Thank you Conejo-Sama for editing the chapter : )
Thank you LunaReader, SillyMarzipan, and kar-mamin for beta reading : )
Lucifer had so much on his mind.
For years, hope had been a feeble idea, a fairy tale he clung to in desperation to ease the ache in his heart. After everything he'd endured—the fall from Heaven, the rejection by his father and siblings, failing Eve, separating from Lilith, and neglecting his precious daughter—he had hoped that one day life would change for the better, that the endless pain would give way to something brighter.
He couldn't blame Lilith for leaving him, not after the cruel words he'd spoken about regretting humanity's free will and doubting that humans could change for the better once sentenced to Hell. Especially after discovering that redemption was possible.
Redemption… even now, he struggled to believe it.
When he had helped Charlie with her dream, he truly wished for it to become a reality. Of course, he had doubts, but that small hope clung to him like a spark of fire struggling to stay lit in a snowstorm.
Finding out that one soul destined to rot forever had proven himself worthy of a second chance had shocked him to his core. It filled him with countless emotions, three battling it out the most: joy, despair, and anger.
Joy at the prospect of light in the dark tunnel, a chance for a better life. Despair at his own weakness, for giving up on his, Lilith, and Eve's dream. Anger towards those who convinced him he and his family were destined for nothing but suffering.
When he and Sera were alone, away from prying eyes, he asked her why Sir Pentious had become worthy of change, but she didn't know. She confessed her shock at Sir Pentious's arrival in Heaven; no one had ever thought a sinner was redeemable. They were raised to believe Heaven never made mistakes, casting out those who did forever.
She didn't dwell on the subject as she had more pressing news regarding Adam.
The gruesome image of Adam chained up like a slab of meat, stripped of his dignity, beaten to the point his once brilliant golden eyes were dull and lifeless, caused guilt to slam into him like a tsunami, threatening to drown him. He felt sick and ashamed being near Sera as well, and he didn't think he had the courage to ever face Adam again.
He wished he could take everything back.
Sera revealed to him there was a dark, evil entity that had showed up in Adam's room and seemed to have latched onto him, and she described witnessing a vision of all the souls exterminated by angelic steel stuck in some sort of realm. The image of thousands of souls hanging by their necks, suffering, disturbed Lucifer deeply.
When she described this entity, it sparked a memory within Lucifer. "I've seen her too," he said. "After you left Adam in the Eden replica, he attacked me in a blind rage. I thought I was hallucinating, but during our fight, there was a black figure with a red smile standing by him for a moment."
Sera was silent as she processed his words. "Do you know where Eve is?"
He bit his lower lip, his eyes shifting away. "It's been a while since I last saw her."
"The entity has taken Eve's form, and that can't be a coincidence. Either Eve is planning something terrible with Adam, or she's using a form familiar to Adam to toy with his emotions."
Lucifer wanted to argue that Eve had nothing to do with it, but remembering how cruel she had become before disappearing, he couldn't help but believe she might be involved, possibly seeking revenge for what Adam had done to her on Earth.
"Regardless of who this creature is, I sensed something powerful and foul from it, similar to when evil was first released into our realms," Sera said. "I have a terrible feeling about this, and I may need to talk to our elder siblings as they might have answers."
Her mention of evil being unleashed made Lucifer's stomach clench with guilt. Then he was surprised to hear that Sera was desperate enough to talk to their elder siblings.
Their elder siblings, the eldest angels of all Heaven, were rarely bothered by anyone. They dwelled in the highest level of Heaven, isolated and always watching, ready to deliver severe punishment if needed—like when they condemned Lucifer and Lilith to Hell. He heard rumors that no one in Heaven had contacted them since his fall. He couldn't blame them. The elder angels were strict and self-righteous, though one had been different, or so he had believed during his time as an angel...
"I'll come back as soon as I can," Sera said. "I don't want to spend too long away from my son. Lucifer, please watch over him."
"Will do," he said, pausing briefly before continuing, "Actually, Sera, I... I want to apologize for—" Sera cut him off by raising her hand.
"Save your apology for next time we talk," she said with a somber smile. "I may have apologized to Charlie, but I have many more to give. We can wait for a better moment to exchange words. Also, please don't hold any resentment towards Adam. I take responsibility for his attack on the hotel and your daughter. I told him to do whatever it took to end your daughter's dream project. He was just following orders, and unfortunately, he was most likely desperate to please me. I should have never pushed him that far."
Lucifer was quiet before recalling how Adam wept for Sera. He nodded in understanding.
After his terrible actions towards Adam, he couldn't find anger towards him anymore. Then he remembered what Adam said about his wife days ago. "Were you aware that Lilith was in Heaven?" he asked.
Sera's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Adam revealed he made a deal with her. She's been in Heaven for the past 7 years."
"I wasn't aware," she admitted, surprised by the news of her daughter's prolonged stay in Heaven. Adam wasn't the type to lie, so it had to be true. But why would her daughter dwell in Heaven, far from her husband and child? "Lilith visited us 21 years ago and informed us about Hell's uprising. She saw Adam a few more times, but that's all I know."
"Adam mentioned something about Hell trying to mess with Heaven, but that makes no sense. There was no uprising happening here."
"There wasn't?"
"No. I don't think anyone here believed Hell had a chance against Heaven. And Lilith deeply cared about her people, so I'm unsure why she would fabricate such a lie and betray them like that."
"She said she was done with you, that Hell was a mess, and that you were a shadow of yourself. She didn't hesitate to strike a deal with me just to stay in Heaven, away from all of you." Adam's words replayed in his mind, but he pushed them aside, trying to give Lilith the benefit of the doubt.
"Knowing Lilith, she must have a good reason for what she did," he continued. "So, I ask you, please talk to her. Please ask her to come back to me and Charlie so we can sort things out as a family."
"Of course," Sera said. She observed him quietly for a moment before creating a portal and leaving Hell.
While sitting at the bar, Angel stared down at the most recent message from Cherri on his phone from a couple of days ago.
Cherri: How is he…?
Angel scrolled back to their prior interaction.
Cherri: I'm sorry, Angie…
Angel: I'm not the one you should be apologizing to.
Angel: I still can't believe ya seriously thought I would be okay with trading someone's soul for mine. What were you thinking?
Angel: Sir Pentious was my friend. And yah, I was mad at Adam for what he did to him, but you know how complicated shit can be. I told you how Husk and I were trying to help him out.
Angel: Oh, and just so you know, Sir Pentious is alive. The motherfucker got redeemed after getting blasted and now is in Heaven. At least that's what the Seraphim told us.
Angel: So, your vengeance was all for nothin.
Angel put his phone away, not wanting to respond to Cherri yet. He honestly didn't know what to say to her.
Earlier that day, Charlie had informed him that Cherri had been the one to call her and tell her Adam was in danger and where he was. The news had shocked Angel. He had known Cherri for years and knew she wasn't a monster. Like everyone else in the hotel, she was complicated, but what she did to Adam had shaken him up.
He sighed and took another sip of his drink before noticing Husk staring at him with an eyebrow raised.
"What?" Angel grumbled.
"Oh, nothing," Husk said, setting his beer down. "Just wondering when you're finally gonna text her back. You know gotta do it eventually, so might as well get it over with sooner rather than later."
Angel looked away, hating that Husk had a point. He couldn't ignore Cherri forever, and he didn't want to; they had been through so much together, both good and bad. Like others in Hell, he lacked the right to hate someone for their actions. He himself had done terrible things to others, on Earth and in Hell. He couldn't be a hypocrite.
He lived in a hotel meant for giving others a second chance if they wanted it and worked for it. If Cherri was truly sorry for what she did, didn't she deserve a second chance? Cherri had called Charlie about Adam, and if it wasn't for her, who knew what would have happened to him? Most likely, Valentino and Vox would have kept Adam a secret and done whatever they wanted with him forever.
But she was the reason the Vees had their hands on Adam in the first place. He still wasn't sure how she managed that. He could still feel his stomach churning from nausea as he remembered Adam on Valentino's lap, looking completely defeated just like many others who had been unfortunately caught in Valentino's hands.
He hated how broken Adam had been, hated how he couldn't have done more.
Angel shook his head, took a huge gulp of his drink, and decided the best way for Cherri to make amends was to come to the hotel, admit what she had done, and apologize to Adam. Well, that would be the first steps at least for giving her another chance. If she didn't do that at least, then he just didn't know if he should even talk to her again.
"You know, I haven't asked yet, but how's it feel to not be a loser anymore?" Husk said after a while of silence.
Angel blinked, slowly processing Husk's words, and glanced back to see him smiling softly, like he was truly happy for his freedom. Tears gathered in Angel's eyes before he reached over and placed a hand on Husk's arm. "I may not have some psycho holdin' me down anymore, but I'm still a loser like you," he said, hating the fact that Husk may feel so alone since he was still in chains.
Husk chuckled and placed a hand over Angel's, squeezing it gently.
"And I swear to ya, I'll find a way to set ya free from whoever's got ya," Angel said seriously. "No matter what, we're still in this together."
Charlie was sitting with Vaggie by Adam's bedside as he slept on his belly, his left cheek resting on a soft pillow, a sheet covering most of his bandaged body. She smiled softly, watching him sleep soundly, while she held Vaggie's hand, their fingers gently brushing against each other. With everything that had happened in the past weeks, she felt at ease, even though she was tired, and hoped Adam would get well soon.
Her mind replayed the events of the previous day. Sera had finally acknowledged Adam and her mom as her own and admitted that redemption was possible. Charlie had also discovered she was distantly related to her friends, and that Sera was her grandmother. It was one piece of good news after another.
She was so happy, she felt over the moon, especially after saw Sera holding Adam close to her chest like a mother with her child. The scene made her melt, and she believed Adam must have been overjoyed to be in her arms, finally accepted and loved. She wished she had seen Adam's reaction when Sera called him her son for the first time. She probably would have been in tears.
At least she would see Adam's face when she told him what Sera had said to her before she left.
Vaggie kissed her cheek before excusing herself from the room. Charlie pulled out a notepad and returned to writing the plan to help Adam with his recovery—physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Finding his horns missing, his wings broken, and his body covered in bandages caused her a level of anguish she had never experienced before. Angel had seen Valentino with his hands on Adam. He didn't go into any more details, but knowing what type of sinner Valentino was and possibly what he had done to Adam enraged Charlie. That monster had the gall to touch Adam disgustingly.
Valentino's death was, strangely for her to say, comforting.
Adam needed her and everyone now more than ever. Of course, Sera would be the best person—nothing better than a mother's presence—but unfortunately, she was on a mission regarding Adam's soul, which she hadn't explained before she left. Sera had told her dad whatever was wrong with Adam, so she was going to ask him for details.
While Charlie was deep in thought, Adam woke up, fatigued. Unlike the prior times, he didn't feel the gentle warmth of an embrace. Instead, he found himself lying uncomfortably on a bed, weakly gazing at a machine matching his heartbeat. A terrible ache pulsed in his back, originating from his wings, while his right leg throbbed in pain.
He turned his head with the little strength he had, hoping to see Sera, but found Charlie instead. She was focused on her task before noticing he had woken up.
She smiled softly at him, set her notepad aside, and gently laid a hand on his under the covers.
"Hey," she said quietly.
Her gesture was meant to bring him comfort, but it only made his eyes grow duller and his chest feel heavier.
So... the moments with Sera holding him, kissing him tenderly, and calling him her son were indeed just dreams.
Of course they were. He was foolish to believe otherwise. Did he really think she would see him as more than a failed product after all these years?
But… he swore Sera coming in and saving him wasn't just a dream. Her warmth wasn't something he could fabricate.
Though… he probably was too desperate and tricked himself into believing she was the one to answer his call, when in reality, it was Lucifer – he recalled seeing him in the dungeon and agreeing to cancel the deal he was forced to make with him in the first place.
"How are you feeling?" Charlie asked. "Are you in any pain?"
He was, but he refused to admit it to her. The pain distracted him from the sadness building up in his eyes. Or perhaps he was punishing himself for daring to see Sera as his mother. He wasn't sure how he had allowed himself to believe Charlie's fable that he was someone's child. Especially after what happened between him and those sinners in that dungeon.
Yet... he thought he could still smell traces of lavender, and the memory of him calling Sera "mom" before she held him closer was so vivid in his mind.
But then, he could feel the Valentino's slimy hands on his bare skin, causing his fingers to shakingly tighten, as much as he could with his damaged wrist, around Charlie's hand.
"Adam?" Charlie sounded worried. He turned to avoid her gaze, hating the pity that it might hold.
He honestly wished he had stayed dead.
Or at least, he hoped he could just be left alone and sleep for the rest of his existence.
Without warning, Alastor appeared in the room, causing Charlie to look up while Adam's eyes, heavy with exhaustion, met his.
"Alastor?" Charlie frowned, displeased by his unannounced entrance. She doubted Adam wanted Alastor there, either. Something felt off; the static from Alastor was louder than usual, making her wince. "What… are you doing here?"
"Do you remember the deal we made weeks ago, my dear?" Alastor asked.
Charlie stared at him, perplexed.
"I've come here to collect our debt…" Alastor's eyes gleamed in delight. Charlie's grip on Adam tightened, recalling Alastor's penchant for holding grudges.
"Alastor, he's had enough…"
Her words made Adam wish he could disappear.
Was constant suffering what people in Hell were meant to endure?
"Please, whatever you're going to ask from me, don't hurt-"
"Ah, fear not. I assure you I have no intention of causing harm," Alastor said with a malicious grin playing on his lips. "Now, dearest Charlotte, kindly stand over there and remain still and quiet while I speak with our dear friend Adam." He motioned her to stand by the door behind him.
Charlie's eyes flashed red with rage. She imagined Alastor had something cruel planned for Adam. She tried to keep her grip on Adam's hand, but a burst of green energy forced her to release him. Adam looked at her in utter confusion while she stared back with regret and anguish, clenching her teeth, struggling to say something, to fight against the magic forcing her to move by the door.
Alastor chuckled, his eyes fixed on Adam, who gazed at him wearily.
"Oh my, oh my, how the mighty have fallen," Alastor said, shaking his head with a touch of sympathetic condescension. "It appears you've been through quite the ordeal these past weeks. Such a pity, really."
"You're nothing," Vox's voice hissed in Adam's mind. He tried to turn away from Alastor's mocking smile, but tentacles shot from Alastor's arm, forcing Adam to look back.
"Now, now, my dear, let's not be like that. There's a matter we need to discuss. Or rather, someone else is quite eager to have a word with you."
Adam's brows furrowed as Alastor released him before slamming the bottom of his staff on the floor, enveloping the room in a swirling mist of green energy. The darkest of shadows came to life, dancing and shifting as they gathered in front of Alastor to form a dark figure. Adam's eyes widened in horror.
He couldn't believe it. The crazy, horrifying bitch was real. All this time, Adam had tried convincing himself she was a figment of his tormented imagination, a hallucination born from his deepest fears, but there she stood. Her black, featureless face was stained by a twisted, red smile that stretched across her face unnaturally.
The room's temperature plummeted, the air becoming dense and suffocating, pressing down on Adam's chest and making each breath difficult. The heart monitor beside him beeped loudly and rapidly, mirroring his racing heartbeat.
Yet, Adam didn't struggle to sit up and fly away as far as he could, even though his fear was strong. He didn't see the point. Of course, that didn't stop his panic from growing as he felt the room growing smaller.
Charlie stood nearby, her face a mask of confusion and dread. As she stared at the black figure, she felt there was something so eerily familiar about her. She, too, felt shocked by the surreal scene unfolding before them. Her eyes met Adam's, proving she was also witnessing what he saw. This was no mere nightmare he could wake up from; this was real.
Adam shut his eyes hard when Not-Eve moved towards him.
No, no, no, he didn't want her near him. His body screamed for him to flee or at least fight her, but he was too weak, too drained of magic. He was completely helpless.
Not-Eve chuckled darkly. Her shadowy hands reached out, causing Adam to finally move and recoil violently. Cuffs materialized around his wounded wrists, biting into his joints, and a collar snapped shut around his neck. The chains clinked as she held them.
Adam grunted in pain as she yanked him towards her. He toppled from the bed, landing hard on his hands and knees. The impact rattled his injured body, sending waves of agony through his already exhausted muscles. His arms shook uncontrollably, barely able to support his weight.
She seized his chin, forcing his head up, sending shivers down his spine.
"I've told you to look for me," she whispered, her voice dripping with cruel delight. "Why do you refuse me so much? Can't you see…? You have no one. No one here, nor in Heaven. The souls up there know what you've done to their loved ones. My dear, do you really think they'll want you back?"
Adam's eyes grew duller as he took in her words.
"I'm the only one who wants you now." Her red orbs flashed wide open as she leaned in. Adam's breath came out shallow gasps. "I've told you before, I can end it all, all the suffering. You can trust me. Deep down you know you can."
Then her voice softened. "After all, we only have each other…"
Adam felt as if someone poured a bucket of ice-cold water over him as he recalled a very old memory of a teary-eyed Eve inside a cave, looking up at him as she had said the same words to him.
"Eve…?" he uttered weakly.
The dark entity's eyes glowed brighter and sent a blast of red energy right through Adam.
His eyes widened when he heard Vox's static voice loud and clear, as if it were right next to his ear."You're nothing. Everything that has made you happy—the music, the people, the memories—lock them all up. The only one who can bring you happiness is Valentino. You need Valentino."
Adam shut his eyes tight as he tried to back away from the creature. He tried to scream for help, but the words caught in his throat as he felt Valentino's fingers pressing all over his body, his tongue down his throat.
"What's even funnier is you're so full of yourself you never even noticed how much everyone fucking hated you."
He couldn't breathe, he couldn't move! Something was on top of him, and he couldn't get out!
"And what we see is that you have failed us."
His stomach screamed in agony, and he still couldn't breathe!
"Adam is not your brother. He is not your family."
He could feel the agonizing lashes on his back, leaving nothing but carved flesh.
"You know very well what he is."
His wings felt as though they were shattered once again.
"Nothing more than a glorified pet, painted in gold."
His mind was falling apart.
"That's all you were to them, nothing more, nothing less."
Not-Eve released him, and he clutched his head, shaking it, trying to stop the anger, the sadness, the confusion, and the pain from suffocating him.
He could no longer feel the remnants of Sera's warmth, Lilith's soft, caressing embrace. The adoration and loyalty in Lute's eyes, the cheers from his ladies and so many other human souls, Emily's gleaming eyes, Lepin's eyes full of admiration, Charlie's gentle and inviting smile, and so many good memories—all were becoming nothing but darkness.
And worse… One of his most cherished memories, back when he was in Rheine, Germany, watching Metallica play, was now muffled into silence.
He let out a sad sob, wishing for the negative feelings and thoughts to stop tearing him apart, to stop Vox's spell from taking everything from him. He wrapped his arms around himself, trying not to lose himself.
"In their eyes, you're nothing but a stain on their perfect world," Not-Eve said, sad yet deeply amused. "Remember how they looked at you, how they cast you out after everything you've done, after everything you suffered?"
Adam recalled the painful loneliness he endured for thousands of years, watching how the angels preferred other humans, how he became meaningless to them, how the dark feeling clawed into his aching chest.
"How they robbed you of your childhood…"
"He's right… you were never a child," Angel's voice slipped into his mind.
"You never mattered to them…"
"You are nothing."
Adam panted, glaring with tears forming in his eyes, past Not-Eve, at Alastor, who watched him in sadistic delight.
"And you should be afraid… because, my dear boy, you're never going to be safe again, especially outside of this hotel."
Adam's eyes widened in despair as he remembered what Alastor told him weeks ago.
He thought about everything that had happened to him since coming back to life.
The demon deer was right, he would never be safe again.
He was forever going to be suffering in agony.
Unless…
"You are nothing."
Everything and everyone in Hell…
"Again, you are nothing!"
…was burned to the ground.
He screamed in bloodcurdling rage as the world around him blurred into a seething mass of crimson. His body convulsed, and within moments, a coat of red fur engulfed him. Tiny horns erupted from his head, forming a crown of jagged spikes before larger ones emerged to replace the ones that were sawed off. His arms darkened, the skin turning pitch-black as sharp claws emerged from his fingertips.
Charlie stared with wide, shocked eyes while the eerie giggle of Not-Eve echoed through the room before she vanished. Alastor watched with a twisted smile as Adam's screams grew louder and his legs morphed into dark hooves. His broken wings, still bound, cracked with a sickening crunch before snapping free from their restraints.
Lucifer teleported into the room after he heard Adam's screams from the other side of the hotel. "What's going on here?" he asked urgently. His eyes widened in horror as he took in the sight of Adam, who was slowly rising from the ground. Adam's eyes were now two dark voids, obscured by complete darkness. Two additional black wings and a tail burst from his back, each one dripping with blood.
Lucifer barely had time to react before Adam turned towards the window. With a guttural roar, he unleashed a torrent of blazing fire from his mouth, obliterating the wall in an explosion of heat and light. In a split second, Adam shot through the gaping hole, rocketing into the sky.
Alastor was done with his "business" with Adam, and the spell on Charlie shattered, freeing her. Vaggie, Angel, and Husk burst into the room afterwards.
"Are you fucking serious?!" Angel exclaimed, seeing the destroyed wall. "What happened this time?!"
Lucifer snapped out of his trance, his wings materializing behind him. He glanced at Charlie, who was staring at the destruction in complete shock, and then at Vaggie, who had her wings out as well.
"Stay here with Charlie," he instructed Vaggie. "Adam is out of control. I don't think he'll ever forgive himself if he ends up hurting her." Lucifer recalled how miserable Adam had looked days ago, thinking Charlie hated him for lashing out. He didn't believe Adam wanted to harm her, and he certainly didn't want his daughter hurt. "All of you, stay here," he ordered Charlie's friends before taking off in the direction Adam had gone, into the center of the city.
Charlie's eyes filled with tears as she watched her dad leave. Vaggie wrapped her arms around her girlfriend.
"Charlie, what happened?" Vaggie asked softly.
Charlie closed her eyes, trying to take deep breaths, but dark anger filled her heart. Her eyes shot open, red with fury, as she glared at Alastor, who glanced back in sharp amusement.
She gently pried Vaggie's arms off her and took a couple of steps toward Alastor.
"How dare you…?" Her voice shook with rage as more tears slipped out. "What the fuck, asshole?!" she snapped as horns shot up from her head.
Her friends stared at her with wide eyes before the realization dawned on them.
"Hold on, this is your fault?!" Angel asked Alastor, motioning to the destroyed room.
Alastor chuckled, his red eyes fixed on Charlie. "Oh, my dear Charlie, such a radiant soul you are. You should never have been made to suffer for your parents' misdeeds. But you are delightfully naïve to think there's a chance for things to improve for us in Hell."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Vaggie glared at him.
"Hope is nothing but a charming lie. That angel was lying through her teeth, and you all gobbled it up eagerly. I was merely doing you a favor by showing you how dreams are an impossible fantasy in this wretched place."
Charlie couldn't believe what Alastor was saying. So, did Alastor believe Sera had lied to them about redemption? Was that the reason that drove him to bring some horrifying woman to push Adam over the edge, to destroy any remaining hope that Adam could have for a better life?
She wanted to scream at him, to punch that irritating smiling face.
"Or maybe, you're just afraid," Husk cut in.
The room fell into deadly silence. Everyone turned to Husk in bewilderment.
The corner of Alastor's smile twitched. "Say that again, Husker…?" His voice crackled with static.
"You heard me." Husk stood up straight, refusing to be intimidated. "You're scared. Scared to hope. Deep down, there's probably a part of you who wants to believe you can get a second chance, but you're terrified you'll fail. So, you'd rather deny yourself the chance of hoping than risk the pain of failure and suffer the heartache of disappointment."
Alastor's grin twisted into a snarl.
"And you rather destroy any hope anyone has in Hell to protect yourself." Husk narrowed his eyes at Alastor. "Man… trying to ruin what Charlie has built… helping her uncle just for your own sake. I didn't think you were that pathetic and a coward."
Alastor's eyes flashed bloody red, causing magical chains and a collar to appear on Husk, yanking him down to his knees. Everyone else in the room was shocked, but they immediately grabbed the chain and pulled back.
"This is the motherfucker that owns your soul?!" Angel exclaimed. Charlie glared daggers at Alastor. She had thought Husk was Alastor's friend, not his slave.
"I warned you what I would do if you crossed me," Alastor said darkly to Husk as his antlers twisted and enlarged. Vaggie conjured her spear in hand, getting into a stance in case she had to fight.
"You're not touching him," Charlie hissed at Alastor. "I swear, I'm not letting you hurt Husk. Let him go, Alastor, or I'll make you."
Alastor hummed amusedly, gazing at her for a moment. He knew she was more powerful than him, so without hesitation, he released the chain, causing it to vanish. Angel knelt next to Husk, who was rubbing his aching neck, glaring at Alastor.
"Our dear Adam is going to burn and burn until there's nothing left," Alastor said. "Unless you or your father put him out of his misery for good." His smile grew sharp, becoming one with his shadow before he vanished from sight.
Adam soared through the sky in his full demonic form. Flames engulfed his body before he crashed into an apartment building, sending shockwaves through the surrounding area. The building disintegrated instantly, reducing anything and everyone to ashes and melting metal on impact in a matter of seconds. Screams filled the air as people ran in terror, others standing frozen in shock.
From the inferno, torrents of fire shot out in all directions. Flames engulfed buildings, causing them to collapse under the intense heat. The spreading fire consumed the streets, and those unfortunate enough to be caught in the crossfire were burnt to ash, their cries lost in the blaze's roar. The city rapidly transformed into what people once believed to be Hell: a sea of fire.
Adam emerged from the ruins, flames shifting aside, his intense gaze fixed on the fleeing sinners. He walked down the street, sending jets of fire blasting into anything or anyone he spotted.
The rage and pain inside of him were suffocating him, and something was keeping them flowing through his soul without end. The sinner's voice continued to claw in his mind, telling him how he was nothing, pulling all the light in his soul far from his reach.
The memories of his past, the loneliness, the pain, the rage, why wouldn't it all stop? All his senses, his desperation pushed him to continue burning everything down, to end the agony that tore at his soul.
Adam let out a primal scream, sending another wave of fire cascading through the city. He blasted more fire at the surrounding buildings, watching them crumble and burn, ignoring the cries of those wounded on the streets before he blasted them down.
Amid the chaos and destruction, Lucifer appeared above the burning city. He looked down, eyes filled with determination and concern when he spotted Adam. He wasn't that worried about the sinners since they would just spawn back later, but he had to stop Adam before he completely lost himself forever.
"Adam, stop!" Lucifer's voice boomed, causing Adam to pause.
Smoke spilled from his mouth and black eyes. Pure hatred radiated from him when he glanced up at Lucifer.
"Adam, I don't know what happened back there, but please, you have to calm down," Lucifer pleaded.
Without warning, Adam reached out with one clawed hand, grabbing an abandoned car and hurling it at Lucifer like a toy, who dodged it just in time. It exploded when it eventually landed on another smaller building.
"Adam, stop, you can't-" Lucifer's words were cut off as Adam shot up into the sky. Lucifer avoided the sharp claws but was too slow to avoid Adam head-butting him with his large horns with such force that it sent him hurtling down, crashing into a small shop.
Lucifer lay among the debris, shockwaves of pain spreading through his body. His ribs ached with every breath, and blood trickled from gashes across his body. His head was hurting the most, causing him to see black spots for a moment. He coughed, wincing from the second worst physical pain he had ever experienced in his life. Despite the pain, he forced himself to move away as Adam crashed down. The ground trembled under the force, a crater forming where Adam landed, flames licking at the edges.
Lucifer hovered above, panting as his head throbbed. "Adam, listen to me—!" Another wave of fire came towards him, and he quickly shot up to the sky to avoid getting caught in it.
Razzle shot out of the hotel in his full form with Charlie on his back, Vaggie and Husk flying beside her.
Vaggie tried keeping Charlie in the hotel, but Charlie insisted on helping Adam.
Charlie spotted her dad flying in the sky, dodging Adam's fire blasts as he chased after him.
"Whatever that creepy bitch did to Adam, it made him lose control," she said. "I don't know what she or Alastor are planning, but we need to stop Adam and snap him out of it."
"Let's hope it's not too late," Vaggie said when she saw the destruction. Many buildings were in flames, and smoke was filling the sky and streets.
They saw Adam zoom toward Charlie's dad, who created a barrier to protect himself from Adam's lashes, but it soon shattered under the powerful strikes. Lucifer swiftly morphed into a snake to dodge a head swipe, then transformed back and shot away from Adam. Adam was about to chase him but stopped, his claws curling around his head as if in pain. He glanced at the city below and resumed blasting the buildings. Then, his eyes fell upon the glowing, pink tower of the Vees. Adam shot towards the restored tower, and Lucifer went after him, Charlie and Vaggie not far behind while Husk stayed back.
Adam crashed through the tower, floor after floor after floor, until he landed in the basement. Adam's body trembled violently as the terrible memories he experienced there came crashing down on him. He screamed in blinding rage, his body turning dangerously hot and sizzling before fire shot out from his whole body, incinerating everything around him, including the whole building and every sinner inside. Lucifer surrounded himself with a barrier bubble, which threatened to crack from the blazing fire. Charlie and Vaggie quickly backed away as the flaming dome expanded, reaching a half-mile radius.
Then the blaze vanished, leaving nothing but black smoke and ash filling the air. Charlie stared in shock at the destruction. All she could see was dark clouds, making it hard to breathe. She covered her mouth as she coughed, while people in the city continued to scream in terror.
Flying through the black was Adam, his red body spotted by the citizens of Hell if they dared to look up, and his four black wings moving threateningly as fire formed around his arms. He resembled the Hell ruler depicted in Earth books, not the angel Sera hoped for, which brought tears to Charlie's eyes.
Charlie had Razzle fly up over to Adam. "Adam, please, whatever that woman did to you, fight it," she begged. "Please, let me help you. You don't have to deal with it alone!"
Adam's black eyes glared at her, teeth gnashing before he shot a blast at her. Before it could hit, a golden barrier appeared in front of Charlie.
"Dad!" Charlie exclaimed, seeing her father fly out of the smoke, coughing violently from the inhaled fumes.
"You shouldn't be—gah, forget it," Lucifer said, knowing he should have expected her to ignore his instructions. He instantly flew behind the barrier to stand with Charlie as Adam sent a cascade of fireballs at them.
"I don't think there's a way to get through to him unless we fight back," Vaggie said once she joined the two.
"No, we can't hurt him!" Charlie argued.
"Charlie, I don't think we have any choice," Lucifer said. "We need to do something soon before Adam destroys the city, and it's not fair for the citizens to suffer his wrath."
"But he's been hurt enough; I just can't let it happen again."
The barrier began to crack as Adam sent a constant beam of fire at them.
"I'm sorry, Charlie, but we have no choice," Lucifer said regrettably. He activated his full demon form, horns sprouting from his head. Vaggie shot to the side, swiftly maneuvering around to land a blow on Adam's back. She inflicted a minor cut on his already wounded back, making him stop the fire attack on Charlie and Lucifer. Adam twirled and backhanded Vaggie across the face hard, sending her hurtling down into the streets.
"Vaggie!" Charlie cried out in despair, flying down to her girlfriend as Lucifer shot at Adam and blasted a fireball at his face.
Adam didn't even flinch, and he sent his own fireball that Lucifer dodged and returned with a punch to Adam's ribcage. Despite the pain, Adam brutally drove his fist into Lucifer's midsection, making the fallen seraphim's eyes widen in shock and pain as his body buckled forward, air and blood expelling from his lungs. Adam snatched Lucifer's head and threw him into a towering building.
Beneath them, Charlie jumped off Razzle and ran over to where Vaggie had crashed. She found her lying on the sidewalk with Husk helping her sit up.
"Vaggie, are you okay?" she asked apprehensively, checking for any serious injuries.
"Yeah, I'm alright," Vaggie said, rubbing the back of her head and groaning as she cradled her wing, which looked off.
"That doesn't look too good," Husk commented.
Charlie looked up to see her dad struggling against Adam, who had grown faster and stronger in his full demonic form. Adam was landing blow after blow, her dad doing his best to block and dodge, but Adam was in a frenzy.
Charlie drew power from her soul, her arms becoming large and black with red webbing. Her arms returned to normal after a moment, as she didn't want to harm Adam.
"Dad isn't strong enough," Charlie murmured, feeling completely useless. "If this keeps going, Dad's going to get seriously hurt, and Adam… I… I don't know what's going to happen to him." Tears streamed down her cheeks, recalling the last words Alastor said to her before he vanished. "I… I couldn't stop Adam when he was an angel. How can I stop him now without hurting him?"
Her breathing quickened as the tears flowed faster. "I'm weak, useless. I can't protect him. I can't keep my promise," she said, her voice filled with despair.
"Charlie," Vaggie said softly, trying to comfort her, but Charlie shook her head vehemently.
"It's not fair, Vaggie! He's been through so much already, and it just keeps getting worse and worse. I… I can't stand seeing him like this," she cried, her voice breaking. "I… I don't want him to suffer anymore." She fell to her knees, her face falling to her hands as she sobbed. "But… I can't… I can't do anything… to help him…"
Vaggie wrapped her arms around her.
Husk observed her quietly as she broke down, his chest aching at the sight.
He knew Charlie hadn't rested properly the past few days. She had dealt with so much to help Adam, and worse, she had gone through a lot alone due to her parents' absence. After getting to know her, Husk realized she didn't have friends before meeting them. In a way, he can see why she was desperate to save Adam, not just because it was the right thing to do or Adam being her uncle, but she could somewhat relate to how Adam was feeling.
Despite enduring a life in Hell that she didn't deserve in the first place, she held onto the belief that life can improve and fought passionately to assist others. He couldn't stand how Alastor managed to push Charlie past her limit, not after all the selfless actions she had taken to help them all.
Of course, he wasn't going to allow her to give up now, not while he could help it.
"Hope…. Been a while since I had any of that," Husk said, chuckling. Charlie looked up at him sadly, and Vaggie frowned. He continued after a silent moment. "Most of my existence has been nothing but a pathetic case, nothing meaningful to strive for, just living to survive and held back by my reasons for a rush. But then you came along with your stupid hotel and your damn optimism, spouting nonsense about redeeming us so we can get a second chance that we never believed could exist, a chance for something better. Honestly, I thought you were a naive, idealistic girl when I first met you. Yet, somehow, even after everyone gave you a hard time, laughed at your face, and hurt you… you managed to prove us bitter souls wrong."
He knelt in front of her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Charlie, listen to me," he said firmly, his voice surprisingly soft and comforting. "I know things are looking very bad right now, but you can't give up. You've proven that redemption is possible. You're the reason I finally have a flicker of hope that things can get better if we work for it. So how can you give up now after everything you've accomplished? You're not useless, you hear me? I know you have what it takes to save those who need you. You just gotta believe in yourself like you've been doing. You have to keep fighting."
Vaggie smiled at Husk. "He's right," she said. "You're also the reason I learned I can be more than what I was made for. You gave me hope and even now you still do."
"And you've given Angel hope as well," Husk said. "So, stop doubting yourself, princess. Remember, you're the daughter of a former Seraphim; that has to mean something, doesn't it? Now, pick yourself up and go save your uncle."
Charlie stared at them with wide, teary eyes, stunned. She threw her arms around Husk and buried her face in his shoulder.
Husk blinked then chuckled, wrapping his arms around her.
"Thank you," Charlie whispered, feeling the terrible feelings and thoughts that were drowning her start to drift away. Thanks to his words, she was reminded of the reasons she wanted to help others, why she couldn't allow Alastor and the creepy-looking woman to corrupt Adam. Slowly, something warm blossomed within as she thought of everything good that had happened to her, after so many years of feeling so lonely, sad, and angry: meeting Vaggie, making actual friends, helping Sir Pentious reach Heaven, her father returning to her life, the extensive family that she had gained.
She gazed up as Adam delivered another strike to her father, who successfully blocked with both arms before ascending even higher into the sky, Adam close behind.
She had to help her dad not only to stop her uncle, but like Husk said, to save him…
'And you can…' a calm, soothing voice whispered to her.
A bright light emerged from behind her, making Vaggie and Husk stare in utter confusion as it enveloped Charlie whole.
Adam slashed at Lucifer with relentless fury. Lucifer blocked the blows with his cane. Blood trailed down Lucifer's nose and mouth, his eye purple and swollen from the hits Adam had landed.
With a guttural roar, Adam unleashed a blase of fire from his hands, the flames shooting at Lucifer, who, once again, created a barrier. This time, the barrier cracked with ease as Adam screamed in rage, rage solely directed at the King of Hell.
Lucifer shot upwards as the shield shattered into fragments before he summoned countless stones from the sky, hurling them down at Adam. Some struck Adam, but with a powerful heave of his lower wings, he sent a heatwave upwards, disintegrating them into mere dust.
"Your…fault…" Adam hissed through clenched teeth, his voice dripping with venom. "Your…FAULT!" He raised his hands and unleashed another flood of fire towards Lucifer. Suddenly, a brilliant white light flashed in front of Adam, causing the fire to dissipate. Adam recoiled, shielding himself from the blinding light with his arms, eyes shut tight.
As the flare dimmed, Adam lowered his arms and glared at the figure before him. Charlie stood there, golden eyes surrounded by a halo of purple, the red on her cheeks now a soft lavender. Beautiful, light purple, feathered wings spread out behind her, glowing with a gentle aura, and a soft yellow dress covered her form. She gazed at Adam quietly as he bared his teeth at her, thrusting his arms forward to unleash a torrent of flames. Charlie conjured a large golden dome around herself, the flames crashing against it, sending ripples of light across its surface.
Adam gritted his teeth and poured more power into his attack, making it grow hotter and brighter. The flames roared, but the golden shield held up strong as Charlie remained calm and quiet.
The fire dissipated, leaving only a dark haze of smoke swirling in the air. Adam glared at Charlie malevolently before lunging at her. She raised her hand and a wave of golden light burst forth, shooting through Adam. A red essence burst out from him, visible for a moment before dissipating into the air. Adam halted mid-attack, the rage in his eyes fading, the gold light returning to them as he stared at her with exhaustion and confusion.
Charlie smiled softly at him, her wings gently flapping behind her. Lucifer, hovering above them, stared at his daughter in awe of her angelic form.
Adam couldn't hear Vox's voice anymore, and the anger and sadness he'd felt drained away, leaving him feeling hollow and numb. Even though the good memories were no longer obscured in darkness in his mind, he still felt they were meaningless.
With a somber expression, he descended from the sky, landing on the cracked asphalt. His hooves touched the ground, and his four wings folded tightly against his sides. He avoided eye contact with Charlie as she landed beside him.
Meanwhile, Lucifer flew through the city, using his magic to extinguish the remaining fires.
Husk flew with Vaggie, her injured wing limp at her side. He brought them down a few feet away from Charlie and Adam, giving them some space.
Charlie observed Adam with concern and took a tentative step towards him, her hand reaching out gently. "Adam…" she whispered.
Adam clenched his teeth, pulling away from her touch. "Don't," he tried to growl, but his voice was hoarse and weak. He was so tired, oh so tired. Yet that didn't stop the dread from spilling into his soul and his heart from aching.
He silently looked around at the destruction surrounding them as his tail wrapped around his waist. The fires raged quietly while Lucifer was putting them out. Many of the buildings were reduced to rubble or ash, the smog in the air and the acrid smell of burnt flesh suffocating. The streets were cracked and broken, and the sky was darkened by the smoke. There was still so much commotion from people shouting in different directions.
"Over the past decades, we've watched you deteriorate." Sera's voice replayed in his mind as he stood there. He looked down at his dark, clawed hands, where traces of gold blood clung from landing blows on Lucifer. "You're hardly the same soul who was blessed into heaven." His hands trembled as he flexed his fingers while his eyes traveled to the solid black hooves that replaced his human feet. "Look at yourself, we can hardly recognize you." He glanced back at the hellish nightmare that he had created in the realm, the very image many in Heaven imagined Hell to be.
Dread filled his chest.
"I…" he paused. "I've really fucked up…"
Lucifer finally joined them. Charlie bit her lower lip.
"Adam, you're-"
"You were right," Adam cut her off, his dull eyes glancing over at Lucifer. "I was never anything more than some glorified pet to them. Nothing more…nothing less…"
Lucifer winced when Adam repeated the words he had said to him days ago, regretting them big time.
"And when they got bored, they just tossed me aside," Adam muttered, looking down. "Just like Lilith did." He paused, taking a breath. "I know I'm terrible, loud, obnoxious—nothing like what Heaven's supposed to be. But… was I really that bad? I guess, looking at the fucking mess I've made maybe I am. Still… I have feelings, too. I never wanted to be alone… I hated being fucking alone all those years. I just wanted to be loved, for who I really am. Is that so much to ask? Or was I just never good enough?"
His voice cracked as tears gathered in his eyes. "Am I really that unlovable, that disgusting? Is that why no one actually gives a damn about me? Eve only acted nice 'cause she felt she had to, and your daughter just wanted prove a point to Heaven. Lute and all the Exorcists were just playing their parts. Sera and the other Seraphim needed something from me. When everyone was done with me, I was always left unwanted and alone."
He squeezed his eyes shut, tears streaming down his face, strained sobs breaking free despite his efforts to hold them back. "I didn't ask to be made…" he said sadly. "I never wanted to feel this miserable or have these awful thoughts. I tried so hard to be good for them, to be happy, but no matter what, I was always falling apart. I wasn't the great Adam they wanted me to be."
He looked back at Lucifer. "I hate you so much," he trembled. "I had everything I could've wished for until you tore it all away. You talk about giving us 'free will', but you didn't consider that I didn't want it. You didn't give me a fucking choice."
Lucifer looked away, shame crossing his face. Adam's shoulders shook before anger flared within him again. "Yeah, I went to Heaven, and it might've been almost perfect for the first hundred years, but after that, it went to fucking shit," he said through clenched teeth, glaring with a mix of sorrow and resentment at Lucifer. "It became my personal Hell. And… I didn't deserve that. I didn't deserve to be pushed aside, ignored, abandoned. I didn't deserve you screwing up my entire existence." He tried to wipe his tears, but they kept coming. "I just wanted to be loved… I just wanted Sera to love me. Lilith, Emily, Moro, Vineat, Wimdor, Lute… anyone to love me… but… no one ever did. And after all of this… after proving how weak and a failure I am, no one ever will."
Adam's breathing grew ragged, and with a trembling, broken voice, he whispered, "Fuck you, Lucifer. Fuck you for destroying my life." His shoulders sagged, and more tears blurred his vision. "Fuck you." His voice wavered. His knees gave way, and he sank to the ground, his hands clutching his head as tears streamed down his face. He wept uncontrollably, his body shaking with each sob.
He wished the warmth that held him the past few days had been real; he wished he could slip away back into that peaceful, beautiful dream where he felt truly loved instead of feeling so broken. Or that most of his existence was just some cruel nightmare that he would wake up from and find himself back in the Garden of Eden with Lilith holding him tightly against her chest.
But the harsh reality was undeniable: he had completely failed Sera and Heaven. He was nothing but a monster and would be punished for fucking up. He would be alone and suffer for all eternity.
He cried, hating every single minute of it, but after a while, he felt completely drained and beaten. He let his hands drop on his lap as he stared down weakly. "Fuck you…" he whispered one last time while everyone continued to stand in silence.
Charlie's eyes filled with tears. Lucifer stood there, feeling his chest tighten up with guilt, his hands clenching into trembling fists as regret gnawed at him. After everything he had learned and witnessed regarding Adam, and everything he had gone through, he knew what he had to do. He couldn't allow his pride to hold him back from doing the right thing any longer.
"I'm… not sorry for giving you and humanity free will," he said, his voice firm but tinged with sorrow. His words earned him a sharp glare from Charlie, and Adam bowed his head, his bangs hiding his eyes.
"But… I shouldn't have done it behind Sera and the others' backs," Lucifer admitted. "I should had made them see why it mattered for all of you to have the freedom to feel and think without limitations. I should've stood up to Sera and the others after what I did, instead of hanging my head in shame or staying silent as they punished me. I should've never let them force you and Eve out of Eden without guidance and support. I was a coward for not standing up to them, irresponsible for abandoning you both."
He took a hesitant step towards Adam, catching Charlie's encouraging smile from the corner of his eye.
"I knew exactly how my siblings could be, and not once did you cross my mind," Lucifer continued. "Instead, I let myself grow resentful towards you, let Lilith blame you, because it was the easy way out. I should've helped Lilith see that what happened to us wasn't your fault. I knew better and I should've done better." He shook his head at the mistakes he'd made toward the broken man in front of him. "Worse, I blinded myself to your suffering. I should've noticed, especially after everything Lilith and Eve went through. I was a fool, a coward. I let my pride get in the way..."
He paused, his chest twisting with remorse, but forced himself to go on. "I should've never kept Lilith all to myself… I should've known how much she meant to you, how important you two were to each other, yet… I was chasing my own happiness, desperate to escape my own miserable life… I was very selfish and for that, I'm sorry, Adam." His voice cracked as a tear finally trailed down his cheek. "I'm so sorry for not being there for you, for blaming you, for hurting you, for letting you suffer so much... You didn't deserve any of it. You didn't deserve to feel what I felt before you were created. It wasn't fair to you. It just… shouldn't have happened… And I'm ready to take responsibility for what I've done to you and others."
Adam listened to his words and slowly, he looked up at Lucifer with his dull, glazed golden eyes, utterly lost, which broke Lucifer's heart more.
"I'm sorry," Lucifer said as clearly as he could, his hands finally relaxing. "I'm so sorry…"
Silence had fallen around Adam while he was in a daze, barely processing what Lucifer had said to him; he was completely caught off guard, never imagining he would hear such words from the one that caused him so much pain.
Suddenly, he felt a warmth surrounding him. He realized that Charlie had gone to him, her arms wrapped tightly around his head, pulling him close to her chest.
"Adam," Charlie whispered softly. "You're not unlovable, nor disgusting. You're far from being weak. You've suffered alone for thousands of years, and you held yourself together through all of it. You've fought so hard to remain strong. Do you know how amazing that is?"
Adam's lips trembled, his breath hitching as he listened to her words. Her voice, the gentle pressure of her touch, soothed his wounded soul.
"You're the strongest person I've ever met," Charlie continued, her voice filled with admiration. "Most people would have given up long ago, but you didn't. You kept fighting, kept surviving, even when it felt impossible."
Her face softened, her voice becoming even more tender. "But you shouldn't have had to fight that hard for so long. No one should. It's not fair that you were left to struggle alone for so many years. You deserved love and support, Adam. And you are loved. You might not believe it right now, and I don't blame you, not after everything you've been through, but it's true. That's why Sera came to you when you needed her the most. She heard your call, felt your pain, and came to save you. Because she loves you."
Adam stiffened, his brow furrowing deeply, feeling anger rise in him. He tried pulling back, believing Charlie was trying to mess with his mind. "Fuck you," he exclaimed, thinking she and Lucifer were cruelly attempting to destroy his soul while he was at his lowest point. "Fuck you! I'm not believing your bullshit. She doesn't love me. She never fucking did!"
Charlie's grip tightened, not letting him go as he continued to struggle from her grasp. "Sera told me herself. When she saw you, held you, she realized how wrong she was to deny what you truly meant to her. She regrets it more than anything."
"Stop fucking with me!" Adam shook his head violently. Tears of sorrow welled in his eyes as he lost the will to break free from her arms. "Please, I… I can't-" His voice broke, and he collapsed into her embrace, his body shaking uncontrollably. His tears soaked into her clothes. "Please, stop lying to me. Please, Charlie, I can't anymore. I can't hold on anymore…"
"I wouldn't lie to you about this," Charlie said to him quietly, pressing him closer to her. "I swear, I'm telling you the truth." She paused for a moment before she reached a hand over to the back of his head, caressing it gently. "Don't let that creepy woman make you forget." A warm glow of gold emerged from her hand and pulsated through Adam's head. He closed his eyes as he felt the gentle sensation before a memory emerged from his mind.
"Is this real?" Adam whispered, his voice trembling with yearning and hope as tears welled up in his eyes. This was what Heaven should be like. "Is this really happening…?"
He felt her arm tighten around him. "Yes, my little star," she whispered softly. She set a trail of kisses along his hairline, bringing a smile to Adam's teary face as he savored the affection he had never imagined experiencing from her. He nestled closer into her, wanting more of her warmth. Her hand gently continued to massage the back of his scalp.
"I have been foolish," she whispered, her voice cracking with what sounded like regret. "I am so sorry, Adam. Sorry for failing you in so many ways."
Adam's brows furrowed and his eyes slowly opened halfway in confusion as he tried to understand her words.
"I promise, I will do better," she said before kissing him softly again. "My dear son, I won't fail you again."
Fresh tears trailed down his face as the memory continued.
"I-I don't understand. W-why are you saying this?"
"Because I see now how much you mean to me." She leaned her forehead against his tenderly, her fingers gently stroking his tear-stained face. "Emily was right. You are more than just some perfect creation. You are family, my child. Please, forgive me, my little star, for not realizing it sooner. Please forgive me for hurting you so much."
Adam was silent when the memories stopped, staring at nothing as Charlie shifted so she was kneeling in front of him, her hands holding his face tenderly.
"Those are real memories," she said to him. "You don't have to believe it all at once, but I swear to you, Sera loves you, and she truly regrets hurting you so much."
Adam averted his eyes from her gaze as they grew dull behind the tears that continued to flow. He still couldn't believe Sera actually loved him, yet… he wanted it to be true.
"And I also love you, Adam." He glanced back at Charlie as disbelief crossed his tear-streaked eyes. "We may not know each other well, but I want to, if you let me. Please, I know I'm asking too much from you, but don't give up. I promise you won't ever be pushed aside, forgotten, or unloved. If you don't want to go back to Heaven, you don't have to. You can stay with me, where you'll be safe and allowed to be who you want to be."
"Why… would you love me?" Adam asked her, his gaze lost.
Charlie's eyes softened even more, and she brushed a tear from his cheek. "Well, for one, we're family," she said, "and I know there's good in you. And…I want to love you because… you've been alone and hurting for so long, just like I was before I met those now closest to me. I guess I can relate to you because I know how it feels to be alone and unloved."
"But I've hurt you a lot…"
"Yeah, you have, and I'll be honest, it still sort of stings, but I still want to love you."
"...But I don't deserve it… Not after all the fucked up shit I've done."
"It's not about deserving, Adam. It's about giving you a chance. Remember, I told you everyone makes mistakes. And even you're not beyond redemption. You have a good heart. I've seen it. Please, don't give up. Give us a chance, and if you can find it in you, also let Sera make up for what she's done to you. Give her a second chance."
Adam just sat there dumbfounded and quiet. He didn't believe someone like her could exist. He was an asshole to her. For crying out loud, he tried killing her!
Yet… he remembered after Charlie took him to her hotel, how she held his hand while he laid in bed, and even while he slept, she didn't dare leave him alone… Her thumb caressing his tainted skin… She showed him kindness despite everything he had done to her and others. His eyes shifted downward as his guilt and shame filled his chest from the selfless love that she was offering to him. She didn't seem to seek anything from him, nor was she trying to use him to prove something to Heaven.
Why was she trying to save him from his misery so much?
He swallowed hard, struggling to make sense of everything, and without realizing it, he threw his arms around her, pulling her close to him desperately. His face rested against her head, and he prayed that everything she was saying was real.
"I'm so tired…" he whispered hoarsely. "I'm so…fucking tired of feeling so…" His voice trailed off as he took a shuddering breath, struggling to find the words as he clung to her.
Charlie, who was surprised when he pulled her into a hug, finally wrapped her own arms around him and leaned against his cheek. "I know," she whispered back, her voice full of understanding and empathy. "I know, Uncle, and it's okay. But you're not alone this time. We're here and you're loved. Please, just hold on a little longer. Please, don't give up…"
As Adam clung to her, soaking her shoulder with his tears, a warm voice whispered in her mind, telling her she did well and to stay strong and not give up.
She wasn't sure who the voice belonged to, but he brought her comfort. The hope within her stayed strong in the realm that was meant to destroy such feelings while she held on to her uncle.
Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she heard him say, "I'm sorry…"
This ends phase 3 of the story. Now there are 5 phases. Next chapter we will start with Lute past scenes with Adam : )
Thank you peeps for kudos/comments/reviews/feedback, I really appreciate it all : )
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