?!" It suddenly became the tastiest cake she'd ever had.
"Or did she hate it? I can't remember."
At those words the cake made he gag, spitting the cake out on the ground.
"Aha, I knew it, kuma!"
"Oh no…" Sil meeped.
"This is something I've wondered about for a while now. You're easily manipulatable. All someone has to does is say Arle would've done it."
Sil shrunk.
"Have you found yourself to be someone's pawn in the past?"
"…Once or twice…" She admitted.
Akuma sighed. "I shall cook up some exercises to get you over this, ma, kuma! You'll never know who will exploit you for this, Kuma!"
"Sig and Amitie won't do that!" 'Okay, maybe Am.'
"You may not like to hear this. But I've been betrayed by those close to me. It's the indirect cause why you exist, kumakumakuma!" Akuma put it on thick.
"Can't you just sit in a rocking chair and talk about the weather like any other grandpa?"
"I'm not that old yet, Kuma!" *Ahem* "It shouldn't take long for me to work this out. Meanwhile, can you polish the statuettes?"
"I don't know… My arms are a bit sore of the practice I did during recess."
"Shame, Arle would've done it."
"No, I wouldn't."
"You say that but she did gladly help last time she was over."
"Okay."
Sil involuntarily smiled.
"WHY ARE YOU TORTURING ME, GRAMPS?! I've swept the floors, polished the windows, spell checked all the plaques, sorted all books alphabetically, measured all paintings and cleaned all toilets, including your own, which was SQUEAKY CLEAN by the way yet you said 'Arle dun did it'. And like that I did the redundant thing, it's honestly dirtier after cleaning it! I'm not some maid!" Sil was fuming with resentment.
"Arle also would've printed out the pamphlets for me." Akuma flatly lied.
Sil didn't pick it up. But that didn't matter. "No!"
"Arle would've done it, kuma!"
"I doubt it!"
"Arle would've done it, kuma!"
"I'm not Arle!" Sil blurted out in anger, instinctively covering her mouth and dealing with the usual pains that came with admitting that.
Akuma smiled, though even if for a second Sil took it as him bathing himself in her misery. "Good."
It's clear it isn't?
"You completed the exercise."
"Huh?"
"Keep that in mind and keep a balanced mindset. Don't do something harebrained and justify it by being Arle or not. And pray you don't relapse again."
"Um… Okay… Thanks for looking out for me, gramps? I guess?"
"You'll never know. There will always be people exploiting other people. Remember that."
"Okay… Can you at least make that cake tasty again? And please stop smiling, it's creepy."
Chapter 28: PLEASE WAKE UP! Part 1
Arle did wake up. But did not know where. The ground felt very cavey, basically a hallway to a source of light at the and of it. Above her there was a little light as well. "Did I fall?"
Not seeing any other way to go, she followed the light she could walk to. "Where am I?" The atmosphere scared her a little. She slowly inched toward the light being on edge.
"…aaaaaaahaaaaaaAAAHYAAAAAAAAAARRRRR!" *Ground splat!* "Ow!"
"Eeee!" Arle was a little freaked out. A body dropped from the hole that was above her. It was a grown woman in a fancy cocktail dress. She got up with no worse for wear.
"Oh, hello there, little girl." The woman greeted the girl that didn't get to her hip in height. "Do you happen to know where I am?"
"No, I didn't, I just got here, pretty lady."
"Aw, thank you. You are very cute yourself." She ruffled Arle's hair. Arle swatted it away. "Oh, didn't like that, sorry." The woman looked over Arle's head. "What do you say we head for that light there, sweetie?"
"Okay…"
As they gained in closer they were a bit perplexed as to the thing emitting light. "An… Office door? In a dank cave light this?"
"I bet it's warm in there."
"Oh, you poor thing, you must be freezing. Come in." The purple dressed woman opened the door. "Little ladies first." She giggled.
"Thanks."
Inside it was really clean. Aside from the floor that is. It was some kinda empty waiting room. The door in front of them had a fancy banner saying "Welcome to Hell" above it.
"H. E. L. L. What does that mean again?" The girl asked. The woman gulped, hesitant if she should tell her.
"Pull a number. Like we're at a butcher shop." The woman picked one for her and one for Arle. "Here. Looks like I'm first. But I'm not leaving you unattended. We're going in together. I won't leave you until I found a family member." 'Everyone has got to have one down here.'
"…Thank you, lady." Arle took her hand and walked into the office. They opened the door.
They were greeted by an average looking man in a white blouse, a blue tie, and a badge. Sipping from a cup. He didn't even seem fazed a child was here if this truly was what the banner was claiming.
"Howdy," he greeted. "This here office is limbo."
"Like uh…" Arle tried to limbo dance.
The office worker and the lady giggled a little. The lady a bit more nervously.
"Oh no no no." He took another sip. "Limbo is the last stop before you end up in hell."
Something clicked in Arle's head. "I'm dead!?"
"Yer havin' amnesia don'tcha? Fell on yer noggin'?"
"Am-me-cia?"
"Why would you wanna torture this innocent child?"
"We don't unless she dun something bad in life, ma'am. Lessee." He picked up a magnifying glass and started to look at the woman.
"The Dread Pirate LeCortez. Died infiltrating a party that also got infiltrated by an outside force. Yer goin' to the prison section of hell, with a chance of parole in about 100 hell years."
"Wha? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…" She fell through a trapdoor.
Arle looked in horror.
"Aw, sunavagun!" The office worker facepalmed. "Fergot to tell 'er how things work down here. Welp, Ah won't make that mistake with'cha. I'm Office-T. I'm an Agent of Hell, I'm here to make sure everyone goes to the right place in hell."
"H-have I been bad?"
"Doubt it. Stay still." Office-T held his magnifying glass in front of his eye again. Scanning the girl. "Lessee. Arle Nadja? Age 16?"
"Uh huh." She meekly nodded. "But I'm five."
"Ya have memory loss. Common occurrence, really. But it happens more often than not because Ozzy takes his sweet time cleaning the mattress to lessen the fall down here. Happen to have any memory you shouldn't have?"
"Uh…"
Arle started thinking. There was her playing with her friends, a tower, everything's a blank. Though she recognizes it as a blank… Suddenly, she couldn't breathe. She's hyperventilating thanks to the memory. She collapsed to the ground holding her neck. Relieving her death.
Office-T got off his chair and helped Arle back on her feet helping her breathe. "Calm down. Yer're not dying again, yer're already dead, ye don't have a body to choke. It's all in yer purdy li'l head. Here, have some tea."
Arle took it. "Yowch."
"Too hot?"
"Uh huh."
"Ye seemed to have calmed down."
"I think so. So if I don't have a body… What's this then?" Arle pinched her arms. "Ow."
"That's what'cha remember being. And since you remember being five."
"Oh… Will I remember?"
"Eh, hard to say." Office-T scratched his head. "Not everyone recovers their memory."
Arle thought about it again. Had trouble "Breathing" again. She could even pin a face on it this time. "I don't *pant pant* think I wan*pant*na remember."
Office-T padded her on the back. "Maybe fer the best… Now, lemme discuss the rest." He picks up his magnifying glass again.
"There are plenty Arle Nadjas already in hell. Much to the bossman's dismay."
"H-How?"
"Boy, ye really have amnesia. Ah won't go in much detail. But'eh… Mah boss, Mr. Head Honcho himself, usually handles everyone named Arle Nadja. And he innit too kind to them… They're all in the prison clawing each other's eyes out."
Arle felt her non-stomach turn.
"Sorry. They don't do it literally. (Ah hope)."
"A-Am I gonna go to prison? I don't wanna go. What have done wrong?"
"Eh… Mah glass says several things. But since ye've lost so much memory, and you were different enough, Ah'll consider null and void. That means ye get to the nice part o' hell." O-T pointed his thumb to the door behind him.
"Okay…" Arle took a step towards the said door but O-T.
"Hoooold yer horses. Ye have no family or even friends down here. Yer gonna have to stay with me and mah roomies."
"Do I have to wait?"
"Yeah. Ozzy, mah colleague and roomie'll come soon and he'll take ya home, where ya can stay until someone familiar shows up."
"Okay."
"Nervous?"
"Uh-huh."
"Don't worry 'bout. Hell, ain't so bad."
O-T's hand reached for a tin pot. "Lollipop?"
"Is there a way back home, mister?"
"Nope, 'nless yer secretly a cat or a phoenix. Are ye?"
"…Nooo…"
"Flair has finally returned to the building!" The door behind Office-T opened. It was a late-twenties looking man. Long, clean, blond hair. Had stylish orange specs. Over top his office uniform and badge (same as Office-T's) he had a fabulous purple coat with white cuffs a high color, and a hot pink bow tie. He also had a top hat as purple as his coat.
"Are you a magician?" Arle asked. Hoping for some magic. "Hm." Top hat looked down. Double meaning. Never fun to see a child down here.
"Oh, hello there, li'l girl. I'm not. But I've dabbled into it."
"Can I see it? Please?"
"Oho, I'm sorry, I'm afraid I left my magic at home."
"Aaaaw."
"What's with this kid, O-T?" A teen said from behind the top hat man. She looked like she's never been happy, looking annoyed at everyone. She wore a zipped up cotton jacket, yellow shorts with huge pink rims and big hearts at the sides. Red boots, a green bracelet, and otherworldly red eyes. She seemed to scream: Look how troubled I am, take me seriously! But to the eyes of a child…
'She's cool…'
She did have a badge also, but it read intern. Arle did not know what that meant.
"Mr. Office-T." Arle tugged at the man's sleeve. "Who's O.T.?"
"That's mah name shortened."
"Oh."
"Hey, fellers. This kid here just fell, she got nowhere to go. So she's gonna live with us."
"What a shame… Don't worry little girl, we'll take good care of you. Until your family picks you up."
"She's not gonna share my room is she?" The teen grumbled.
"'Fraid so, darling." Top hat replied as the teen sulked.
"I'm Sinclaire, Oswald Sinclaire. But you can call me Ozzy. Everyone does."
"Okay, Ozzy." Little Arle replied.
"I'm an Agent of Hell as well." He stylishly moved his hand point to Miss Jacket. "And this is our little Angel of Hell." Ozzy and O-T chuckled making Miss Jacket's face grow red.
"I misspoke!" Miss Angsty leaned over flapped her arms in embarrassment. Arle started laughing as well. "Imma intern Agent! AGENT!" She kept yelling.
"We know. We know."
"I'm Rose…" She reluctantly greeted.
"I'm Arle."
"Hi Arl… ARLE!?"
"That's me. Do I know you? You look familiar."
"Know you!?" Smiles and tears crept on her face. Rose picked up the little Arle. Squeezed the poor thing tight as sway swayed her left and right. Arle tried to break free.
O-T and Ozzy raised their eyebrows. "Looks like our ice queen thawed." Ozzy joked. Rose shot him a glare.
She stopped hugging the child to get a get look at her with her watery eyes. "I see you lost your memory. But do you remember an Amitie?" Rose asked with a little hope in her eyes.
"Uuuuuuh. Am. Mi. Tie? Sounds familiar."
"It's you! Wicked!" Rose cried. Putting Arle close to her chest again. "It's me, Amitie!"
"You said you were Rose."
"IGNORE THAT! Where Carb- Aaaaw. You're not with Carbuncle! I'm so sorry."
"C-Carby? Waaaaah!" Arle hugged back, that confirmed Rose that they knew each other.
"I'll be with you until you remember, you won't be without friends like I was."
Rose's coworkers let them have a moment for their reunion. Until Office-T broke it. "So, Ah take yer gonna share a room with her, Amitie?"
"That's Rose to you! And, uh, yes, please. Are you okay with that, Arle?" She said rather sisterly.
"Yeah, can't think of anything better…"
"You're about to see Hell's city of Abyss." Ozzy had his hands on the door's handle. Ready to expose Arle to hell.
"I'm scared…" She meeped. Her arms are firmly entangled around Rose's legs.
"It's not that scary, Arle." Rose tapped her shoulder. "I'll keep you safe." And flattened her hand. "But can you hold my hand instead of my leg?" She shook her leg a little. "Need it for walking."
"Sorry, Ammy."
Rose's heart melted hearing that. Her demeanor at this point was basically the opposite of how presented herself at first.
"You two seem to share a special connection. You seem to subconsciously remember Rose."
"I do feel safe with her…" Arle admitted.
"Aw." Rose affectionately rubbed on Arle's head.
"Opening door in three, two, one." Ozzy elegantly kicked open the door. Rose led Arle outside.
Hell's… Not as scary as she thought it was gonna be, prettier than she expected. There's plenty of fire. But her non-body didn't feel it. There was no sky, that's a bit depressing. Far more red than blue. The blue came from some flames in the distance.
It looked like they were on top of a mountain. Near Hell's ceiling? Down below was a staircase towards a big city, unlike Arle has ever seen. It looks lively, not in ruins like one would expect. People were chatting, kids were playing, people did their unnecessary laundry. The Abyss looked lovely.
Beyond Abyss, was a castle.
"Who lives in that castle?" Arle asked.
"The Dark King, Satan." Ozzy calmly explained.
"Dark King, Satan?" Arle repeated, scratching her head.
"Does that name ring a bell?"
"Uh. Kinda?"
"It should, Arle. Don't you remember his attempts getting you to marry him?" "Eeeew." Arle was a bit disgusted. "He's a grown-up, and I'm five." A bit of teen snark seeped through.
"Do you remember him?" Rose asked.
"Um… Seen him once, I think? Wait? Does that mean I know the king?"
"Yeah. Uh… Oz? Why aren't we taking her to the castle? The boss would be very happy if we did."
"If O-T told us to bring Arle there, we would've, but we won't."
"Why?"
"Why?"
"Um… Best not for me tell. Something you two have to discover for yourselves I'm afraid."
Arle and Rose shrugged each other. Unsure.
"But let's not worry about the handsome King, though. He's not evil, and not the one really in charge. We the people are."
"How?"
"Why, it's very simple, Arle. Like with any good kingdom, monarchy is a mascot. We proposed doing his job for him, to which he agreed so he can have more free time. We're halfway down the stairs, girls. Almost home."
"I know that, Oz…"
"I don't."
"Oh… Eheh. Oh yeah!"
*Hours later, back at Office-T's office hours…*
A mysterious cloaked figure entered. He undid his hood to show off his face. "Y-Yer a-a-a-a…" O-T stammered.
"Shush!" The figure acted out along with his shush, he did nod. "Need your help finding someone."
"C-C-Certainly, sir. Shucks, been a while seeing a H-"
"Shush." The figure shushed O-T out of his blush. He slid a school photo on the table. "Looking for this lady." He pointed at the masked one, the one putting bunny ears on three other students. "Have you seen her?"
The office worker narrowed his eyes, getting a good picture.
"Hard t' say, sir. Time o' death?"
"About three hours ago ho."
"Hmmm… Ah would've noticed him."
"Her."
"Her, sorry. Wouldn't 'ave missed her. Mah shift's puuuuurdy long. I'll go cross reference with Hell's other drop points once Ah'm done. Gott'er name?"
"Silvana."
"Gotcha! Surname?"
He wrote down the first.
"Hoooo-old on." The cloak searched his pocket for a piece of paper. "It's spelled P. I. E. R. R. O. T."
"Okay, Ah'll get back to ya on that. Can tell ye this much though… We've got thousands of Silvanas. And few of those with that surname."
"Ho No! So many. I'll never find her." He grabbed his head.
Office-T wrote this down too, this made a funny joke to tell colleagues. "Actually it'd be easier to find her than that."
"Ho How?"
"The surname's purdy uncommon. Should be narrowed down to one or two."
"What a relief… Where can I find you? Where can I stay?"
"Here's mah address." O-T handed out a card. "Show it to mah roomie and he'll provide ye our couch t' crash on."
"Thanks, I'll go ho snooping around like the Anti-Hero Lurkerer. I'll drop by later…"
"Enjoy hell." Office-T smiled.
*A few more hours later…*
Arle was shown around town. The local shops, schools, some of Ozzy and Rose's work, restaurants, etc. She was amazed. It's so hard to wrap her little head around it. Basically everything you'd ever need. Except for an orphanage.
"And for those annoyed that life goes on after death ther-"
*Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn*
"Oh, dear are you tired, Arle?" Ozzy rhetorically asked. "We've only been sidetracked all over town."
"Aaaaw. Wooks wike widdle Awly needs a big nappy~." Rose affectionately baby talked the kid she picked up.
Five-year-old Arle pouted in response. "I'm not a baby, Ammy." *Yaaaw-aaaaawn* "But you're so cute~" Rose nuzzled. "And auntie Ammy's right, you know."
"Get real!" Arle struggled, a little before giving up. "I died and I still have to go to bed?"
"Yeah, I know it sucks…" The older related.
Ozzy chuckled. "How about I heat up some noodles so you two ladies can go to bed."
"But I'm not tired, Ozzy." Rose scowled.
"Someone needs to make a bed and put a little girl in pajamas before letting her sleep. And that's not gonna be me, honey."
Arle looked at on at the blondes arguing. "…Your dad's embarrassing, Ammy…"
"This guy's not my dad!"
"I never had kids in life!"
Finally at Ozzy and O-T's (and Rose's(, and Arle's)) home… Who should happen to be there but Office-T, sipping… Wait for it… Boiled water with the taste of powdered substance which provides said boiled water with a strong taste.
"Hi, Roomie, where ho~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~ome!~" Amitie, carrying the tired Arle, winced. She hated whenever Ozzy did that.
"Howdy. Hey, Arle. How're ye feelin'?"
"Sleepy…" *Yaaawn*
"Well, Rose better make yer bed then. Perhaps best if you skip dinner."
*Angsty teen grumble*
"Oh, Ozzy, has a… Uh. A Class 88, stopped by yet?"
"Cl-Class 88?!"
"Yep."
"I'll prepare the couch immediately!"
"What's Class 88?" Rose asked, holding the now fast asleep Arle.
"Something we can't can't explain to interns I'm afraid."
"Phooey."
"We'll have a guest sleeping on the couch for as long as he needs. (I hope he's handsome)."
"He's lookin' fer a gal named Silvana Pierot [Pie (as in pastry) and Rot (like decay)]!"
"You mean Silvana Pierrot [It's french I think]!?" Rose scowled. Almost dropping little Arle. Rose did her best to dial down the anger for her sake. Don't want a grumpy kid.
"Ye know her?"
"Know her? O-T… She killed me!" Her roommates winced a little. Rose, through her frown, opened her floodgates of tears. "Waaaah! I did nothing wrong, why did this happen to meeeeee!" She ran upstairs. "I'm the real Amitie!"
Ozzy and O-T left Copy Amitie alone. Deciding it's best for her to cry it out, they've worked out through logic they haven't seen Silvana.
"Aaaaaah!" Arle screamed awake grabbing her neck. Having trouble breathing again. 'All in mah purdy li'l head. All in mah head. It's all in my head…' "Phew… I'm dead, already."
Arle looked around. It's definitely Rose's room. It's a bit messy, pizza boxes in the corner, clothes all over, a guitar covered in dust, of posters of black wearing bands that looks like she'd like.
To her left was a mattress with Rose on it asleep, Arle lying on a bed. Looking at the bed she noticed something. "Still a kid…" She stared at her legs and hands. She felt emotionally mature enough for this to feel wrong… Despite not remembering anything prior to her trip to the tower for her kindergarten exam. She feels likes she should be older.
…
…
Arle tried going back to sleep, trying to overpower the nightmare infesting her. But she couldn't. Not because of the nightmare. There was just something missing. Something in her arms… 'Arms… Arms…' Arle's arms subconsciously went into a hug position.
…
Rose awoke at the sound of Arle crying. To Arle's credit, she kept it as quiet as she could.
"Did it just sink in you won't see your friends and family for a long time?"
Arle started crying louder.
"Sorry, sorry!" Rose stood up to sit on the edge of her bed. Resting her hand on Arle's stomach. "Tell Auntie Ammy what's wrong."
*Sniff* "I don't know. My arms keep doing this." She demonstrated. "And don't know why but it makes me sad." *Sniff*
"Looks like you're trying to hug the air…" *Gasp!* Rose covered her mouth with her hands. "You miss Carbuncle don't ya?" She looked on sympathetically.
"C-Carby? M-Maybe… We haven't known each other that long… Was really cute though…"
"Would you like to know that you are best buddies?"
"Huh?"
"You two are best friends. It wouldn't surprise me if you two didn't cuddle each other to death every night."
"Really?" It made Arle feel a little happier. But she still cried loudly.
"Eeeeh…" Rose lied down next to the grieving kid. "Wanna cuddle with me? Looks like you have a bunny shaped hole in your life." Rose offered gritting her teeth.
Arle listened.
"Um… I know I'm not as cuddly or as cute as Carbuncle… Or a bunny. And I am technically older, and it's a bit awkward. We were just frie-" Arle just started cuddling her, she didn't care.
"Thanks, Ammy. Good night, Ammy."
Rose wrapped her arms around nuzzled her.
Arle went peacefully to sleep.
Arle dreamed the whole night evading a hostile pair of eyes in a sea of curry. One blue, one red…
Author's Notes:
Is Arle in hell?
Is she actually (in a moment of "no duh") Silvana?
Are they both in hell?
Will they recover their memories?
What killed them?
Was it natural causes?
Was it murder?
If so, who murdered them?
Do I like to mislead you?
Is it nice down there?
Are there more familiar faces down there?
Will they leave hell?
Is it even possible?
Does the world need more wannabe edgy Amities?
How deprived was she?
Does Akuma actually love Sil as a family member?
Is he doing abusing her for catharsis?
Class 88?
Who's that oh so mysterious cloaked character?
Do I like to mislead you?
Does Satan think the "Dark Prince" title make him more attractive?
Is this split up into two parts because I like feedback more then I let on and I'm starving?
Do I hate writing non-sad long chapters?
Am I just dipping your toes in this idea?
Am I leaving you hanging to let your speculation run wild?
Do I like to mislead you?
Am I hoping you don't overhype yourself?
Will Arle/Sil's friends finally stop mourning over their dear friend?
Will the Dark Prince be involved?
Who's LeCortez? IRRELEVANT!
Again: Does the world need more wannabe edgy, but still definitely Amitie, Amities? YES!
HOLY BETTER SPELL CHECK THAN USUAL, BATMAN!
Next up: The rest of the chapter...
