Chapter 81: What's Next?
I was back in Hell. I was weakened, bruised and tired. I was slowly walking the streets of Pride, alone. Not knowing where I am going. As soon as I was about to faint, I turned a corner, someone saw me while they were fixing their van of some sort. I couldn't see clearly who it was, but the voice struck me.
"Ren!" Blitzø shouted, "Unholy fuck!"
Blitzø ran over to check on me as I was on one knee.
"Are you ok?!" He said to me,
I was silent.
"Fuck, ok, let's take you home!" Blitzø said, "That hotel is where you're at, yeah?"
I nodded.
"Come on, I'll take you to my van." Blitzø said,
At The Hazbin Hotel, Charlie was trying to make a phone call to someone.
"At least tell me where he's at!" She said, "...You're still searching for him? It's been 4 days!"
Lars was sitting next to Husk's bar. Husk was drinking and not caring about what was happening.
"Can't believe Ren's been missing for 4 days now." He said,
Cattleya and the rest of my friends of The Phantom Thieves came by.
"Have you seen Ren yet?" She asked Charlie,
"No, I made a phone call to Stolas and Bernie!" Charlie replied, "Stolas said he was busy with the divorce while Bernie said he was still looking after he received a note from Darnell!"
"A note from Darnell?" Arthur said, "Of course Darnell is hiding something!"
Vaggie came by, trying to calm everyone down.
"Guys, quiet the fuck down! I know Ren is still out there, but–" Vaggie said as she was interrupted someone coming in,
Everyone turned to Blitzø as he had me in his arms.
"This the right place?" He asked them,
"Ren!" Cattleya and Charlie shouted,
Later, I was resting on my bed as Charlie and Cattleya were talking to Blitzø.
"Where did you find him?" Charlie wondered,
"He was out on the streets." Blitzø replied, "I was fixing my van and I saw him as he was about to faint."
"Well you're a lifesaver, Sir Blitz-A-Lot!" Cattleya said,
"It's been a while since you called me by that name, but whatever."
"Anyways, why did Ren magically disappear all of a sudden?!" Cattleya asked Charlie,
"It's because of a note Bernie has gotten." Charlie replied, "Darnell made the note and said that he has Ren."
"Something is off about Darnell…"
"No…" I said, "Nothing is up about him…"
"Huh? Ren?"
I was looking at them.
"A few people were controlling him…" I replied,
"So during his time absent he was being used like a fiddle…" Cattleya said, "And he was forced to help set this whole thing up!"
Cattleya turned to Charlie.
"Thanks for helping out." She said,
"It's nothing." Charlie replied,
"Hey, can you call Bernie and tell him–" Arthur wondered as he was then interrupted by Cattleya,
"SHHH! We don't want anyone giving away our cover!" Cattleya shouted,
"Huh?" Charlie wondered,
Cattleya gasped as Charlie and Blitzø heard.
"...You fucked up." Blitzø said to her,
Cattleya sighed.
"Satan help me…" She said,
Later, Cattleya told Charlie about the whole thing that's been going on.
"So you really are The Phantom Thieves!" Charlie said, "I knew there was something up about Ren and Lars!"
"Look, it's tough to keep it as a secret, but Ren has been hurt!" Cattleya replied, "And I'm sorry for almost revealing our secret the first time, shit has been rough recently…"
"It's fine… I'm still lost with everything."
"Me too…"
Then, the door opened. Everyone turned to Bernie who entered the hotel.
"How's Ren?" He asked them,
"Fine, why are you here, Bernie?" Arthur wondered, scared,
Bernie holds up a phone.
"Darnell has been texting me recently." He replied, "There's three people controlling him so that they can exterminate The Phantom Thieves and take over all of Hell after what the Phantom Thieves has been doing."
"Who were those three people?" Charlie wondered,
"First is a Sinner named Goro Akechi."
Blitzø was whistling until everyone stared at him.
"Look, I'm an assassin, ok?!" He said,
"No worries." Bernie replied,
"Right, so who's the next person?" Lars wondered,
"The King Of Hell and the embodiment of Pride himself, Lucifer Morningstar."
"That's my Dad…" Charlie said in sorrow, "He's changed after The Phantom Thieves have changed the hearts of the former Overlords Velvette, Valentino and Vox."
"Didn't your dad ever tell you not to take shit from others?" Lars wondered,
"Yes, but with something like this, he's lost it."
"Ok, and who's the third person to control Darnell?" Arthur wondered,
Bernie sighed.
"King Paimon." He replied,
Arthur and Charlie gasped.
"King Paimon?" Blitzø wondered,
"That's Stolas's dad." Charlie replied,
Blitzø was surprised.
"Oh…" He said, "...Right."
"King Paimon is currently the most powerful Goetia here in Pride." Arthur replied, "And maybe the most powerful in all of Hell if something happens…"
"We gotta find Darnell!" Cattleya said,
"Unfortunately, he's already into this plan alone." Darnell replied, "He told me that he doesn't need The Phantom Thieves since he's gonna be on a solo mission to change Lucifer's heart alone."
"So he's already after my Dad…" Charlie said,
"If that's the case, then I'll go after that fucker that killed Ren and sent him down here!" Blitzø shouted,
"What about Paimon?" Cattleya wondered,
"...Maybe that's something you guys can also do." Bernie replied, "Want me to talk to Stolas once his divorce with Stella is out of the way?"
"Do so!" Charlie said, "We all need to stop this, once and for all!"
"Agreed." Cattleya said,
"Oh, and, uhh…"
Charlie showed everyone a blank calling card.
"I found this Ren's room a while ago." She said,
"Why did you have it?" Lars wondered,
"I was scared to know whether or not you and Ren were part of the Phantom Thieves, Lars, but now… I hold onto this because I want you all to change my father's heart."
"...Right, thanks for understanding."
"Once Ren is feeling better, let's get everyone here again." Cattleya said, "To discuss what's next."
"I probably won't be here." Blitzø said, "Already got shit to do with Goro "Pancake Fucking" Akechi!"
Blitzø walked out.
"For an assassin, he's got a cocky attitude." Bernie said,
"Sure does." Cattleya said,