Chapter 5
Mutilation
Vanessa ran as fast as her legs would carry her, seeing Hell's Offices approaching quickly. She slowed as she came to the door, catching her breath, before opening it. Idiot came up quickly behind her and slouched, catching her breath.
"Well. You seem to be.. *wheeze* To be in quite a hurry to lose a fucking limb. *pant*" Idiot tried to say with sarcasm.
"I'm sorry! I just was nervous about being late. Like, what the fuck would Aries do then?" Vanessa stated, quickly and nervously.
"Yeah. That. I forgot. It seems that I'm still a little off from drinking earlier," Idiot said, trying not to puke.
Vanessa continued to hold the door for Idiot.
"Thanks." Idiot said, entering the building.
Vanessa followed quietly behind, making her way to her ex-boss' office. Once they reached the office there was a tall slender demon. Its long neck extended to meet Idiot's eyes.
"Are you the quitter?" the demon hissed.
"No sir, that's me," Vanessa stated quickly.
The demons' attention quickly darted to face Vanessa, his eyes focusing on her.
"You will need to follow me," he said, gesturing at Vanessa.
"Yes sir," Vanessa hummed, squeezing Idiot's shoulder before leaving.
Idiot stood watching the demon lead off her friend.
"Sorry I can't come with you! I'll see you from the catwalk!" Idiot shouted.
Vanessa glanced over her shoulder and nodded. The demon led her through the hallways till they were met by a big black door, decorated with scenes of her ex boss' atrocities.
"You will need to walk alone. Just keep going until you see the light of the fire and the roars of your fellow demons." the demon hissed.
"Okay.. Thank you, sir," Vanessa hummed as she moved past him into a long dark hallway. She could hear the roars and screeches of other demons and see the faint light of fire. She made her way down the hall and pushed open the door, met with deafening sounds and bright, blazing fire.
Idiot stood from the catwalk, staring into the pit. The sounds of the screeching demons almost deafened her. She saw Vanessa walk out of the opening and the roars intensified.
Vanessa walked into the center of the room, and saw Aries and Mary standing there, waiting for her to join them. She trotted over to them and stood in front of her boss.
"TODAY WE HAVE A COWARD!" He roared. "TODAY WE HAVE A QUITTER! ANOTHER USELESS PIECE OF SHIT LEAVING OUR PROTECTION!'
The roaring of the excited demons intensifies. Vanessa sinks back, the screeches hurting her ears. Mary grabbed the arm Vanessa chose to get rid of, yanking her against a board and cuffing it to a bench. She went around, tying the rest of her arms behind her back and forcing her to kneel.
"FOR THIS, THEY NEED TO PAY US BACK FOR WHAT THEY HAVE TAKEN FROM US!" He continued. "THIS SPIDER WILL RELIEVE HERSELF OF HER ARM AND ALL RIGHTS TO WORK HERE! SHE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE OUR APARTMENTS AND LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE SO SHE CANT LEACH OFF US ANYMORE!"
The screeches of demons grew louder and the ground started to shake as they began to stomp.
"MY DAUGHTER WILL HAVE THE HONORS OF RIDDING THIS PEST OF HER ARM!" he shouted gesturing to Mary. Mary sighed and readied her weapon, raising it to start the first blow.
The demons started counting down:
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
Vanessa screamed in agony as the first blow sliced through her skin and began to crack her bone. The screams of demons grew louder, drowning out Vanessa's cries as Mary rose her weapon again.
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
Vanessa screamed again, louder this time, as the blade had nearly cut through her bone. Idiot covered her ears, but couldn't look away from her friend. Mary, with what seemed to be tears in her eyes, brought up her weapon again. The demons screamed louder, chanting:
"3!"
"2!"
"1!"
Vanessa screamed, for the last time, as the blade of the weapon sliced through the rest of her arm. Idiot stood, frozen on the catwalk. Mary knelt down crying, dropping her weapon.
"THE PRICE HAS BEEN PAID!" He shouted.
Vanessa muttered to Mary, "Please, untie me before I lose too much blood."
Mary untied Vanessa as her father started to speak again. The screech of demons silenced as he raised his hand.
Vanessa pulled Mary into a hug. "Thank you. You are strong."
"O-Okay I-" Mary said, choking on her tears.
"Today we have lost a pest to us. And to celebrate, I would like to introduce to you my heir!"
Mary shifted to stand up.
"MY SON!" Aries shouted, as he helped up a small goat child.
Mary froze, confused, not prepared for this part, having no idea in the first place. Vanessa wrapped an arm around her shoulder, trying her best to comfort her.
"My daughter has shown that she is unfit to run this place, so I have decided that my son will take her place when he is older," Aries announced.
"Un-unfit?" Mary grumbled, trying to recoup.
"The old bastard doesn't know what he's talking about," Vanessa said as calmly as possible.
Aries uncuffed the amputated arm and handed it to the child.
"This shall be his first trophy! Now. That is all I needed you fools for. So GET BACK TO WORK!" Aries shouted as he took off with the boy and disappeared into the dark hallway leading to his office. Mary stood for a while before following later. The demon from before came and took Vanessa out of the pit and met her up with Idiot, who was waiting. Vanessa's vision had begun to blur. The amount of blood that she had lost was uncanny and taking its toll. She fell to her knees in front of Idiot as she passed out.