Chapter 7

Mira

- Okay, sexshop it is. – Mira stands in front of a huge shop with many many neon lights on it. The signs are vibrating saying: „Not a sin in Hell!" - Father if you are watching now, please forgive me for this. – she sighs – Ah, whatever I'm in Hell anyway.

The shop is bright pink. Three floors full of sex toys, creams and other stuff.

- Hello! – Mira says quietly.

- Good day miss! How can I help you? – the shopkeeper greets her.

- Uhm can I have a minute to get comfortable? – Mira says blushed.

- Sure, take a look around. – the shopkeeper leaves her alone. It is embarrasing to shop in a place like this.

- This is gonna be way more difficult, than I expected. Soooo many colours and shapes. – she looks around and some clothes stuck to her eyes - Wow cosplays! Okay maybe this one suits Angel.

Mira reaches for a maid costume when someone clears her throat behind her.

- He has it. – says the familiar voice.

Mira doesn't turn around. This time she reaches for a slutty nurse costume.

- That one too. – says the voice again.

Mira turns around to face Cherry Bomb.

- Could you help me then? – Mira says annoyed.

- Well if you ask me that nicely. – Cherry Bomb crosses her arms in front of her torso.

- Okay sorry, I know you are not a fan of me, just like Angel but please. I could really use your help! – Mira says. She was sure that Angel has more sex toys than this shop offers, but what else could she buy to him? Cherry Bomb was looking at Mira for a second wondering whether she truly cares about the present or not.

- Hm. So you need a present for Angel. – says she - This is not the right place to get one for him.

- Really? – says Mira sceptically.

- You want my help or not? – asks Cherry Bomb.

- Okay, yes I do. – Mira replies.

Cherry Bomb takes a step closer to Mira. She is staring into her eyes, waiting to see the change of them, but nothing happens.

- Let me tell you something about Angel. – she whispers - He is an amazing person. Better than you are miss.

- Please tell me more about him. – Mira says while she is not breaking the eye contact.

Cherry Bomb takes a step back and moves towards the exit. Mira stays at one place.

- Come on! We don't have all day! – Cherry Bomb gestures.

They are walking on the streets for some minutes silently. They reach the outskirt of the city, where the houses are ruined and the people are very poor. Cherry Bomb stops in front of a building. Finally she breaks the silence.

- This was the first house we have stayed in. – she says as they enter the building - Angel helped me a lot, when I had arrived to Hell. – she touches the counter in the kitchen - I was alone, and in a deep depression. I tried to hurt myself badly. – she touches the scars on her arms - I thought that if I die again I get back to Life. Stupid thought, right? Well I was that desperate.

They go upstairs. The walls are soaky and the wallpaper is teared down. The wind is blowing in the stairway whistling through the broken windows. Mira follows Cherry Bomb silently.

- One day he found me in an alley. Drugged, crying and bleeding. I had unbelievable pain. – they enter the bedroom. - He brought me here. This bed was my home for many days. Angel took care of my wounds and my soul. – Cherry Bomb gently touches the sheet on the bed - When I was ready he showed me around. We had a great time. We were partying like crazy, but he was always there, looking out for me. – she smiles into the mirror, which is hanging on the wall. - Then he met Valentino. – her face darkens - We were happy, because he had a job, and we really needed the money. At that time, we didn't know the price he had to pay. At first it was just stripping, nothing more. There was a lot of money in it. He looked up to Valentino. He thought that he is a savior to us. That he just wanted to help us, and meant no harm. – they go back downstairs. The air in the house is musty and heavy. The old furnitures in the livingroom are covered in dust. They sure have seen better days.

- Then Valentino hit him once. Angel said that it's okay, Valentino apologized. But I knew that something was not right. – Cherry Bomb walks up to the kitchen wall - Then he hit him again. – she hits the wall full-power - I told Angel that it is not a normal thing to do, but he defended him. Afterward Valentino rapped him. Still in Angel's eyes this relationship was normal. Angel admired Valentino as a hero. – Cherry Bomb spits on the floor – „He helps us a lot" he said. I tried to convince him, that this is not healthy at all. Angel was not listening. He was acting like nothing has happened. He was working even harder. Thereafter he was forced to have sex with clients. There was no escaping.

Mira opens her mouth as she is about to say something, but then she doesn't. There is nothing to say. A sorry could not make all the pain disappear.

- One day Valentino rapped him again, and beat him rough. Angel could not walk or sit for days. He was lying and crying on the same bed as I did before. Of course I helped him. I healed his wounds and I was awake all night long lying next to him so when he had a nightmare I could cuddle him tight. Valentino never visited him, but he kept on calling on the phone shouting and asking when Angel could get back to work. – Cherry Bomb's voice shakes in anger. She clenches her fists - I was furious. The only thing I could do is to talk and talk and talk to Angel. Thank Lucifer he listened to me and stood up for himself. It was rough. Valentino was, and still is mad at him. He sent his dogs after us. We had to leave our home and we were always on the run. Finally we found a new house on the other end of the city. – they exit the house and walk back towards the city center - I started to work, fighting the overlords, head-hunting so I was busy most of the time. Angel was alone all day. He never left the house. He tried to be invisible to the world. – they reach the shopping center. They walk among the demons, passing each shop slowly.– One day I found a little pink pigglet in an alley. I knew immediately, that this little pet could help him. I took it home, and he named him Fat Nuggets. That was love at first sight. I could work peacefully, knowing that he is not alone anymore. Fat Nuggets helped him more than anyone could have. After a long time Angel met the Princess and everything has changed. He has found a new home and a new family. He would never admit it, but he loves the Hotel and everyone in it. Okay maybe not everyone, because you are there.

- Hey! – Mira interrupts.

- Let's face it cutie, you didn't start well. – Cherry Bomb says.

- Maaaaaybee, but I try my best to change the judgement. – Mira replies.

Suddenly Cherry Bomb stops in front of a shop.

- Here we are. – says she looking at the sign.

- This is a petshop. – says Mira looking at the sign too.

- Nice recognition cutie. It is indeed a petshop. – Cherry Bomb says mockingly.

- What could I possibly buy here for Angel? – Mira asks.

- Were you not listening? – Cherry Bomb says in disbelief - As I already told you Fat Nuggets makes him the happiest man in Hell. – Cherry Bomb places her hand on the handle of the door and looks Mira in the eye - So let's buy something fun to it!