Chapter 88: Wherever The Future Awaits Us Next

January 1st.

It was a new year. Things have changed down here in Hell…

I was chatting with Bernie in Café du Pécheur.

"I appreciate you and your friends for having to save this place from a threat like Paimon. He's currently in solitary confinement awaiting trial." Bernie said to me, "But I still need you to do something for me."

"What's that?" I wondered,

"Can you put yourself on trial too? The attempted assassination of Stella Of Ars Goetia is still looking for a verdict on you since the attempted killer was already killed by Blitz and his buddies."

"I'll do it."

"Good. It will happen tomorrow. I can rent you a suit if you want."

"Sounds good."

"Thanks. Oh, and by the way, Darnell is taking some time off after what happened last year."

"Ok, thanks for reminding me."

"You're welcome."

January 2nd. I was on trial. The jury handed the judge the verdict.

"In the case of Ren Amamiya, the jury find him not guilty of the attempted assassination of Stella Of Ars Goetia." The judge said,

Those attending the trial clapped. I smiled. I was a free man. The time for a new start is here.

January 3rd. Princess Charlie was giving out a speech.

"I promise to you all. I will make sure that Pride isn't as bad of a place for anyone to suffer from." She said, "I will still seek out redemption with my friends at The Hazbin Hotel and if anyone volunteers to find redemption, let us know."

January 5th. Prince Stolas was giving out a speech as well.

"My father and ex-wife have caused a lot of damage to this family." He said, "But I promise, starting today, I will not let any of that happen again. This new year will also mark a new era for the Goetia family under my control."

January 7th.

Darnell gave me a phone call.

"Hey, Ren, it's Darnell." He said, "I'm sorry about everything that has happened. I'm glad you and your buddies have managed to save this place as The Phantom Thieves you were meant to be."

Darnell sighed.

"I'm still separating myself from you guys and the law." He said, "Oh, and congrats on not being guilty during the trial you had. Appreciate it."

January 8th. Cattleya gave me a call.

"Hi, Ren! It's Cattleya!" She said, "The others are doing fine! Nothing new! Lars and Willow are still the cute couple they were meant to be. Same goes for Selene and Astrid and Boris and Arthur. Me? I'm still finding a chick for me to mingle with. Don't worry, I'm sure you will find love too. Redeemed or not."

Cattleya sighed.

"Hey, wanna hang sometime?" She wondered, "I kinda want it to be the two of us as best buds or something."

January 15th.

Me and Cattleya were hanging out together. She was looking at the Greed ring.

"Greed is still a worse place to stay." She said, "Considering that Mammon is still, Mammon."

I was confused.

"But I don't know… I like it here in Pride now that Charlie and Stolas are looking to fix whatever happened last year." She said, "What do you think, Ren?"

"I think that's all up to you." I replied,

"Yeah, you're right. Thanks."

Cattleya sighed.

"We're still single." She said as she turned to me, "Have you ever met Jasmine? She's from Envy. She's kinda a hottie if you mask me…"

I sighed as I chuckled a bit.

January 20th.

I was looking out the window from The Hazbin Hotel. Lars came up to me.

"So, since you're a Sinner and all… Are you still looking to seek redemption here?" He asked me,

"I still haven't decided that yet." I replied, "And since I've pretty much saved Pride, who knows, maybe another ring might need help."

"Huh… I see… Well… I'm glad to have you and still have you around, man. You're a good friend."

"Thanks."

Lars looked out the window as well.

"We started out as a small team that changed the hearts of 3 corrupted Overlords here…" He said, "Then we evolved into a more fleshed out team."

"Yeah…" I said, "Time changed."

"Sure does…"

Lars looked at me.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" He asked me,

"What is it?" I wondered,

"Should I pop the question to Willow?"

"As in… a proposal?"

"Yeah, but I don't know, I'm kinda afraid of Willow rejecting my offer to marry her…"

"Give her more time."

"I guess I should… I mean, you're still gonna be here with us, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Right… Cool…"

'"By the way, how's your mom doing?"

"She's doing good. I'm still looking after her. I introduced her to Willow and the two hit it off."

"That's good."

"Yeah… It is…"

January 30th. Cattleya wanted to show me and my friends something.

"Hey, Cattie, what did you bring us here for?" Astrid asked her,

"To show you all this!" Cattleya replied as she showed us a van, "Ta-da! A van!"

"You bought a van?!" Willow said,

"No, I borrowed it for– OF COURSE I BOUGHT ONE, GIRL!"

Cattleya chuckled a bit.

"Anyways, yeah, I bought it with my hard earned money." She said,

"Man, Stolas and Charlie really gave you some big bucks, huh?" Boris said,

"Certainly! I mean, I did accept their job of being their personal bodyguard after all."

"That's some dedication for two higher ups here." Arthur said,

"Yup! Anyways, wanna ride somewhere new? I wanna have some fun with you guys!"

"Sure! I got nothing to do!" Astrid said,

"Hey Ren, you coming along as well?" Cattleya asked me,

"I'm down." I replied,

"Alright, let's go!"

We all entered the van. Cattleya took the steering wheel while I'm co-pilot.

"And don't worry, I've taken some driving classes!" She said, "So, yeah, I'll probably make a few mistakes or two."

"Well don't kill us!" Selene said,

"I won't, damn it!"

Cattleya started up the engine and drove fast.

"WOAH! SLOW DOWN!" Lars shouted,

"WOOOO!" Cattleya shouted, "I STILL NEED TO TAKE SOME LESSONS!!!"

We drove away to wherever the future awaits us next.

And that was the story on how I found my way in Hell and changed it under our vision of it. I'll miss those above before my death, but I'll still remember them. As for my friends here in Hell, this is only the beginning, but that's a story for another time. Words from a trickster, with the stars and us.