She sat there for a moment, the last chime of the clock vibrating in the distance. Aside from the crackle of fire and the last few pieces of rubble settling it was quiet. Above her an eerie sign claiming "welcome to hell." For this moment it was all real. As she glanced down at the street all the storefronts were dark. A wave of loneliness took a strong grip, but for a moment she wasn't scared, or maybe she felt she didn't have time to be. She began scooting down the rubble. "Hooves are fucking worthless," she muttered as she plucked a piece of gravel from in-between them. As she approached the street movement began. People? Sort of, eerie shapes of horns, monsters, like she could only imagine she was. As she stepped onto the street she felt a splash on her leg. Blood. The smell of sickly copper overwhelmed her and at the next step the body parts started appearing. Her stomach churned as she carefully stepped over them. Victor and the army had shown her plenty of gore over the years, but seeing it in person was chilling.

A dim light flicked on a few buildings up the street and more people emerged. A bank of tv's flashed on shining an eerie blue light over the bloody street. She couldn't see the hotel from here and panic started to grip her. She approached the lone lit building, a bar. "Oh thank fuck we can drink," she thought as she approached the door. A large creature was leaning against the wall, an alligator or something she guessed as she approached. He lit a cigarette and the smell filled her with nostalgia. She'd quit years ago, but fuck it, she was in hell.

"Excuse me sir, could I bum a cigarette?"

"You can suck my dick for one, bitch" he grumbled while slowly looking up from his phone. "Oh what the fuck happened to you? Get the fuck outta here." The tvs and a massive billboard lit up bright yellow a booming voice filled the streets.

"Welcome to 666 news this is your host Katie KillJoy we are live in the streets of pride tonight bringing you the latest on extermination night. So far we are sad to report we lost Jimmy Morgan," she heard a mumble of cursing come through the crowd. "We will certainly miss his music not his looks." More lights starting popping on and the streets started to fill. The bodies seemed like an afterthought Ive got this, I've got this, I just need to ask someone how to get to the hotel, she said to herself as the panic set in.

"Watch it bitch," came a gruff voice as someone bumped into her hard. She stumbled and turned, "what the fuck happened to you?" Why is everyone saying that, I cant look worse than anyone else. "Is that angel blood? You're covered in angel blood! Did you fucking bite one? Yo get a load of this broad!" She reached her hand to her mouth and wiped some of Adam's blood away. People started to turn their heads as the felt her cheeks flush. The crowd split as a small news crew made its way through. Suddenly her face was on the tv bank and the billboards.

"Holy shit I am a fucking deer," she said as a microphone appeared in front of her now long and furred nose. She started pawing furiously at her face to get as much off as she could, but as she looked down at her hoodie it was no use.

"Hello, Katie Kill Joy here what happened to you this evening?"

"I uh…" her voice reverberated from the speakers. "I got in a fight…with one of them."

"And can I ask how you're still alive?"

"The…the building collapsed on him." The buzz on the street went silent. All she could here was her shaky breath in the microphone.

"Him?" Adam?"

"You know…Adam? I mean I don't know who it was."

"Theres only one him, you mean to tell us you tangled with Adam are still alive? Is he?" She started backing up quickly now, "I…I don't know," she slammed into someone behind her, he grabbed her arm as she was stumbling down.

"How about a drink, kid?" She could only see the outline of his hat, a fedora by the looks. He had a long dark trench coat and one glowing white eye, the other was as black as coal like hers. "Come on," he gently pulled her into the bar. She didn't fight it, she needed anything to get away from that. The crew started to push through as he attempted to close the door.

"NO MEDIA," boomed the voice from behind the bar. "I've told you hundred times!" He casually pointed a shotgun in their direction and they backed away. "Hey Travis," he grumbled, another lovely fucking extermination huh. How'd you make out?"

"Holed up at the V's as usual, bout the only benefit to them." He pulled a stool out for her and gestured kindly. Her stomach started to settle, he seemed…nice? Normal?

"On a date tonight? Classy…. Whoa babe, you look rough."

"I think she's been told that enough tonight, looks par for the course to me. Minus the gold. She just looked like she could us a drink. What can I do you for?'

"Just a beer would be great," she almost whispered. He lit a cigarette and handed it to her. She took a long drag, breathing the smoke out of her nose. She felt a hint of relaxation.

"I'm gonna leave you alone on the what happened, who do you work for?"

"What do you mean? I…I don't have a job I just got here like am hour ago."

"You just got to hell…an hour ago and you already lost your soul?" Travis' eyes widened.

"How can you tell?"

"Your eyes babe, they're black. See mine? I still have part of it. So who has it?"

"I dont know," embarrassment overcoming her. He was right, I really am bad at this. Her head started to swivel as more people entered the bar. Her mind was racing as she tried to ground herself in something familiar. Not even her own form would do. She reached her hand into her pocket and gently rubbed Adam's feather between her fingers. For that moment, it worked.

"You must know something? Gotta shake hands on a deal like that. What'd they look like? I cant imagine what overlord would have their souls wandering around tonight without doing some major work, even if they do think they're trash."

"It was dark…and chaotic I really, I don't, he told me to go to Hazbin Hotel."

"Ohhh, ok, Alastor? Creepy red deer bitch, that tracks. You look like his type too," he laughed. I dunno much about that guy, but I've heard he's manipulative as fuck. I'll give you a pass with him. I have a co worker at Hazbin. He seems to like it ok, its free and all. I don't think Alastor's too bad so long as you respect him. Not like our asshole."

"TRAVIS, who's your girl," said an small framed figure, eerily thin with one grey eye and fangs.

"Just giving a newbie a break," he said as his eyes narrowed.

"I'll take her, angel wrangler" he snarled as he wrapped his long fingers around both her shoulders. She went rigid, her antlers growing again as her canines lowered. "What you doin later darlin?" His breath reeked of death and rot.

"Get the fuck out of here, asshole," Travis smacked him with the back of his hand, the thud echoed loudly in her ears. He scowled and sauntered off. Her breaths grew shorter. She pulled her hand out of her pocket, reluctantly not wanting to let go of the feather. She took a swig of her beer, skunk and vinegar. At least maybe it would come close to getting her drunk, she had already gotten a head start for the first time in months before, this. She grimaced and chugged the best she could.

"Sorry about that," said Travis as his eyes lowered in embarrassment. The smell in the bar grew worse as more people shuffled in. A wave of nausea grasped her stomach. Between the smell, the pain and the noise she wasn't sure how much longer she could take.

"How do I get to the hotel? I don't think I was supposed to keep him waiting long," she said as she stifled down the final sip.

{ Don't fucking talk to me bitch} Her heart jumped and her stomach dropped as she heard his voice. The entire bar went silent and everyone's eyes focused on the tv. There they were, her pinned against the wall with his hand around her throat. "They have…cameras?" Travis didn't say a word, his eyes focused on the television and his mouth opened slightly.

"They sure do, almost everywhere," he mumbled without loosing his gaze. "What the fuck…" The scene continued on as eyes started slowly shifting to her and back. "I don't think this is safe for you…honestly I don't know if its safe for me, you're badass, or a dumbass, I can't tell. I'll take you there. Take your jacket off you're covered in their blood." She hopped down off the stool, getting lost in her sleeves as she did everything to keep her right hand out of it. He peeled his eyes away from the tv long enough to see her struggling and pulled it over her head. More eyes flicked towards her, she suddenly missed the chaos. All she could here was his voice. Travis took his drink and dumped it on the sleeve, gently wiping the now dried blood off her face. "Okay, lets get the hell out of here." He grabbed her by the hand and raced out the bar, slipping quickly down a dark ally. "I recommend you take the backroads right now."

"They have cameras…everywhere? Like in the buildings too? Like…the abandoned ones?"

"I really don't know, thats not my filming department, but they gotta lot of them. Vox doesn't like to miss things?"

"Fucking hell…I'm screwed."

"Care to tell me what happened? How did you escape? What the hell was Alastor doing there? With… Adam?"

"I cant talk about it, I'm sorry."

"I get it but fuck, you're going to be hell's latest celebrity and I don't know if thats in a good way or a bad way. Did you…kill Adam?" Shadowy figures appeared in the distance. She slowed her gait. A mouth opened and a string of what she could only assume were organs appeared. "Cannibals, you ok?" She stopped and stared at him in horror. "I got you." He pushed her in front of him and covered her eyes, "keep it moving." She wished he could cover her ears too. "They don't hurt you unless your dead, or almost dead. This is their favorite night of the year," he laughed. She looked at him wide eyed with her mouth agape. "Er…I'm sorry, you get used to it, I promise. In fact you get used to it faster than you'd like." She had lost all sense of direction at this point, but she hadn't felt a reason not to trust him yet.

"How long have you been here," she asked. "I died in 73," he chuckled.

"Oh wow…I mean, I don't mean that to be rude. Its just, a long time to be here."

"Its forever, I mean until tonight if you're unlucky, or lucky in some people's minds."

"Why do you stay?"

"Nobody really knows for sure what comes after this, I can't imagine its better and like I said, I'm used to it."

"How do people date here…like we look like were the same age, but were not?"

"Well for starts its hell, the ethics aren't exactly strong here," he chuckled. "And two, nobody really seems to grow up anyway. Its like you stay exactly how you were on earth. The hotel's trying to change that, thought. You trying to date somebody already? Really rushing it here huh." She jumped back against the wall in a panic.

"I, I wasn't flirting! I promise, I'm sorry, please don't-"

"Whoa whoa, easy, I didn't take it that way! I had a lot of questions when I first got here too, we aren't all bad…uh, shit, what's your name?"

"Oti," she nervous reached out with her left hand. "Travis, nice to meet you, Oti."

"Kill me, fuck, kill me," came a voice from the ally. They glanced over, a mangled body writhing in the dim light.

"Oh fuck, oh no," Oti said as she ran to his side. "We have to help him!"

"Oti, that is not your business, keep it moving."

"No!" "You don't know who he is, who he fucks with, damn girl."

"Kill me…," he gasped, please…its happening one way or another." She kneeled next to him. He was surely beyond any help they locked eyes for a second, his breath shallow and pleading.

"Oti get away from him, now!"

"Don't, don't talk to me like that, I don't even know you." "I'm trying to help you, this isn't how it works here."

"I have a knife, on my belt, just do it," he panted.

"I don't know how to use a knife, I'm so sorry." "Its better than this, please." She reached for it slowly.

"Watch his fucking hands Oti for fucks sake. He belongs to someone and you're going to piss them off." She picked it up carefully.

Travis' hand crashed down on her shoulder as he yanked her back behind him, gun drawn. One shot rang out, it was over. "You need to get to that hotel now. You aren't going to make it a minute here." "He was suffering, how could you leave him like that?"

"You may just have to learn the hard way kid, nobody here is alone."

"I am."

"You aren't, you aren't at all, you don't own yourself anymore. And right now, you're with me, right? I'm trying to protect you. everyone is watching, everyone has a deal, meddling gets you stuck deep. Kindness gets you no where, now its on me, not you."

"I'm, sorry. Ive been there, and I couldn't leave him there."

"It's okay, just, listen, please? This is not my first rodeo." They proceeded in silence.

"Were here." They rounded one last corner and there it was, isolated on a long path with a steep cliff.

"Its creepy as fuck," she whispered. "What do I do?"

"Id wager to guess you go knock on the door, I'd go with you, but I can't risk being seen here."

"Why?"

"Its not my deal, its not my boss's deal. It's just not a good place for me, I'm putting bets on it being a good place for you right now the way you're splashing in here, and you don't want to piss off Alastor, seems like you've had enough excitement for the night." She clutched her bawled up hoodie close to her chest. "I'll wait here until you get inside, promise," he smirked.

"Thank you, Travis. I didn't think this night could have gotten worse but I'd wager to guess it would have pretty quick without you."

"Good luck, and…be careful out there. Like I said, I don't really know how people will take it, whatever the hell happened. Keep your head down, okay?"

"Goodnight" she felt a pull to ask if she could just go with him instead. A complete stranger, a completely wrong move yet again. Lies she had no plans for. She slowly made her way up the path her fear of heights kicking in despite going straight up the middle. It looked like it was going to fall over any minute, but the lights were on, and it was somewhere.

She knocked quietly. She felt like she was imposing. It must be so late now, she wondered. It felt like ages before the door slowly creaked open. She was met by a flash of yellow teeth and glowing eyes. "Well hello," he said in a creaky voice. "How may I help you?" Alastor, he must be. "Alastor," she asked.

"Oh, have we met?"

"No…I uh, I think…I'm supposed to.."

"ALASTORRR," shrieked a chipper voice from behind the bar. "Do we have a CHECK IN," she shoved him out of the way and opened the door wider. "Oh you're adorable," she said as she reached out both arms and grabbed Oti's hands.

"RREANGH," Oti winced in pain as she was pulled inside, some skin schlepped off her hand and tumbled to the floor.

"Oh shit, I'm so so so sorry, I didn't realize," she said as she meekly shook the residue off her hand trying hard to fight her disgust. Oti tried to get her grimmaced face under control but the blood started rushing hitting the floor in those thick loud drops again.

"What a nice welcome, Charlie," came high pitched voice. She couldn't see, the black spots were back over her eyes.

"Angel it was an accident! Are you okay," she pleaded. A small one eyed creature appeared at her feet.

"You're messy," she beamed up up to Oti as she frantically cleaned around her. "Niffty, be nice," Charlie pleaded.

"Charlie? You're Charlie. Fuck you Charlie," she said, her eyes still bleary from the pain.

"HAH," snorted that voice again. "Okay I like this one!"

"Oh, well, yes I'm sorry," Charlie said as she shifted her weight nervously, um, I"

"NO, wait, I'm so sorry, its, its what he said. He…he said "fuck you Charlie, you were right. And he told me to come here, I didn't realize it was you I thought he got my name wrong. I'm so sorry, I'm ok. I'm supposed to be here."

"Who," asked Charlie. "We uh, haven't had the best luck getting new people in here."

"I uh…I'm sorry I was told not to say, just to come here," her eyes finally fully open as she glanced around.

"Bullshit, who told you to come here," said a firm voice behind Charlie.

"Vaggie, she just got here, be nice," she said through gritted teeth as she shoved her back.

"Important first question, who has your soul," Alastor grinned while leaning close to her.

"I…dont…know. I just died like, I don't know two hours ago, I don't know," her eyes started to fill with tears as her head dropped.

"Wait a minute," the voice from the corner again. He popped around from what she could now see was a small bar. A tall white creature with multiple arms. "You fucking lost your soul already, and I thought I was bad," he laughed.

"Angel," Charlie hissed.

"I'm sorry, but that's some shit right there, and you don't even know who?" The tears started to turn to frustration,

"I'll just go, I'm sorry for wasting your time."

"NO, no lets figure this out, everyone is being super eager because were all just so pleased to have you here! Um?"

"Oti."

"Hi Oti, why don't you come in for just a bit, have a seat, a drink?"

"Charlie I don't like this, what if she works for the V's," said Vaggie, her eyes fixated on Oti.

"Just let me tell her about what we do here, please, come, sit," Charlie said as she shoved Oti towards the bar. She sheepishly crawled onto a stool next to Angel.

"Drink," asked a gruff voice behind her. "I'm Husk, don't let him make you feel bad," he snarked while gesturing to Angel. "He aint done any better."

"Fuck off Kitty, least I have half of mine," he shot back.

"Anything but a beer, please," Oti said sheepishly. He handed her a small glass of liquor.

"I think, I'm supposed to work for, you?" She said while glancing at Alastor.

"Is that so," he replied while taking a long step towards her. "And who told you this?"

"Tra…travis?" She stuttered.

"WHAT," Angel laughed, "Ok story time needed here, the fuck you doing hanging out with Travis?"

"I'd be quite interested in that, but unfortunately you belong to someone else my dear. Do tell."

"OKAY," shouted Charlie, "lets maybe stop overwhelming her. Let me tell you about what we do here, so you can figure out if you want to stay, before everyone scares you away." She glared around the room and for a second it was quiet. So you get to stay here and in turn we rehabilitate sinners souls and try to get you into heaven!" She felt her first glimmer of anger since she left Adam,

"I'm not a sinner," her eyes narrowed and her hand gripped the glass tighter.

"Um okay, well," Charlie stuttered.

"Sorry to break it to you if you're here, you're a sinner," Angel said while elbowing her softly.

"I am not, a sinner," her eyes filling with tears again. "I did what I had to do, its what anyone would have done."

"Angels right, you're here, you're a sinner, thats the way it goes," Vaggie said with her arms crossed, her hands tightly on her spear.

"OKAY, everyone, please," Charlie sighed. "Lets start that over, whatever your past was, we want to redeem you here. So if you can agree to follow our lesson plans and daily activities you can stay here rent free! Our goal is to stop extermination, and instead send people to heaven!"

"You…can actually send people to heaven? I was told that wasn't possible…".

"Well, it isn't, yet, we ran into a little road block with Adam but-" Oti's glass slipped out of her hand and shattered on the floor. Niffty scampered across the room, "you are SO messy," she smiled.

"I'm so sorry, uh, Niffty, but who," asked Oti.

"Uh, Adam, leader of the angel army, he's really been putting a damper on our plans recently and we are at a bit of a hitch but we'll get there!" Husk poured her another glass, but she couldn't focus.

"Even you know who Adam is," angel smirked. Her heart started racing.

"How do you know that," Oti asked nervously.

"Uhh…Adam, Adam and Eve, the first man. He leads the army."

"Huh, oh, what, thats real, what the fuck, really? Gross, aren't we like, related? Fuck." She dropped her head into her hand. She could feel everyone's eyes on her but she didn't know how to pick herself back up. She swiveled around in her chair and chugged the drink. It burned her throat and watered her eyes, but there was no going back at this point. "He lied," she blurted out.

"Okay, what's going on," asked Charlie as her eyes shifted around the room. Alastor stood erect near by, grinning from ear to ear.

"Something's not right, Charlie. This is dangerous," Vaggie said quietly. Oti's tears started flowing heavily, she had managed to steer off a panic attack all night but there was no avoiding it now.

"Good evening everyone," said a thickly accented voice. "Have you happened to see the news tonight," he said while slithering down the stairs.

"Not yet Pentious," Charlie sighed, "Were a little busy with a new guest."

"Well some little creature fought Adam, its quite stunning to observe I thought you'd want to know, there are rumors she killed him," Pentious was grinning from ear to ear with the attention. "She, uh, oh my. She's sitting right there." All eyes whipped to her again. "Might want to turn on the tv."

"Niff turn on the tv," Angel blurted while pointing aggressively. The tv flicked on and from a display of static there it was again, that voice, those images. From what little she could see through the tears, it was the same, the interview, the fight in the ally. She could do was hope there were no cameras in the building, if only for one shroud of dignity. Everyone's eyes turned back to her.

"Does Adam own your soul, dear?" Asked Alastor. She looked around at everyone, desperate for someone to save her from this.

"He…does."

"Get her out of here, NOW," screamed Vaggie while pointing her spear at Oti's throat. "Wait, at least let her explain,."

"No Charlie, its all lies, its Adam, he's spying on us, maybe he picked someone innocent, but he owns her, he can get everything out of her. There is nothing you can do here, let it go. She's a plant."

"Tell us your deal, Oti," said Alastor.

"I cant…I wasn't supposed to say anything, its embarrassing."

"We must know, an angel owning a sinner's soul is simply unheard of. I'm sure Lucifer would be quite interested, but lets not go there yet."

"Lucifer," she squeaked, like the…devil?"

"Uh yeah babe, Charlie's dad," Angel said with a snear.

"He said he didn't want it, he tried to give it back it was my fault!"

"Liar," hissed Vaggie, "get out of here, now."

"Calm yourself Vaggie, information is power, I don't think she's being completely deceitful. Now dear, what was your deal."

"He fucked me," it flooded out of her and the tears came harder.

Vaggie laughed, "Adam didn't fuck you he hates you, all of us. I wouldn't believe he even touched you." Angel's face softened and she jumped as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "You okay, doeface," he asked softly. She had no words or explanation left, nothing felt real.

"That was our deal, and I lied, I didn't know it would be such a big…deal."

"I used to work for that son of a bitch, I know him, I know how he feels about sinners. Nothing is worth not killing one. Even using you to get to us is shocking for him, it means he had to talk to you, touch you? I call bullshit."

"I dont know what else to say," Oti said while sliding out of the chair. "I'll go now."

"Is that wise, Charlie," Alastor asked. We have something of value to him."

"She's of no value to him alastor," Vaggie shouted, he'd replace her in a heart beat.

"He didn't seem, so bad at the time…I really didn't know. I mean it was bad, but," her head fell back into her hand, "I don't know what I'm trying to say."

"He's a manipulative piece of shit, that's what you're trying to say." She missed him in that moment and she hated herself for it. Wherever you go, there you are. She flickered back to that moment of protection and touch. Victor would have let her die and only be disappointed he lost control. Surely it was Adam too, she had fallen into the same situation again so quickly. Angel's hand remained on her shoulder as her tears slowly stopped.

"I just wanted to die," she said softly.

"Well, I suggest we keep her for now. Lets assess our risk and our benefits. After all, is it not more dangerous for us for her to potentially be out there? She could fall into more threatening hands."

"Mmmm, no," Vaggie asserted, lets kill her and get it over with. Its stupidity to even consider it. Charlie, Charlie?

"No. I, agree with Alastor. Lets…give it some time, assess things."

"Do I not have a say," asked Oti.

"No," Vaggie and Alastair said in unison.

"I'm not a bad person, I promise, I just didn't know what the fuck was going on." Her eyes grew heavy and the hunger pains hit again.

"Oti, when we do get you away from Adam, you can come work for me, like you wanted" He held out his hand.

"Is this a deal," she whimpered.

"I think it would be a wise idea, to keep the hotel safe, and you, in exchange. For now, well just pretend."

"I dont want to do that again, it really…fucking hurt."

"It wont be like that if you follow through." She locked her pleading eyes with Charlie's, she was the only one in the room she felt like didn't want her hurt.

"Alastor, lets wait, I think she's had enough for tonight. Lets get her a room."

Adam burst through the portal and closed it quickly behind them, panting as blood rushed down his face. He made it in, he had been certain Oti's soul would be detected. Now to wait to see if council caught on.

"Sir, what the fuck were you thinking? Why did you go in there?"

"Real life training babe, if were going to do more of that might as well know how to handle it, you seriously almost blew me up in there. Were working on some fucking communication from now on." They surrounded him with looks of concern and disappointment. He knew he looked weak and it was ravaging his ego.

"Sir," lute said sternly, are you going to the hospital? We could have simulated that in training, that was fucking stupid."

"Fuck no bitch, I feel fine, it was a couple of rocks. Lets go get cleaned up, I'll meet everyone at the bar, drinks on me."

He tried to walk confidently to his office, but he was in pain. He felt guilty, he felt wrong. It had been many years since he felt sincere guilt and he forgot how wrecking it was. He slunk into the chair while drops of blood splashed on his desk. How much pain is she in right now, he wondered, did she make it there? Shed be dead if he wasn't there, one way or another, right? What she wanted was wrong, she didn't know what she wanted. He did the right thing, he wasn't the one who lied in a deal. It was better off he had her soul than someone else, she lost it so foolishly at least it was with him. It wasn't, working, this time. He laid his head on the desk, keeping the room dark to ease the headache. His door slowly opened and Lute leaned on the frame.

"What happened out there, sir, I barely saw you all night"

"Nothing," he sighed without raising his head.

"This is your favorite night of the year, and you're in here alone. You'd normally have fucked somebody already."

"I am a little sore and tired, I didn't want to say it in front of them."

"Something else is going on, I know you."

"You…aren't wrong, but its not my information to share okay? I need you to drop it, or I'll say something we both can't take back."

"Are you in trouble?"

"Fuck no, I cant tell you everything, okay? There's a lot going on right now. Be patient."

"This doesn't sit will with me, you look, sad?"

"Emasculated, now shut the fuck up and hit the showers. We fucking stink like demons, I just needed to catch my breath. I'll see you at Donnies. Hey, not a word to anyone you hear me?"

"Yes, sir."