Chapter 23: Secrets

June 7th, I was out of The Hazbin Hotel for the day to work at Rosie's Emporium. Charlie, Vaggie, Alastor and Angel Dust had a chat together. A little cyclops named Niffty was dusting further.

"So… Do you guys think that Ren is a little suspicious?" Charlie asked,

"What makes ya think that, Charlotte?" Angel Dust asked,

"So a while ago when Alastor took him here, we laughed about how before he died he was a leader of a group called, The Phantom Thieves Of Hearts."

"And now there's The Phantom Thieves Of Hell!" Vaggie said, "That guy is probably the leader of that group as well! I just know it!"

"So that kid wasn't joking." Angel Dust said, "If The Phantom Thieves are real, then how the fuck did ya change the heart of TWO Overlords?!"

"And this is also Hell we're in! Do they even have the same dream as Charlie over here, but without the musical part?"

Charlie was silent.

"They don't have that musical life, huh?" Vaggie said, "But still, what made them want to change the hearts of Overlords Velvette and Valentino?"

"It's still a lot to even know of…" Angel Dust replied, "Maybe we should let them continue to do all their work and keep this meeting of our's a secret."

"I guess we should." Charlie said, "After all, my father has gone crazy after he found out that Velvette and Valentino had stepped down as Overlords and turned themselves in…"

"Now the Phantom Thieves got Overlord Vox next, if that's their next target."

Alastor was silent.

"Vox…" He said, "He's the toughest Overlord in Pride… Who knows when and what these clever little thieves would do to him and how…"

After my shift at Rosie's Emporium, I was walking back to the hotel. Then, a familiar snake demon slithered to me.

"Hey!" She said, "I think I saw your face before! I show you and your friends Velvette's confession!"

I froze.

"Oh, I think you got the wrong person." I said to her,

"Ha ha! No! When I saw your face again, I knew it was you!" She said as she offered a handshake, "Nice to meet you! I'm Jasmine Vennite!"

I shook Jasmine's hand.

"Ren Amamiya." I said,

"Ooh! Japanese! Wish I could visit Japan!" She said, "But I'm stuck down here! My parents were also born here… We're from Envy."

"I see. Nice to meet you."

"So, how's life down here in Hell?"

"Ehh, decent. I used to live on Earth."

"Really? How did you die?"

"An ace detective shot me in the head."

"Ace detective? Come to think of it, there's been some news of an ace detective being hired by Lucifer himself to try and crack some codes with The Phantom Thieves."

Lucifer…

"What we do know is that he is from Greed." Jasmine continued, "So we don't know what his appearance, name or age is gonna be."

"I hope he's nice." I said,

"Me too."

Jasmine looked at her watch.

"Oh crap! I gotta head back to my apartment!" She said, "I gotta pay my landlord rent! You wanna talk later?"

"Sure." I said,

"Great! Here's my number!"

Jasmine then gives me her number. I think I have formed a bond with her.

Fast forwarding to many months later. Bernie continued to interrogate me.

"According to some reports I've read, the Phantom Thieves do tend to be acrobatic when it comes to their physical abilities." He said to me, "You of all people gained these acrobatic abilities from a trained expert, didn't you?"

I was silent.

"Tell me everything!" He continued,

Back to the present moment. That same voice spoke out to me.

"I am thou... Thou art I…

Thou hast acquired a new vow…

It shall become the wings of rebellion

That breaketh thy chains of captivity.

With the birth of the Faith Persona

I have obtained the winds of blessing that

shall lead to freedom and new power…"

My bond with Jasmine Vennite has started to form. She's an odd one, but that's ok.

"Gotta go! Bye!" Jasmine said as she slithered away,

I got her number. Will I really hang out with her without my friends knowing?

June 8th. I was drinking coffee with Lars in the hotel after sweeping a hallway floors.

"So… You don't mind if I tell you a secret?" Lars asked me,

"What is it?" I wonder,

Lars then whispered in my ear.

"I think I have a crush on Willow." He replied,

"I think me and Cattleya already know that by now." I replied,

"Still! Don't tell anyone, ok?"

"I won't."

"Promise?"

"I'll try."

"That's all I needed to hear."

Cattleya meanwhile rushed into the Hazbin Hotel.

"Hi!" Charlie said, "Welcome to the–"

"-Where's Lars?!" Cattleya shouted, "He works here, right?!"

"He's sweeping with Ren in the hallway right there, what's going–"

Cattleya rushed out to the hallway Charlie pointed at her to meet Lars. Charlie followed her.

"Cattleya?" Lars wonder, "What are you–"

"-Your Mom's in the hospital!" Cattleya replied,

"What?!"

"Yeah! She had a concussion after tripping and falling in a supermarket!"

"No! I gotta go see her!"

"O-Ok! Do you wanna clock out?!" Charlie said as she appeared, "I mean, you still got a lot of work to do, but I'll let some of us fill it in since it's an emergency!"

"It is!"

Later, me, Lars and Cattleya were in the hospital Lars' mom was in. We went to her room.

"Mom!" Lars said, "Mom! Are you ok?!"

"Uhhh… Lars? Is that you, honey?" Lars' mother softly said,

"Yes! It's me! Are you ok? How hurt are you?"

"Pretty bad… My head…"

Lars was about to cry.

"Mom…" He said, "Please, I need you and you need me…"

"Lars… Listen, honey…" His mother said, "You're old enough to be on your own… You can still look after me, but guidance is in your own hands…"

Lars looked away.

"Alright, Mom…" He said, "I'll try my best…"

"Thank you…" She said,

"No, thank you… For everything."

Lars' mother was about to cry as well.

"Sorry, I'll leave now." Lars said as he took a deep breath, "Get well soon."

"Thanks…" His mother said,

Lars left the hospital. Me and Cattleya walked to him.

"I want my mother to live a healthy life until she's gray…" He said, "It's a big responsibility, but it's a lot since there's shit around me…"

An imp in a fedora and trench coat patted Lars on the back.

"Your mother is in the hospital, right?" He asked,

"What do you want?" Lars asked, "I'm grieving!"

"I know what made her trip and fall. I've seen it all."

"What?! Tell me!"

The imp looked around.

"Don't tell anyone. Keep this secret with your friends and to yourself, ok?" He asked,

"Fine! Just tell me!" Lars said,

The imp whispered something.

"Some random electrical bolt made her trip." He replied, "Can't tell who though."

Lars sighed.

"Ok, thanks, I'll figure it out on my own." He said,

The imp walked away. Lars then took a deep breath.

"An electrical bolt…" He said,

"Someone must have electrical powers." I said,

"Maybe!" Cattleya said,

"This is hurting my brain." Lars said,

"Here, let's leave you alone."

Cattleya walked away. I looked at Lars.

"Hey, thanks for looking out for me." Lars said, "I'll let you if I need some guidance from you."

"I will." I said,

My bond with Lars is slowly forming to be unbroken.