Welcome Back! It has been quite a bit of time. Finishing up school, and going on my little vacation since the last time since I have released a bit. I did drag my feet on this one, but I hope it is worth the wait. I did end up grinding through the end to get it out right now. It is fucking late (or early) depending on viewpoint.

I am going to rush through this part. Now, onto Guest Reviews:

Guest #1: No harem or thee way please. Only loona x kyle please

Response: Sorry, guy. I have sort of already settled. The Loona x Kyle camp, overall, decided to be disrespectful, so I decided to go against it.

Guest #2: Thank you for the update. I can't wait for next chapter. Will in the next 2 chapters kyle and loona spend more time together? I really can't wait for the romance to begin

Response: Well, no more waiting. Sorry about that. As for will they spend more time together? I guess you will have to find out. Just know that something needed to be addressed before anything between Loona and the OC could happen.

ReadingBeta (Guest): Update soon.

Response: Update is now! XD

Guest #3: Will verosika and blitz get back together after this last one has realized that he has been a dork with her?

Response: No. I have stated what is going to happen for Verosika countless times. I refer you to look at those questions/answers. I don't think that would be a realistic development anyways. Way too much toxicity.

Guest #4: "not that she had much of an opportunity to be when she found out. Her lust when she found out stopped in its tracks when she found it out"

Feel like you used "when she found out" one too many times here.

Response: I fixed it when I saw this (I think). Let me know if I didn't, and I will.

Guest #5: You know, I had a feeling Loona might run into Verosika, but not even I could imagine the insanity the two of them would have to work through to make their escape! This whole chapter was a blast!

As much as I want Kyle and I.M.P (Especially Moxxie) to put Striker in his place in the Harvest Moon Festival, I don't mind waiting for your updates.

Have a great trip!

Response: I wasn't hiding it too hard. It was meant to show that they are their own characters, and will continue to be. Glad you enjoyed the chapter. Harvest Moon will start Chapter 15, hope you can wait for it!

My trip was fucking great. I miss it already. Thanks!

Bat (Guest): Your story pretty good.

Response: Thank you!

Guest #6: To Bobbiboy101,

I'm sorry you feel that way and I can see where you're coming from. But I guess the main reason I think the harem between Kyle, Loona, and Verosika (In my opinion) would work isn't because of my personal opinion: it's more that I don't see Kyle as a heart breaker. In Loona's case, he treats her like a person and not a servant, and while she's no damsel in distress, he'll help her fight (like in chapter 8.).

As for Verosika, maybe she'll start feeling more of a genuine attraction as opposed to just using him for her lustful intent. Also, on an unrelated note, I'm glad she knows how to fight!

Response: To Bobbiboy101, I am sure you read this already. To the actual reviewer, good points. I have thoroughly thought things through, and even had discussions with multiple people on how to make the pairing work. I have worked hard to figure things out. Thank you for the good notes, though!

Guest #7: I just take the chapters as they come, and you've delivered consistently!

Response: Oops. XD Not this one! Technically I had a trip, and it took me about 2 weeks to write this one. Still, should be somewhat consistent again.

Dingo (Guest): Are we gonna see Striker soon?

Response: Chapter 15. I hope to write him well. Should be a good antagonist to cover!

Guest #8: Rereading this story from the beginning, I can definitely agree with the guest who reviewed on January 28th that Robin Atkin Downes (Travis Touchdown) would be a really good choice for voicing Kyle in your story!

Response: Yeah, not a bad choice. Glad to see you are rereading it! Content must be at least somewhat good, then.

Guest #9 (#8?): I really like your choices for Kyle's voice actor in the story! I can easily see any of them playing the part!

Response: Just assuming you are the same Guest reviewer as before. Well, it is all about interpretation. Feel free to think of your own voice for him, too!

Guest #10: Kind of glad that there wasn't as much chaos for Loona getting her syphilis shot on Earth. I was actually chuckling at some of the parallels with her between the most recent episode and this chapter, though I found your chapter to be a bit of fresh air considering it came out first and it was more of an isolated plot than in the show.

Also, poor Kyle. I can't imagine going through something like that. A wound like that require more than time for healing up.

Response: That is me. Fixing isolations. And Kyle will manage. XD

Guest #11: I actually think it works to the advantage of the story to not have Stella be drawn to Kyle at first sight, mostly because she really does see herself as above everyone else. As seen in the brief interaction where she insults Loona and Kyle has to gently keep her in line, she will not hold back her temper. Though I'm kind of hoping that the show does delve more into Octavia's relationship with Stella, it might be significantly later. Though I doubt it may happen, it would be hilarious if Stella does invite Kyle during one of Octavia's stays. In that case, tackling it in a much later chapter in your story might be the best course of action since you already have some anticipated chapters ahead.

P.S: Are you enjoying your overseas trip?

Response: Trip was great (I was back by the time your review rolled around). I hope to cover more of their interactions later... Maybe. I appreciate the analysis, though!

...

Side note: I made corrections for Blitzo's name when spoken versus through narration to ease reading for this chapter and the entire story. Hope you enjoy the change.

That is it. Onto the chapter now! :)

Chapter 13: Away With the Old

Like many times before, I found myself looking out the window toward the uninteresting sights that Hell had to offer. I would say that it was rather peaceful out there, but that would be me lying. It was rather chaotic in the streets of this city, and it wasn't that different when compared to Imp City. Instead of most of the denizens being Imps, it was mostly Sinners. On top of that, the buildings seemed to have a little more 'character'. They had bright, blinking lights that became an eyesore after a bit of time.

Similarly, I found out that the ride through the city was not peaceful. I sat alone in the back of Blitzo's van. What should have just been a trip for only me and Loona evolved into a trio. This time, Blitzo decided to inject himself into the mix, and that only served to sour Loona's mood. She spent a lot of the time glancing at the Imp through the side of her eye with ire.

The looks that Blitzo was receiving were completely ignored by the Imp. Instead, he was letting out his frustrations at the traffic situation that we were dealing with. He screamed out of his window, "Get out of the way, you fat old BITCH!" He pulled his head back into the cabin of the vehicle before he muttered, "I can't believe I am dealing with this horse shit instead of enjoying some alone time in my office. No, instead I am driving through the Pentagram at peak traffic."

I barely glanced over toward Loona out of the side of my eye. I could practically see her blood pressure skyrocket while her hair and fur stood on end. Her pupils contracted with a look of rage once she gazed over at her adoptive father. She practically screamed out, "No one asked you to fucking come, Blitz! You decided to join because you can't stand not being able to control me! This was just supposed to be Kyle and me."

Blitzo offhandedly stated, "Big deal, he is going to see that ex of his that he killed. I don't know why that means you can take my shit without telling me."

Loona's anger increased while a worrisome glance met my dulled one. She looked back at Blitzo before saying, "Because you don't understand what it means to be there for someone else when they need you."

The Imp let out a laugh, "HA! Where was any of this concern when I was having my moments, Loony? It is almost like you care more about him than your old man."

With an annoyed roll of her eyes, Loona said, "Yeah, sure. Let's go with that. Whatever will shut you up quicker."

Blitzo's amused expression turned to one that was faux hurt, "I was just kidding, Loony Toony. To think that you don't care about me…" He trailed off before smiling, "I know that you have always been there for me." In my mind, I felt like that statement was false, or at least under some delusion of the Imp boss. I didn't even respond while Loona let out a small huff while avoiding his gaze.

Blitzo then said softly before increasing in volume, "Besides, I am only tagging along because you wound up going to the mansion of the rich owl fucker the last time you BORROWED MY VAN! WHY WON'T THESE ASSHOLES DRIVE FORWARD?!"

There was a moment of silence other than Blitzo's fuming where everyone seemed to look in different directions. While I didn't care for conversations happening around me, I would have appreciated it if I wasn't the center of it all. I should have been angered by Blitzo's rather blunt thought about this entire trip, but I was preoccupied with my own anxiety. This didn't go unnoticed by the Hellhound.

Loona turned to look over at me with an annoyed expression still present on her features. When she got a good look at my distant gaze, her eyes softened. She then asked softly, "Are you doing okay, Kyle? You haven't said anything since we left."

I nodded slightly before responding, "Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I am just a little preoccupied with my thinking. I just don't know what to expect when I see Larissa again. She has probably been the greatest love of my life."

Unbeknownst to me, Loona's gaze shifted to one of jealousy. Her ears drooped a little while she resisted the urge to show similar annoyance to when Blitzo was talking. It took great patience on her part not to say something that she would regret, or even let out a growl. However, the fabric of Blitzo's seating couldn't withstand her claws tearing through it.

She turned around so that I couldn't see her face while she spoke politely through her teeth, "I am sure that you have nothing to-"

Seeing where it was going, Blitzo decided to interject, "If I were you, I would prepare for the worst. When you go up to her place, expect the bitch to be taking cock in all of the holes."

I clenched my jaw and looked over at Blitzo furiously. My hand grasped onto the hilt of my sword that was resting beside me. My threatening stance was ignored by the Imp, but Loona had a bit of a more explosive reaction. She yelled, "What the actual fuck, Blitz! Can't you keep your shitty advice to yourself?!"

The Imp continued, "Trust me, kid." 'Kid'? Not sure how I felt about it, but I didn't dwell too much on it while he continued, "I am just preparing you for the disappointment you are going to find when we finally get there. Hell changes your kind into some of the sickest, most twisted bastards. If you expect the worst to always happen, you will never be disappointed."

I snorted, "Yeah, sure… It definitely seems to be working very well for you."

Loona smiled a little while letting out a small chuckle. Blitzo, on the other hand, was far from amused, "Hey! My life is going great. I am only one of a very few Hellborn that enjoys his work." He then smiled and leaned over to Loona before saying, "I also have the greatest daughter a father could ask for." Loona growled out at this comment as she looked like she was about to maul the Imp where he sat. However, she was unable to do anything before he went on a tangent while turning to gaze at me in the review mirror, "I just want to know how the fuck you even managed to find this bitch. Whose rod did you have to lubricate to find her?"

Glaring at him, I said, "What makes you so sure that I got help with this?"

"I know how things work down here, Rookie. Information, especially of the kind you were looking for, can only come from certain places, and it isn't cheap. Seeing as I don't pay you nearly enough for that,-"

I mumbled, "Even though a good portion of your income right now is because of me…"

Blitzo continued without missing a beat, "you must have jacked someone off." His eyes practically craved the idea of knowing as he gazed back at me, "Tell me who it was!"

I pinched the bridge of my nose before letting out an aggravated breath. I responded in a frustrated tone, "I didn't do any of that." I looked over to Loona for any hint of help, but even as she stood silently, I could tell that she was wondering somewhat of a similar thing that the Imp was. Obviously, not the same sexual thoughts about it that Blitzo had, but she was curious as to how I could have found one Sinner out of billions.

I exhaled. This could be a good way to take my mind off of my nerves during this drive. With that small rationalization, I said, "I don't really know what to make of the entire thing. Even though I refused the offer of a deal with the guy, he still helped me along the right path. I doubt it was out of the kindness of his heart if he even has any. There was just something about him that was completely unsettling."

Loona inquired, "Why do you say that?"

"He just said that the entertainment he would get out of me was more than enough payment to help me find Larissa."

Quite a few days ago…

I sat in a quiet dark space that I shared with a lot of other Sinner demons. Despite sticking out like a sore thumb, none of them seemed interested in bothering me. I don't know if it was because of the sword currently strapped on my back, or if it was because of the character sitting across from me. Even compared to the company we kept he stood out as a more menacing figure. He wasn't any bigger than anyone else, nor did he seem to have any larger claws or teeth than the others. Still, there was something rather insidious about him compared to other Sinners.

I stared across the small, circular table at the figure I came to meet. The Sinner has dressed rather dapper yet dated getup, something that seemed to be right out of the 1930s. His red suit, monocle, and black bowtie matched his black dress pants and pointed shoes. He sported a haircut that was similar in color to the rest of his outfit as if it were tailored specifically for him, which I seemed to notice was a quality that a lot of Sinners seemed to share. The most interesting thing about him was the microphone at the end of a thin cane from which he projected his voice to make it sound like it was coming right from an old radio.

I had just briefly explained why I was meeting him. A chuckle emitted from the figure across from me as if he were amused by my predicament. He then spoke in his static voice, "There is nothing more tragic than the story of lost love, my boy. There is always good entertainment in tragedy."

There was not much choice that I had other than enduring this commentary. I needed his help, so I held onto my tongue. Not only that, but I doubt he would react much to my anger. There was something about him that seemed to indicate that he would only smile at my frustration. Maybe it was the sharp-toothed smile that never seemed to go away.

I let out an unamused grunt before saying, "If you say so."

The Sinner continued, "It seems like Hell is getting even more exciting by the day, haha! I thought that the silly little hotel for redemption was as wacky as it could get. I am happy to know that was wrong! I mean, a human roaming around with all of us loathsome bunch! These are exciting times, indeed."

I responded, "I am glad that I could brighten your day up, uhh…"

The Sinner introduced himself, "Alastor, and pleased to meet you!" He stuck out his gloved hand for me to shake. A small shiver rolled up my spine, and I held up my hand rejecting his offer to shake. This only seemed to deepen the smile of the Sinner.

I continued, "Kyle. What I wanted to say is that I am glad that I could brighten up your day, but I didn't come here to be an actor in some showpiece for you."

Alastor seemed to revel in the seriousness of my demeanor. He chuckled, "Of course not! You came here because you wanted something. If I had to guess, you would like my help to find your lost gal friend. Does that sound about right?" His smile deepened once again to show his many sharp teeth.

"Yeah, that sounds about right."

Alastor sounded jovial about my confirmation, "Locating the gal should be no problem at all! It should only take me a couple of days."

My eyes narrowed a little bit by how willing he was to help me. Something was off here, and I knew exactly what it was. I said, "I assume that you are wanting me to give you something in return."

Alastor raised a brow before saying, "Has anyone ever told you how perceptive you can be?"

I shrugged my shoulder before saying, "It has come up before."

Without acknowledging my response, Alastor simply continued, "We can skip all the nonsense on how you can return the favor. I have the means to help you, and I will figure out how you can return the favor. Hmm? Does that sound like a deal?"

With that said, the Sinner extended his hand out to me, and it began to glow a green color. I could feel the pulsing of energy coming from it. It felt like a sudden wind or energy was beginning to emit from Alastor while he awaited my response. It was hard to figure out which.

I could tell that it was the wrong move to accept the deal, and therefore shaking hands with the dealmaker. I had seen enough media to know that making a deal would only spell major trouble for me later down the line. That trouble would also most likely be me serving this Sinner or much, much worse. However, I had the urge to accept his offer regardless of what could happen to me.

Larissa was the greatest love of my life. I had known her most of my life. She was the first one that I remember dating seriously, and she was my first kiss. We shared many firsts with one another, and the last one was conceiving a child together. The fact that she didn't get to experience more and that it was all my fault… I had to do whatever it took to find her.

I felt myself beginning to sweat. The droplets began to fall down my forehead and temples, and even roll down my back. I didn't even realize that all of the other Sinners in the room were looking over at Alastor and me while covering their faces from the energy. I continued to stare intently at the outstretched hand while I contemplated my next move. Alastor continued to wait with a patient grin.

I could feel myself fighting every fiber of my being to accept the deal, but the familiar voice of Azazel pounded through my head, "No! Do not shake the Sinner's hand."

My eyes widened at the voice, and how he was able to communicate with me like this. While I was confused as to how it was happening, I didn't respond vocally. Instead, I intentionally thought back, "How are you-"

Azazel's voice cut me off, "Long story short, we are connected through the blade. Now is not the time to discuss this. If you shake the Radio Demon's hand, you will find yourself suffering a fate worse than Hell. DO NOT ACCEPT THE DEAL!"

I could feel my face scrunch into a scowl while I remained silent. I could sense that Alastor was getting a hint of my conversation with Azazel. The Sinner cocked his head in interest while his grin never disappeared. He did nothing other than that for the moment.

I argued back against Azazel, "If there is any hope that I will be able to find Larissa, I must take my shot!"

"There will be other opportunities to find her, and it won't come tied to the demonic wishes of a dealmaker! I assure you that you won't like what happens if you shake his hand, and I won't either. You will be condemning yourself while increasing his power!" I began to chew the inside of my mouth in thought. I could feel everything struggle within me to make a decision, but I remained motionless. Azazel continued, "This is how guys like him work. You won't even get a real chance to have your peace."

I closed my eyes with frustration before I growled out. I pounded my fist on the table, and this caused Alastor to drop his hand. The swirl of energy immediately ceased. Now, the Sinner waited for the reasoning behind my rejecting the deal. He waited in silence.

I finally breathed out to say, "I won't accept your deal. I want nothing more than to find Larissa, but accepting your deal can't be the way." Alastor seemed amused by my frustration while showing no signs of disappointment. I followed up with, "I guess that is it, then."

I began to get up from my seat, and the Radio Demon hummed out loud in thought. He then said, "It has been quite some time since I have been a part of something this dramatic! It is too much of a shame to let it end so… anticlimactically."

I turned around with confusion, "What do you mean?"

Alastor stood up while explaining, "You are an actor in a scene who is about to reach the climax of his story. As one who spent their entire life and afterlife pursuing only the purest forms of entertainment, it would be an insult not to help you along your way."

I was not more confused than before, "What? I am not going to accept any deal you are offering."

Alastor chuckled at me, "You misunderstand me. I am not offering you a deal, nor is this out of some selfless kindness from the bottom of my heart. Haha! That would be foolish of you to think that!" I crossed my arms while I waited to see where he was going with this. He began to explain, "I want to take the part of the audience. To do that, I need someone new to act as your aid. I believe the young hopeful at the hotel should fill that role perfectly."

I wasn't exactly pleased with the idea of going along to meet someone else, especially if I had to continue to be in the presence of this guy. Seeing as I had Azazel's attention for this, I asked through my mind, "What do you think? Should I trust him for this?"

I could practically hear the pleasure in Azazel's voice, "Yes… Go along with him and play your part. I know exactly where you are going, and who you are about to meet."

I could tell by the tone that I wasn't going to get any further explanation from the Fallen speaking in my head. Seeing as this was my only realistic option in finding Larissa without risking myself in a deal, I nodded in agreement to follow along with Alastor. With a wave of his hand, a portal opened up for us to walk through, "Excellent! I should thoroughly enjoy the performance!"

Moments Later…

After walking through the portal, I found myself in a uniquely designed lobby area of a hotel. Everything felt very out of date while also having the usual Hell design spin that made everything feel just a little darker. For something that was supposed to house Sinners who wished for redemption, like some sort of shelter, there was a surprising lack of anyone around. Actually, it was completely void of anyone when Alastor and I walked through the front door after arriving.

I felt completely in the dark about who I was going to meet up with as I idly wandered around the room looking at all of the pictures on the walls. Many of them just seemed to be family portraits of some noble girl. If I had to make an educated guess, she must be the one who ran this place.

Soon, my thinking seemed to be disrupted by the sound of walking. I turned around to see that the population of the room had doubled. Two female demons, both who looked rather normal compared to others that lived here, walked in. The best way to describe the first one was that she looked to be an older version of the little girl in the portraits but was now wearing a nice suit with a black bowtie, red jacket, and pants with a white shirt and shoes. Her skin was snow white with rosy cheeks, and long blonde hair that was banded together. She looked rather friendly from what I could tell.

The other girl, in comparison, seemed to be rather stressed and cold in her looks. She had grayish skin, long white hair, and a large red bow tied to the back of it. Her top was similar in color to the others. She, however, sported a darker-colored skirt along with long fingerless gloves and thigh-high stockings. Her eyes seemed to stare daggers wherever they looked. Right now, they were peering right at the smiling Alastor.

The gray-skinned girl spoke with a serious tone, "I should have known that it was you coming in." She then looked over at me before a little shock overcame her. She quickly collected herself before looking back toward the Radio Demon, "And what is this?! You better have a good explanation for bringing him here! Just what game are you playing?!"

By the time she was done speaking, she was already up in Alastor's face while fuming. On the other end, Alastor only gave a toothy smile at her being so wound up. He only responded with his usual level of enthusiasm, "I am only playing the best game there is, my dear."

Feeling very put off by being here, there was a small urge to disappear into the darkness. My wishes were never going to be met, however, as the other female seemed to approach me with unmatchable enthusiasm. I scanned her up and down once she got up close to me while she smiled broadly. She said, "Wowzers! I have never met a living human before! I have heard about you all over the news!"

I didn't know how to respond to this level of positivity. It's been months before I witnessed emotions this strong that didn't involve hatred, anger, or murder. I found my mouth agape while I uttered, "Uhh…"

The other girl, who had been paying her mind toward Alastor, shifted her attention over to the one in front of me. She quickly approached us while the demon she left behind smirked. Now, he was able to watch and enjoy. The girl walked over and said, "Charlie, be careful of him. You don't know why Alastor brought him here." She scanned me over before narrowing her gaze and saying, "He even has an angelic weapon with him." Out of nowhere, the girl pulled out a spear to point at me. She added, "If Alastor brought him here, I don't trust him."

The other one, Charlie, tried to defuse the situation since she could see me tense up to draw my weapon. She mediated, "Relax, Vaggie. I know that Al usually plays games that end in a mess that we must deal with, but this feels different from the other times."

Vaggie didn't seem swayed, but she dropped her weapon. After she did this, I released the hold of the hilt of my sword as I continued to listen to the two. They didn't seem particularly bothered that I was listening in on their conversation. Vaggie said, "I know… That doesn't mean it isn't just another game that he is playing."

Out of nowhere, it seemed like Alastor got in the middle of the two before pulling them into himself. He exclaimed, "Of course, you are right, my dear! This poor lad needed some help, and I found it to be a prime opportunity for some good entertainment!"

It seemed as if both Vaggie and I had the same look while we gazed upon the Radio Demon. I wasn't pleased to be roped into some sort of mess while the female Sinner just seemed to dislike Alastor. Vaggie seethed out, "Te cortaré el cuello mientras duermes."

Alastor's smile deepened at what sounded like a threat. He then said, "Weren't you two in the business of helping others?"

Vaggie spat back, "Yeah! Sinners! We can't redeem someone who hasn't even died!"

Charlie then placed a hand on Vaggie's shoulder to calm her down. The girl looked around and her fiery attitude instantly melted away into a look of concern. Charlie patiently explained, "I don't think he is here because he wants to stay at the hotel, and I can't just turn him away if he came here for help. How can I expect Sinners to trust me to redeem them if I turn this guy away?"

It seemed like Vaggie was trying to come up with some sort of argument against Charlie, but she saw how futile it was to argue. That, and she probably didn't have anything good to say in response. She then said, "Okay, I guess you have a point." She then pointed harshly at Alastor, "But he has to leave us to deal with… umm…"

I said, "Kyle."

"Right…"

Alastor responded, "Don't mind me! I only wish to watch!" The demon slowly wandered away while a static noise seemed to follow him around. He seemed to stay within earshot, but he seemed to be indicating that he would not interrupt.

Vaggie tiredly rubbed her face while Charlie practically launched herself in front of me with stars in her eyes. She extended her hand while excitingly saying, "It's nice to meet you, Kyle! Wow, I never thought that I would get the chance to meet a living human! I know I said that before, but I am just so excited!" She then grabbed my hand before shaking it, "My name is Charlie Morningstar! It is a pleasure to meet you!"

I was suddenly shocked by the surname that she used. Against whatever I initially thought, I didn't expect that. I began questioning in my mind, "Wait, does that mean she is-"

Azazel's voice cut through my mind with a pleased tone, "Precisely. You are standing in front of Lucifer's very own daughter. She is rather well adjusted when you compare her to whom she came from."

I guess I finally found out why Azazel was so happy for me to go along with Alastor. This only made me feel a little more nervous as I didn't wish to 'start shit' here. I only wanted help to find Larissa. Now everything was becoming a little more complicated.

I didn't dwell on it anymore when I watched Charlie look over at Vaggie with an expectant and excited expression. This caused the female to let out a small, defeated sigh, "I'm Vagatha. You can just call me Vaggie."

I nodded, "Okay, Charlie… Vaggie…"

Charlie cleared her throat before saying, "Now, Kyle, what can we do to help you today? If it is to help you get back to your world, I don't know-"

I shook my head before saying, "No, it is nothing like that. I don't think there is anything I can do to fix my situation here." I trailed off a little before clearing my throat to reengage the two, "I actually wanted some help in finding someone here."

Vaggie responded frankly, "Look, if you are looking to get some revenge on some Sinner, we think you should probably go find someone else to help you."

Surprise was not the first reaction I had to her conclusion. Being in Hell for the small amount of time I have, I have already figured out that there are a lot of vengeful spirits resting down here. Vaggie also seemed to be the more careful one of the two like she was afraid to be betrayed. I just needed to be a little more mindful of how I presented myself.

A small chuckle escaped my lips before I said, "I am after something different. What I seek is redemption and peace."

Charlie spoke in a softer, more understanding tone, "So it is someone you cared about?"

"Yes. Deeply. I don't think there has been a single day apart that I haven't thought about them. Knowing that she is somewhere here, I must find her."

Charlie looked over toward Vaggie. The former's expression relaxed considerably at my words. She spoke much softer than before, "It is a long shot that we would be able to find her. Beyond just how many Sinners are here, there are also the annual purges. It won't be easy to find her."

I nodded in an understanding way, "I know. I still need to try."

With that, Charlie smiled at me before taking a step toward me. She then said, "Then I will do everything in my power to help you. I am sure my dad has something laying around that could help us. What do you think, Vaggie?"

The female Sinner looked over at Charlie before her eyes wandered over toward the Radio Demon. Alastor's smile deepened at her in a way that would send chills up the spine. Even though she could see that he was pleased with how things seemed to go according to whatever plan he had, Vaggie ignored her own worries. She let out a sigh before nodding, "Yeah. I guess we can at least try to help."

With the support of her partner, Charlie's confidence increased. She turned back to me before she ushered me to follow. She began to ask, "I guess I should ask you what her name was and whatever details you can remember of her. The process of coming here has probably… changed her, but I guess we have to start somewhere."

I began to speak, "Well, her name was Larissa…"

To my back was Vaggie. She followed Charlie and me to wherever we were going to speak, but she looked around once more to see Alastor peering back at her. She wanted to go back down there and knock the details out of the powerful Sinner on what he was trying to do. She held herself back from doing that. Instead, she continued to follow behind.

The Present…

I finished telling the story before saying, "I went back yesterday, and Charlie gave me the address that Larissa is supposedly living it. I guess I am fortunate that she was as close as she was. Also, I didn't expect the daughter of Lucifer to be so friendly."

Loona offhandedly stated, "Why not? She is the one who started some hotel to rehabilitate Sinners so they can get into Heaven."

Blitzo added, "Yeah! The dumb bitch doesn't know that these freaks come to enjoy how messed up everything is down here." Blitzo turned to look at me while he continued to drive, "What I am hung up on is how many concussions you must have to think that dealing with the Radio Demon is a good idea."

Some concern appeared on Loona's features as she turned to look at me, "It is hard to agree with him, but I do. Why did you think that was a good idea?"

I rubbed my forehead in thought before I settled on saying, "I sought him out because of the stories that I heard. I just underestimated everything about him other than his power. The guy was offputtingly animated every time he talked." I let out a stressed breath, "I guess I am just lucky I ended up having to owe the princess of Hell something rather than being in debt to Alastor."

Blitzo laughed, "Ha! What? Do you have to help her with her little passion project?"

"That wouldn't surprise me, and that doesn't bother me. It would be the least that I could do for her help."

The tone in Blitzo's voice changed, "Just remember where your loyalty lies, Kyle. Until Stolas says I don't need to keep you around, your ass is still mine. Don't be afraid to tell the royal bitch that as well if you aren't too busy 'servicing her' as payback."

I gritted out, "Oh, for fuck's sake. You really are a big-time idiot."

Without a word of warning, Blitzo stepped on the brake hard causing everyone inside of the vehicle to lurch forward. The tires screeched on the pavement before everything became still. Ignoring what I said before, Blitzo said, "Sorry, I didn't catch that. And would you look at that! We are already here."

Before I even unbuckled my seatbelt, Blitzo had already jumped out and slammed his door. When I finally got out of his van, I looked at the apartment building that we were now parked in front of. There was nothing remarkable about it in any sort of way compared to the others on the street. It looked run down, and a miserable place to live. In comparison, mine didn't look too shabby.

Blitzo said, "Let's get this shit over with. It will be like ripping off a Band-Aid. The faster we get this over with, the quicker I get back to my important business."

Loona bluntly stated, "I don't think messing around with those shitty horse figurines counts as 'important business'. And why do you sound like you already know what is going to happen."

As if it were obvious, the Imp began to say, "Don't play naïve, Loony. I know that this guy is your friend and all, but you can't pretend that this isn't going to end up a fucking mess."

Loona said, "Just because you have a shitty history in stuff like this doesn't mean everyone will. Even Moxxie and Millie have something going on that even you can't shit all over."

Blitzo said, "Well, maybe you should have brought them along other than me."

"What the fuck are you talking about?! You put yourself in the center of all of this, just like always! It was only supposed to be the two of us!"

Just so the two wouldn't go on, I cleared my throat to cut them off, "You can stay behind, Blitz. I would be more than happy to take only Loona along with me. She at least has my back in this." I gave a reassuring look toward Loona, and the smallest amount of red filled her cheeks.

Blitzo waved me off, "Oh, no. You aren't getting rid of me that easy, bucko. I don't want to miss anything that happens here, whether it is a shootout, or she tries to kick your ass because you killed her."

I stared blankly at the Imp before growling out, "Great…"

I began to walk through the front, and the other two followed behind. I barely heard Loona seethe through her breath toward her adoptive father, "Keep your trap shut."

The lobby area of the apartment wasn't anything special by any means. It was a space with multiple mailboxes, and a hallway leading to what I would assume was the front desk area. Near it, there was a small elevator door with a note with the words 'Out of Order'. I wouldn't be surprised if the elevator never worked seeing as this was Hell. I checked the note in my pocket to see that we had to go up to the third floor. That meant that we were going to have to climb up a flight of stairs.

I could hear Blitzo comment, "If I get stabbed with a dirty needle here, I am taking it out on your ass, Rookie."

My focus was somewhere else, so I never responded. I could only hear my breathing, and I could feel each beat of my heart as we climbed up the stairs. My mind wandered while I led up the dirty and graffitied stairwell, the lighting flickered above us. I tried to recite in my head exactly what I would say to Larissa when I saw her. What would be her reaction? Relief, joy, or maybe a multitude of emotions? Maybe she would be saddened by the time we had spent apart. I had sacrificed so much on the journey to get here, so I could only imagine what she had been through since then as well.

We finally exited the stairwell, and I found my steps had begun to slow and wander a little. Panic began to settle in along with a nauseating feeling and vertigo. I had spent so much time trying to find out where Larissa might be that I forgot what I would do once I made it to this point. I was hopelessly ill-prepared to meet her once again.

I stopped and leaned against the wall. My vision was beginning to tunnel a little bit. I heard Blitzo speak from behind, "Oh, you are fucking joking!"

A few seconds passed, and there was no reply from me or Loona. However, I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around to see Loona's eyes full of apprehension. She asked me, "Is everything okay, Kyle? You stopped for no reason."

I tried to nod and continue forward, but I found myself frozen within my own body. It was like I was unable to lie to the Hellhound about my current state, and it was too afraid to move. Instead, I finally said, "I have spent my entire adult life either trying to die because of what I had done or living with it. I never thought I would be in a place to confront this head-on like now. What do I say? What if I fuck it up?"

I looked at Loona for some sort of guidance, but her jaw remained gaping at my worries. She was never the sensitive kind of Hellborn, and now she was trying to nurture a sense of ease in my mind. Unbeknownst to me, Loona wasn't a fan of me trying to reconnect with someone from my past. It only stung deeper in her mind that it was someone I was romantically involved with. Yet, she was still here trying to help me through this.

After a long moment of silence, Loona responded, "I don't know. I want to help you with this, but there is no easy way to approach this. This is all just so fucked up." Loona ran her fingers through her hair in a stressed sort of way. My eyes fell away from her for a moment before her grip found its way onto my shoulder. She continued, "You always figure out the right thing to say, and this won't be anything different. I am here for you, too."

The Hellhound's grip relaxed until it fell from my shoulder. She waited for a moment to see how I would react to her words. Finally, I gave a brief nod to signify that I was ready to go on. I pulled out the piece of paper from my pocket detailing which apartment number belonged to my long-lost girlfriend.

Behind me, Loona lagged just enough for Blitzo to come up behind her. He held a little pride in his voice, "Wow, Loony. That was beautiful. I should go to you the next time shit hits the fan for me instead of my therapist."

Loona turned around a little with an unamused expression. She stated, "I'm not doing that for you. Unlike Kyle, more than half my problems come from you."

Blitzo shrugged, "It runs in the family."

The two nearly bumped into me when I finally stopped in front of a door. The number beside the door matched the number on the piece of paper that I was holding, and I then folded it back up before placing it in my pocket. I stood while counting my breaths while the two beside me waited patiently, and in Blitzo's case not so patiently while I took my time. I wanted to be in the right place mentally before I made my next move.

Not many people get the chance to see their love on the other side, yet I was finally here. My fist slowly raised to meet the door, and I knocked a few times before taking a small step backward. I cleaned the wrinkles from my shirt while I made sure everything was in order with my appearance. To my side, Loona stood there with her arms crossed. She would usually be on her phone without an interest in what was happening, but she looked like she wanted to see what was going to happen. Her gaze was tightened, and her fluffy tail slowly swayed behind her. Blitzo, if I were to put it anyway, seemed itching to leave the place.

A couple of footsteps could be heard coming from behind the door which made my heart jump. The locks of the door made loud clicks before the door swung open to show the figure who lived in the apartment. The beat of some music could be heard playing in the background, but it seemed to be muffled and hard to distinguish. My mind was elsewhere, anyways. I was completely focused on the Sinner standing in front of me.

My eyes grew wide as I stood there taking in the sight of the Sinner, but her identity was unmistakable to me. It was, without a doubt in my mind, Larissa standing in front of me. It was almost as if she had remained unaged since the day that I lost her. Her face was the same as the day I had lost her with a few new markings here and there. I could only guess that they were the scars that she sustained from the crash. My eyes moved up to see that her hair was in a similar style to that of Loona, like before. The color of her irises was unmistakable in color and look. Her clothes were all black with jeans cut short, leather-booted heels, and a leather jacket. I could even sense the familiar smell coming from her.

Finally, the transformation that she underwent to become a Sinner was more pronounced the more I looked. I don't know how I didn't notice, but her skin was red. Nothing saturated, or bright, but it was a brighter red color regardless. Next, the hair on her head almost seemed to be burning in a pinkish-red color. Regardless, she was still the same Larissa that I have known for so long.

I didn't even notice that I had been holding in a breath until it suddenly expelled from my lungs. I was heavily breathing after I had released it while I continued to gaze upon the female Sinner across from me. I could even feel my eyes water a little while my mouth twisted into a big smile. I barely registered that the one across from me was looking me over critically before switching over to look over at Loona and Blitzo.

She finally spoke, "It's been a while."

I said the first thing that came to mind, "Yeah, it really has been." I realized that I spoke without thinking about it, and I flinched in response. I then stuttered, "I-I mean, it's just. I want to-"

Larissa then stated coldly, "It has been a while since I have had any Hellborn customers. The last time I had some of you was when they tried to rob me of my stash."

I barely had the time to process what she had said. My mind couldn't quite wrap around her words for a moment until I found myself completely taken aback. I had prepared for many ways of how this would start, but I didn't expect that. I didn't even turn around and see that Loona and Blitzo were in a similar situation. The Sinner then added, "Plus, I have a policy against selling anything to mutts."

Loona's shock was instantly replaced with a deep growl. Blitzo came to the defense of his adopted daughter, "Hey! Just so you know, my Loony is way above the street trash you are selling."

I ignored everything else that was sputtered out by either side while I tried to grasp the situation. A small ringing in my ears began to assault my senses until it gave way to a deafening silence. I watched Larissa shake her head at the arguing before turning her back on us. I said only one thing, "Larissa."

The Sinner's shoulders tensed as she froze in place. She looked back at me with a shocked expression before she said, "I have never said my name to any street scum before. Just who the fuck are you?"

While I never intended for it, my voice carried a small plea, "Don't you know who I am? Don't you remember anything about us?"

Larissa approached slowly while she looked me over. The flames coming from her hair seemed to have brightened for a moment as if it were exposed to additional oxygen. She then said, "Oh, yeah! You're that human that ended up getting stuck here like the rest of us." She cocked her hips before giving a faux sympathetic look, "Bummer, dude."

My heart fell for a moment while I attempted to recollect my thoughts. I opened my mouth a few times to try and say something, but my voice failed me multiple times. I could sense that Loona was reaching out to me to try and get me to follow her, but I barely slipped away from her. I forced the words from my throat, "No! I knew you from before! Before you ended up here in Hell. We were in love, ARE in love! We were going to have a kid together before you died in that crash. Don't you remember any of that?!"

The flames on Larissa's hair began to flare up before she pulled out a knife. She said, "Get the fuck out of here!"

I didn't even register how loud my voice had gotten before I heard it, "How could you forget who I am?! I am the reason that you died and got stuck here!" That caused the Sinner to freeze for a moment. That caused me to continue with this tangent, "That's right! I killed you!"

Larissa's eyes darted around for a moment while she began to think quickly and hard. I couldn't tell whether my words jaunted her memories any, but I stood there silently while I waited for her judgment. However, nothing was going to be uttered since our moment was broken up by a voice from within the apartment unit, "Everything okay, babe? My eyes connected with a shadowy form approaching Larissa. To me, he was just another Sinner out of the many I had seen. Hard to believe they could blend, but this guy definitely did. He seemed to be fixing his pants while shirtless. I caught the barrel of a gun within his grip.

Larissa's thinking was broken. I stared into her eyes for any indication that something had changed. Instead, I was greeted by the return of her foreign gaze. She spat out, "Yeah, babe. These freaks were just leaving before things get really messy."

I stood there frozen for a moment while coming to the realization that it was over and done with. The sense of nausea and vertigo from before returned, but with greater intensity. I never heard what Blitzo exclaimed, "Welp, glad to be done with that shitshow! That is what I call the opposite of being productive."

I never even felt Loona grab onto my shoulder in a comforting way, "Come on, Kyle. We should dip."

I shallowly shook my head before dryly saying, "No…" My gaze returned to Larissa as she was already turning around and shutting the door. I forced the door open causing it to crack. It felt like I had pushed against cardboard. I said, "That can't be it. You don't just get to walk away like this!" I finally yelled, "I deserve something from you! Anything at all!"

The male Sinner finally said, "You need to step off."

It was only Larissa and me at this moment. I watched as she continued to walk away without saying another word to me. I wasn't about to let that happen. For the first time, I broke the threshold created by the door and closed the distance between her and me. I pled, "Please, what do I need to do for you to remember me? What can I do to make this right?"

I was inches away from grabbing onto Larissa's shoulder. Before I even made contact, she whipped around and thrust forward. I didn't even register the knife plunging toward my chest until it finally impacted right above where my heart was. It stopped there without even moving another inch into me. There was no blood, and no puncture of any kind. I fully expected it to cut deep into my heart. It was thanks to the power from the sword on my back that I remained unscathed.

Everyone immediately went on edge while the movement between Larissa and I had stopped. The male Sinner behind her was now pointing a pistol at me, Blitzo retaliated by pulling out his flintlock from his jacket to point at the male Sinner. Loona looked ready to pounce on Larissa to rip her into a bloody puddle.

I remained unmoving while I looked down at the knife. Larissa was in a similar situation, but her shock was more by how the blade failed to cut into me. After a second of standing there, she finally pushed at my body to force me from the apartment. Her shove felt forceless, but I still managed to stumble backward and onto my ass.

I looked up with a dumb look plastered on my face at Larissa towering above me. Her hair was ablaze while her skin appeared to glow. She hotly stated, "Get it through your fucking head. I don't know who the fuck you are!" Her hair cooled off a little before she said, "You said I am here because you killed me. Maybe that is true, maybe it isn't. It doesn't fucking matter. All I see is a pathetic piece of shit who is wallowing in their self-pity. So, do me a favor and fuck off and never come back. Better yet, why don't you do us all a favor and just put a bullet in your head. Fucking prick."

I could hear Loona's claws dig into the hallway floor in response to Larissa's words. I knew from that moment that she would have my back if I chose to escalate this. I didn't choose that. I didn't want that. I could feel whatever tension in my face give way to nothing. My features became blank while my mind spoke only one thing: I need to get out of here.

I picked myself off the ground and pushed past Loona and Blitzo back down the hall from where we had come from. Loona's rage was instantly replaced by confusion and fear. She rushed to follow behind me while Blitzo let out a small pout while holstering his pistol, "I was so fucking ready to pop some heads open."

The halls and stairway were a complete blur to me. I moved calmly down the stairs while I could hear Loona speak to me. I opened the doors that I needed to and even ignored the Sinners that I happened to walk by while they stared at me. Finally, I was out on the street.

I stood there with a blank expression as I stared out at nothingness. There was a small burning sensation in my eyes, but I hadn't reacted to anything yet. Loona finally whipped around me while looking at me. She grabbed at my shoulder before saying, "Kyle! Are you going to fucking talk to me?! Are you okay?!"

Blitzo kicked open the front door before yelling out, "Welp, time to get back to the office! That was anything but fun." He noticed how I stood there silently while Loona checked up on me. He finally said, "I hope you learned a valuable lesson there, Rookie. You shouldn't feel guilty about anything you do because none of it matters."

Loona growled out, "You can give your shitty advice later, Blitz." She turned back to me while imploring, "Please, Kyle, what can I do to make it better."

My fist tightened a little, but I finally managed to catch Loona's eyes for the first time. Despite their demonic look of them, they looked soothing to me. There was a flash of deep, sympathetic understanding in Blitzo's eyes as he looked at me. It was almost like he understood the crushing feeling that I was going through. He then addressed Loona with his words "This isn't shitty advice, sweetie. The human here has finally gotten a real taste of how unforgiving Hell is. There are no fairytale endings, okay? My wakeup calls came in many forms: the overrated jester Fazzaralli, that talentless bitch Verosika, I think even-"

Loona blew up, "Blitz, WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP FOR FIVE MINUTES!"

The Hellhound's rage masked the deep guilt that settled within her chest. She had spent this entire time being jealous of Kyle's connection with Larissa, and how far he was going just so that he could see her again. That jealousy amplified many times when Loona caught the way the human looked at the Sinner. Then, there was a brief moment of relief and happiness when Larissa didn't return the feeling. In some ways, it felt really good to see that nothing good was going to come out of this. Now, as Loona looked at me bottled up and distant, she wanted nothing more than to take back those feelings. She felt like the shittiest friend for being so selfish. All she wanted now was for me to be happy.

In a swift motion, I grabbed the sword off my back while the first bit of tears began to roll down my cheeks. Loona hadn't even realized that I pushed past her with my sword at the ready. My eyes glared at a car parked behind Blitzo's van. It was to be my target.

I kicked the side of the car hard, and soon the car was tumbling through the air. Neither Blitzo nor Loona knew what to do as I displayed my rage-filled strength on the inanimate object. The car rolled to the other side of the street. I didn't stop admiring my profound power. Instead, I sloppily cut at the car until it was a heap of scraps. I never even felt resistance to the blade cutting through the metal.

I went for one final slash as I channeled all my raw, unspoken emotion into one cut. The sword arched through the air, and I was taken aback by the formation of a portal in front of me. It was a similar structure to the ones created from Stolas's Grimoire. I rubbed away the foreign feeling of the tears from my face as I gazed upon the portal. I couldn't recognize the location of where it was. However, I knew that it would take me to somewhere else in Hell.

My grip relaxed, and I looked down at the blade in my hands in a thoughtful sort of way. There was so much about this sword that I had yet to discover. To find out that it could create portals, and that I could use that portal to get out of here… Anything sounded better than staying here for one more second.

I took a small step toward the gateway. My footsteps faltered when Blitzo said, "What are you thinking of doing over there, Kyle?"

I gazed over at them for a moment. For Blitzo to use my name in such a tone… He already knew what I was going to do. I didn't say anything, though. This prompted Loona to then express, "Kyle. Don't do it. Just let me help you."

A part of me wanted to do just that. I wanted to stay and be consoled by the only thing that would feel good in this who fucking place. Had I been any semblance of fine, I would have done just that. I was not fine.

My mouth opened to say something, but there was nothing that I could say. There were not enough words in the world that I could use to express what I was feeling. The feeling of loss, failure, and wasted time could not be shared. There was nothing that they could do, nothing that she could do, that would make me feel anything more than a grand disappointment. From that moment, I knew what my choice was.

I looked away. I was too afraid to look at Loona while I made the bold move into the portal. I refused to look back at her while I braved the other end. I was anything but brave. I was a coward. I couldn't bare to look at the betrayal from her. I never even looked at her as she charged at me, nor did I turn around once the portal finally closed.

Loona launched herself at the doorway to find that she was too late. It had closed, and she was too late to stop me from leaving. The guilt in her swelled to great proportions. She picked herself up and got onto her knees as she looked straight down at the pavement of the road. Her fists clenched tightly.

Blitzo approached slowly behind with concern for his Hellhound. Seeing how upset she was, he started to speak, "Loona… I…"

The Imp's voice cut out from a moment of hesitation. He wanted to ask if she was okay, but he already knew that she wasn't. He was never the best at consolation, and that was putting it lightly. Instead of saying anything else. He let out his breath before pulling out his van keys. He turned around while deciding to let Loona have her moment alone.

Loona ignored Blitzo's steps away from her. She remained unmoving from her kneeled position. After a few seconds of sitting, a tear found its way to the pavement directly where she was looking. Then, another followed. She couldn't stop herself once the crying started.

She could only think one thing, "Why am I such a bad friend?"

Well, that is it.

Second Part next. Just dealing with the aftermath of all of... this. That is all I will say (it is so fucking late right now as I finish this note).

If you are enjoying the story, I implore you to favorite, follow, and/or review for the story. I very much enjoy hearing and seeing all that good stuff from you guys. I am always happy to answer questions as well. I am good at responding to named reviews, too. I have not release date for the next chapter, you will just have to wait and see.

Now, if anyone is interested, I am going to leave the discord channel code available to any of you. I usually ask for small details, and some ideas are discussed with others on what I should do with the story. You can even just chat with others in it. I don't really fucking care, it is available to you below if you want in.

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INVITE CODE: 8RT9hC5Aau

That is all I have to give!

Until Next Time,

Forsvaret-Komandir