Evil stays evil
- Saving souls is exhausting. – says Charlie collapsing onto the bar.
- I know Charlie, but you do a great job! – says Vaggie sitting next to her.
- Thanks Vaggie. – Charlie raises on her elbows - Sometimes I wonder what God thinks about this Hotel and the thing we do. Is he proud? Is he angry? How do we know? – she wonders.
- Look if he hates it then I'm sure we would already know that. He would have already sent back the redeemed. – Vaggie replies.
- I guess you are right. – Charlie smiles gently.
- Gin? – Husk asks.
- No Husk, thank you. – Charlie looks at the bottle with disgust - After that celebration I need to stay away from alcohol for a while.
Suddenly a loud scream can be heard.
- Huskyyy! – Angel runs towards the bar.
- No! – Husk turns away.
- Oh come on, it was such a long day without you. – Angel leans over the bar and tries to kiss Husk but he steps away and crosses his arms in front of him.
- The happiest day of my afterlife. – Husk says.
- Don't be rude! I know you missed me. – Angel looks charmingly at him.
- Hey guys! – Mira arrives looking tired.
- I missed someone else. – Husk's face lights up when he sees Mira - Hello my lady. – he bows gently and smiles at her.
Creepy radio sounds can be heard as Alastor appears out of nowhere behind Husk.
-Ah! – Husk jumps a bit - Don't you scare me like that again you motherfucker! – he snaps at Alastor.
- I am terribly sorry my good friend, I had no intention to do so. – says Alastor with a satisfied smile on his face.
- Yeah, sure. – Husk turns away.
Mira sits next to Angel.
- Husk hit me with a gin tonic please! This day was a mess. – she collapses onto the bar like Charlie did.
- Anything for my lady. – Husk replies.
- Huh your lady yeah? – Angel looks at Husk pissed - I should teach your lady a lesson.
As he is about to rise up and say something to Mira he gets interrupted.
- Here you are! – an angry soul is coming downstairs towards the crew.
- What's wrong Mother Suzanne? - Charlie turns to her smiling.
- What's wrong? WHAT'S WRONG?! – she shouts angrily - Are you serious?
Everyone looks at the nun questioningly.
- Where shall I start. – she says calmly all of a sudden - I've been attending your classes and I've been praying for weeks but yet nothing? – she steps closer to Charlie - No lights, no calling, nothing! – she starts to raise her voice and steps up threateningly - I think that you are all imposters. Why am I not redeemed yet?! – she screams into Charlie's face.
- Calm down Mother. – Charlie says - I'm sure you'll soon get your redemption.
- No she won't! – says a child behind Mother Suzanne.
- Demian? – Charlie looks at the child surprised.
- She is pure evil. She must stay in Hell and suffer for eternity! – Demian shouts angrily.
- Don't say that. – Charlie approaches him.
- You are the devil himself! You should never get redemption! – Mother Suzanne says pitifully.
- Are you sure about that Mother? – Demian holds the eye contact with her - You did bad things too.
Angel watches the whole scene with excitement.
- Did she? – he intervenes - Please tell us little fucker! – Angel enjoys every second of the drama.
- Watch your tongue kid! – the nun says threateningly - You killed an innocent girl!
Demian cannot be frightened that easily. He takes a step closer to the nun.
- Yes I did, I admit it. But I never wanted to do that unlike you! I feel terrible because of it but I cannot change the past. – his eyes are tearful - But Mother, your sins are far worse. – he says.
Charlie feels the urge to interrupt and to calm their anger.
- Demian don't judge, it's not why you are here. – she puts her hand on Demian's shoulder.
- I saw you Mother. – Demian doesn't lose the eye contact - Saw all of your dark businesses.
Angel eats popcorn and watches tensely.
- Oh it's getting more and more interesting. – he says.
Demian takes one more step closer to Mother Suzanne.
- You sold the girls you were responsible for to pimps.
- Shut it! – the nun says angrily.
- And you told the senior Mothers that you found good new homes for them. – Demian continues.
- Wow, that's my competition. – Angel says in the back.
- And the boys? – Demian is still not finished with his story.
- Shut up! – the nun says strongly.
- Let's just say that a certain Father came around several times.
Silence falls upon them. Mother Suzanne is shaking of anger.
- You... – she hisses.
Suddenly clapping can be heard.
- Mother, mother, mother! – Angel claps - Who would've thought? – he smiles pitifully.
- You are the monster here Demian! – the nun screams at him - You are the real monster here. You are all monsters! – she looks around - I don't deserve to be here and God knows it very well. – she looks up to Heaven - Soon he will call for me. You will all rot here and you well deserve that. – the nun says with eyes circulating in blood - Demian you'll burn here for eternity and you deserve it you monster child. No wonder why your parents had left you at the orphanage! – she hisses - And you Princess. – she turns to Charlie - This hotel is a joke. You are all evil souls. You play God here but you are just pathetic. – she stands next to the stairway - I hope that you all will pay for the bad things that you did! God will judge you all!
At that very moment a loud noise can be heard and a giant thunderbolt hits the nun. She vanishes and only ashes left after her. Everyone stands still in a shock.
- What was that? – Mira asks quietly.
- Hahaha this was hilarious! – Angel start to laugh - God really punishes evil, see Mother? – he laughs and flaps his knees.
- Demian are you okay? – Charlie looks at the kid.
- I am. – he replies a bit sadly.
- You know admitting your sins is the first step. – Charlie sits on her heels next to him and hugs him tight - Good job! I'm proud of you.
At first Demian is surprised. No one ever said anything like that to him. He hugs Charlie back and smiles. His angry eyes are soft now and tearful. Charlie's love fills his little heart and for the first time in his life he feels safe.
Suddenly a light shine upon the two of them. The others hold their breaths in wonderment. A you girl appears next to Demian.
- Lilly? – he looks at the girl with surprise.
- Yes it's me, Demian. – the little girl answers. Her hair is blonde and silky. She has a gentle smile. A true angel. Demian lets Charlie go and turns to Lilly.
- I'm so sorry what I did. I never wanted to kill you… - he looks down to his feet sadly.
- I know. – Lilly says smiling - It's okay, I forgive you. Come with me! We can play together forever. – she offers her hand to Demian. He turns to Chalie.
- Do I have to go? – he asks sadly - I like being here with you.
- I know how you feel. – says Charlie - But you will be happy in the light.
- Promise? – he looks at Charlie.
- Promise. – Charlie smiles at him. He hugs her one more time.
- I love you Princess. – he whispers into her ears.
- I love you too. – Chalie says - Now go!
Charlie lets Demian go. Everyone watches as he holds Lilly's hand and both vanish in the light.
- Ah not again… - Angel sniffs and takes out a tissue.
- Are you okay Charlie? – Vaggie asks standing next to her.
- I'm fine. – replies she with tearful eyes, still watching the light.
- Come, let's take a rest. This was emotionally exhausting. – Vaggie holds her hand, and they go upstairs.
- I guess I call it a night too. – Angel gets up of his seat - Husky! Don't you want to join me in the hot tub? – he turns to Husk and asks him seductively.
- You guessed it right. – Husk replies and leaves.
- You are so mean to me! – Angel says offended - Al! I'm counting on you, come join me!
- Thank you for you kind invitation but I have to refuse it. – with that Alastor leaves the hotel.
- Fine! Your loss then! Good night! - Angel rushes upstairs.
Mira steps out to the garden alone. Another redemption, another day has passed.
„I've never thought that I would do this to a kid." – thinks Mira looking up to the dark sky. – „But I have to keep going. This is the only way to achieve my dream."
There are only one week left till the Cleanse. The question is: will it actually happen this year? If it would not happen, then it means a huge success to Charlie and her dream. That would mean the redemptions not only save the lives of the demons going up to heaven, but also the ones who stay in Hell. „How amazing it would be to finish my…"
- Long day darling? – Alastor appears behind her interrupting her thinking.
- Oh Al! – Mira turns around in a surprise - Didn't know you were here.
- It is alright, I guess I shall leave you alone now. – Alastor turns away from her.
- No! Actually I'm happy that you talk to me. – Mira says - I though you won't do that ever again.
Alastor's smile widens and he slowly turns back to face Mira.
- Of course I do my dear. I know I've acted strange recently, but you have to understand that.
- I do understand, and I'm also glad that you are not angry with me. – she gets embarrassed as she recalls what happened on the party - You see I just wanted my pin back.
- Talking about the pin you have. May I ask you how you get that? – Alastor asks watching her reaction curiously. Mira gets tense. Looking at Alastor she feels that he already knows the answer.
- I assume that you know exactly what it symbolize. – she replies confidently.
- Hmmm. Maybe. – Alastor answers with a charming look on his face. Mira turns away blushing.
- I think I don't need to say anything because you already know everything. – she says a bit disappointed.
- If so, then it only means one thing. – Alastor stands next to her.
- That our contract has come to an end and you take my soul? – she looks up to him questioningly.
- Ahaha no no no no no, you are too much of an entertainment to me sweetheart.- he looks at her meaningfully.
- I don't know whether I should be thankful or worried. How I should respond to that?
- You shouldn't. – Alastor looks straight - Let's move on like nothing has happened.
- That I can agree to. – as she turns around to leave she touches Alastor's shoulder in a friendly way. He grabs her wrist. A black shadow appears behind him.
Kill, kill, kill – Alastor hears a voice in his head.
- Al? – Mira looks at Alastor surprised. He regains consciousness and lets her go.
- Sorry my dear, I go now to perform my duties. – He takes a step away from her and walks to the door. Suddenly he turns around - By the way that dress looked stunning on you at the ball.
Mira looks at him surprised. Alastor smiles and leaves.
„How come he remembers the ball now?"