The Slaughterhouse. A new territory that rose up in Pentegram City over the course of a few years. The ones who dwelled within its crumbling maw, were nothing short of bat-shit crazy. A horde of babbling, rambling, screaming lunatics. Chopping meat and bone into chunks to be packed and shipped out.

They worked the chop-shops. Disposing of bodies left behind after exterminations and shipping the remains out to cannible town or to the family members... Really, whoever paid more.

These Psychos were varied in size and shape, especially after their expiration. Their bodies were morphed into new shapes, often like animals or bugs after they entered Hell. It was almost entirely carnoverous types. Those that weren't, were swiftly nailed to the Slaughterhouse's outer perimeter. Some had managed to retain their humanoid appearance, though these ones chose to wear any spare parts of the sinners they cut up. 'Fancy dress', they called it.

It didn't take them long to take over their part of Pentegram City, they fought tooth and nail and more than enough explosives to level the city if they didn't get their way.

And what could the others do?

These maniacs weren't afraid to die again. They didn't care about pain. Some even seemed to enjoy it as they were shot, stabbed, burned, clubbed, doused in acid or ripped apart. And the worst of the worst was the Overlord of that new territory. Their king. Though, to them, a God. He wore their mark upon his mask. His body blazed with a Crimson Fury as his one eye glared into the city from his tower's window, sat upon guns and blades welded into the crude shape of a throne. He was expected soon. A meeting of the Overlords. About what, he had no idea.

The door to his office swung open as a Psycho hobbled inside. His body was crooked and misshapen. "Hail the flesh rip! Every second is another closer to whatever the mighty, meaty one brings us!" He screamed happily. Swinging his arms up and down in praise to his Overlord.

"READY THE ROARING ROAD RIPPER!"

"To the burnout!" The Psycho yells gleefully as he hobbles back out of the room to prepare for the departure. Turning to face the window once more, he gives it a final glare before leaving his office, grabbing his Buzzaxe as he went.

Making his way through the lower levels of the factory, the stench of corpses and blood filled his nostrils. The wet crunching of meat being torn and bones being shattered filled his ears. This place was a paradise.

"I found it first! It's mine to wear!" A voice screamed.

"No! It looks better on mine! Mine I tells ya!" Another replies.

Turning to face the commotion, two of his Psychos were arguing, each had a hand on the severed face of a sinner and were pulling it back and forth like bickering children. He had intended to intervene, but one of his guards got there first.

After leaping from a catwalk above the pair, the Badass lands hard on the first Psycho, crushing his head before bringing his club down onto the other, squashing him into a meaty paste. They'd be back later.

Nobody ever really dies here apart from when the Exterminators show up. Chuckling at the display, he continued out and toward his vehicle. It looked like it was dragged from a scrap heap. Mostly because it was. A large truck with several thick plates of shoddily welded metal for armour sat on the curb, its engine roared as it awaited the driver. A thick black smoke bellowed from the back of the wrought metal beast. Opening the door, he grabbed hold of a midget Psycho who was pretending to drive before throwing him ahead of the truck. Speeding off and running over him, leaving a red smear on the road.

It didn't take long for him to reach the tower. A fancy thing. No graffiti and no entrails. A bloody boring sight, to be sure. He walked past the greeters, stepping into an elevator with another Overlord. Rosie, her name was. One of his best customers.

"Oh. My. Days. Krieg! Oh, it's so good to see you! Nobody's heard from you in months. How have you been, darling?" She smiled, sharp teeth glistening as she pulled him into a hug.

"HUNG TO DRY. A RASH OF STAGNATION."

"You need to get out more! Get some fresh air. You should stop by Cannible Town sometime, you know how much I've missed our chats."

"BREWED 'TIL SPEWED."

"Glad to hear it!" She smiles again. She was always so cheerful. Stepping out of the elevator, they walked down a short hall and pushed open a set of double doors. Inside was a long room with a long meeting table in the middle. Kreig sat next to Rosie. He didn't like the other Overlords very much. They were always so full of themselves as they sat around the table. At the front was Carmilla, the lead of weapons manufacture and distribution. Too bad, Krieg would've like that as a side hussle.

He didn't know most of these jerks' names. A bunch of boring losers. How any of these people rose to power was beyond him. He hadn't been to one of these meetings before, he'd never seen the point.

"Welcome, Overlords of Hell." Carmilla spoke, gesturing to those seated at the table. "Krieg? It's welcome that you finally graced us with your presence." He wasn't sure if it was genuine or if she was just being courteous.

"I'VE NOT HAD A BABY SHOWER IN AGES."

Carmilla paused for a moment, this being the first time she had ever heard him speak.

"He said, he didn't have anything better to do today." Rosie smiled.

"You... understood that?"

"Of course! Clear as day!"

"I... see." Camilla narrowed her eyes, doubtful.

"Seriously, who invited this lunatic?" A sinner with a TV for a head spoke.

Vox

One of the V's. This one focused on technology and whatever junk he could get people to buy with his hypno advertisements.

"BOOM BRINGERS RING ACROSS THE CHASMS! AREN'T YOU THE LIMP PASTE MAKER?!"

"He can't even fucking talk right." Vox leaned on the table, resting his chin on his hand. "How the fuck have YOU become an Overlord, of all sinners?"

"Like it or not, Krieg IS an Overlord. He has just as much right to be here as any of us." Carmilla shot him down, to Vox's distain.

"Yeah, but-"

"STRIKE THE GLOW AND MARCH TO COMPLETION!" Kreig points his axe, the teeth of the blade slowly grinding as the motor began to run. "SALT THE SPARKS FOR I WEAR THE SHINY NOOSE!"

"What the fuck does that even mean!?" Vox stands, his hands slamming hard on the table in irritation.

Rosie smiles. "He told you to shut up so we can begin. He also says you're just jealous because he won the fight you two had." Her teeth gleemed as Vox's screen began to glitch, his claws digging into the table.

The other Overlords looked on, sure that a fight would break out. Some of them even hoped for it. They remembered the last time Krieg fought Vox. Most of them are still surprised Vox can walk in a straight line.

"No fighting within the premises. Save your disputes for after the meeting." Carmilla spoke with authority. Krieg wasn't sure WHY she was the one to be listened to.

Krieg never actually went out of his way to form contracts with his Psychos. In fact, most of them just showed up and started chopping meat. He figured that since he was the only one who could understand them, he may as well be the one to lead.

"That being said, welcome, everyone. I've invited you all here to discuss the approaching extermination." Carmilla stood tall, hands behind her back, eyes narrowed at the Psycho and TV who glared at each other. "With the Extermination Day getting closer, I belive it prudent to discuss ways in which we can minimise the loss of the population."

"WE DIE AND LAUGH AND DIE AGAIN."

Carmilla looks to Rosie.

"He says his Psychos don't mind dying. In fact, they enjoy it." She smiles, tilting her head.

"Be that as it may, not all souls are eager to... meet their fate a second time." Carmilla looked to Krieg with a slight disturbance.

"SPARE THE FLOCK! CULL THE WOLVES!"

"He says, if you're so worried about losing sinners, why not kill the angels?" Rosie translated with a hint of hesitation.

Carmilla looked on in disbelief, had no one told him of the Exterminator's invincibility? Or, the subsequent fallout of what may happen should sinners find a way to fell their hated foe.

"Ha! That's a great idea, you should definitely try it." Vox grinned, eyes narrowed in distaste for the Psycho.

Carmilla spoke up before Krieg had a chance at a rebuttle.

"It is not that easy. There has never been an account that the Exterminators could even be harmed, let alone killed."

Krieg sat silently. So what? He'd never attempted to kill an Exterminator before. Were they invincible? Nothing is invincible. Not Terramorphous. Not Haderax. Not The Warrior. NOTHING was invincible. He just needed to find a way to pull it off.

"NOT YET." He growled. Standing, he made his way toward the exit, rolling his shoulders at the prospect of killing an angel.

[Several Weeks Later: Extermination Day]

Well, this did not go as he didn't plan

"BOMBS AWAY!" He yelled, ducking under the axe of an Exterminator. She smiled with malice as she continued her assault. Her strength was deceitful of her size as each blow Krieg blocked or parried shook his bones. With a savage kick to his chest, Krieg was launched back, scraping along the road before slamming into a car, crumpling its side.

Falling from the cavity, Krieg groggily rose to his feet in time to receive another blow to the chin, launching him upwards. His axe slipped from his grip as he ascended. The Exterminator followed, reeling back with her own axe, she swung, ready to remove his head from his body. With a violent contortion, Krieg move enough to avoid decapitation, but not escape damage as the axe embedded itself through his shoulder and going as deep as the top of his ribcage. With a feral roar, Krieg lashed out, knocking back the Exterminator as he fell.

Hitting the ground, Krieg struggled to move. This... really sucked. He'd struggled in fights before, but this? This was almost impossible. A pressure on his ankle brought him from his shattered thoughts. The Exterminator gripped his ankle like a vice, spinning him rapidly before throwing him further down the street. The pavement tore up as his body skimmed along it before ramming into a wall. The force tore the axe from him and knocked the air from his lungs.

"PAIN BEYOND PAIN." He groans. Reaching forward blindly, his hand grabs the handle of the Exterminator's axe. It wasn't his... but it's all he had now. Rising, using the axe for help. He stood defiantly, glaring at his attacker. He'd have one shot. The Exterminator smiled once more, finished with her fun and eager for the kill. Flying forward with blinding speed, she made to rip the throat out of this sinner and leave him choking in a puddle of his own blood. Her smile widened as she got closer, she was now in arms reach. Any moment she'd see his blood splatter along the pavement. A blur of blazing red motion caught her attention for a fraction of a second.

Her vision went white for a moment. Was the sinner... upside down?

How?

Why?

Then she finally saw it as she descended, her headless body falling limply to the floor before skidding behind him. It crumpled helplessly like a sack of flesh and bone. The golden ooze of her blood puddled around the stump of her neck. Periodic sprays from the slowing beat of her heart as it pumps its life fluid to a place that no longer exists.

And for the last few moments before her brain died... she felt afraid.

Krieg fell back, using the wall to prop himself up, the wound in his torso healing slowly as bones snapped into place and flesh stitched itself back together.

Thank whatever experiment gave him his Thrill of the Kill ability. He was very glad that the upgrade screen still showed up after he died. He wondered if the other Vault Hunters saw it as well.

Deep ragged breaths came from beneath his mask as the clocktower chimed, signalling the end of Extermination day. The angels rose back to the portal like a flock of savage birds. Most of his Psychos were killed. He REALLY, should've seen that coming. Well, there were always more to recruit with how many die on Pandora.

As he shambled back to his factory, he began to think on what it was he was actually doing in Hell. There was no point in it. Not if SHE wasn't here. He had come to the conclusion, (at least, his sane side did before it went silent) that Maya was in Heaven. And he had no way to get there.

It made him angry. So, very angry. After retrieving his axe, and keeping the Exterminator's, Krieg finally reached the factory where Psychos had already begun to work on their fallen brothers and sisters with glee.

But as he looked out among the corpses being chopped and moved along the packaging lines... he didn't feel right. So he did what he always did when he wanted to think... he went for a walk.

"DIE AGAIN!" He roared, chopping into the skull of a sinner. The arena erupted into cheers. He had found this place a while ago, a crater surrounded by a large stadium for all sorts of bloodthirsty lunatics to watch a bunch of manics tear each other to pieces. Krieg loved to kill and maim, make no mistake. But right now? He just wanted to forget the hopelessness of his situation. Stuck in Hell without the one person he wanted to be with above all others.

In a sense he was happy. She was in a better place than this dump at least, even if he didn't get to see her.

"Aaaand there you have it, losers and degenerates! Our still reigning champion! The Overlord of maniacs everywhere: Krieg!" The announcer roared from his booth, high above the seats. The crowds doubled their cheers. "Now... for the moment you've all been waiting for! Who among you has the balls to jump into the arena and take this Psycho down!?" To that, dozens of sinners hopped the barriers and began charging with bladed and blunt weapons to the Psycho. He was surrounded on all sides by all manner of sinners... and he had a plan.

"PUT YOUR PAIN INTO ME!" Laughing, he spread his arms wide as they reached him. He was stabbed, slashed and clubbed. Thrown around like a chew toy before being impaled upon a shard of scrap metal as the sinners approached.

"Holy shit. You ain't so tough after all!" A sinner in the form of a shark spoke, tipping his hat to shadow his eyes, his knife-like teeth shining.

Krieg smiled beneath his mask. "TIME TO RAMPAGE!" He roared, his voice sounding like dozens as he ripped himself from the metal, his wounds closing instantly as he grew in size, his right arm stealing the size of the left as he looked down at the sinners. "TIME FOR MY PIECE OF THE PIE! I'LL TAKE A CORNER OFF YOUR HEAD!" He charged, taking large arcing swing and bisecting several demons in one go. Turning to others, he leapt into the air landing between them as he spun wildly like a twister of roaring teeth, blood and viscera spewed around him in a hypnotic display of savage gore that spread across the barren ground. Screams of pain echoed, almost smothering the sound of the wet crunch of their bodies being torn apart and thrashed around as Krieg continued his manic slaughter. He wasn't sure how long he'd been at it, but all good things must end when he slowly shifted back to normal. Rolling his shoulders, several pops signalled his joints becoming looser. He faced the final sinner. A large bear in a biker's outfit, he held a large sword. The metal was onyx and shone.

"I'm gonna fucking butcher you, you piece of shit!"

"NUH, UH! I'M GONNA RAM MY SCREAMING SPINNER INTO YOUR SPECIAL PLACE AND TWIST UNTIL IT POPS!"

"What the fuck does that even mean!?"

Krieg charged forward, his axe swung wildly as the sinner shoddily parried it. They were engaged in a battle of attack and defense, going back and forth, neither giving the other a chance to breath or even think. Krieg revved his saw to spin faster, swinging with all his strength into his enemy's blade. Sparks flew wildly as the saw cut through it.

"What the fuck!? How did-!?" The sinner didn't have the chance to finish his sentence as Krieg had followed through with his momentum, spinning into a swing at the sinners crotch, ripping into it from the bottom up as the sinner screeched at the top of his lungs. The white hot pain flaring, leaving him no chance to think of anything but the pain.

After several moments of some of the worst pain the sinner had ever been in, Krieg violently ripped his axe free and swung it at the sinner's throat, messily tearing into it as the sinner looked up in horror, unable to move his neck any longer. As his head slowly slid down his back, barley hanging on by a few tendons. "This... fucking... sucks." He choked out, finally falling to the floor. Bodies surrounded him, the stench of blood filled his nose. But it wasn't the same. Not without her.

"And there you have it fuckers! He remains our champion for another day!" Cheers and boo's rang out among the spectators who did not participate in the bloodbath. Krieg hardly noticed as he went back to the locker rooms.

They were a mess. Even worse than his bedroom. As he sat on the bench, he looked up to the wall-mounted TV. A cheap thing, but it got the job done. The 666 News was playing, detailing what sinners were up to after the Extermination. Most of them were fighting for territory. Some of them even tried to take his.

He thought it funny when his Psychos found them, he was glad they were having fun as they gleefully skinned and scalped their victims to their hearts content. A happy worker is a hard worker after all.

He had stood up to leave when a girls voice caught his attention. Turning to the screen, a new girl was singing. A blonde girl with pale skin and a very cheerful attitude. And he didn't just think that because she was singing about rainbows inside demons. Krieg had cut open a lot of these freaks since he's been in Hell. The only colour he's found was red.

Looking to the bottom of the screen where basic info is, he learned her name was Charlie Morningstar. Daughter of Lucifer. As she continued to sing about her plans to redeem sinners to get them into heaven, Krieg couldn't help but tap his foot along to her singing as he thought about it.

Redemption. That's what would get him into Heaven. That's what would let him see her again.

"Hahaha! Can you believe this stupid bitch!?" A voice laughed behind him. The owner of it walked to Kriegs side as the song finished. "This fuckin idiot thinks anyone would ever want redemption!? What a fuckin retar-" Kriegs fingers soon buried themselves into the mouth of this sinner. A wolf varient. Gripping hard as the sinner struggled, Krieg pulled back, ripping off the jaw and most of the throat with it.

"SHADDUP, FIDO! I FEEL CONTEMPT AT YOUR PREVIOUS STATEMENT!" A final haymaker knocked the sinner down as his body convulsed.

He had to find that hotel. If there was any chance. Any chance at all that he would be able to see her again, he had to take it.

However, finding a place that was so poorly advertised was no easy feat. It took him an entire week to find this place and many, many, many, many, ever-so-many bodies. But here he was, stood outside the door, heavily breathing as his axe was clutched tightly in his grasp. It looked like a fresh battlefield outside. Rubble and scrap metal. He missed a party.

But, back on topic. What would he say? What would she say? Well... only one way to find out. Raising his fist, he applied three heavy knocks.

Fast shuffling rose up behind the door. Hushed voices. A click of the door being unlocked before it slowly opened. The one who answered the door was none other than Charlie herself, who looked up in disbelief before being replaced with a happy smile and a disposition like a puppy getting its ear scratched.

"Hi! Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel!" She all but screamed in excitement.

"BRAID THE HORSETAILS!" Krieg put his hand out for a shake.

"Oh... Uh..." She stuttered, not sure how to respond other than shaking his hand. "Well... um... hello... you. Are you here to take a shot at redemtion?" She looked desperate. But there was something else... hope. If he had to guess. A hope that wasn't going to die without enough fire power to bring Heaven down to its knees.

"PLEASE AND THANK YOU, DOLL!"

"Oh... my God... YES! YES! YESYESYESYESYESYESYES!" She bounced on her tiptoes rapidly as she grinned from ear to ear. "Come in! Come in! I have soo much to show you!" She giggled all the while as she all but dragged Krieg inside.

Entering the lobby, he saw the porn star, Angel Dust and a grey woman with an 'X' over her eye. He'd heard of Angel Dust alot. He never cared for the... adult images, but one of his Psychos collected the movies and magazines... to each his own, who was he to yuck someone's yum.

"Whoa! Who's this hunka beef?" Angel purred, standing up and strutting toward the Psycho.

"This is..." Charlie paused. "I'm so sorry, I didn't even get your name." She laughed nervously.

"MEATY MAN!" Krieg pointed a thumb at himself.

"Oh, yes you are~." Angel said, getting closer. Wrapping an arm around Kriegs shoulder and another over his chest. "So, muscles, what's say you come up to my room latah? We can see just how much meat yo-"

Krieg removed the spiders arms, picking him up by the collar of his jacket and throwing him back to the couch. "Hey! What was that for, dick?" He huffed, crossing his arms.

"So... Uh... Meaty Man, was it? That's an... interesting name?" Charlie spoke shyly, obviously not intending to insult him.

"His name is Krieg." The grey girl spoke, her eye narrowed at the Psycho as she stood next to Charlie. "He's an Overlord. He runs the Slaughterhouses. Him and his army of Psychos."

"CRUSTED CRIMSON ON THE CAN KILLER. LET THE BLISTER BRINGER RAIN UPON ME NOW." He set down his axe, propping it up against a wall. The bartender finally looked up from his glass cleaning and nearly did a spit take as his eyes landed upon the blazing red form of the Psycho.

"Wait, an Overlord? An OVERLORD wants to stay at the hotel!?" She began bouncing up and down like a jackhammer as she held onto Vaggie's hands. A wide, smile plastered on her face. "This is great! If sinners see an Overlord try to redeem themselves, then others might want to as well!"

She turned back to Krieg, ready to ask him a million questions and to show him around before Vaggie spoke up first.

"Why do YOU of all sinners want to be redeemed?" She placed her fists against her hips. "You don't exactly seem like the type."

"SHE ISN'T HERE. SCREAMS SMOTHERED AND BLOOD SPILLS WITHOUT THE SPLATTER."

He growled as he clenched his fists. "SO MANY DAYLESS NIGHTS WITHOUT THE MELODY OF HER EXISTANCE HAS BROUGHT A SORROW NOT DROWNED BY SUFFERING... I... I... I WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN." He finished quietly as his fists relaxed.

"See who again?" Charlie stepped forward, genuinely concerned for the manic Overlord in front of her.

"THE PRETTY LADY." He mourned. Slumping his shoulders.

Charlie took a moment to think.

"The pretty lady?" She stood in thought for a moment. "She was someone special to you, right? Someone who isn't in Hell?"

"YESSINGTON."

"So, you want to get to Heaven to find your lost love?" She almost had stars in her eyes as well as tears at the prospect. She was beyond heartbroken for the sinner before her, but this was a textbook fairytale plot.

"PULL OFF ONLY WHAT IS LEFT."

"Okay, I gotta ask. The fuck is your deal, dude?" Angel asked from the couch, slumping his arms over the back to brace himself. "Why are you talkin' like that?"

"TRIAL AND ERROR, STRIPPING SKIN AND STABBING THINLY INTO THE MEAT."

"See? What the fuck does that shit even mean?" He waved his arm for emphasis.

Charlie stood between the two, trying her best to be supportive of both parties. "Well... maybe it's just the way he's always talked. Either way, it's fine. I'm sure we can work through it. Right?" She turned her head between Angel and Vaggie, looking for agreement.

"I don't know, hun." Vaggie still looked at Krieg with a distrustful glare. "It seems... too easy, that an Overlord would show up for redemption. Especially this early."

In response, Charlie clasped her hands together and somehow made her eyes larger and more shiny as she pouted. It didn't take long for Vaggie to cave.

"...Fine. He can sta-" She was unable to finish before Charlie scooped her up into a bone breaking hug, spinning around as she thanked her profusely. After setting the disoriented, though obviously happy Vaggie down. Charlie turned to Krieg.

"This is going to be great! I have SO many ideas!" She once again began giggling like a kid on Christmas.

"GOUGE THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER."

"Yep! Still, no idea what you're talking about!" She smiled, quickly dragging him around the lobby and pointing out every detail that she could. Once they got to the bar, several knocks rang out from the door. "Who could that be?" Charlie let go of Krieg's hand as she looked to the door. Vaggie had gone to answer it. "I'll be right back, just stay here, okay? Oh, and by the way, this is Husk, he's our bartender." She motioned toward the bar as she approached the door.

"So, you want to get into Heaven for love? Well, at least its not the dumbest thing I've ever heard." Huffing dismissively, the winged cat-man poured Krieg a drink.

Taking it, Krieg drank it through his mask. Even though Husk had just watched him do it, he was still unsure of HOW he did it.

"I'LL FACE THE BONNET AND IT WILL BE PERFECTION."

"How the fuck do you function?" Husk grabs a bottle and takes several large swigs before putting it down, facing the lunatic.

"LIKE A KNIFE UNDER A FINGER NAIL."

"The fact you've survived this long is nothin' short of a fuckin' miracle."

"Heads up, boys." Angel approaches the bar. "Charlie's letting Pentious stay here."

"SPELL IT OUT FOR ME... SLOWLY."

"Wha? No, dude. I ain't spellin' shit, I'm just tellin' ya some prick who tried to blow the hotel up like six hours ago is stayin' here now."

"I DON'T OWN THAT SKINSUIT."

"So, THIS is the bar." Charlie approached, smiling widely as she led Pentious around. "And the bartender. Oh! And look! This is Krieg. He showed up today, too!"

"Krieg!?" The serpent jolted back, holding his hat tightly. "W-why, hello again." He said nervously.

Again? Krieg had no idea who this guy was. Had they met before?

"STRANGER DANGER... NOT AFTER I CARVE YOUR TEETH OUT AND FEED THEM TO YOUR FEMURS." For a moment, Krieg wondered if snakes even HAD femurs. If not, he'd make some.

"... P-please do not." Pentious could barely keep his voice raised to an acceptable level as he shrunk under the blazing glare of the Psycho.

After that, quite frankly, awkward encounter. Charlie began showing off every little detail of the main room until Vaggie pulled her aside.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I'm so excited to have TWO real guests here!"

"Uuh, what the hell am I then?" Angel leaned against a table, raising two hands in confusion.

"Well, you're an important part of out family here, Angel." She approached the spider with a smile. "BUT, you... umm." Charlie struggled to find the right words. Luckily, Vaggie was there

"You constantly make us look bad. Sexually harass the staff. And have literally never once tried to improve?"

"What she means is, it's just nice to have people interested for once." Charlie added on, unsuccessfully appeasing the mind of the spider porn star.

Krieg stood, following Charlie and Pentious as they approached a small, cyclops.

"And over here, we have our maid, Nifty."

Nifty stood from where she was playing with a cat before approaching Pentious. "The bad boy is back." She pounces onto his chest, gripping his collar tightly. "Never leave me again." She almost snarled before turning to Krieg. "Are you another bad boy?" She smiled ferally.

"CHOKED WITH TRUTH. YOU CAN'T PROVE I ATE HIM!"

Nifty giggled. "Oh, yeah... DEFINETLY a bad boy."

"We're about eighty percent sure she's harmless." Charlie tried to assure the pair as the one-eyed gremlin creature still stared into Pentious' eyes with insane longing.

Turning to walk towards the rooms, Charlie was stopped by a new figure. Krieg had never met this sinner before. He stood with a wide smile, and wore a blood-red suit

"Oh, and this is Alastor! Our gracious facility manager." Charlie introduced the sinner. "You've met one our new guests, sir Pentious." She chuckles nervously. Krieg could feel the tension. There was obviously some bad blood between Alastor and Pentious as the sepent I'm question looked queasy as he waved.

"Ah yes! You're the one who ruined my coat." His face was shadowed, highlighting his eyes crimson glow as they narrowed. "I definitely remember you now."

Pentious swallowed audibly before Charlie perked up with an idea.

"...I guess this is a GREAT time for your first lessons." Charlie smiled, grabbing Pentious by the wrist and pulling him toward Alastor to face him. "Pay close attention Krieg, you're up next. First Lesson: How to apologise. The first step to becoming a better person is to admit when you are wrong." She moves Pentious closer to Alastor, no longer standing between the two. "Why don't you give it a try?"

After a pathetic attempt at a sincere apology and Pentious giving Alastor back a piece of his suit. The Radio Demon burned the piece to ash, his smile becoming wider at the dismay of the serpent. "And who is this masked fellow?" Alastor approached Krieg with confidence.

"Oh! This is Krieg! He's an Overlord." Charlie smiled, arms outstretched as she presented him. "And this is a great time for the next lesson: How to be polite. It starts with a simple greeting. Alastor, could you start?"

"Of course! Hello, Krieg! It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He smiled, his cane arm behind his back as his other reached out for a handshake.

"Now, you say hello back." Charlie beamed at how well this was going.

"SALUTATIONS! THE PLEASURE IS MINE, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT!" Krieg shook Alastor's hand several times before letting go.

"My, my! A very energetic one, aren't you?"

"ALL THE BETTER TO EAT YOUR GRANDMOTHER!"

"Too right you are." Alastor laughed.

"You understood that?" Charlie stood in confusion.

"Oh, not a word, my dear. I'm just having fun with the old sport!" He laughed jovially.

"LIKE A FRESH FURNACE FETUS!"

Charlie turned a shade of green at that. "Well... that's... very creative imagery and..." She barely stifled a gag, bringing a hand to cover her mouth while the other supported her belly. "Oh God, I just imagined it."

"DON'T SHARE MY THOUGHT! GET YOUR OWN!"

A little while later, Angel, Vaggie, Pentious and Krieg sat in a common area as Charlie stood before them all.

"Now, with two NEW residents, I think it's important that we all get to know each other. So, we are going to play a little game. Everyone, follow me." She took a breath. "My name is Charlie. I like to sing. And when we get to know each other it's the greatest thing." With each pause she added two claps. She retained her smile throughout the demonstration. She pointed to Pentious next who copied her rhythm.

"My name's Sir Pentious. I like to build. And despite my stupid egg bois, I think I'm very skilled." He finished with a smile before he and Charlie tried to encourage Angel to give it a go. The spider had some choice words on the matter.

"This is stupid." He looks up from his phone, fed up.

"This is not stupid. This is the game. Sir Pentious did it well, so please try to do the same!" Charlie followed the rhythm again, looking to Angel, hoping he would play along for once.

"I am too sober for this." Angel massages his eyes.

"Well get used to it, learn how to play, this is gonna be your whole day." Vaggie grinned.

"Okay Krieg. Now it's your turn. So I really hope that you've watched and learned." Charlie continued her rythm as she looked to the Psycho who was playing with the sawblade of his axe.

Taking a moment to think, Krieg began.

"MY NAME IS KRIEG! I LOVE GORE! WITH CORPSES PILLING UP, GOOD GOD I WANT MORE!"

"Ok, that was... a good start! Don't worry, we can work on the violence later." Charlie chuckled nervously as she took the group to another activity.

It was... an experience? It nearly bored Krieg to tears as he sat and watched Angel and Pentious act out a very, very, very child friendly script that Charlie had created. Thankfully, it was over soon, and Angel retired to his room. He looked disheartened, not that anyone really noticed. Krieg stood up, and began walking to the front door as they continued to chat in the common area.

"Wait!" Charlie rushed past him to block his path. "You're leaving!? Why!? We only just got started!"

"REFLECTION DISTORTIONS! CULLING THE FLOCK OR THEY'LL JUMP THE FENCE AND I WON'T HAVE LAMB CHOPS ANYMORE!" He explained as best he could, patting her on the shoulder as he opened the door.

"But... you're coming back... right?"

"DOES A CORPSE STINK OF JELLY JUICES?"

"Uh... I dunno. Maybe?"

"YES!"

"Oh, good then! I'll... uh, see you when you get back? You still need to see your new room!" She beamed. Kreig didn't know what rainbow spit her out, but she was surprisingly sweet for a Hell-spawn.

"A DEN IN THE PLACE OF MANY PEOPLE?"

"Well, yeah! That's what a hotel is." She smiled. "Goodnight Krieg." She walked toward the stairs, joining Vaggie who waited for her.

Krieg walked out into the filthy city, south of the Hotel. He wasn't sure what the name of this section was, but he knew it led to his Slaughterhouse. Sinners that were still out in the streets at this time avoided him as he sauntered down the paths.

Charlie was a good person. Strange, but good.

Vaggie was untrusting, smart.

Angel was horny... and alone.

Husk was cynical, analytical despite his drunken existance.

Nifty was... Nifty.

And Alastor. Krieg didn't know what to think. A friendly shell, but what the hell was inside of it? Krieg HATED the deceitful ones. Hiding who you really are under a guise to fool those around you. Even if who you really aare is a jerk, at least then people won't feel bad for punching you in the face. It's much more polite.

Finally reaching the factory, the first thing Krieg noticed was the excess of sinners in various states of mutilation. Their bodies still writhing in pain. The Psychos had learned early on the resilience of sinners and found new ways to keep them from returning to a previous state, as to extend the longevity of their living trophies. Krieg looked around at the mangled remains of what was most likely an assault on the factory. He'd have to give all of this up to see her. The blood and guts. The thrill of mauling an enemy and leaving them destroyed beneath your blade.

And Krieg was OK with that. Anything for her.

Entering the factory, the Psychos cheer at his return.

"He's back! He's back!" A midget screeched, bouncing up and down on a conveyor, before a Badass smashed him into paste with his club, mistaking him for just more meat.

"Hail the mighty skin flayer! Let us bask in your fluids!... None sexually!" A Psycho waved his axe around, accidentally caving in the skull of the one next to him.

"I can taste my own teeth!" This Psycho was facing the wrong way.

"My bones are shaking so freaking hard right now!" She was thrashing wildly, bound in chains above a meat grinder before being dropped in. Screams and laughter rang out over the crunch of bone and slop of meat.

"Your return was foretold!... I don't know by who!" A Psycho with half of his head missing spoke up.

"I'M NOT GONNA SAY THIS TWICE... SALTY SKIN FEAST!"

Krieg's voice thundered. The Psychos went silent. They barely breathed as they looked to their leader.

"A GAP IN THE GUT OF THE BEAST! I'LL FILL IT IN LATER, BUT YOU'VE GOTTA RUN THE RAILWAY IN SHADOW OF MY EXISTANCE!"

A roar of protest rang out among the Psychos, each one wailing and thrashing around, often striking other Psychos around them.

"What about the children!? Dear God, think of the children!"

"I knew this day would come! It's the end! We're all gonna die!... oh, wait..."

"How could you do this to us!? Didn't we share such precious memories!? I killed my bunions for you!"

Krieg growled at the interruptions.

"LET ME CARVE THROUGH YOU BEFORE YOU SCREAM AND WAIL!"

The ruckus died down a bit, but there was still inane chattering throughout the factory.

"I'LL FETCH MYSELF IF THE GLITTER RIBS CAN'T BE CRACKED BY AN OVERHAUL!" Krieg looked out over his small army, their chattering finally quiet. "FOLLOW THE SCREAMY ONE! JOYOUS AND NEVER LET HIM FALL OFF THE BONE BRINGER BANQUET!" Krieg pointed with his axe to one of the Psychos, a unique mask upon his face.

"Heyooooooo!"

Silence reigned for several moments before a roars and cheers rang out at their substitute leader. Krieg was content that things shouldn't be too bad without him now as he walked back to the hotel.

He didn't know if Charlie was right about redemtion. But she was his last hope now.

End of Chapter!

A new chapter for a new story! I hope you enjoyed, this was pretty tough to make since I had about 4 ideas on where to start and even did the first 4000 words for the original chapter and decided I didn't like it, so I deleted all it and I like the way this draft turned out more.

Anywhoozy, that was just a quick tangent I needed to get out of my head.

Feel free to comment on anything. Literally anything, it doesn't even need to be about the story, I just wanna see what people are willing to write. And don't be afraid to criticise if I did something wrong or if there was anyway to do it better because I want to improve. With that said, I hope you have a great day/night!