She closed the door behind her as she made her way into her room. A small bed was pushed up against the wall, a table next to it. There was an arm chair in the corner, its red velvet and dramatic points were intimidating. A plain dresser against the opposite wall with a small old tv on top, she shuffled slowly across the corse carpet as she peered into the open door next to it. Her heart lit up as she spotted a bathtub. I can handle that she thought, I'll be ok with a tub. She crept up and turned on the tv, sitting on the edge of the bed and shuffling her thumbs nervously as she waited for the static to dissipate. There they were again, but this time she could watch without judgement or fear. To her relief she still didn't see any footage of them in the building or after the collapse. I did look kind of badass, she laughed to herself as she watched Adam fall to her moves. The news moved on, she saw faces of prominent people who died flashing on the screen. She leaned back on the bed, all she could think about was hunger. A knock came at the door. She slid off the bed, creaking it open slowly. Angel stood in the door way with a bottle of booze in one hand and two glasses in the other.

"Need some company," he asked. She stared back at him hollowly. "You can say no, its okay." She didn't have words anymore, she backed up slowly and gestured him in. "Nuggets, come on," he said behind him. He was followed by a small pink pig.

"Oh, oh what the fuck is that," she said while gritting her teeth and dropping to her knees. He squeaked up into her hands and tears brimmed in her eyes. "That's the cutest thing I've ever seen."

"He's a good comfort, dumb as a box of rocks, but a good little shit." She scooted back to her bed and leaned against it. The tv repeated her interview again. Nuggets crawled into her lap and circled before curling into a ball. "Drink?"

"Please, thank you." He handed her a glass and slunk down next to her.

"Hey, I'm sorry if I came off harsh earlier," he slowly twisted his glass in his hand. "I honestly, and I don't mean this to be an ass, don't know if I believe you, but I'm down to hear you out."

"I don't really have much to say," she said while taking a determined sip and petting Nuggets. "I don't think it matters? I already said more than I was supposed to?"

"You didn't actually fuck Adam though, right?" She leaned her head back and let her eyes blear out into the distance. "I'm sorry, I'm not trying to push you, I just want to protect my friends. He really has your soul?"

"I did, I don't know what else to say."

"What are you in for?"

"I murdered my husband and then killed myself," she chugged the drink, a gag attempted to get through but she fought it off.

"Well that's pretty wholesome," he leaned a leg into hers. "And then you just, landed on Adam, like on the tv?"

"Yah," she said while taking another gulp. Nuggets flipped onto his back as she scratched his stomach. "I'm not hiding anything, you all know what I know." "

"Do we though," he smirked while elbowing her gently. How was it?" She rolled her head towards him, her eyes started to get fuzzy with the exhaustion and alcohol.

"His dick is huge, he's really good. Thats all I can say," a small smile crept across her face.

"The dick master claiming souls now huh," Angel laughed.

"No way he says that to everyone, I told him it was cringe."

"I dunno its just what Charlie said, he's a cocky son of a bitch, but he backed it up huh?"

"He pulled it off, but I just wanted him to off me and yeah that didn't work out…. Hey, thanks for talking to me. It's nice."

"No need for thanks doeface. So you met Travis?"

"Yeah he saved my ass I think. He walked me all the way here, cleaned me up a bit."

"No shit, that fucker fucks anything that moves, or tries to at least, he left you alone," he laughed.

"I didn't get that vibe at all." Her head started to lean in exhaustion. "I'm really hungry," her eyes looked at him pleadingly.

"I can help you tomorrow, I'm sorry, its the worst fucking night for this. Why don't you get some rest," he gestured to her bed. She turned slowly and hoisted herself in. He attempted to help her, but her body tensed. "Hey hey, its okay, I'm as gay as they come." He flicked her covers over her and flopped down on the mattress. "You can tell me to leave, but I'm hear for you, okay? I remember my first night here" Nuggets hopped in-between them. "I believe you, get some damn rest. I'll stay here with you."

Her eyes flicked open as a warm red light flowed into the window. What in the world happened, she thought. This was all still real. She rolled over to see Angel sleeping soundly next to her. She shifted away and slung her legs over the edge of the bed. The hunger pains were overwhelming now. Asking for help was her worst fear. She reached over to him, rocking his shoulder gently. He popped awake so quickly she jumped back to her feet. "You okay, doeface?"

"I'm so hungry it hurts, I don't know what to do."

"I've got you," he stretched and raised to his feet. He wrapped an arm around her and lead her to the door. They made their way down the stairs through an empty lobby.

"Am I allowed to leave," she asked nervously.

"I don't fucking know, honestly, but you need food and they don't fuckin have it here. They like to talk that game though."

"You won't get in trouble though right?"

"Babe, its hell we don't worry too much about that." They made their way the steep walkway to the street. She dug her hooves in as he walked passed the ally to the main street.

"Adam and Travis said I should keep to the back roads, he said I should keep my head down."

"You're with me, you're fine, I promise," he said with a slight yawn. He wrapped an arm around her and ushered her forward with him. "Oden's got pretty decent food for a newbie." As they made their way out into the public street she tucked her face into him harder. He looked up to see her picture on the video billboard, "the girl who lived," flashing. "Oh for fucks sake," he sighed. He shuffled her in front of him and removed his hat and placed it on her head. "Keep it down a little bit ok."

They finally made it to the cafe. She took a seat and nervously started at the menu, Angel kept an arm draped over her shoulder. She pulled his fedora over her eyes. Angel placed his order and looked at her expectantly. She started to sputter and felt the drool dripping down her canines again. "Go on, get some food."

"French fries?" She asked nervously.

"Coming right up."

She beamed back Angel, "thank you so much," she rested her head on the table and wrapped her arms around herself.

She couldn't even restrain herself when the came out, she started gobbling two at a time in desperation.

"Another order Oden," Angel said without question.

"Oh, no I'm,"

"Shut the fuck up, eat. We got food, now its phone and firearm. The essentials. Do you do guns, or you more a sword or spear gal?"

"Guns, I was in the military for a bit. Husband was a cop. I don't have any money, I'm sorry."

"My type, and I told you I'm not worried about that, I make plenty of money, I'm just shit with it, but you caught me on a good day. You aren't the only one who ends up on the big screen," he elbowed her and pointed to a billboard of himself.

"Oh shit! I'm with a celebrity, what do you do?"

"Uhh, adult entertainment."

"Badass!" She pushed the empty basket of fries away and started to feel human again, well, as much as she could. "I bet that's a pretty thriving industry here."

"You could say so, someday I hope to get away from him and go out on my own."

"Who?"

"Valentino, my boss, he gestured to his eye. He's a violent son of a bitch." Her face dropped as she remembered him putting his hand on her shoulder when she mentioned sex with Adam.

"How do you break the contract? Is that a thing?"

"I dunno if anybody really knows, I think he would have to. Why would an overlord give up a soul? They just want power. Glad you didn't make that deal with Al last night. His boss and my boss have some major history. They're terrible people."

"Guess everybody's got history with my boss," she laughed.

"What you fucked your great great great great"

"Shut the fuck up," she dove her head into her hand with a smile. "I still can't believe any of this is real, you sure I'm not in a coma?"

"Positive," he stood up from his chair. "Shopping trip?" She could see the clock tower coming into view and new they were close to where "it" happened. Despite the smell of rot permeating she refused to give up her precious French fries. Angel didn't even seem to notice. They approached a small kiosk with phones.

"Honestly the idea of having a phone in hell is hilarious to me, I thought wed be like, floating down a river of internal screaming or something." Angel tossed some cash on the counter and handed it to her. She turned it on and he leaned down next to her.

"Open up the camera! You need a background pic!" He wrapped his arm's around her shoulder and started shifting them to different angles. "Almost there, ok, perfect!" She looked behind them, above their heads was both their billboards.. A wave of comfort came over her as she snapped the picture, she was smiling, she was starting to get used to her new form. She had a friend? Victor had kept her circle small for so many years. Anyone who caught a glimpse into their relationship was no longer safe and forced from her life. He had separated her from her sister who had been the only constant in their life since they were infants and her only protection. She felt an odd tingling of freedom in what was supposed to be torture. She knew he was here in hell somewhere too, or maybe he got killed last night? He was gone from her life for the first time, for now, Adam could only come back once a year, maybe this could actually be fun. She spun around and saw bars, movie theaters, restaurants, shops. Angel grabbed her hand as they continued down the sidewalk and stepped into a gun and ammo store. "So you may have a weapon on you, but it can take awhile to kinda figure that out? Works on emotion though, but I've seen you do it with your antlers and your fangs. Everybody is different, its just weird at first. For now you gotta carry something."

"What do you mean?" He stood up tall as his gun appeared in his hands. "Oh shit! That's fucking awesome!"

"Like I said, everybody is different, took me forever to figure it out on command. I could only do it when I was scared or angry, which, you're going to experience plenty. You just gotta feel it out the best ya can, but for now, lets go mechanical. What do you like?" He fiddled with her belt. "We should get you a holster."

"Am I supposed to have a weapon, like, Vaggie seemed pretty intense. Something small? That I can put in my pants or pocket?" He reached for a small black pistol and set it in her hand. She had handled guns for most of her life, but she had never handled a gun after using one on someone else and herself. She felt nervous for the first time, like it would go off any moment and send her somewhere else again when she was barely used to where she was.

"You okay? I thought you liked guns?"

"I'm good, I just got lost for a second there. This is perfect, thank you Angel. I owe you a lot." She shoved it down the front of her pants as he paid, the cold metal making her jump. They made their way back to the hotel. Her head was on a constant swivel while trying to take it all in and get her bearings. Everyone looked so different, some looked shockingly human while other's she couldn't even recognize, some looked like literal objects which she was having a hard time not laughing at.

"I gotta head to work after this so you're on you're own the rest of the day. You gonna be okay?"

"For that asshole? I'm sorry. You said you worked with Travis, will he be there too?"

"Most likely…you, do you have a thing for Travis?"

"No no, no things for me right now I think I've had enough things for a long time. He just was the only other person who's made me feel safe here and I was wondering if you had his number if something happens, I dunno, it's probably stupid."

"Sure doeface, give me your phone, but I'm serious about him, be fucking careful."

"Historically I don't know how to pick um, but its just nice to know somebody. Don't tell him anything about this? I think I've spilled enough beans."

"We don't really talk anyway, and I get it." He added the contact and handed her phone back. They entered the hotel to an again empty lobby. She sighed in relief.

"I gotta head out."

"Already? You just walked all the way here, Jesus I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, you aren't ready to be on your own yet."

"What do I do?"

"Good question, I've been trying to figure that out myself, take it easy today alright?" He handed her a small wad of cash. "If you get hungry, go eat, just be safe okay? If they fuck with you, kill um."

"That's what Adam said…". She felt an odd twinge saying his name. She wanted to keep talking about him like a school kid crush and it felt so wrong.

"Well he was right, take it easy." The heavy door slammed behind him as she finally took it all in. She shuffled to the couch and sat down nervously wondering where everyone was. She shifted her eyes to a room off the main lobby and noticed a small library. She adored reading. She poked her head in and noticed the snake from last night curled up on the floor buried in a book, his eggs curled up around him.

"Hi," she squeaked out. He jumped slightly and a nervous look spread across his face. "I'm Oti, are we just allowed to read any of these?" A smile appeared to grow.

"You enjoy reading? No one here reads."

"I do!" She tried to sound as chipper and friendly as possible.

"Yes you can read any of the books! What are you looking for?"

"Well this is kind of an odd one, but…the Bible? Its one of the few I haven't read and I think I might have some catching up to do on certain people." She scratched the back of her head with a worried look.

"Oh no worries dear I've read that several times." He slithered across the floor and snatched it from a bottom shelf, it was worn and tattered. "Not a very popular one here." She carefully took it from him as several pages slipped out.

"Can I read in here with you? I'm a little nervous still." He beamed back at her.

"Yes! Yes that would be quite nice!" She took a seat in one of the chairs and he went back to his spot on the floor. "Oti is it, I uh, I've been wanting to start a bookclub, but I haven't had much interest. Would you, want to join my club?"

"I'd love to," she smiled back at him. They exchanged knowing nods and returned to their pages.