Alastor was quite pleased with today. A lovely stroll through the mortal realm, and a contract between two very twisted, if albeit dimwitred, souls. And now … he had a source of entertainment. Something to make up for the slog he's been forced to live under in the last seven years.
Pulling with all his might, Alastor yanked his newest victim into the room … a teenager, still within the prime of his youth with those boyish features and far too big and innocent eyes, with blue hair shaped with a spike. Dirty and smelly clothes covered their body, that was something to fix up. Their eyes …
Oh those were quite interesting eyes. Resentment, despair, and acceptance all wrapped up in a tiny package, along with fear and an innate desire to live. This was a boy that has seen far more than his fair share of disappointments and loss… Alastor wondered where the limit lay for this one. How long would it take for them to crack?
"I … what's going …" He looked at him with fear and trepidation. "Who are …" It's a good thing Demons spoke all languages … It was time for him to make his introduction.
"You want to know what's going on, boy.."" he let out his power just a little, sending shivers down this child's back as he looked too afraid to even touch the floor he was standing on.
"….Yes…" The child meeply squeaked.
"Well then …that I can do!" Alastor turned on some music. "Dearly beloved! For your entertainment, It's my pleasure to introduce to you hell's latest arrival." He displayed to a group of shadows that clapped with ovation. "And showing him off is yours Truely, The equal Oppertunity killer, ALASTOR!~"
"Wait, killer!?" Knives floated towards the child back
"Hello, it's nice to meet you. Oh, i guess you're asking 'where I am'?" He asked rherotically. "You don't know how you got here, But see, soon you'll begin to understand."
"I will!?"
"Believe me, you're not among the angels, And boy that's just fine with me." Alastor patted his head. "The things I did up there were high school, But now I'm going for my degree." He grinned as he shoved the boy down
"Hey!" The boy shouted as he fell through the door and into the back alley, where garbage fell right on top of his butt.
"Sorry, but you just got in my way, I promise honey, I can feel your pain." Alastor reassured. "And maybe I enjoy it just a little bit, Does that make me insane?" He questioned, marching to the child with a demented, glowing grin.
"Sir, please just tell what's happening-!" The boy backed out into the streets, where he, rather impressively flipped over a car coming toward him. Impressive agility. All the ways he could bend and break the child were becoming more open.
"Haven't been the same since I expired." He cackled as he spun his microphone around, splitting an incoming car in half. "Doesn't mean that I plan to retire." His time on sabbatical was over… the Radio demon was back in town.
"Hey, who the fuck do you think-" A sinner froze. "Oh fuck, the Radio Demon!"
"The WHAT!?" The boy shouted.
"And now I have the power to bathe all of you in entertaining fire." He sent green fire over the sinner, dancing while the screams filled in the air, his shadows acting as back up vocals with a diddy little beat.
"Dah dah da de da dah….Dah dah da de da dah…. Dah dah da de da dah.." The fire spewed as he let a smidge of his true form come out and grab incoming demons.
"Watch it asshole!" A more ignorant demon came by and threw a knife at him. Looks like someone else needed a lesson today.
""Wait a minute, do I know you?." He sarcastically asked in a cheeky voice as he grabbed the demon by the throat."Weren't you an old pal of mine? Departed from us far to early, But now we're meeting a second time" He questioned as he twirled them around. "We used to have such fun together, And maybe you have what I need."
"Who-What-GAK!" They screamed out as he crushed their throat.
Alastor sent out a quick glance to the blue haired child, who had been trying to get away while he was looking elsewhere. "But first I have one tiny question." He sent his shadow minions to grab the boy by the arms and stop him in place as Alastor skulked over to him, running a single claw down the boy's face. "Tell me, do you humans bleed?"
"Ye-yes.." The boy answered as he closed his eyes.. as Alastor swiped the claw down the demon his was chocking and ripping his face off.
"Hey, Sorry, but you just got in my way. I promise honey, I can feel your pain, And maybe I enjoy it just a little bit. Does that make me insane?" He questioned as screams emanated around him.
"Haven't been the same since I expired, Doesn't mean that I plan to retire. And now I have the power to bathe all of you in entertaining fire!"
"Dah dah da de da dah….Dah dah da de da dah…. Dah dah da de da dah.." Alastor laughed as the carnage spread.
"Are you getting it now, boy!?" He shouted to the human.
"I think I'm in hell!"
"Not just think, young Suzuki, ARE!" He laughed as he let the chorus play out. "Hey, Sorry, but you just got in my way! I promise honey, I can feel your pain!" For all the pain and suffering he's been through, he would make all of hell feel a thousand fold. "And maybe I enjoy it just a little bit Does that make me insane? Haven't been the same since I expired. Doesn't mean that I plan to retire! And now I have the power to bathe all of you in entertaining fire!" Green flames eroded in everywhere as the people panicked and screamed as they should. He would NOT be forgotten, he would sow terror into the hearts of all demons… even if he had to do it one at a time. "Sorry, but you just got in my way. I promise honey, I can feel your pain. And maybe I enjoy it just a little bit….Does that make me insane?"
And with the music dying out, Alastor snapped his fingers, and he had himself and the boy transported back to his temporary abode. "Well, whataya think? A little too on the nose or was I not subtle enough."
"... Killing my boss really did get me sent to hell." The boy cried.
"Oooh, sounds like an interesting tid bit I'll love to hear about later, but that's only about half true." Alastor smirked as he circled the boy. "You see, your parents sold your soul to me for money!"
"They what!?" He shouted … before his eyes darkened. "Wait no, that's totally in character." The boy grumbled. "So, you're going to torture me for all eternity or something? I was never much into religion, and I don't think the manga I've read is accurate so the process is a little unclear."
"You got the bare essentials down, Young Suzuki. Through a ritual your fine folks summoned me to the mortal plane.." Something he was still trying to process on how the hell it was possible… his only guess it had something to do with them. "..For a chest full of gold they so kindly gave me your soul to do with as I please! Though you may not be dead, you're stuck with me, so don't think that sucide's an option for a quick escape."
"Never did." He muttered.
"I guarantee boy, there's going to be big things instore for the both of us!"' Mainly Alastor getting his shits and giggles in while he figured out his next move. "Now go to bed. The fun begins tomorrow!"
"Understood, sir." The boy meekly nodded … before walking to the front door.
"Hey now, where do you think you're going?" Alastor created a shadow barrier. "I never gave you permission to leave."
"I'm going to bed." The boy stated.
"Oh no, oh nono, nonono, ahaha….no." Alastor cackled for a while. "You are staying placeright here. There is noaccommodations awaiting for you outside, dead boy. There's actually not much of anything awaiting you outside, other than debauchery, mutilation, and the very concept of hope diving off a roof and intothefiery pit."
"… You mean I don't have to make myself a tent out of leaves and a campfire for warmth as I wait out in the backyard?" The kid asked in confusion. "I get to sleep on a bed indoors?"
"…Yes.." Alastor raised an eyebrow.
"... Wow! I guess the torture really does wait till tomorrow!" They shouted with a bright smile, running through the house.
"...Hahhahahaaha, I was wondering what kind of souls would so readily trade in the child like a piece of driftwood, but I didn't expect the results to be thisjuicy, ohoho! There's going to be quite a few opportunitiesthat have opened up." A boy whose spirit was so broken that even the most mundane seemed like a precious gift… he was going to love ripping those moments up into tiny pieces.
The life of a Seraphim was not an easy one … and once this meeting was over, Sera was going to take a spa day and relax. "Are they prepared?" She questioned Adam.
"Double checked head honcho. Every Exorcist is armed, and every gal in my crew is ready to rock and roll." The first man nodded. "Still focusing on imps, although from Em's rants I don't think we've found them yet. They probably ditch pride every year or somethin."
"We may have to negotiate with Lucifer again to extend the Angel's reach to the other rings." Sera noted.
"Oh that shouldn't be a prob. Lilith's the one that cares about Hellborn and she's been out of the picture for a while." Adam waved off. "And Lucifer's too much of a depressed puss to put up a fight. Shouldn't take too much to make the little bitch agree."
"Mmm." She nodded. "If that's all you may-"
The door slammed open, as Emily flew through. "WE HAVE A PROBLEM!"
"... Why do you keep kicking down the door, we have portals?" Sera questioned.
"I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR PORTALS!"
"But that's how you get from earth and back…" Adam muttered.
"IRUMA'S BEEN KIDNAPPED BY HELL!" He was what?!
"Emily, calm yourself, get a grip." Sera placed her hands on her sister's shoulders and calmly but sternly told her. "Now.. explain."
"The boy's shadow started latching onto him, and fiery brimstone was smelt in the air as a hole opened underneath. I tried pulling on Iruma but it wasn't enough, he was dragged down into the depths." The seraphim cried.
"Sure it wasn't just a sinkhole?" Adam asked, not reading the room in the slightest.
"It wasn't his time! Iruma wasn't anywhere close to death, and a portal to hell just dragged him in, body and everything!" Emily kept shouting. "It was those imps, I'm sure of it! They were trying to kill him and they probably did it when I intervened with their plans!"
Sera sighed. "If he has died, then his soul should be in heaven Emily, if he's as good as you say he is."
"Humans aren't meant to cross the afterlife like that." Adam shrugged. "My guess is that kid of yours got turned to minced meat the second the cannibals smelled his flesh."
"He's alive, I know it!" She shouted again. "Please, I need to search for him! His soul could be hurt or worse!"
"If he was sent to hell … then it's already too late for him." Sera noted. "We can't do anything more for him."
"But he wasn't supposed to die!" Emily cried, falling on the ground. "He still had so much life left! He still had so much life left to live … he's not suppose to die… he wasn't suppose to die.."
"Emily … I told you to not get attached." She placed a hand on the younger seraphim's shoulder. "There is so much that can go wrong … I'm truly sorry."
"There… then what was the point..?" Emily asked with a soggy eyed glare. "What was the point of protecting him and providing for those horrible parents if there's nothing I can do!? What was the point of any of it!?"
"Hey, chillax Em." Adam shrugged without worry. "If he's in hell, it's probably cause he was a bad-"
Emily grabbed the man by the collar before anyone could blink. "Finish that sentence and you won't be able to fornicate ever again." Her sister growled threateningly.
"Emily, calm yourself." Sera warned. "You're becoming wrathful. Temper your anger before it gets out of hand."
Emily took a deep breath and let out a sigh as she let go. "… I've seen the boy grow up all his life…. He's not a sinner, and I will prove it." She glared before making her way to the door.
"Emily.." Sera called out. "...Be careful… the path of knowledge…. It's a dangerous path. One that can lead you astray." Astray…. And fallen.
Iruma looked at the bloody red sky. "So, this is hell …" He muttered to himself. "... When I heard about the underworld, people always said it was either dark and cold, or fiery and constantly screaming … this just seems like LA." A rather normal day in LA at that, except with the after smell of brimstone, and everyone seemed to either have horns or be some kind of animal hybrid creature.
"Oh don't let the shiney bloody surface fool you my young compatriot, This place takes the expression 'hell is other people' to a whole new level." His ... Iruma didn't know what to call Alastor other than boss without outright calling him a slave owner, chuckling as a building exploded as they walked past, bloody chunks of body flying through the air as they kept going. "The worst of the worst dwell and fester; naively believing they have a second chance at making an impact on life to make up for their uneventful previous lives.
"So like prison without the guards stopping people when things get too extreme?" He asked as he avoided stepping into a corpse.
"Oh there's guards alright, and when they show up…" Alastor cackled as the world grew darker with his manic grin. "You'll be begging God to make pain end ... but it never will."
"... Alright." Iruma took in a big gulp, and decided to take that into note, and to not press the subject further. "So ... what exactly do you do if nothing matters?"
"Whatever you like of course." The man smiled. "Drugs, bear, fornification, watching people struggle, mutilation, cannibalism, the possibilities are ENDLESS!" Alastor ginned as he looked like he was tap dancing. "But for the moment, we're off to visit a very close colleague of mine to get you properly dressed. If you're going to be seen around me, I won't be having you dressed like a slob or commoner."
"What's wrong with how I look?" He asked. "If it keeps me warm and lets me move, that's good enough right?"
"...Dear boy, speak like that again and I willeat your heart in front of you."
"… Yes sir." His danger sense has been flickering ever since he got here, but whenever the man seemed to threaten him it spiked like nothing else.
"Besides, everyone in Canibal Town always eats anyone not properly dressed that wanders in, and I frequent their establishments quite a bit."
"Canibal what no-" Iruma felt the urge to duck as a demon with Grey skin, an old timey suit, and pure black eyes almost bit into his neck."
"Excuse me chum, could I trouble you for a cup of blood?" The demon asked with a sharp toothed smile.
"Uh, sorry, I'm using mine-"
"Feel free to drink to your hearts content my good pal!" Alastor ginned with a wave of his hands. "Anyone that manages to get a bite out of the boy gets to eat him from head to toe whole! And guess what, he's human."
"Human flesh!" A lady shouted. "It's been so long!"
"Oh no." He panicked, ducking under a sharp toothed bite as he ran to a window, kicking on the ledge as he began to climb for his life.
"Ooh. He's agile! That means his meat will be nice and tender!" The man grinned as he ran inside, probably to use the stairs to reach the roof. Iruma needed to transfer buildings.
"Gotta jump now!" He lept forward to another roof just as a little demon kid jump on him and bit his leg. "Aaahh! Can you please let go!?"
"But it's my first time eating human flesh! I might never get this opportunity again!"
"But I don't wanna die!" Iruma shouted back, shaking the kid off. He needed to wash that before it got infected. You know, once he lived. The entire town wanted him dead, that meant he needed to get out of town as fast as possible. Find a direction, and run. The east side looked relatively empty, maybe he could-
Chink
A green chain appeared around his neck and pulled him down into the ground with a loud slam. "Ow!"
"Ohh, you're quite durable, aren't you chum?" Alastor smiled as he leaned up and looked at him from the ground. "I half expected that fall to break your neck." He presented the chain in his hand. "Oh, i forgot to mention that you don't go anywhere that I won't premit first, so don't bother running away from me either."
"You aren't even going to let me run for my life!?" He shouted in horror.
"No." The dear man laughed. "It's far too entertaining to NOT enjoy."
"Right, of course." No one ever helped him. Why did he think going to hell would fix that? "Well I can't go with you if I'm getting mauled and chewed."
"Sure you can, young Suzuki! Just use your imagination and follow me. Or die horribly, I'm good with either option!"
Alright, think about this logically. You can't run because of the chain, you can't fight because they have more experience eating people and numbers. Your only options were to make yourself impossible, or unappealing, to eat. "I know what to do!" Iruma looked around and saw a nearby dumpster full of fly and maggot covered corpses. "I'm covered in rotten meat!"
"Such a waste of good meat." The cannibal lady pouted. "The freshness is gone."
"Now now dearie. Once the boy gets cleaned up I guarantee that he'll be as tasty as ever!" Alastor reassured.
The cannibals walked away, as Iruma took a sigh of relief. "Safe … For now." He needed to reassess the area, make sure that he had all hiding spots covered, or could make himself smell bad enough that people would think twice about eating him.
"Clever thinking my boy. Also very humiliating!"
"Pride comes second to living." He said as he took in the air.
"Believe me, young Suzuki, down here, there's no difference." Alastor reassured. "Now kindly stay five feet away from me at all times until we get to our destination. I hate the stench of bad meat,"
"Yes sir." The boy nodded.
"Good, and also limit your screams for the moment. I have been on, what you can say, a bit of a sabbatical. I'd rather keep a low profile until the right time."
He tilted his head. "If you want a low profile, it would probably help if you wore less fancy clothes and got rid of the staticky voice thing no one else ha-"
Snipe
A claw was sent down his arm… as the demon…no… as the radio demon looked at him with utter disdain and hunger. "Boy…."...before shrinking back down to his usual statue. "That is a rather practical point, but I firmly believe everyone should dress their best on EVERY occasion. Vacation is no excuse to limit one's standard."
His arm…. It was bleeding profusely. He couldn't even feel the danger until it was too late. "That.. what was that..?"
"Establishing the order." Alastor chuckled. "Now listen child, I'll make this clear just this once." The world became more staticy, as his eyes took on a dial like form. "You are my entertainment, which means your life is now my own personal show for me to enjoy and mock whenever I see fit. I will protect what is mine and mine alone…. but don't you think for a second I'm afraid of seeing you break….on the contrary, I'm looking forward to it."
"...Understood." He should have realized that things would be worse. But no, the fact he got to sleep on a bed gave him hope. Hope and despair, two useless emotions that didn't help survival … so don't feel them. Just focus on what you need to live. And that means being entertaining … should he pick up a joke book?
"Splendid! Glad we cleared the air! Now carry on, we don't have all day!" Iruma couldn't get a solid read on this guy… which made him all the more unpredictable.. and dangerous. A danger Iruma had no hope of avoiding.
This was hell ... and Iruma would just have to live with it.
"Honey, I get it, your girl learning she's into girls is rough." Rosie told the man. "But that doesn't mean it's hopeless. Every day more people die. Surely you'll meet the right lady eventually. We have eternity to suffer after all."
"I guess.." The poor fella sighed. "But will they cook brain wellington as good as she did?"
"Maybe you should take the time to pick up the hobby yourself. The best way into anyone's heart ins their stomach. And the ladies love a man that can cook. If my husband knew how I wouldn't have been half as tempted to poison him with that last glass of wine." Rosie reassured with a pat on the back.
"Yeah … thank you Ms Rosie." Another satisfied patron. Overlords owned souls, so most decided to use them for labor. But Rosie … just wanted a community. A community of people she could create bonds with. And if said bonds centered around the concept of eating screaming bastards, then so be it.
Most of ya standard fair if overlord strived to be feared, and while Rosie wasn't above intimidation, she rather have open trust and faith rather than fear. It's why her cannibal town was the most peaceful side of the pentagram. And it all came from the good old fashion values people use to rely on, not on all the violence in movies or sex on tv. And if anyone gave her mouth for how she ran things, she had an army ready and willing to eat anybody that she felt was necessary.
"Who's next?" She questioned.
"That would be me, Rosie dear." She turned to see …
"Oh, if it isn't old AL!" Rosie grinned, hugging the guy. "It's been so long! What, seven years? Haven't seen you in two shakes of a leg! Radio I swear hasn't been the same since you left. Especially with all the static white noise the V's have been cooking up lately."
"Oh just a small sabbatical dear. I needed new material, and luckily for me I have been graced with this!" He showed off a child.
"Oooh my." She smirked. "You got yourself an orphan. Never took you for a daddy Alastor." She pulled on the boy's cheek. "Aren't you a cute little bluebird? Please don't be shy. Names Rosie, I swear I don't bite, at least on the first meeting that is! After that, who knows!?" She giggled a little.
"… Is everyone in hell a cannibal?" The child asked.
"It's debatable, but everyone in this town is. I like community." Rosie chuckled. "So, what's your name, little bluebird?"
"... Iruma Suzuki."
"Oooh, a japanese one. Don't get too many of those round these parts, most of them prefer electronics." Such noisy little buzz machines.
"Eh. I've never been too big on tv anyways. It's just a distraction for when survival is at stake." The kid shrugged.
She chuckled. "You made a good choice for a son, Alastor."
"Ahahaah, oh Rosie, you know just as we as I do that I've never been that kind to the youth." Well, Nifty said otherwise, but the woman was a twenty year old in the body of a six year old. "Believe it or not, I was summoned up to the mortal realm for a quick spell, and I met two lovely fine and twisted folk who sold me their son's soul in exchange for money. I wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth. So I agreed!
"Oh, his soul you say?" Rosie looked him over. "Hu … guess it's different for mortals. Instead of the black eyes he's got some black crows feet under his eyes."
"Wait, I what now?" The kid felt his face. "When did that happen?"
"Oh it's nothing to be scared off. It's just a sign that your soul belongs to someone else." Rosie waved off. "See mine? They show off that everyone in this town belongs to me. They live by my rules, and I allow them a safe haven away from the rest of hell."
"Oh … so what about me?" The kid asked.
"Your parents get money, and I get to do whatever I want with you." Alastor grinned. "Whether it's force you to hit yourself in the face, twist your own neck, or walk into poison. From anywhere in the universe I might add."
"Oh geez Al, you're really screwin this kid right over ain't ya?" She asked the radio demon. "I honestly expected more tact out of you. I see seven years hasn't improved your manners all that much." She patted the boy's head. "Don't let the dear man scare ya too much kid. The man likes attention, so best thing to do is to not react when he gets all big and nasty on ya."
"Um … okay." He looked downright confused and uncertain at her. "Wait, dear man … is that why I've been smelling venison for the last two days?"
"What did you think I was? A dog? Haahahah… I would've killed you if you assumed that already."
"I … will refrain from saying anything." The boy said …
She gave him a sniff. "Bleh, where did you find him, the dumpster?"
"Well, I kind of had to jump in there to avoid being eaten by cannibals …" The child winced. "Don't have a lot of options when you can't run, fight, or hide from their sense of smell."
"No, I'm used to smelling rotten corpses." Rosie nodded, looming outside. "This smells more fishy… ah, that explains it." She pointed outside, where a bunch of shark looking demons stood outside. "Loan sharks. Bleh, little sea leeches have been trying to take a stake in my turf for the past few weeks.
"Strange. I could have sworn your men were more adept at telling them no." Alastor noted. "Usually with much biting and ripping."
"Loan sharks aren't the cleanest meat around, especially as of late. Rumor has it Mammon's cashing in on a lot more debts, making every gang in greed more and more feisty and desperate to siege the dough."
"Can never trust our upper management to deal with the middle management." The radio demon shook his head. "Ah, here's a good one. Iruma, would you be a dear and help usby getting rid of those loan sharks?"
The little bluebird's eyes widened, a slight flinch in his expression already indicating that he was already going to do what was asked of him. "I guess I will, but do I just ask them nicely or.."
"Oh no." Alastor chuckled. "They'll shoot you with bullets until every arm on their body is ripped apart, because sinner demons are immortal."
"But.. I'm not a demon.."
"Yes. And it'll be quite entertaining to see how you deal with that little obstacle. Now go on, the longer you wait, the more bloodthirsty they'll get."
"Yes sir." The kid muttered as he walked out.
"You know Al, I don't remember you being this cruel to a single soul before." Rosie raised an eyebrow.
"Forgive me Rosie, my sabbatical hasn't been as kind as I wished it was. I needed to grab myself an outlet for my frustration." He explained with that overdone creepy voice.
"Excuse me-"
"Give us all your money brat, or we turn you into swiss cheese!"
"... Do you mean that in a literal sense or the bullet holes will resemble swiss cheese? I'm new to hell so-"
"Light this clown!"
BANG BANG BANG BANG
The sharks fired off bullets repeatedly as the boy found himself ducking and rolling and even flipping over. "Aaah! Isn't this a little overkill!?"
"It's hell! There's no such thing here!"
"He's not killing any of them, but he's not being hurt either." She noted. "Well, besides the arm."
"That would be my handiwork, had to break him in. You know the old story."
"Oh, that I do." She nodded with an eye roll. She wouldn't have put the little blue bird through so much trouble, but it wasn't her place to do anything about it. And she certainly wouldn't be fighting a demon like Al over one soul. Maybe the boy would appreciate a discount of finger food later when he got himself established in hell better.
"What kind of weasily fucker is this guy!?"
"I'm sorry, but please leave!" The boy shouted out.
"Ah screw it, I'm getting closer! He can't dodge point blank!" One of the sharks went after the boy, who began climbing one of the street lamps. "You little fucker!"
"Okay Iruma, just like the ocean. Keep to the side of the jaws and you'll be fine." She could hear the boy mutter to himself. "Avoid direct contact…" He swung out of the way of a shark jumping out from behind him. "And if necessary… punch one in the nose!" He let out a small hit ... Which did nothing.
"Really?" The shark looked unamused
"I don't punch people too often, I mostly run for my life to survive!"
The loan shark gripped the boy's arm. "Then I guess today is the day you die brat."
"Hey get off!" The little blue bird pulled away as the sharks began piling on.
"Shouldn't ya do something now Al?" Rosie asked. "Given it's your property and all."
"I'm curious to see what the boy will do. And if he dies, he'll just end up back down her anyways and be easier to control, so I don't see how a little maiming can hurt."
"Geez, now I feel bad for Husk." The cat demon may have had a bad attitude, but now it felt a bit justified.
"Say goodnight, punk!" One shark held a gun to the boy's head.
"I said….get off!" The child nodded as he took a bite out of one of the shark's fins…. And began biting harder… and harder.
"Oooh, didn't expect that." Alastor's eyes perked up. "Reminds me of my early days."
Rosie swooned with nostalgia. "A kid never forgets their first meal."
"Hey, get off-!" The shark shouted as the kid only bit down hard, making the shark demon roll over. "Ahh! Get this little freak off of me!"
"We're trying, we're trying!" The other's shouted as they pointed their guns. "Quit squirming all over!"
"I'm squirming cause this brat's BITING MY FIN!" The loan shark screamed as they pulled harder.
RIIIP
And tore the fin clean off … before the little bluebird spat it back out. "… Wow." The kid blinked. "How do you taste worse than a normal shark? It's like someone left you out to marinate in a sewer." He questioned. "Did you also dumpster dive to become inedible?"
"What the hell is wrong with you!?"
"Well, you're a shark, you're trying to kill me, this is how I deal with killer sea food." The little bluebird nodded, turning his head. "Anyone got any pepper?" The child asked. "I think I can make the shark meat taste better with a little spice."
"You can't be serious…" The shark asked as the boy already started a campfire with a few bits of discarded newspaper and a twig.
"Oooh, finally, a twist in the story."
"I do love when the young discover the finer points of cannibalism." Rosie smiled.
"Hey, it's still five on one, we can take one lousy-" The hammerhead loan shark didn't finish as the boy bit onto his arm next and started biting down hard. "WILL SOMEONE SHOOT THIS FUCKER ALREADY!?"
"DIE!" The other's shouted, making the kid jump out of the way, shooting the hammerhead demon in the process instead. "..No one saw that rig-" And the kid jumped on the next one, biting on their fin next. "AHHHHHH! Forget this shit, let's get out of here!"
The gang quickly began running for their afterlives, as the kid gagged. "Oooh, definitely inedible … gaahh … hopefully they can cover up the bleeding before they die." She heard the child mutter.
"Hahahahaha…. They probably won't, kiddo." Rosie patted the child on the head. "Now let's get you into some proper clothing. No need for you to look like some kind of hooligan for your eternal stay in hell."
"… Can I at least ask if you can make them not too tight that I can't run away or too baggy that I trip and fall?" He asked. "I really don't want to die when Alastor puts me up to something like this again."
"Bluebird, I'm nothing if not professional." Rosie chuckled. She snapped her fingers as multiple bits of fabric went flying around, spinning the kid like a tornado before he came out of the mess with a dashing new look, with a nice dark blue with some white accents near the heart. "I added in a clip on tie, you seem like the kind of boy to avoid the fancy lifestyle."
"Oh… this is surprisingly comfortable." The boy looked at himself in the mirror with a small smile. "Thank you. Do I need to pay you or-"
"Oh heavens no. Normally I'd let any favor for Alastor slide faster than a warm glass of mollesas, but after the day you've had, it's my pleasure." She waved off. "If ya need anything, don't hesitate to ask your ole aunt Rosie.
"Oh …" The boy looked down at himself, a flush on his face growing before he bowed. "Thank you Ms Rosie."
"So polite. Alastor, you better be taking notes here." Rosie chuckled
"Oh come now, I'm nothing if not courteous to those that deserve it." He stated with his usual smile. "Why I've even brought the tea this time around as thanks. Camameel with a hint of old earl's blood."
"Oh you old flatterer you." Rosie grinned. "Come now Bluebird, you look famished. I gotta tray of finger sandwiches that'll wash the taste of rotten shark right outta ya mouth."
"Thank you!" Their smile brightened right up. Definitely one of Al's better investments. Hopefully they would have it too bad down here.
"Remind me again how you got me up here?" Millie's boss questioned.
"Because I threated to chop off your dick in your sleep if you didn't help me out." She smirked gleefully. "And when you said that would turn you on, I also threatened to burn all your horse figures while I sent your ding dong to cannibal town."
"Right, right." Blitz muttered with a groan. "Moxxie, you married one feisty and bitter bitch."
"I know … isn't she amazing?" Her husband asked with dopey eyes.
"One word for it." Blitz grumbled. "Okay, we find the kid, you say what you want to say, then we get the fuck out of dodge before that angel bitch shows back up for round two." He growled. "I didn't start this business to get heaven's slut's on my backside to shoot holy bullets up my ass. We already have to deal with shooting off the pissed off client we failed."
"Well, we shouldn't have agreed to kill the tot in the first place." Millie argued. Mille was a killer through and through, that was something that would never change, but killing the kid she's gotten to know over the past few months just felt wrong.
"We shouldn't have agreed to kill children in the first place." Mox groaned. "I feel that's an ethical line to cross."
"Oh for the love of Satan, when did this become an after school special?" Blitz shook his head as he groaned. "If I wanted moralistic bullshit thrown up at my face, I would've kept paying my therapist to spout pointless platitudes that life's going to be okay when it clearly is just an endless sea of asses shitting in your face."
"Hate it if you want, I'ma gonna make it up to the tot one way or another." Mille argued back as she looked at the map. "Okay, so these places have the scummiest bosses with the lax's child labor laws, so the squirt's gotta be in one of them if he managed to get a new job around here." Given the kid seemed to struggle with those jobs, maybe more cotton candy would help soothe his troubles.
"Okay then, shitty bosses … oooh, what about the glue factory?" Blitz smiled.
"You just want to see dead horses don't you?" Mox questioned.
"Horses are beautiful no matter what state they're in, Mox. Dead, alive, zombie, ghost, I'd fuck em no matter what form they take."
"...I'm not going to comment on that." Mox wisely backed away. "How about we swing by the forest and-" A flash of white entered their vision. "-try toooo-"
Grip
"GAAK!" Her husband cried out as his neck was gripped.
"You …." The angel gal from before growled out.
"Millie, I respect you, but this whole kid thing's made your brain smoother than your private sperm bank!" Blitz shouted as he took out the gun… which melted in his hands as the woman shot white flame at it.
"You … You damned him!" She shouted. "You killed around him over and over! You sinned around him and made him bond to the people trying to kill him!" The angel shouted. "YOU DAMNED YOU YOU SINFUL PARASITES!" They screamed as they choked Mox.
"Hey, hey, hey, watch it, bitch!" Mille called out, jumping on the lass's body and forcing her down, making her let go of her husband, though that only made her grab onto her. "We didn't kill anybody, you know, cause you were here! The tot should be fine, he's a survivor."
"Don't… don't… DON'T YOU TALK LIKE YOU CARE ABOUT HIM!" The angel punched her in the face. It was a sloppy punch, but it was hard enough to send her flying into a wall."
"Because of you, Iruma is in HELL!" She shouted. "He is stuck with the sinners and no angel can save him because of you! I watched him dragged into a portal myself!" Tears came from her eyes. "I watched him suffer and I couldn't save him …" Her fist became covered in holy flames. "But … I will make the ones who sent him down there pay."
"Hey, hey, hey! Miss prissy angel lady!" Blitz shouted, jumping over the holy fireball being shot at him. "We didn't do dick! We only kill people the old fashion way, with bullets and knives and cyanide. Using portals would just get us in shit with Hell's hire ups!"
"He was sent down there, and you're the only demons he's interacted with his entire life!" She screamed. "You've done nothing but make him suffer over and over!"
"Well if you're actin so high an mighty about it, then why haven't you done anything before?!" Millie called out.
"You …" The flames began glowing brighter. "Don't think …" And brighter as a high pitched ringing came into the air. "I haven't TRIED!?" A pillar of flames was sent into the sky, slowly expanding.
"She's gone nuclear!" Mox shouted. "We need an exit now, before this entire city is destroyed!"
"Trying to call-!" Blitz typed on his phone. "Come on Loonie, now's not the time to take a nap!"
"You parasites corrupted his soul, interfered with his life and only caused him misery without a single care for how he felt!" The angel shouted as she only got brighter. "Just like his parents, just like everyone that's ever used him! Why can't he be happy!? WHY CAN NO ONE LET MY SON BE HAPPY!?" The ringing in the air reached a crescendo as multiple eyes opened, the pillar of light growing as the ground began melting away.
"That still doesn't answer the question, miss holier than thou!" Mille called out, walking forward.
"Millie, stay back, getting closer to her like this is instant suicide!" Mox called out.
"I know what I'm doing Mox, don't fret about it!" Millie reassured, before turning back to the angel. "You say we corrupted him, but at least we were there! He knew about us! I've talked to the little survivor and got to know him! And as far as I know, he's never mentioned you! You're just the wind in the background, never doing anything and never showing your face! If you're so bold to claim that tot as your son, then why the hell were you never there!?"
"I WAS!" She shouted even louder….. As the flames died off. "I… I was…" The angel's voice cracked. "I … I tried to be …" The girl fell to the ground. "I tried so hard …" Tears fell down. "I kept trying and trying … so much … so much." Tears fell from her face. "I.. I wasn't supposed to get attached… I was just supposed to bless and protect his family…. But… how could I just stand by and not love that child when he received so little of it…" She hugged herself. "I broke so many rules … I did so many things I'm not supposed to … and look what happened. He grew up with pain, suffering, and he was dragged to hell … and I can't do anything." The angel cried. "I can't do anything …"
"Portal's open!" Blitz shouted. "Mills, come on!"
"I doomed my child…. I doomed my son…" The angel kept crying. "I doomed him I doomed him."
Millie stared at the angel. She was a demon, and as a demon, she gave no shits about heaven or anybody in it. It was just full of a bunch of prissy stuck ups that thought they were better than anyone else… but Millie didn't see any of that … she saw a mom … wanting to look after her kin, the kind of values her ma and pa raised her by.
So, in a crazy move that she KNEW not even Blitz would try… Millie stepped forward… and hugged the weeping angel. "Oh crumbs, Millie we should go-!" Moxxie cried out.
"Shhh, there there…" Millie patted the woman's head. "...I'm sorry…. I didn't want to make the tot's life harder…I like the kid. I'd treat him like my own if I had the chance."
"You …" They sniffed. "He has to work so many jobs because of his shitty parents … they force him to do so much … they're horrible and I couldn't even be there to reassure him it would be okay …" The angel whiped her eyes. "I can't even get Sera or any of the other angels to help me because they've all given up on any chance his soul could be saved … I'm powerless… I'm useless."
"...But I'm not." Millie spoke with reassurance. "If the tot's in hell…then Imma… no, we're gonna find him."
"Wait, what?" Blitz asked. "Why am I roped-?"
"Because after all the shit we've put the kid through, we owe him that much." Mille glared, raising a knife to her boss.
"Millie, I'd like to make it up to the boy too, but if he's in hell, it could take forever to find out where in the pride ring he's residing." Moxxie pointed out. "Not to mention any number of sinners gunning for him. For all we know he could be under the contract of an overlord."
"We'll get him …" She growled, turning to the angel. "I swear it."
The angel kept crying, as a faint smile appeared on her face. "Thank you…. Thank you…." Hell must be freezing over if she was in agreement with an angel.