Chapter 5: Back Into the Pit

It was a well known fact in the Lands of the Old Faith (renaming in progress) that just west of the original compound where The Lamb would achieve her divinity and behind the grand temple was a special meadow of flowers. It was a special grove that was off limits to all beings with exception to the Bearer of the Red Crown.

Any trespasser on this hallowed ground, follower or otherwise, was subject to the god's wrath.

Not even her most trusted followers in her inner circle were allowed to step foot there.

Rumors amongst the masses differed wildly as they guessed what could possibly be in that grove so beloved by The Lamb that she would punish anyone who would dare desecrate it.

Many had questions, but only she had the answer.

-XXXX-

The wind blew over the meadow silently as the flowers gently waved with the direction of the breeze.

The quite of the lonely grove was deafening.

Sat in the very center of the quiet grove was a small monument of stone, water, and leaves. It was an effigy, a depiction of The Lamb's own face. With closed, sad eyes and a small mournful smile the effigy wept gently into a basin of stone. Leaves of a soft, healthy green surrounded the Lamb facsimile like wool born of the forests hugging the weeping stone. Tied into the leaves by ropes was a collection of seven colored bells, much like the very same one that hung around The Lamb's neck.

Purple and Green near the basin, Red and Blue close to the eyes, Orange and Pink up past the stone face, and finally a lone Silver bell in the middle above the rest.

This was the grove's one landmark: A shrine in memory of her great sorrow.

The Lamb hovered midair in front of the weeping shrine, legs crossed and hands on her knees, as she silently gazed upon the effigy before her.

Her eyes lingered on each bell tied by rope to the shrine. Each one carefully placed in position yet none more important than the other. She lingered on each one taking in every detail; her face an impassive as a slab of stone.

This meadow was the only place where the duties of a leader were left behind.

It was where the Infant God was forgotten.

Where the Slayer of the Old Faith didn't exist.

And where The Lamb could be the person she hasn't been for a long, long time.

The bells shone in the warm sun above them, yet The Lamb continued to stare unblinking at this monument of sorrow.

She did not weep; for she had shed those tears away.

She did not howl in agony; as her pain had long become numb.

She did not scream in fear; for she would never feel it again.

She did not cry for revenge; because she already had it.

Her fist absentmindedly tightened as those memories came back. Like the rolling waves of the ocean they would always be there, never to leave.

The Lamb stared at the monument for a little while longer before she returned to the soft ground of the meadow and headed back to her temple.

A couple of days had passed since she returned from the strange realm of Hell and thankfully her worries about her cult were largely unfounded thanks to her disciples. When she called forth her inner circle to inform them of her time in this new realm they were…let's say that surprised was an understatement and to be fair The Lamb had a hard time wrapping her head around it as well.

Due, Gaste, and Babble were apprehensive of committing to more crusades into Hell. On the other side Jink, Wiggi, and Ku'Lute saw opportunities for their beloved Lamb to spread her influence and maybe even usurp the realm for herself.

The Infant God politely told them to cool the fuck down with that line of thinking.

It was a full day of deliberation between The Lamb and her closest followers, but eventually a course of action was drawn.

In sort of compromise, taking in the accounts of caution and ambition, The True God of the lands would continue her crusades into this strange realm and learn what she could. There was a lot to uncover in Hell and as it stands it was just some kind of second existence for the creatures in harbored.

So she decided that if the inhabitance were receptive to her and her divine being then she would extend her influence there and soon clam it as her own. But if Hell resisted her and tried to seep into The Lands of the Old Faith (renaming in progress) and take away what was hers then she would ensure that it would never be a problem again.

Secretly to herself she was just so curious, she wanted to know what this new place had to offer.

Ever sense The Lamb dominated the cursed bishops and defeated the betrayer Narinder, her home had become a place where all who worshipped her were beholden to a life of peace and purpose. In other words things had gotten rather dull.

There were, of course, remnants of the old cults dedicated to the bishops, but ever growing infighting and shrinking territory was slowly bleeding the Old Faith into obscurity. Even better were those of their numbers seeing The Lamb as the one true god of the lands and renouncing their faith in hopes to be welcomed into her loving embrace.

The Lamb's arms were always open to those who would see the error in their false faith and would gladly lead the wayward souls into her flock so long as they proved themselves true in her eyes.

But with these facts and those of her faithful who would take up arms to defend their fellows it left little for the Infant God to worry about outside her duties as a leader and God.

She loved her cult and all those who praised her, she truly did, but MAN did things get boring once you had it all.

So with the strange discovery of Hell (she still needed to find out how she got there in the first place and the Crown was being cheeky on the matter) a renewed sense of discovery coursed through her divine flesh.

For now though it was time to make the announcement to her flock in today's sermon.

Upon approach to her temple, the cult leader smoothed out her shirt and skirt riding them of any wrinkles. She then made sure the Red Crown was comfortable on her head (it usually was, it liked her soft wool) and finally adjusted her fleece. Now looking presentable she stepped up the stone stairs of her grand temple and walked through the doors. Inside, she was greeted by the sight of a few temple servants cleaning and getting the temple ready for the day's sermon.

The servants greeted their god, who greeted them back, as she strode down the long isle. A smile spread across her lips as she watched her followers work diligently. One of her tenets that The Lamb demanded all of her followers to understand was listed under one of her "Conceptions", a set of rules that she made with the expectation that all followers who gave her praise would live by.

"Conception 4, Toil: Abstain not from work, for to do so would lead one down the path to the Bishops of the Old Faith. Toil for others and they shall toil for you," The Lamb recited to herself as she reached the raised platform and the podium.

Stepping up to it she snapped her fingers and one of her many tomes materialized in front of her. "Discovery of the Divine, Volume #6. This should do nicely." Flipping through the pages she landed a finger on the desired section of her holy word. With it now chosen and the temple servants finished tidying up the place The Lamb surged her will though her house of worship and rung the temple bell, signifying to all her followers in the compound that the day's sermon had been called.

She waited patiently as her beloved worshipers flooded though the temple doors in an orderly fashion. Chatter and fellowship between the followers and their families filled the massive room, the sound of which made a small smile appear on The Lamb's face. Hearing the happiness in their voices allowed her to know that what she was doing was the right thing and that all those who gave her praise would never have to fear like they had to before.

No more brutal and bloody sacrifices and no more false gods for she was the one and true god.

The Infant God took a breath as she mentally prepared to preach to her assembled flock.

"Come and be welcome my children!" she opened up with raised arms, her voice effortlessly carrying throughout he temple, "It does me well to see you all in fellowship with one another, but please take your seats and be ready to hear my holy words."

The chatter slowly died down as the followers took up seats in the many pews in the worship hall as their eyes all fell onto her. Her six disciples took seats on either side of the raised platform and silently waited.

Satisfied she continued, "First things first, to those who attend this temple's sermons regularly I welcome you back and for pilgrims and new comers I will say that I am always happy to see new faces of my loving followers."

Smiles all around, good start.

"Before we start with the sermon I have an important announcement for all to hear," she steeled herself and began, "Days ago I, your beloved and loving god, had made a discovery that has given me a unique opportunity that all other gods could ever dream of having!"

Mutterings amongst the flock rose into the air at the declaration. Now she really had their attention.

"After the celebration of our dear master of arms, brother Marty's birthday I had taken the time to…let's say experiment with my abilities to teleport-"

"She got befuddled after a drinking contest and past out on the porta-gram," Babble, so HELPFULLY added from her seat.

"Wha-BABBLE!" the cult leader exclaimed with a blush as her disciples snickered at her expense, the traitors. A wave of light laughter echoed through the congregation.

It was a well known fact that The Lamb was a notoriously heavy drinker amongst the faith hence the need for the "256 rules needed to know when our god starts drinking again" list. It was actually because of this habit that many followers felt closer to their god as who would want their god to be a great drinking buddy.

That and there was a weekly bet to see where she would pass out next, currently the pool sat at 56,985 gold.

Anyhoo, having regained her dignity after her trusted inner circle member's unnecessary comment The Lamb continued her announcement, "As I was saying, upon, ugh, falling asleep on the porta-gram I was struck by divine providence to pour forth my godly energies and travel to a realm foreign to even the Bishops of the old faith. There I discovered a realm mired by sin and the unholy as it served as a place for the wicked and evil to forever languish amongst themselves. Fear not my children, for this place has no grasp upon your souls as I, your true and only god, lay claim to all souls who love and worship me. You are safe from the place, which even those who reside there speak with hate and fear, known as Hell."

The congregation looked at their lord and leader with fear at the utterance of such a name, a shiver of fear trailed down all of their spines. But the holy radiance of The Lamb kept them strong as she always has.

"So, after returning from this blasphemous place I reconvened with the disciples of my inner circle to discuss what is to be done. And after much deliberation I come to you now to declare a crusade into this new realm!"

The crowd of followers almost shook with anticipation.

"Starting today, after the day's prayers I shall return to Hell and from there begin to stake my claim as a true god! I do this not to simply grow further in power, but to ensure that you all, my children, my followers who I love so, shall never be threatened by these demons and monsters! I will never allow this realm of punishment to threaten any and all who exist in this place we call home! Never again will anything like the old faith taint these lands!"

Despite the passion laced in her voice, that stoked intense religious fires amongst the members of her cult, no one in the crowd cheered or yipped. The flock in the massive temple was quiet but their eyes held nothing but awe and reverence for their woolen god.

The Lamb slowly, calmly lowered her arms as she finished her declaration and took a breath. A pleasant and loving smile graced her lips. "But before all that, let us all bow our heads and open our hearts in prayer and begin the day's sermon. Not literally, Ggi-Ggi."

With that, all in attendance bowed their heads, clapped their hands together, and closed their eyes as the god that loved them so started the sermon with a humble prayer.

Somewhere in the back a rabbit follower groaned in disappointment and pulled her dagger away from her chest. Maybe next time.

-XXXX-

Her feet landed on the smoothed stone of the porta-gram as she stared into the unholy sigil carved into it. Before her at the other end of the carving were her six disciples.

Due, the Page. A large rhino woman with pale yellow skin and a tuft of darker yellow hair on her head. A pair of round spectacles, a resent creation, sat on her snout as she pored through one of the many tomes chained to her person.

Wiggi, the Trickster. A short green furred older hedgehog marked with ceremonial red paint upon his brow. Despite his hunched stature and kind smile his eyes betrayed a glint that promised a level of mischief that only an aged prankster could pull.

Ku'Lute, the Tremor. A badger, brown furred and strong with a frown tugging at his lips. Tied upon his back were two ritual glaives with blades long stained red from years of defending bands of pilgrims. His eyes were always alert and his nose constantly searching for any trouble.

Gaste, the Spurned. A red scorpion with a horrific brand the shape of an inverted double cross, the icon of the Old Faith, on his right eye forcing it shut. Yet despite the branding he held his head high with an attentive gaze and a gentle smile.

Jink, the Floral. A small blue frog wreathed in flowers all around his person. Several small pots filled with soil held many plants at various states of growth where strapped to his robes by belts and rope.

And finally Babble, the Humble and mouth of The Lamb.

All members of the Infant God's inner circle wore the commonly dubbed "fancy robes" with modifications and fits to each of them. Pale halos hovered over their heads signifying their rank and golden skull necklaces hung around their necks. Each member had been with The Lamb for a least a few centuries and all faithfully served her without question. The followers all saw ascension to their god's inner circle as the greatest blessing that she could bestow and many would do anything to be inducted into her holy of holy courts. For the six currently in that position it was the greatest honor that they had ever received.

Of course they didn't realize having to play "part time babysitter" for their god some days was also in the job description.

Point being the nights when their leader would go out, drink, and then pass out somewhere in the fields.

But despite that there is one thing that all of them are allowed to witness that no other follower is privileged too: At rare times they are allowed to witness The Lamb's true face.

And at this moment they witnessed hesitation and a tinge of worry as her eyes looked down to the unholy focal point.

"Having second thoughts, my Lamb?" Gaste asked.

"No," she smiled, "Just wondering what awaits me as I force myself into a foreign cycle."

Wiggi took this moment to speak up. "Well if you get your head cut off again we'll at least know what'll happen then," he said, his aged voice grating on everyone's ears.

"Your confidence in me is truly inspiring Wiggi, thank you."

They all ignored the throaty cackle that followed.

"That's all well and good, but information my Lamb. If how you described the inhabitance of this ghastly place is even half true, do you truly believe that you'll be able to make something of it?" Due inquired, eyes never leaving the tome she held up in her hand, "I get the feeling that this 'Rosie' you spoke with is not the most…reliable source of knowledge available."

The Lamb nodded her head, "Oh, she was most certainly withholding information from me and own biases influenced her choice words. Rest assured, my Page, I already have a source to interrogate as we speak. I'll find out what I can from it and find more to fill in the holes. But enough of these questions, its time I venture forth to my newest crusade."

With those parting words the Infant God stepped onto the porta-gram and channeled her divine energies. Her devoted disciples all bowed their heads and began to chant, adding their meager prayers to The Lamb's power. Picturing where she wanted to be she flooded her will into the ancient sigil and dove into the black ichor.

Gone once more was the Infant God.

The disciples dispersed to continue on with their duties and to prep the missionaries to spread word of their Lamb's departure and newest grand crusade.

-XXXX-

As the infernal wailing died down, the cult leader shook the remnants of the black ichor that made up the portal off her ears and looked up to be greeted by the oppressive red skies of Hell once more. Turning, she was welcomed by the towering hotel of confusing architectural design and to The Lamb it reminded her of the many ancient ruins scattered around back home.

This was not a compliment.

She hadn't been able to get a good look at the "Happy Hotel" in her rush to get back home a couple of days ago, but appraising it now made her eyes hurt.

There was the tall, main structure and fused into it was a mess of various other things that she couldn't identify. The hodgepodge mess of the building itself coupled with the terrible state of the building itself just made it all look sad more than anything else. It stood out amongst the other buildings The Lamb had seen with her brief tour of Pentagram City proper, but rather than attempting to be inviting it seemed to scream "Go away" despite the signs.

The Infant God could only shake her head. That girl had no idea what she was doing.

Oh well, not her problem.

The Lamb walked to the front entrance of the building and just as she was about to grab hold of one of the handles the doors burst open with great force!

"Come on guys! We'll find someone out there who wants to get redeemed! I can feel it in my bones, TODAY IS THE DAY!" The very familiar voice of the young Charlie ran out of the building with excited speed followed by an equally familiar groan.

"Charlie, slow down your gonna tri-aaaand there she goes. Ugh, can you two get her in the limo?"

A pair of bleats responded in affirmative followed by small wing beats. The sound of a pair of shoes disappeared swiftly after leaving the front of the hotel in silence once more.

The doors having been left open gently swung shut exposing The Lamb from behind the left door plastered against the wall, wool a mess, and face stuck in surprised pain. Even the Red Crown wasn't speared as it's eye twitched. They peeled off the wall like old wall paper and fell to the ground where they both just laid there.

After a moment The Lamb clawed at the wall, her fingers sinking into the stone and plaster as pulled herself back to her feet. She stood there in silence for a moment as her left eye twitched and her body shook with barely contained anger, but then took a deep breath and looked to the road. She witnessed one of those metal wagon things only really long pull onto the black road and drive off. Judging by the voices her heard the cult leader just missed Charlie and Vaggie.

She looked to the entrance of the hotel and then to the massive city before her and sighed.

Seeing as one of her sources of information wasn't here, The Lamb made her way back into Pentagram City. Now that she wasn't looking for a way back home she could explore Hell properly now.

A small jaunt later and the Infant God was back to walking on the familiarly shoddy roads and pathways off to the sides. As before garbage was strewn about, uncollected and left to rot. Many of the buildings lining the street had signs that were broken, worn, or actively being vandalized all the while arguments, robberies, and fights regularly broke out just outside their doors. Almost every corner had groups of shady dealers hashing out unknown objects as gangs loitered nearby watching for their next mark. Many demons offered and bought their bodies for loveless and pointless intercourse in secluded alleys or right in the open, often with watchers. And with every foot The Lamb treaded she saw countless sinners convulsing on the floors or standing jittery and unfocused.

And everyone simply treated all this as a normal day. And why not? That's all this place is, wasn't it?

There was no shred of pity in The Lamb's eyes as she observed Pentagram City's inhabitance as they shamed themselves over and over. The atmosphere of celebration (whatever that was for) she had been witnessed too last time she walked the streets was gone and all that was left was an oppressive atmosphere of hopelessness. Almost every sinner she saw had and frown, scowl, or a dead look in their eyes. The ones that were smiling, or even looked normal, were more often than not high in the nonexistent clouds, having sex whenever and wherever, or savagely beating and killing others and themselves.

Any fool witnessing walking around might dare say that some of them actually looked happy with their doomed existence, but The Lamb saw right past fake faces many of these sinners put on.

No mortal, no matter who they are, could ever be happy in a place they are forced to live in. Simply knowing that you're trapped in a place where escape was impossible was more than enough to suck the life right out of you.

These people didn't live.

They didn't even survive.

It was all just SIN.

No wonder the Red Crown always got excited when they arrived here. So many sinful souls just begging to be devoured, yet the Infant God stayed her hand.

Killing them would grant her nothing but trouble because if a large number of this realm's population suddenly ceased to exist, then something was bound to notice. Whatever gods existed in this realm would not take kindly to an interloping god trouncing around uninvited.

After all she'd do the same.

Besides, who was she to interrupt the suffering of these souls? One of the perks of being a god was being able to truly know who a mortal really is. And by just passively prodding this ability of hers she knew that, without a doubt, that every sinner here in Hell disserved this place. By her standards at the very least.

Let it be known to all that while The Lamb is a god of true benevolence, she is also a spiteful and wrathful one when pushed.

"Hope you may receive The Lamb's mercy, but fear it all the same." A common saying in her cult.

Having walked some distance now, as well as ignoring the 5th drug dealer/mugger/prostitute in her path, The Lamb found herself in front of one of those stores with all the glowy boxes and other strange whatnots she couldn't identify. The store itself was well maintained and looked clean unlike 94% of everything else as a large stylized sign that read "Voxteck!" hung over everything else.

The building was surrounded by a wide empty area that branched off from the black road with many white lines evenly painted onto it. Many sinners, all of whom had their eyes glued to those rectangular things in their hands, loitered about as a few of those metal wagon things were parked between those lines. The front entrance was being watched over by a large mussely frog sinner acting as what The Lamb guessed was a guard as other sinners and "hellborne" (note to self: look more into what hellborne are) entered and exited.

With curiosity getting the better of her the cult leader opted to investigate why those glowy items were so attractive.

Walking at a steady pace bearer of the Red Crown made her way past the somewhat crowded area with all the elegance and confidence that only she, a god, was privy to. It was almost as if they could feel the importance of the being walking through them in the air did the demons tear their eyes from the small devices. They whispered and muttered as the Infant God them passed by giving them no mind.

She walked past the guard and into the store and was greeted with the sight of the many strange devices and gizmos on display. Demons meandered about browsing the shelves and, surprisingly enough, acting a little more civil. Of course more than enough people were giving each other the stink eye but no one had thrown hands yet.

It was when a bird looking sinner with a baggy jacket tried to exit the store only for an alarm to sound and she was immediately dog piled by large canine looking demons did The Lamb get an answer as a expensive looking piece of tech flew out of her jacket.

She moved away from guard dogs (she chuckled to herself) who where furiously kicking the downed sinner relentlessly and approached the front desk. Time to see what all the fuss was about those small rectangular objects everyone had.

The bug looking demon behind the counter looked as if he wanted to be anywhere but here if his dead, fish eyes were anything to go on. Standing before the counter, half of The Lamb's head was just able to peak over the edge where she placed her hands.

With a sigh the demon spoke with all the energy of a dead tree, "Welcome to Voxteck: The only place to trust with all your tech needs. Can I interest you in our newest line of flat screen TVs?"

"I'm sorry but I'm going to decline, I'm here for something else," The Lamb replied.

"Task figures," the demon scoffed and shifted to look at the diminutive god, "Alright so what the fuck can I help you with…Ma'am."

"I was wondering if I could get my hands on one of those weird rectangles that everyone seems to have down here."

The bug demon's insect like eyes scrunched up in confusion. "You mean a fuckin' hellphone?"

"Yes?"

"Right. So what model are you looking for?"

The Lamb thought for a moment, "Hmm, I'll take the most advanced version you have available."

For some reason he thought that was funny, "Ha! Yeah right, like some tech illiterate fuckwad is going to have the cash to get one of Vox's newest releases. Look, dumbass, I don't know where you're from, but just by your face I can tell you ain't gonna have the scratch to get one. So unless you sell your soul off to Vox there ain't no chance-"

Ksssssh*

His words died in his throat when the cult leader dropped a bulging leather purse of gold coins on the counter. The Lamb's hand slowly retracted back to the counter edge as she raised an eye brow in a challenge. "Please, keep the change."

The clerk's attitude swiftly did a 180 as he grabbed the coin purse off the counter and went to retrieve a Hellphone V6.66. He then gleefully showed the Infant God how to set the thing up before taking his leave by shouting obstinacies into the backroom and prancing out the front door, likely to spend his "tip" all in one place.

The Lamb exited the store right after the happy demon looking down at the object in her hand and was left utterly confused.

She had no idea what all these little boxes where on the "menu" that was the "home screen" of her hellphone. Touching the screen just opened up a box labeled "Sleepy Pillz" that showed her a weird catalog of what she assumed where narcotics of all kinds.

She fumbled with the device only to get more and more confused. "Oh, fuck it!" she sighed out as she held the hellphone up to her crown companion. The crown wasted no time in consuming the glowing rectangle, absorbing it into itself. A moment later the Red Crown flowed to The Lamb's hand and shifted into a Red Crown version of a hellphone with its eye at the top looking down. All most as if a switch was flicked, the cult leader could now understand everything presented to her.

Gone were the apps preinstalled on the hellphone and their place were new ones: My Cult, My Realm, Faith-in-Me, Missionary Trails, Inner Circle, Red Crown's Library, Resources and Finances, and even a news app that kept her up to date with all that was happening back home. She could even tell what time it was over there!

Swiping the screen showed the more mundane apps like Messages, Maps, Contacts, Camera, and Pictures.

She smiled in satisfaction and let her crown return to her head, this was a convenient little device wasn't it? She could see why everyone here was so obsessed with them.

Now armed with a new tool The Lamb made to explore the city once again.

Making her way downtown, walking fast, she took in the sights this horrid parody of civilization offered. Despite her opinions of Pentagram City the Infant God was continually amazed by the buildings that towered over the rest.

From where she was currently standing she could see a couple of stand outs. One was a large tower bathed in blue and red lights, it was probably the tallest structure she'd seen in Hell and proudly displayed on the face of it were three glowing Vs. If she had to guess that must have been the "Vee Tower" she heard from that picture box from a few days ago.

A fair distance away from the first building was the second that, in her opinion, almost looked like a fancy temple of sorts. It was sleek, slanted and glowed a dull white. Amusingly it also looked like it was tipped with a pair of long white horns. On the front of the building further from the top were the words "Carmine Arms" in an elegant font.

Arms?

Who would want arms.

Maybe it was for the cannibals here.

The Lamb's musings where cut off when a crooning voice called out.

"With a look like that you must be new here, hmm~?"

Turing to look behind her, the cult leader was welcome to the sight of a tall, lanky demon had reminded her of a spider. He (she was sure it was a he) was covered in white coarse fur from his head to presumably his feet with a mob of longer strands styled to look like hair. He had long legs inside extremely high foot wear and two pairs of arms with pink and white gloves running just before his shoulders bringing total visible limbs to six

He looked down at her with a pair of mismatched eyes with his right having yellow sclera and his left being black while both sported pink irises. Below them were six pink dots resembling freckles at first glance, but The Lamb noticed them subtlety blink occasionally. He lacked any discernable snout or nose but a wide cheeky grin stretched across his face exposing a sharp, golden fang on the right side of his mouth.

The demon was dressed rather provocatively as well with a choker around his neck, a pink and white blazer that exposed a….prominent chest(?), a fancy purse hanging on his shoulder, his gloves, a very small miniskirt, and his boots with everything being topped off with a cute little black and red bow.

"Like what ya see, honey?" he asked with his odd accent, "I know I'm a great image to the eyes, but I'll hav ta charge ya if ya want closer look."

The tall sinner leaned down to, not so subtly, show off his…chest fur/cleavage fluff/confusing fuzz in a rather provocative way.

The Lamb for her part was now very confused at what was happening before her brain caught up from the visual confusion he gave her.

"Oh, you're another prostitute I see."

For some reason the spider demon scoffed and stood straight up and crossed his arms, "Agh, fuck you're a chick. Shame, I was looking to get some extra dosh for tonight. Landlord's been getting on my ass about rent. Not in the fun way either."

The Infant God furrowed her brows, "How could you have mistaken me for anything else? I'm wearing a skirt."

In response the demon used his lower arms to gesture to his own miniskirt with a raised eyebrow.

"Touché."

"Something to learn down here real quick, sweetheart, is that everyone makes themselves out to be whatever they want down here. And for your information, I ain't just some run of the mill prostitute, oh no, you are lookin' at Hell's numba one porn star, baby! Ain't nobody got the skills like I got!" He was quick to take an eye catching pose, before he muttering to himself, "Well except for the freaks in Lust. They can get pretty creative I hav to admit."

"I see," she said with a slow nod, "So I'm assuming you just approached me to try to get me to solicit your 'services'? Well regardless I would have just turned you down like I did the others I came across."

That got a snort and a laugh out of the demon. "Ha! What ya actually walk around the red light district to take in the sights or somethin'? Honey, you're in Hell, I can tell ya now whateva rules you lived by ain't mean shit down here."

He took a moment to open his purse and pulled out a small box. Flipping it open his then pulled a small white stick out before returning the small container. The sinner placed the stick between his lips as a small object was pulled from one of his pockets. He flicked the object with his thumb a couple times, but nothing happened, much to his frustration.

Thankfully, the Infant God understood what that white stick was and that he was trying to light it. It was like a pipe from back home so with a snap a small red flame hovered over her finger which she held up in offering.

The lanky spider demon's eyes widened at the gesture, but bent down to the offered flame all the same despite the extreme height difference. He stood back up with the now lit stick and took a drag before expelling the smoke from his mouth into the air.

"Heh, thanks fluffy," he said in gratitude, "You know, never really introduce myself. Name's Angel Dust, best porn star you'll find around."

The Lamb bowed her head in greeting and responded in kind, "Well met. You may call me The Lamb for now. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Ooh, someone's polite. Also weird thing to call yourself there, bit on the nose don't ya think?" he took a drag from that stick of his, "So what were ya lookin' for anyway? Bein' distracted like that's bound to get ya shanked."

"To be perfectly honest I was exploring after I had just missed some people I met a few days ago. Two young, if confused, women trying to start a business. Neither of them had any real clue as to what they were doing, but they had enthusiasm. Well one of them at least," she muttered that last part.

Angel took another drag, "So you found two broads tryin' to make it for themselves yet not havin' a clue how to do it. Yep, I've seen plenty of folks like that in my time here. Most end up givin' up and just end up like everyone else down here."

"Hell certainly seems to be a…." The Lamb looked to the side as two sinners approached young looking red skinned hellborne, swiped his hellphone out of his hand, shoved him over, and laughed as the poor thing started to cry. Then a taller hellborne, presumably the boy's mother, came over worried before glaring at the two sinners. She then grabbed and axe out who knows where and started to savage the two hapless demons as they screamed. The boy laughed and clapped happily at the scene before him. "…challenge of sorts."

Angel Dust chuckled and blew out more smoke. "Yeah, part of Hell's natural charm. Thankfully I've got myself covered in the managing to make part," he stated as a smug smile graced his face.

"Didn't you just say that you're having trouble pay for your rent?"

The wind was knocked out of his sails a little, but he just shrugged. "Eh, not too much of a problem. I'll just suck his dick ta give me anotha month, no biggie."

He said that with such nonchalance that left the Infant God slightly horrified. "That's terrible."

"Ya gotta do what ya can to survive toots, that's the way it is here. Also, I'd appreciate it if ya didn't go callin' me terrible when I make suckin' dick look like art," he said, self esteem at full display.

Okay, from this conversation alone The Lamb was starting to get a clearer image of this after life and Angel Dust himself. The other interrogation was also bringing results.

"I wasn't referring to you, Angel Dust, I meant that the fact you have to debase yourself like that just to survive here was terrible. No one should be forced to live like that."

Now Angel looked very surprised.

The she asked, "Is there not somewhere else you could live?"

Briefly, very briefly, a grimace dared to cross the spider demon's face, before he chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Trust me fluffy, the place I'm livin' now is a whole lot betta than the other option. Besides, I'm livin' it good! I got money to get what I want, even if my bitch of a boss takes most of it, and everyone down here knows my name! Cute fuzzy lamb sinners notwithstanding."

The cult leader giggled at the last part. "Even so, you shouldn't settle on simply surviving. You might find a way to better yourself simply by looking for something better."

Angel playfully smirked as he rolled his eyes, "Yeah? You think that I'll find some 'life changing opportunity' if I look to my left here?"

And right as he did that a familiar long, white and pink metal wagon thing with a horrifying toothed visage on the front rolled up next to them. One of the red tinted windows rolled down and out popped Charlie hanging halfway out of the wagon with her signature sugary sweet cheer. Vaggie could be seen behind her with a palm over her eyes and slumped shoulders.

"HI! Are you interested in being redeemed?" she exclaimed happily at Angel Dust before she looked to The Lamb standing next to him and gasped, "Oh hi his Ms, Lamb! It's good to see you again!"

The spider sinner, could only look in utter bewilderment as his half burned away stick fell from his lips as The Lamb looked up at him with a very smug grin stretched across her face.

-XXXX-

Rog didn't know how long he was running, but in must have been for a while as his breath was ragged and sweat ran down his dirty brown fur.

But you know, running until your lungs explode was a better alternative than being caught by that thing chasing him when he woke up.

He couldn't quite remember what happened or how he got here but the rat sinner had woken up somewhere that definitely wasn't Pride.

This place was way to quiet to be Pride.

All around him was an endless sea of white clouds the seemingly made up the floor here yet he couldn't feel anything under his feet. It was like walking on nothing. Scattered as far as the eye could see where what looked like upside down crosses buried into the clouds like a weird mockery of what they represented back home. And finally amongst the endless clouds were humongous chains, some broken and some not, that delved into the floor or up into the endless black abyss above him.

But the most disorienting thing about this place was the fact that it was so, so quiet here, apart from the incompressible praying that whispered into his ears despite there being no one around him.

His unnerved confusion switched to terror when that thing appeared out of nowhere and tried to grab him.

So now here he was, running for his unlife away from whatever the hell that thing is.

But suddenly Rog's legs were snagged by something and her fell to the cloudy floor. He looked down and to his horror he saw black chains emerging from the floor wrapped tightly around his legs preventing him from getting up. Before he could even try to pry them off, more chains shot out of the clouds and bound his arms to his body making him completely vulnerable and unable to do more than squirm.

When he looked up to see where that thing was, he screamed to see that it was right in front of him having appeared out of nowhere.

It towered over the demon by leagues and was possibly the biggest creature he'd ever seen in his unlife. He was one of the few sinners in Pride to have seen the Sin of Wrath, Satan, in person before several decades back.

The Sin had arrived in Pride to yell at King Lucifer for something or another. Rog wasn't really sure with what, but probably had something to do with the bad blood the other Sins had with Pride's king. But he had seen Satan before (he was a good few thousand feet away from him) and that guy was giant, like a dragon from fairytales.

But the thing that was standing before him was definitely bigger.

Before he knew it, the sinner was lifted up into the air by the chains in the floors like a sacrifice. Slowly he rose closer to that thing's head and trying to seek a way to survive he did the one thing he got really good at in his time in Hell. Begging and bartering for his life.

"H-hey look, I know this looks bad n' all with me waking up in your turf, b-but if you let me go I-I can give you some good quality shit! Best stuff you can find, all yours!"

The thing said nothing as a massive clawed hand extended out from underneath its robes, approaching him.

"O-o-okay not your thing I get that! How about, how about some info I know a b-bunch of things! Yep totally be-been around for a long time I know all kinds of stuff!"

His offer was ignored as the clawed hand opened.

Panic took hold. "WAIT, WAIT, WAIT! PLEASE NO! I'LL DO ANYTHING! ANYTHING AT-" he was gently placed into the massive things palm, "…huh?"

The chain uncoiled from his body and disappeared leaving him at the mercy of the monster.

Three blazing red orbs accompanied by hundreds of smaller red eyes looked down upon Rog as he sat in the soft palm of the monster's hand.

Slowly he was brought closer to those blazing eyes and when he was close enough a powerful, yet gentle voice told him one thing.

"I have questions. Answer them."

Hi :3

Chapter five is done and our ever lovable god is back to Pride.

Lets see: She has made an announcement to her flock, is now back in Hell to cause all kinds of mischief, got herself a new phone, and met everyone's favorite gangster turned gay porn star spider demon. Quite the list this time around.

Now that I've gotten that all out of the way we can start getting into the meat and potatoes of it all as I'm sure many of you are excited to see how our good radio host, Alastor, and our lovely god of death, The Lamb, are going to meet.

With that done I hope you all take care and please let me know how this chapter felt for you guys.
Bye~