Chapter 7: "A Night to Remember"

By the time they found a place to stay, Makoto was convinced Hell was actively trying to kill him.

After the incident at the tavern, Justice had dragged him through several more winding alleys, dodging suspicious glances and the occasional not-so-subtle tailing demon. The streets of Vanth grew darker and quieter the farther they went, the eerie red glow of the city giving way to dim, flickering lanterns that cast long shadows over cracked cobblestones.

Eventually, they arrived at a decrepit building squeezed between two larger, equally sinister-looking structures. The sign above the door read The Devil's Respite in faded, barely legible letters.

"This place looks…" Makoto paused, searching for the right word.

"Cozy?" Justice offered, grinning.

"I was going to say 'dangerous,'" Makoto muttered, eyeing the broken shutters and the faint sound of skittering from somewhere inside.

Justice laughed, pushing open the door with her shoulder. "Danger's part of the charm, kid. Besides, it's better than sleeping on the street. Probably."

Makoto groaned but followed her inside.

The interior was about as welcoming as Makoto had expected, which was to say not at all. The lobby was dimly lit, the flickering light from a single chandelier casting jagged shadows on the walls. A demon with leathery gray skin and small, twitching horns sat behind the reception desk, flipping through a book that looked suspiciously like a ledger of debts.

Justice strolled up to the desk, slapping a coin down onto the counter. "One room, two beds."

The receptionist looked up, his yellow eyes narrowing as he studied them. His gaze lingered on Makoto for a moment too long, and Makoto shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny.

"Got a human with you, huh?" the receptionist drawled, his voice low and raspy. "You know we don't offer refunds if he doesn't make it through the night."

Makoto paled. "W-What does that mean?"

Justice leaned casually on the counter, flashing her sharp grin. "Don't worry about him. I'll handle it."

The receptionist shrugged, sliding a rusted key across the counter. "Room 13. Top floor. Good luck."

The room was just as run-down as the rest of the hotel. The walls were cracked, the floorboards creaked with every step, and the two small beds looked like they'd collapse under the weight of a pillow.

"Well," Justice said, tossing her jacket onto one of the beds, "it's not exactly five-star, but it'll do."

Makoto sighed, sitting on the edge of the other bed. "This whole place feels like it's going to fall apart."

Justice smirked, leaning back against the headboard of her bed. "Relax, kid. It's got character. Besides, you're not planning to stay here forever, right?"

Makoto hesitated, staring at the floor. "I guess not… but I don't even know how to get home."

Justice's grin softened slightly. "One step at a time, kid. You'll figure it out."

Makoto managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Justice. I—"

He froze as she suddenly kicked off her boots, stretching out across the bed with a lazy yawn.

"You look like you're about to explode, kid," she teased, propping her sunglasses on her forehead to reveal her blank white eyes. "Relax. I don't bite. Well, not unless you ask nicely."

Makoto's face turned bright red. "W-What?! I-I wasn't thinking anything weird!"

Justice laughed, waving him off. "Sure you weren't. But keep squirming—it's cute."

Makoto groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why does everyone keep calling me that?!"

As Justice stretched, her shirt shifted slightly, exposing a sliver of her toned stomach. Makoto caught a glimpse and immediately looked away, his heart racing.

Don't stare, don't stare, don't stare—

Unfortunately, his attempt to avoid looking ended in disaster. As he shifted on the bed, his foot slipped on a loose floorboard, throwing him off balance. He flailed, grabbing at the nearest object to steady himself—which just so happened to be the blanket Justice was lying on.

"Whoa, kid!" Justice yelped as the blanket slid off, leaving her sprawled out in a very compromising position.

Makoto froze, his face burning. "I-I didn't mean to—! I swear it was an accident!"

Justice blinked at him, her sunglasses tilted askew. For a moment, there was silence.

Then she burst out laughing. "You've got the worst luck, kid. Or maybe the best, depending on how you look at it."

Makoto groaned, quickly grabbing the blanket and tossing it back to her. "I-I'm sorry! Please don't kill me!"

Justice grinned, adjusting her sunglasses as she pulled the blanket back over herself. "Relax, kid. If I wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead. But you are pretty fun to mess with."

Makoto sighed, slumping back onto his bed. "I don't know if I'm going to survive this…"

Makoto wasn't sure how long he'd been asleep when the sound of splintering wood jolted him awake.

"Kid, get up!" Justice's voice snapped him out of his groggy haze, and he sat up just in time to see the door to their room burst open.

A group of demons flooded in, their eyes glowing in the darkness. They carried crude weapons—spiked clubs, jagged blades—and their expressions were twisted with malice.

"There he is!" one of them growled, pointing at Makoto. "The human with the amulet!"

Makoto scrambled back, clutching the bag around his neck. "H-How did they find us?!"

Justice cracked her knuckles, stepping between him and the demons. Her grin was sharp and dangerous, her sunglasses glinting in the faint light. "Looks like it's showtime."

The first demon lunged, and Justice moved like a blur. She ducked under its swing, her fist slamming into its gut with enough force to send it flying into the wall.

Another demon charged her from the side, but she caught its weapon mid-swing, twisting it out of its hands before delivering a spinning kick that sent it crashing into its companions.

Makoto watched in awe as Justice dismantled the ambush with terrifying efficiency. Her movements were fluid and precise, each strike landing with bone-crushing force. It was like watching a storm tear through a forest.

Within minutes, the room was littered with groaning demons, and Justice stood in the center, completely unscathed.

She turned to Makoto, her grin widening. "You good, kid?"

Makoto nodded shakily, his heart still racing. "Y-Yeah… I think so."

Justice laughed, stepping over one of the unconscious demons. "Told you I'd handle it. Now come on—we're getting out of here before more of these idiots show up."

Makoto swallowed hard, following her out the door.

To Be Continued…