Eddie On a Cross: A Hazbin Hotel Fanfiction

by Kiki94NightWitch588

Eddie, aka Headshot, is a sinner demon assassin. To give his sister a better future, he leaves her at the Hazbin Hotel. An accident convinces him to stay and use his powers for good. Adam's return will disrupt everyone's lives, a birthday present will prove dangerous, Charlie will discover his dual nature, and Angel Dust will finally find someone who truly loves him.

7. Rise Up

Charlie felt the weight of expectation on her as she stood before the three idols. The tension was palpable, the silence in the room almost deafening. She was once again faced with the bloody riddle she had been trying to solve for weeks, and every previous failure weighed like a boulder on her resolution. Lucifer and Vaggie watched her intently, trying to hide the anxiety they felt as well.

«If I asked the central statue if it was a lie, would it answer "yes"?» she asked in a firm voice, her heart pounding in her chest.

The statue to the left, with the "Apha" symbol on its chest, replied: «Da.»

Charlie went to the statue in the middle, with the "Beta" symbol on its chest, and wrote down every detail. «Does "Da" mean "yes"?»

«Ja.»

She scanned the notebook in her hands, trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle that kept eluding her. The logic behind the answers was like a thin thread she was trying to grasp. Charlie's mind raced, reviewing every step, every question, every answer.

Vaggie, by her side, watched her with eyes full of concern and hope. Despite her unconditional love and support for Charlie, she knew how exhausting this process would be. Even the normally impassive Lucifer was drawn to the challenge. Since Charlie's return from the Sloth Ring, the subject of the phone and the mystery surrounding Michael had not left him alone. Michael, the archangel who had banished him from Heaven, now wanted him back? Why? The answers were locked behind this mystery, and Charlie was the key.

The tension in the room was palpable as Charlie continued to think. If the statue on the left had answered "Da" and the question of whether it would answer "Yes" meant that the central statue would say no, then it meant that the central statue had lied. So "Da" had to mean "Yes" and "Ja" had to mean "No". The central statue was lying. Finally, after a long time, the picture began to clear up.

But it could not yet sing victory. The puzzle had betrayed her before, and the idols were changing positions every day, making it even more treacherous. She felt like she was walking on a very thin wire, one false step and she would fall again.

Her heart was racing, but she knew she had to risk it. She had to take the final step. She walked to the statue on the left, feeling her legs almost limp with tension. «Is the Gamma statue Folly?» she asked in an almost trembling voice.

«Da.» the statue replied. Charlie felt her heart quicken. It was the answer she had been waiting for. The accelerated beat in her chest was a mixture of fear and hope, a precarious balance between impending relief and the fear of another mistake. She turned to Vaggie and Lucifer for comfort.

«Vaggie, Dad... I may have figured it out. But what if I make another mistake?»

Vaggie smiled at her and squeezed her shoulders lovingly. «If you're wrong, we'll try again tomorrow. And in the meantime, we'll find other ways.»

Lucifer added in his usual calm tone: «Anyway, this is it. You've done all you can, Charlie. Now all you have to do is try.»

Charlie nodded and took a deep breath. The time had come. The fear of being wrong again clutched at her chest, but she could not back down. She crossed her fingers, took all the courage she had, and turned back to the idols.

«Alpha is Truth, Beta is Lie, and Gamma is Folly!» she said, her voice trembling but firm, closing her eyes and waiting for the usual shot, the red light that would tell her she was wrong again. Time felt as if it had stopped. The silence in the room was oppressive, each passing second seemed like an eternity. Charlie could hear her heart pounding in her ears, her breath almost blocked with fear.

Then she heard the dull sound of the lights coming on.

She didn't dare open her eyes. «Vaggie? Dad? Did I screw up again?» she asked in a hoarse voice.
Vaggie replied in a slightly shaky voice: «I think you need to see for yourself, Charlie.» With her heart in her throat, Charlie slowly opened one eye. Her gaze fell on the idols which were glowing with a blue light. Not the usual red light of failure, no, this time it was blue. «Blue?» she said incredulously, unable to process what she was seeing. «They've never turned blue before...»

A mechanical clatter of rails and wheels filled the room, and Charlie watched with bated breath as the central altar reappeared, only to open in turn, revealing something hidden. A platform slowly emerged, and on it they finally saw what they had been looking for for weeks: a handset telephone, much larger than a traditional telephone, at least fifteen inches wide, twelve high, and ten deep. It was decorated with sapphires and ivory, with a large sapphire for a button instead of a dial, and a golden angel holding the receiver. The phone almost seemed to glow with its own light, like a sacred object.

Charlie put his hands to his mouth, his eyes filled with tears. «I did it...» she whispered in a trembling voice, unable to believe it was true. Then, no longer holding back her emotions, she cried out: «I REALLY DID IT!» and tears began to flow copiously down her cheeks.

Vaggie could not hold back any longer. She quickly walked over to Charlie and gave her a warm hug. «I knew you could do it!» she whispered to her, her voice cracking with emotion, her face lit by a beaming smile.

Lucifer, too, joined in the embrace with a look of pride and affection. «I'm proud of you, Charlie. You have shown incredible intelligence and determination.»

Charlie sobbed with joy in the arms of Vaggie and her father, the weight of the mystery that had been weighing her down finally gone. It was a total relief, a release that made her feel like she could finally breathe. After weeks of frustration, failure and uncertainty, she had found the solution. And the relief overwhelmed her, making her even more emotional.

After a few minutes, when she finally managed to calm down, she wiped away her tears with a smile she couldn't hold back. «What are we waiting for?» she said, looking at the phone, her eyes still shining. «Let's bring it to the hotel.»

Vaggie broke away from the hug, her face showing perplexity and mild concern: «Bringing it to the hotel? Are you sure that's a good idea?»

Charlie approached the phone, determined and confident, her gaze fixed on the artifact they had struggled to retrieve «Absolutely! I want everyone to witness the first phone call from hell to heaven.» she declared in a tone that betrayed some pent-up frustration. «And I have no intention of solving that damn riddle again. In fact, I never want to see it again in my life.»

As she rolled up her sleeves, ready to pick up the phone and take it with her, she was stopped by Lucifer's hand, gently but firmly blocking her. He, too, had doubts. «Wait a minute. We don't know what will happen if we take it out of here. What if it doesn't work outside the crypt? What if moving it sets off a trap?»

Charlie, with his usual somewhat rash optimism, promptly replied «If it doesn't work, we'll come back here. And the traps were deactivated by Uncle Michael, remember?» There was an almost disarming naivety in her words, as if everything could be easily solved, a typical trait of her character, but one that worried both Lucifer and Vaggie at that moment.

Lucifer raised an eyebrow, a line of annoyance crossing his face at the mention of Michael, the archangel who had banished him from Heaven. The word "uncle" irritated him deeply. «Uncle Michael?» he repeated in an almost ironic tone, as if trying to contain his irritation.

Charlie smiled, unaware of his father's reaction. «Well, I guess after this phone call I will finally meet him. I'm getting ready!» she said, the enthusiasm in her voice unmistakable. The idea of being able to talk to one of the archangels thrilled her.

Vaggie gave Lucifer a quick, worried look, trying not to show her concern too much. She tried to gently bring her back to reality, afraid that Charlie would get carried away with his enthusiasm as she had in the past. «Charlie, if he really wanted to meet you, he would have met us when we went up to heaven, don't you think?» she tried to point out pragmatically.

Charlie, meanwhile, tried to find the best way to lift the artifact without being distracted. «Nah, I'm sure he just had a lot of work to do. We're still talking about an Archangel here, Vaggie. He must have been very busy.» she replied with a confident smile, as if everything was perfectly normal. Her faith in other people and her optimism had always been her strength, but also her greatest weakness.

Vaggie and Lucifer exchanged another look, this time more eloquent. They didn't want to destroy Charlie's dream, but they both had their doubts. But neither of them insisted. They didn't want to hurt her or upset the fragile balance of hope that kept her going.

Charlie, meanwhile, tried to pull the heavy phone toward her, groaning as she leaned it against her chest. «It's crushing my breasts...» she muttered, wincing with the effort. Despite her best efforts, lifting it off the platform was more difficult than she had imagined.

«Would you give me a hand?» she finally asked, her voice choked with exhaustion.

Vaggie and Lucifer approached immediately. The phone was heavy, yes, but not unwieldy. Charlie, with her slender figure, had made the burden seem much heavier than it actually was. Vaggie offered with an affectionate smile: «Honey, maybe I'd better be the one carring it, what do you think?» Her voice was soft but firm.

Charlie, now rehearsed, nodded and gently handed the heavy artifact to her girlfriend. «Maybe it's for the best.»

With the phone firmly on Vaggie's shoulder, the trio made their way to the crypt exit, with Charlie walking ahead, feeling lighter now that the burden was off her, both the physical one of the phone and the emotional one of the puzzle that she solved. Vaggie followed her. Lucifer closed the line, still quietly worried.

But just as they were about to cross the threshold, a dull sound, a nasty "clong" chilled the blood of all three. They turned to see, to their dismay, that the platform from which they had lifted the phone had begun to vibrate violently. As if some secret mechanism had been activated, the ground beneath their feet began to shake.

Charlie stood motionless for a moment, her heart leaping into her throat. «Oh no...» she whispered as Vaggie and Lucifer's eyes shifted from the artifact to the platform, trying to figure out what was happening.

«Maybe... maybe we should have leave it where it was?» muttered Vaggie, clutching the phone tighter, ready to react to whatever was about to happen.

The ground beneath their feet began to shake violently, as if some dark force was trying to tear them apart. Deep cracks began to open up in the floor, rapidly extending toward the walls of the crypt, revealing a dark and seemingly bottomless abyss beneath them. The walls trembled and creaked ominously, as if the structure itself were about to give way under their weight. It was obvious that everything was about to collapse.

«Get out from here!» cried Lucifer, with a rare note of panic in his voice. Without hesitation, all three ran frantically for the exit, their hearts pounding in their chests. The sound of cracks opening and the ground crashing behind them added to the sense of dread.

As they ran, the worst manifested itself: flames and lightning began to erupt around them, as if the place itself was possessed by a destructive fury. Columns of fire erupted from the ground and walls, and suddenly metal spikes appeared, reaching out to strike them. Death traps, previously dormant, began to spring up one by one, like wild beasts awakening from a long sleep.

«Look out!» yelled Vaggie, throwing herself to the side to avoid a sharp blade that had come out of the wall inches from her, still carrying her phone on her shoulder. Despite the chaos, she managed to hold on to the artifact, even though the weight seemed to increase with each step.

Lucifer waved a hand with his supernatural strength to fend off flames and deflect lightning, but he, too, was under pressure. Despite his incredible endurance, the collapse of the crypt seemed a threat even to the King of Hell.

Charlie, though frightened, moved with ease, managing to avoid the spikes and traps that were activated around her. Her determination to get out of this trap alive, with the precious phone intact, gave her a strength she did not know she possessed.

«Don't stop!» shouted Lucifer, his face dripping with sweat as he continued to fend off the threats that were attacking them from all directions. «Run!»

They climbed the stairs at breakneck speed, their hearts in their throats, their legs burning with exertion. Each step seemed to bring the threat of a new trap: lightning kept bouncing off the walls, flames darted everywhere, and the vibrations beneath their feet threatened to plunge them into the abyss.

When they finally made it out of the crypt and found themselves in the hall of the Heaven's Embassy, the heavy breathing in their lungs seemed not to be enough. But their relief lasted only a moment. In front of them, the entire structure of the embassy was in a state of collapse. The walls cracked, the ceilings fell apart, and it seemed as if the whole building was about to be sucked into the void.

«No!» screamed Charlie when she saw what was happening. She panicked, but Vaggie grabbed her arm and dragged her outside. There was no time to mourn the building or understand what was happening. They had to get out. And quickly.

With a last desperate effort, they managed to get out into the fresh air, just as the entire embassy collapsed behind them, as if swallowed by an endless abyss. The sight of the majestic building collapsing into nothingness was terrifying. A blinding column of light rose from the center of the abyss, illuminating the hellish sky like a beacon of destruction.

Everything stopped. The roar of the collapse ceased, and it was as if the world itself held its breath. An oppressive silence fell over them, broken only by the sound of their labored breathing.

Vaggie, still holding the phone on her shoulder, stared into the abyss in horror. Lucifer stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the destroyed embassy, and Charlie, her heart still in her throat, could not believe what had just happened.

Pausing from their daily crimes and activities, a crowd of sinners began to gather around the abyss that had engulfed the Embassy, murmuring among themselves, trying to figure out what had happened. The eyes of many turned to where the building once stood, and questions began to swirl among them.

Lucifer, observed the abyss for a while, then looked up at the glowing halo shrouding Heaven in the distance. His frustration and anger bubbled beneath the surface, and without holding back any longer, he exploded into a furious, upward-facing scream: «MICHAAAEL!» he shouted, as if his brother could actually hear him. «What the fuck is wrong with you! Deactivating all the traps and then leaving the deadliest one active? What twisted game are you playing, you bastard?!»

Vaggie, seeing her future father-in-law on the verge of losing control, hurriedly put the phone down next to Charlie, and tried to calm Lucifer with a practical and calm tone: «Sir, I don't think he can hear you.» Lucifer continued to look furiously at the sky, but Vaggie's words managed to defuse some of his anger.

Meanwhile, the chatter behind them was getting louder and louder. Vaggie turned around, watching the crowd of sinners who had gathered to stare into the void left by the Embassy. It did not take her long to realize that their curiosity would not die out on its own. In a strong, authoritative voice, she ordered: «There's nothing to see here! Move along!» Some members of the crowd paused for a moment, but eventually, reluctantly, they began to disperse, still casting puzzled glances and murmuring among themselves.

Charlie, meanwhile, was on her knees, staring into the abyss before her, still in disbelief. The sense of failure that had overwhelmed her at first was beginning to recede, but the idea of what had just happened still shook her. «I'm afraid Heaven won't like this at all.» she whispered, her voice broken by a mixture of anxiety and frustration.

Vaggie, who had been trying to remain calm throughout the escape, replied, sitting down beside her, «As far as I'm concerned, it's enough for me to know that we're alive. And that we have recovered the phone. We will apologize to them when they will explain why Adam is in Hell.» That was an answer laden with fierce pragmatism, but it was the only truth to cling to at that moment.

Charlie turned her gaze away, still shaken, but something in her face changed when her eyes rested on the phone. A smile slowly appeared on her lips, fragile but real. «You're right.» she said, regaining her confidence. «Let's focus on the positive things. We have the phone, and that's all that matters.» She almost seemed to want to embrace it, as if that object was the only anchor holding her steady amid the chaos swirling around her.

Without wasting any time, she picked up her own cell phone and began dialing a number.

–Meanwhile, at the Hotel

The rest of the Hazbin Hotel staff was relaxing, awaiting the return of Charlie, who, as every day, was engaged in her arduous search for the solution to the riddle. Husk was behind the bar, expertly mixing a cocktail. Behind him, Adam's face appeared on a tablet via video call, a way to keep him involved in the social life of the hotel even though he was physically far away. Sitting at the bar with a glass of bourbon, Bruce watched fondly as his former apprentice, Headshot, bonded more and more with his new friends. Next to Bruce, Molly snuggled up next to him, calmly sipping a Shirley Temple from the straw, looking relaxed but still observant.

The others were semi-relaxed on the bar couches, enjoying a rare moment of quiet. Eddie sat on one side, Angel Dust on the other with a drink in his hand. Nifty sat shameless on the young sniper's lap, and Cherri Bomb had grabbed a leather chair beside them. Alastor, too, watched the scene from the top of a comfortable chair, his eerie grin always on his face, as if he controlled every detail with a superiority he never concealed.

Eddie, who had been closed off for a long time, was finally starting to open up a little more to the group. He had even agreed to show some of his scars, an important step that indicated his growing confidence in all of them. At Nifty's request, he had lifted his shirt to the side, revealing one of the deeper scars that furrowed his abdomen. The letters carved into his peeled skin formed a biblical verse, "LV 18-22". It was one of many reminders of the religious contempt his father had heaped upon him, branding his body as if it were a piece of flesh to be punished.

Nifty, with her usual childish enthusiasm and penchant for the macabre, ran her slender fingers over the scar. «Oooh...» she exclaimed with a mixture of admiration and morbid curiosity: «It's so deep, I can almost put my whole finger in it!» Looking at Eddie with an eerie expression in her eyes, she asked in a disturbing tone: «Was it painful?»

Eddie laughed sadly, now used to Nifty's strangeness. «You have no idea, Nifty.» he replied with a sigh. «When he started cutting into my chest, I thought I would never feel such intense pain again. Then it went to my stomach.» He raised a hand to touch his chest and added: «It hurts here too, but the soft parts - they are much more sensitive. I found that out the hard way.»

Nifty smiled with excitement and raised her voice slightly: «Oh, I know! I love pain! I love inflicting it as much as receiving it!» Her excitement bordered on hysteria.

«Good for you, Nift.» Eddie replied with a half-smile, stroking her head affectionately.

Behind them, Bruce looked increasingly uncomfortable, as if the conversation was beginning to wear him down. Eddie could sense his old mentor's distress, but decided not to investigate. The time and place were not right for this interrogation.

«What happened to you is terrible.» Cherri interrupted, swinging a hand grenade lazily between her fingers. «Can you remind me what your father's name is?»

Eddie looked up at her, a shadow passing over his face before he replied: «Donald. Why do you ask?»

Cherri shrugged with a grin that didn't sound promising. «Oh, no reason.» she said carelessly, continuing to play with the bomb.

Eddie let out a bitter laugh, the kind you get when you are forced to live with an uncomfortable truth. «I appreciate the thought, but I don't think we're going to find him here.» His tone dropped, filled with a bitter awareness. «No matter what he did on Earth, his religion guaranteed him a safe place in Heaven.»

Angel Dust, sipping his drink, raised an eyebrow and shook his head. «That's a stupid religion, then. If it was true... It would be an absolute injustice.»

From the bar, Husk interjected with his cynical attitude without looking up. «Let me guess: Calvinist?» he said, turning his glass absentmindedly on the bar.

Eddie shrugged, a slight nod of embarrassment appearing on his face. «Something like that.»

Husk huffed, rolling his eyes. «AH! They are the ones who are most disappointed when they find themselves here. They swear they are chosen, then they see a red sky with a pentagram and understand they were wrong, badly.»

Eddie, confused, stared at him for a moment. «Wait, there are Calvinists in hell?» His voice betrayed slight surprise.

Husk burst out laughing, shaking his glass a little between his fingers. «You've been down here for decades and you haven't noticed?»

Eddie's face turned serious for a moment. «I've been a little ... busy surviving.»

Angel Dust came over with an understanding smile and patted him lightly on the shoulder. «Don't feel bad, Shotty. It's rare for people around here to admit they've been believing bullshit all their lives.» Eddie, touched by Angel's gesture and words, returned the smile, a little lighter. «"Shotty", huh? I can approve that nickname.»

«As if I need your approval.» Angel teased him with his usual mischievous grin.

Eddie returned the affectionate pat on the shoulder. But there was a thought that plagued him. «So... there is a real risk that I might cross paths with my father again?» he commented, more to himself than to anyone else.

Cherri, still fiddling with the bomb in her hands, replied with her usual nonchalance. «With any luck, he died in one of the many exterminations.» She twirled the device in her hands like a tennis ball, being careful not to activate it accidentally.

Angel added with determination: «And even if he didn't, he'd better not show himself...otherwise I'd know how to make him regret he's still around.» he clenched his fist in the palm of the opposite hand with his lower arms, while the right hand of the taller set of arms held his glass tightly.

Eddie shook his head with a half smile. He was in disbelief, but grateful. «Thank you very much. You have no idea what that means to me.»

«You're welcome.» Angel replied with a touch of seriousness. «You saved my ass a few too many times. It's the least I can do.»

Eddie smiled sadly, thinking back on how much his life had changed. Just two months earlier, he was living in a tiny one-bedroom apartment, with the responsibility of raising a child, isolated and lost. Now, surrounded by friends who loved him, with Angel Dust as one of the closest, he felt incredibly lucky. Life had given him an incredible twist, and what's more, he'd never imagined he'd form such a deep friendship with someone so different from himself. Angel was everything he was not: cheeky, outgoing, bright, and over-the-top. But together, they complemented each other.

«You know you don't owe me anything, right?» Eddie reassured him.

«Oh, yes, I do.» Angel Dust replied, giving him a softer than usual smile. «You saved me from a night's work, you took an angelic bullet for me, and you forgave me for that scars thing - I'd say I owe you more than I owe Valentino.»

Eddie looked at him with a small smile. «I told you, it's okay. I have a hero complex, you know. And by the way, about the scars - I would have talked about them sooner or later. You just sped things up.»

Angel shook his head with a wry smile. «Yeah, and we ran right into a wall.»

«But I got us both back on track.» Eddie continued, joking as he put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. «I told you, I've grown fond of you. Helping you and forgiving you is easy for me.»

Angel raised an eyebrow, surprised and a little touched by her words. «Seriously, Shotty, what are you doing in hell?»

Eddie shrugged and replied «I guess suicide is good enough of a reason.»
The two laughed briefly, trying to lighten the heavy mood. Then Angel, still thinking, asked, «May I ask... why did you do it?»
Eddie thought for a moment, trying to be honest. «Post-traumatic stress disorder... loneliness... and the weight of what I had done. The truth is, I didn't know how to move on. You know, there wasn't a lot of talk about mental health back then. Many, like me... found suicide to be the only way out. Only to end up here. Suicide is a fraud. You run away from one horror only to find a worse one.»
Angel nodded in understanding. «Yes, it's not fair.»
«I did find one good thing here, though.» Eddie smiled vaguely.
Angel turned around, curious. «What, your sister?»
Eddie nodded, «Also. But mostly this crazy hotel and the people who live in it.»
Angel was silent for a moment, stunned. His cocky attitude seemed to falter before he resumed his usual mask. «Oh, how sweet!» he exclaimed in a mocking tone, though with a hint of sincerity.
Eddie shrugged. «Yes, I am sweet. Unlike you.» he joked.
Angel put a hand on his chest, dramatizing his offense. «How DARE you?!» he grabbed a pillow and started hitting Eddie, who tried to defend himself, laughing.
«Hey, calm down! I'm just kidding!» Eddie protested.
Angel, undaunted, continued to hit him. «You better be!»
Sitting in her chair, Cherri watched them with a mischievous grin. «Ladies, I adore you, but you act like little girls!» she exclaimed theatrically.
Angel and Eddie exchanged an amused look before bursting into laughter. Though the moment was cut short, the shared laughter bonded them even more, and for a moment Eddie felt like he was finally home, a warmth he hadn't felt in years.

When the laughter subsided, Husk pulled a bottle of cinnamon liquor from under the counter and suggested with a grin: «Do you think if I spike Charlie's frappuccino when she gets back, she'll like it?»

Stiffening, Alastor finally spoke in his usual authoritative tone. «You will not spike Charlie's Frappuccino, Husk.»

Husk shrugged, unperturbed. «What? She's been trying to solve that riddle for almost a month without success. Maybe a drink will cheer her up.»

Angel, noticing the rising tension, decided to intervene in a more conciliatory tone. «Husky, only do it if she asks. That way you won't risk any negative reactions.» Then, with his usual mischievous smile, he added, pointing to the empty glass in front of him: «In the meantime, would you make me another one?»

Husk looked at him for a moment before answering in a practical tone. He was already starting to mix. «Coming up. But this time you pick it up.»

Angel got up without hesitation. «No problem!» he replied enthusiastically and headed for the counter.

Normally, Eddie would miss no opportunity to point out that it was still morning and that this would be his third drink, but he decided to keep quiet. He knew that the night before Valentino had forced Angel to shoot another content he didn't like. He knew him well enough to know that this drink was his only way of dealing with the situation at the moment, of keeping the pain and frustration at bay.

In silence, Eddie watched his friend approach the bar, smiling to hide his deeper thoughts. He felt the weight of concern for Angel, but at the same time he felt gratitude for this shared moment, for this strange family he had found at the Hazbin Hotel.

Suddenly, the sound of a cell phone broke the peace of the bar. Husk, who had been busy preparing Angel's drink, stopped in his tracks to see who was calling. He picked up the phone, visibly annoyed, and answered in his usual gruff tone «Hello?»

In an instant, his expression shifted from irritation to surprise, and soon after, a rare smile appeared on his face, leaving everyone puzzled. «Really? Oh, yes, sure, don't worry, I'll tell them right away.» he replied into the phone, ending the call without wasting a moment.

With a slight smirk of satisfaction, Husk bent down behind the counter, pulling out a series of crystal glasses and carefully placing them on the table. As he did this, he raised his voice to announce: «Guys, come grab your glasses, because Charlie...» With a swift motion, he grabbed a bottle of champagne he kept aside for special occasions «...has solved the riddle!»

In an instant, the bottle's cork popped with a sharp sound, accompanied by the festive spray of champagne bursting out. The news seemed to ignite the entire room.

«Finally!» Angel exclaimed, raising his arms in excitement. «I knew she'd make it!»

Eddie nodded with a genuine smile, feeling a wave of relief. He, too, had believed that Charlie would find the solution. The other staff members gathered around the counter, relieved and ready to celebrate.

Husk, with a rare touch of joviality, filled the glasses one by one, handing them out to everyone. «Now we can finally celebrate properly!» he added, his usual gruff tone softened by the overall excitement.

«To Charlie!» Husk proposed, raising his glass.

«To Charlie!» everyone echoed in unison as they toasted together in the moment's triumph.

«Skål!» Eddie exclaimed, raising his glass before taking a sip of his champagne.

Angel, intrigued, looked at him with interest. «"Skål"? What does that mean?»

Eddie took a moment to savor the drink before responding. «It's a Norse toast. They used to say it after a victory against the enemy... drinking from their skulls.»

Angel burst out laughing. «No way, really? That's a bit... macabre. Original, sure, but maybe avoid that one in front of Charlie, huh? I don't know how she'd feel about toasting thinking about that.»

Eddie smiled, shrugging. «Good advice, that is not a pleasant image.»

Alastor's voice behind him took him by surprise. In his usual falsely sweet tone, he stepped into the dialog: «What an interesting curiosity.» he said, sipping his champagne. «Is that why you always aim for the head, Headshot? To honor your ancestors?»

A shiver ran down Eddie's spine. Every time he spoke to Alastor, he felt as if he were hovering over a blade, forced to measure every word carefully. Even though his former colleagues were wandering around in hell with no memory, and Bruce was always there at the hotel, loyal to him and his secret, the feeling that Alastor knew something never left him. His sense of smell, usually an unerring radar for bad intentions, detected nothing unusual about Alastor. The same lingering scent of cinnamon and cloves masked something deeply corrupt; there was no variation, no discernible emotional nuance, almost as if Alastor were a being devoid of emotion, or perhaps so adept at concealing it he left no trace.

Pretending to be calm, Eddie replied in a relaxed tone: «No, I aim for the head because that is the most effective method of eliminating an enemy. If I wanted to use his skull as a cup, well, I would have to repair it first. I don't think my ancestors would be very happy about that.» He smiled slightly, hoping to end the conversation there.

«Understandable.» Alastor replied, turning his cup in his fingers with a smile that seemed too broad, too controlled. «In my heyday, it never occurred to me to use a skull for a cup. I always left the head intact, it became just another piece to make disappear with the rest of the body - bones, rotten flesh... and, you know, the guts were always such a nuisance with all the crap left inside.»

Eddie remained calm, but inside he felt an uneasy feeling growing. Where was Alastor going with this?

«But the rest?» continued Alastor, with an almost affectionate intonation, as if remembering a particularly satisfying meal. «Oh, the meat around the thighs and arms... a real treat. Especially when there was a little fat to make it more tasty. But I thought the muscles were too tough. I would chop them up to make meatballs or, if I had time, I would bag them and make chorizos to add to my jambalaya. A well-made broth can make all traces disappear...and some guests even praised the taste of the dish.» His smile widened even more. «Yes, cleaning a skull to make a cup would have been too much work. But now that I'm the Radio Demon... who knows, I could always give it a try.»

Eddie kept a cool face, trying not to show the slightest sign of discomfort. But inside he was alert. Why was Alastor saying all this? Was it a simple provocation or was there a hidden message?

«If you wanna.» he replied with a calm, studied look, trying to divert attention and turning to Angel, looking for a more normal conversation. «So, Angel... what's better, champagne or sparkling wine?»

Angel caught the change in tone, perhaps sensing the tension behind Eddie's apparent calm, and dampened the mood with his usual smile. «Definitely champagne, Shotty. Sparkling wine is for those who can't afford the best.» They both laughed, but the shadow of Alastor still seemed to hang over them, a constant presence, always lurking.

And while Eddie tried to maintain a semblance of normality, another silent figure watched over him: Bruce, his former mentor, was not an Overlord, nor did he possess the power of Alastor, but he had spent years developing his skills as an assassin and knew how to protect his pupil. Without saying a word, Bruce knew that if the situation escalated, he would intervene without hesitation. His eyes followed Alastor, carefully monitoring every glance and movement. He didn't trust him, not completely. And the idea that the creature might have an unhealthy interest in Eddie kept him in a constant state of vigilance.

–

Meanwhile, while waiting for Charlie's return, the first bottle of champagne had been emptied, and Husk, ever ready to cater to the group's needs, had already pulled another bottle from under the bar. The party went on, but in a more relaxed way, with glasses being filled and laughs mixed in with the conversation.

Adam, on video call, watched the scene from his monitor. When he heard the unmistakable sound of another bottle being popped, he couldn't help but interject: «Hey, Cat. Don't let it all go to waste, huh? I'd like a glass myself.»

Husk chuckled and sipped from his glass. «Don't worry, I'll be down as soon as I can with a bottle for you.»

Leaning back comfortably against the bar, Husk wiped his lips in a slow gesture, then asked, almost without thinking: «So, are you ready to go back to heaven?»

Adam repeated the question as if taken aback. «Back to heaven?»

It was a simple question, but the weight of the possibility hit him. A lot had changed since he had taken asylum in the Hazbin Hotel. He had entered with the arrogance of one who felt superior to everyone and everything, convinced that his place had always been in heaven, despite his mistakes. But after spending weeks in solitary confinement, brooding in a cell, he had begun to question everything he thought he knew. Had he really been a good husband? A good leader? Did the damned really deserve their eternal damnation? And if he, with all his faults, had managed to stay in heaven, what made the others less worthy of salvation? And finally, and perhaps most importantly, did he really deserve to return?

«I don't know.» he admitted, his voice more uncertain than ever.

Husk raised an eyebrow, surprised at the answer. «You don't know? Don't tell me you got used to the cell.»

Adam shrugged, clearly uncomfortable. «That's not the point. It's that, for the first time in a long time, I'm wondering ... if I really deserve it. I know it sounds strange, but ... maybe I wasn't as good as I thought I was, either as a husband, or as a general ... or as a person. I was so convinced that I was above it all that I didn't realize the damage I was doing.» He scratched his head in embarrassment. «Perhaps I was not so great as a "Father of Mankind."»

Husk, despite his usual gruff demeanor, could not help but be impressed by these words. He moved slightly closer to the screen with a rare smile of appreciation. «Well, that's an improvement.»

Adam, trying to minimize, shrugged. «Lets just say I had someone who was a good listener. Have you ever thought of becoming a psychologist, Husk?»

Husk laughed and shook his head. «No, thank you. If I had to listen to other people's problems all day, I'd start drinking again.» He paused theatrically, looking at the glass he still held. «More than I already do.»

The conversation faded into a shared smile, leaving a surprisingly intimate atmosphere in the air. For a moment, hell seemed less grim, less relentless. Adam's words, filled with a rare vulnerability, had left a trace of humanity in that place where it often seemed to be lacking.

Husk, sipping from his glass, reflected on how strange it was to see someone like Adam – a figure who had always stood for strength and authority – appear unsure, even humble. This admission of fallibility, this doubt that plagued him, had made the Father of Humanity more human than Husk had ever seen him.

Adam, on the other side of the screen, remained pensive, his face marked by deep reflection. There was no trace of the anger that had characterized him in the past, but a new awareness was slowly emerging. This change, though subtle, did not go unnoticed by the friends present.

The doors suddenly opened, interrupting the atmosphere of reflection and revealing a beaming Charlie. In her usual theatrical manner, she announced loudly: «We're back! And we have the phone!»

A wave of excitement swept through the room. The room erupted in cheers, and anyone still holding a glass raised it in celebration.

Vaggie, visibly tired, struggled to carry the heavy phone. «Make room, this thing weighs a bloody heap!» she exclaimed, looking for a place to put it down. Cherri, seeing her struggle, rushed to her aid and together they managed to place the phone on the counter, separating some of the friends in the process.

Eddie and Angel Dust found themselves on opposite sides of the phone, while Alastor rose with elegance to his feet to take a closer look at it. Husk, on the other side of the counter, merely observed the scene with his usual detached attitude, even though his position gave him a perfect view. Nifty, with her usual childlike energy, jumped from chair to chair trying to get a glimpse of the shiny artifact, while Molly, comfortably perched on Bruce's shoulders, filmed the entire scene to document the historic event on her blog.

Proud and still reeling from the adventure, Charlie put her hands on her hips and declared: «It was...exhausting to get it, and at the very last moment we risked our lives.» She looked gratefully at her father, Lucifer. «But we did it. And we can finally get some answers.»

«Well, what are we waiting for? Let's use it!» exclaimed Cherri, eager to find out what had happened to Sir Pentious. She reached for the phone, but Alastor blocked her with his cane, with a mischievous smile that promised no good.

«Calm yourself, my dear impetuous friend. We still don't know how this toy works. If you please, I would like to be the one to find out...» Alastor began in his usual mellifluous tone.

But Lucifer was not having any of it. His gaze became icy and his voice sharp as a knife: «Keep your filthy hands off the phone, Alastor. Charlie will make the first call.»

Alastor did not seem at all intimidated and replied with his usual feigned gentleness: «And why is that? Isn't Charlie tired enough? It seems to me that solving this puzzle was quite exhausting. And we were all involved, some more and some less, in the questions asked of the idols.» He glanced at Angel Dust with a look of contempt. «Even the most... bizarre.»

Angel Dust shrugged with his usual brazenness. «What? "Do you have genitals?" was a legitimate question.»

«Not really appropriate for a mission of this importance.» Alastor replied in an icy tone, then turned back to Lucifer. «Everyone here has important questions to ask or people to talk to again. You wouldn't want anyone to accuse you of favoritism, would you?»

Lucifer, clearly annoyed, raised his tone: «It's not favoritism! It's just that Charlie's the only one who can convince anyone to join us!»

Charlie, seeing that the situation was about to escalate, stepped in with a calm voice and tried to restore order. «Calm down, there's no need to argue about this. I can easily make the first phone call. It's not that tiring, really.»

As the discussion continued, Nifty's usual childish curiosity brought her dangerously close to the phone. «Oooh, it sparkles!» she exclaimed, reaching for one of the sapphires set into the artifact.

Angel Dust, who had developed a certain protectiveness toward little Nifty, gently took her by the hips and pulled her away from the phone. «Nifty, you better not touch that. We don't know what might happen.»

Nifty, though disappointed, made no protest and just pouted as Angel put her back down.

Charlie turned to the bartender with some urgency. «Husk, would you hand me that tablet?»

Without saying a word, Husk slowly turned and grabbed the tablet that was still showing Adam's video call. He handed it to Charlie carefully.

Charlie took the tablet and turned it toward the phone so that Adam could see the newly recovered artifact. «Adam, do the myths happen to tell you how to make it work?» she asked with a hopeful tone, trying to keep her composure.

On the other side of the screen, Adam smiled weakly. «First of all, congratulations on solving the enigma.» he began in an almost formal tone. «As for how it works... well, I do have a little bit of doubt. The rumors weren't exactly clear. I didn't expect to ever have to use it.» He sighed and thought. «I think you have to press the button in the middle and pick up the receiver - or maybe it was the other way around? Well, I mean, one of the two ways.»

Charlie nodded, though the vague suggestion was not entirely comforting. «And who should I expect on the other end?» she asked, her tone slightly uncertain.

«Probably Sera.» Adam replied with a hint of bitterness in his voice. «Or Emily, but more likely Sera.»

Charlie huffed. The thought of Sera, the Seraphine responsible for the horrors Adam had committed, made her boil inside. It was Sera herself who had initiated the annual exterminations that had claimed so many lives.

«Damn, anyone but her...» Charlie muttered to herself, her face tense.

Adam sensed Charlie's discomfort through the screen and tried to offer her some unexpected help. «Charlie, could you turn the tablet for a moment?» Charlie obeyed and turned the device toward her, finding herself face to face with the former general exorcist.

«Tell me, Adam.» Charlie replied without enthusiasm.

«Look..» he began, hesitating only for a moment. «I know Sera and I screwed up a lot. I, in particular, have been a real bastard.» He laughed bitterly, remembering how he had scoffed at Charlie's idea of redemption a year earlier. «I wish I could make it up to you, though, at least in part. When you get the call going, if Sera answers, let me talk to her. Seeing me here, in this situation, might be enough to change her mind.»

Charlie looked at him suspiciously, unsure. Adam had made a lot of progress in the last few weeks, but could she really trust him at such a delicate moment?

Seeing his hesitation, Adam raised one arm, the only one free, in surrender. «Yes, I know you have every reason not to trust me. But isn't that what your hotel is about? To give a second chance to those who have hit rock bottom? Well, here I am doing something I never thought I would do: I'm asking you for a second chance.» He paused dramatically, searching for the right words. «I, Adam, the first man, the Dick Master... I am asking you to allow me to repair, at least in part, the damage that I have done. Let me try.»

Charlie stared at him, reading every emotion in his gaze. There was still a veil of arrogance, but there was also a sincerity in his eyes that she couldn't ignore. And she knew that if she refused him, she would be betraying the very principles on which she had founded the hotel.

After a long sigh, she said: «All right, Adam. I will trust you. But if you make one false move, I'm ending the call and I'll take your phone back.»

Adam nodded, accepting the terms without protest.

Charlie turned to Vaggie. «Honey, can you hold the tablet for me while I make the call?» But when she saw her girlfriend exhausted from carrying the heavy Heaven Phone, she changed her mind. «Never mind... Who wants to hold it until we're done?»

Nifty, always overenthusiastic, stepped forward. «I'll take it! I'll take it!» she exclaimed with a sinister smile. Adam recoiled immediately, visibly frightened by the little demon who had already killed him once.

Charlie gave her a stern look. «Nifty, you'd try to stab him through the screen. Anyone else?»

Cherri offered, but Charlie gave her a suspicious look.

«What? He's in his cell, it's not like I'm going to be able to destroy him from here.» Cherri protested, crossing her arms.

Charlie looked around for other volunteers, but no one seemed to want to take on the task: «Really? No one at all?»

«All right, I'll take care of it.» Lucifer intervened with an eerie smile. «And if he makes any wrong moves, I can always crush him in his own cell.»

Adam sighed, resigned. Too many people in there still wanted him dead. He realized that getting them to trust him was going to be difficult. Charlie prepared to make the call, twiddling her fingers to ease the tension. She had a list of questions to ask: why Adam had been sent to Hell, if Sir Pentious was really in Heaven, what it meant to be a Nephilim, and most importantly, what was the key to trapping Roo.

«Let's get this over with.» Charlie said, taking a deep breath, aware that the long-awaited moment had finally arrived. Her heart was beating fast and each passing second seemed to last forever. She felt ready, but at the same time paralyzed with fear. That phone held answers that could overturn everything she knew.

The friends around her were no different. The atmosphere was charged with tension, palpable, so much so that it seemed the air itself had thickened. Some of the patrons, sensing the importance of the moment, had approached the bar door. They watched with curious, alert eyes.

Charlie approached the phone, her hands trembling slightly. She lifted the receiver, heavier than she had expected, and brought it to her ear. Then, with her other hand, she pressed the button in the center, the large sapphire glowing intensely.

Suddenly, the earpiece began to shake. Charlie jumped and suddenly let it go. But the handset did not fall. It remained suspended in the air, continuing to vibrate as if animated by some unknown force. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the artifact. No one dared speak, too frightened or fascinated by what was happening.

Then, as if it had a life of its own, the handset began to twist and turn until it became a tiny ball of light. Eddie, next to Charlie, watched with wide eyes, while Angel Dust hinted at a sarcastic comment, but held it back, feeling the gravity of the moment. The glowing orb now hovered in front of them, pulsing like a living heart.

The orb suddenly moved with dizzying speed, bouncing from one side of the room to the other. It bounced over everyone's heads, grazing the faces of those present, leaving them shaken and speechless. Finally, it swirled back around Charlie, creating a vortex of light that exploded upward with a roar, sending sparks falling from the ceiling. The sparks formed a flat screen suspended in midair above the artifact.

The group stood still, unable to speak, as the floating screen emitted a low, trilling sound. It paused, then another trill. The sound was familiar: the classic ring of a phone on the other end trying to connect.

–

In the safety of the Heavenly Palace, far from Hell, Sir Pentious rehearsed his speech with his usual theatrical emphasis. «...and that is why, dear Winners, redemption for the sinners is not a danger to Heaven, but on the contrary, a benefit to all.» despite his speech defect, his cadence was perfect, every word meticulously punctuated.

Emily, the young seraph, clapped enthusiastically. «Perfect! This time the votes will be ours!» Her enthusiasm was contagious, though Sera beside her was not as optimistic.

Looking at Pentious with a critical eye, Sera sighed. «I never imagined that after millennia of calling for extermination, I would be helping a redeemed sinner convince Heaven that he is not a threat.» Her voice betrayed a mixture of disbelief and frustration.

She shook off those bad feelings and approached Pentious, adjusting his suit with manic precision. «Make sure the collar is perfect. And the buttons... all closed.»

Emily giggled and put a hand on her arm. «Sera, he looks great. And everything will be fine, you'll see.»

Sera did not look convinced. «We say that every time, and every time we only get half the votes.»

A deep, melodious voice interrupted the conversation. «A perfect collar won't win you votes.» A familiar figure appeared at the door, gorgeous as ever, with her blonde hair and slender figure. She smiled with a certain irony, holding a colorful cocktail in her hand.

«Lute and her people know how to speak to people's gut, and redemption still has no precise definition. If we want to convince the undecided, we need something more concrete.» Her tone was practical, almost detached.

Emily greeted her warmly. «Oh, hello Lilith. Any news from the other side?»

Lilith shrugged and sipped her drink. «They're digging into Pentious's past to discredit him. They want to use all of his past actions against him. They know how to play dirty.»

Pentious swallowed nervously. «This is... definitely a low blow.»

Sera, ever the practical woman, nodded. «Does anyone have suspicions about you, Lilith?»

Lilith shook her head. «No, they are too busy with the campaign at the moment. The lockdown makes my life easier, but I still have to be careful not to show up too often at your side.»

As they talked, a sound in the distance caught Lilith's attention. «Do you hear that?»

The others paused to listen. A trill, a clear and persistent sound, echoed through the palace.

Emily stiffened for a moment, then turned to Sera with hopeful eyes. «Could it be...?»

She did not wait for an answer. In an adrenaline rush, Emily sprinted down the corridor, running towards the source of the sound. Sera tried to stop her, but in vain, and found herself running after her.

Undecided, Lilith and Sir Pentious exchanged a glance, then followed the two seraphs.

Emily ran down the immaculate corridors of the palace, almost tripping over some cherubs and several thrones. Arriving at the end of the long corridor, she stopped in front of a black door hidden between the white marble walls.

Sera tried to call her back. «Emily, wait!»

But the young seraph opened the door without hesitation. Inside, the room was in stark contrast to the rest of the building: dimly lit, with only a marble platform in the middle on which rested a ringing, obsidian-black telephone set with rubies, a horned skull dominating the centre of the dial. The handset also had horns, one on each side, while the central part was decorated with tiny rubies. A circle of fire around it served no purpose other than to make it clear that this was the Hell Phone, the direct line to Hell, an artefact that everyone knew existed but no one had ever tried to use since it was created.

Emily turned to Sera, her eyes wide with excitement. «Charlie did it! I know it's her!»

Sera approached cautiously, still hesitant. «Emily, maybe it's best to let it ring. We are not ready to deal with this situation...»

But Emily did not listen. With determination, she pressed the skull in the center of the hell phone. The phone began to vibrate violently, rising and collapsing, just as the artifact had done in the Hazbin Hotel. The implosion happened in seconds, but it seemed to last an eternity. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the next move. Suddenly, the space left by the phone was filled with a blinding light that exploded in the darkness of the room, projecting a floating screen. On the screen appeared the image of Charlie and his friends, as clear as if they were there in front of them.

Sir Pentious and Lilith exchanged a look of disbelief, as if they had just witnessed something impossible.

–

Back at the hotel, the screen lit up with a glow that illuminated the entire room. The images flickered for a moment before settling to show Emily on the other side, motionless with shock. Back at the Hazbin Hotel, Charlie and his friends also stood motionless for a second, stunned in disbelief. The two factions, separated for so long, now stood face to face. The atmosphere was charged with tension, but also with a new electricity, that of possibility.

Then the silence suddenly broke.

A shout of joy boomed from both sides, with such force that it bounced between the walls of heaven and hell, hitting those present like a wave. Charlie and Emily had begun to scream like two excited schoolgirls, unable to contain the excitement of the moment. Their enthusiasm was so sincere and overwhelming that even those around them could not help but smile.

«I knew it was you!» cried Emily, her hands raised in a gesture of triumph.

«Hi, Em!» Charlie replied with equal enthusiasm, nearly causing Husk, who was watching the scene with his eyes wide open, to jump out of his chair.

Around them, the crowd stood for a moment, suspended between astonishment and joy. Angel Dust commented with a broad smile: «Well, I'd say that's a good start.»

Lucifer, on the other hand, watched the scene with a mixture of relief and concern. He knew that this contact was only the first step in something much greater. Seeing Charlie so happy, seeing this connection between Hell and Heaven being peacefully established, gave him a hope he was reluctant to admit he had.

«This is incredible! I can't believe you did it!» continued Emily, laughing and crying at the same time.

«Neither can I! I thought I would be stuck with this riddle forever!» replied Charlie, also with tears in her eyes. The fatigue, anxiety, and tension of the past few months seemed to melt away in that moment of pure elation.

Emily laughed. «Was it really as hard as everyone said?»

«You. Have. No. Idea!» Charlie remarked emphatically, accompanying the words with theatrical gestures.

On the other side of the screen, Lilith had remained motionless, her gaze fixed on her daughter. Despite the festive atmosphere, there was a hint of concern in her eyes. How would Charlie react when she'll see her? Nearly eight years had passed with no word, no contact, no sign of life. Lilith knew she had no right to enter the scene like nothing ever happened.

Sir Pentious, clearly sensing Lilith's discomfort, approached cautiously. «Your Highness.» he began, choosing his words carefully: «Perhaps you should go over there and talk to Charlie.» His tone became almost paternal.

Lilith looked at him, surprised by Pentious's insistence, and for a moment her eyes betrayed the inner conflict that had plagued her for years. She lowered her gaze, like if shame was crushing her. «This is not a good idea.» Her voice cracked slightly, a brittle sound rarely heard from such a powerful figure.

Pentious, noting the queen's vulnerability, decided to insist with a rarely heard kindness. «With all due respect, Lady Lilith, she is your daughter.» Her voice was calm but full of disarming sincerity. «If you'll explain to her what happened, the reason for your estrangement... I'm sure Charlie will understand. She was always looking for you and never gave up hope.»

For a moment, Lilith seemed to consider the idea. Her eyes wavered, betraying an inner battle she had been fighting for years. But then, almost as if that little hope had cost her too much, she stiffened and returned to her mask of cool. «Pentious.» Her voice was firm and authoritative again. «I don't want Charlie to know I'm here. Clear?» The tone allowed no reply, and his gaze had turned icy.

Pentious, struck by the change, lowered his gaze. He understood that he would get no more, not on this day. «Of course, my lady.» he replied in a tone that betrayed a slight disappointment. But she did not insist further. Meanwhile, Charlie, completely engrossed in her tale, emphatically described every single misadventure that had led her to the solution of the riddle. Emily, on the other side, listened in awe, as if each word were a small miracle.

It was Vaggie who brought her back to reality with a hand on her shoulder. «Charlie, honey. We should focus on why we were looking for the phone.»

Charlie slapped her hand on her forehead as if waking from a dream. «Oh, right! Emily, look, since you... cut off contact, a few things have happened. By the way, why did you isolate yourself?»

Emily scratched her head in embarrassment. «Ah, yes... it was a...» she started to say, but was interrupted by Sera, who approached the screen in her usual stern manner.

«Precautionary measure.» Sera explained in a calm tone. Behind her, Lilith was hiding behind the door, quickly finishing her cocktail in the hope that the alcohol would kick in. Sir Pentious watched her with a sigh, feeling a mixture of sympathy and pity for the Queen of Hell.

Sera continued in a firm but gentle voice. «After the last extermination and Adam's death, Heaven decided to lock down for security reasons. We feared a direct attack. No one can enter, no one can leave, only the souls of the dead can pass through, and of course no one can contact Hell, Earth or other dimensions. The only exception was this phone; it's been a rule since its inception.»

Charlie nodded, processing the information, then let her enthusiasm get the best of her again. «Well then...» she began in her usual theatrical tone. «We have some news you might like to hear!» She turned to Lucifer and took the tablet from his hands, raising it to the screen. «Ta-da!» she exclaimed, showing the image of Adam appearing on the video call.

Sera's face instantly froze as Emily's eyes widened in disbelief.

Adam, with his usual cheeky smile, waved exaggeratedly. «Hey, Sera! I'm back, bitches!» he shouted, his tone brash and defiant despite the situation.

Sera was shocked. «What the heck?» she began, her usual composure giving way to undeniable surprise. «What are you doing there! And more importantly, why do you look like a... sinner?»

Adam lowered his gaze for a moment, and when he spoke again, his tone was devoid of his usual arrogance. «Because I am, Sera.» he admitted with unexpected sadness. «That's one of the reasons Charlie worked her ass off to find that phone.» He paused, as if the words he was about to say were difficult to pronounce. «We want to understand why I woke up in hell after I died. And most importantly, why none of the rest of us have ended up here yet. Or why no damned person has died again to wake up in heaven.»

Emily raised a finger as if to add something: «Um, yeah... Charlie, you'll be happy to know that your idea is working.»

Charlie was surprised: «Excuse me?» she asked as she passed the tablet back to her father.

Emily disappeared from the screen for a second, leaving everyone in breathless anticipation. She returned less than two seconds later, bringing Sir Pentious with her. With a theatrical gesture, imitating Charlie, she said: «Ta-da!»

For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Eddie tilted his head in confusion. «Wait ... is that ...?»

«Pentious!» Charlie shouted, covering her mouth and nose with her hands and falling to her knees.

Everyone else in the room jumped to their feet, realizing that what they were seeing was true.

Cherri, rising sharply from the couch, also jerked Nifty, who was standing next to her.

Charlie stood up again and approached the screen, her eyes filled with tears of disbelief. «I can't believe it... You're in heaven? Really?»

«Yes, thank you.» replied Sir Pentious, visibly excited. «Turns out redemption really does work.»

Angel Dust exclaimed, putting one arm around Eddie's shoulders: «We redeemed a sinner!»

At these words, the group erupted in cheers.

Although Eddie was not as familiar with Sir Pentious as the others, he understood the magnitude of the moment. He didn't quite feel a part of their jubilation, but seeing his friend's joy warmed his heart, and standing next to Angel, so radiant, made him feel happy. Though he never knew Sir Pentious, he realized the importance of what was happening. Redeeming a sinner was not just a dream: it was a real possibility.

Molly, with her usual professional enthusiasm, had already positioned herself with her phone to capture every single detail. The camera panned over her, showing her beaming smile, then framed Sir Pentious on the screen and the group's explosion of joy. Bruce, always at her side like a protective shadow, smiled slightly. It was Molly herself who had first speculated that Sir Pentious might be in heaven, and now that her theory had been confirmed, she could not contain her joy. «I told you so! I told you so!» exclaimed Molly, spinning around as she filmed the scene and framed her friends celebrating.

«And now all of Hell will see it: Sir Pentious is ALIVE! AND HE IS IN HEAVEN!» She giggled excitedly as Bruce watched, amused and slightly relieved to see his new pupil's happiness.

Husk, despite his usual apathetic attitude, raised his glass with a rare smile. «So much for those who said it wasn't possible!» he commented as Angel Dust still hugged Eddie and laughed, something Eddie rarely did. Nifty, meanwhile, was also running around the bar, expressing her joy in her own chaotic way.

Charlie could not hold back tears of joy. She turned to Vaggie, who smiled tenderly at her, tears in her eyes. «I knew you could do it.» Vaggie said, hugging her, proud.

Lucifer, who had remained aloof until that moment, watched the scene with a satisfied smile. «Well, I have to admit, it's a success. A huge success.»

Alastor, who had been watching in silence with his usual enigmatic smile, approached slightly. «That makes things... interesting.» he commented in a mellifluous tone.

Eddie, still with Angel at his side, raised the glass of champagne that Husk had just filled for him.

Angel stopped him for a moment: «Headshot, don't say Skål.» he warned him.

Eddie laughed and reassured him: «Don't worry.» He raised his glass again. «To Sir Pentious! The first redeemed!»

«To Sir Pentious!» they all shouted in unison, raising their glasses and toasting the historic achievement.

As the party continued, Eddie watched Angel, and for the first time he saw him truly happy. That bright smile, framed by his asymmetrically colored eyes, warmed something inside him, a feeling he tried to ignore. Despite the chaos and general euphoria, he felt serene, almost at peace, aware that he was lucky to be part of such a significant moment: redemption was real, a tangible hope in a place that seemed hopeless.

Sera, however, remained rigid, watching the scene with concern.

«Wait a minute.» she said, interrupting the general elation. «This doesn't explain why Adam is in hell. We need answers.»

Adam nodded, his tone serious again. «That's right, Sera. I want to understand why I'm here. And I want to understand why no one else was as damned as I was, and how Sir Pentious managed to be redeemed.»

Sera shook her head, trying to get her thoughts in order. «We need to consult the celestial archives. This is an unprecedented event. But... something doesn't add up.»

Cherri interrupted abruptly in her usual disrespectful tone: «While you are doing your fancy research, I need to talk to Pentious. Now.»

Charlie tried to dissuade her, raising a hand in a gesture of calm: «Cherri, maybe this is not the best time to-»

«Not the time my ass!» Cherri interrupted her in a frustrated voice, pointing an accusing finger. «I only brought you to the Sloth Ring to find out if he was dead or alive, and now he has to be the one giving me answers!» Her tone was firm, and no one dared argue with her.

Charlie hesitated for a moment, then looked at the screen, her eyes searching for approval from Sir Pentious, who was trying to convince Sera to give him two minutes with Cherri. Sera reluctantly agreed, giving the snake and the demoness their moment.

Charlie motioned for them to continue and stepped back slightly, though she remained visibly listening. Each member of the group, sensing the potential confrontation, tried to appear engaged, but clearly did not intend to miss a single word.

On the big screen, Pentious shyly greeted: «Hey, Miss Bomb.» He tried to maintain his usual confident tone, but the embarrassment was palpable.

Cherri crossed her arms, trying to put up a tough front, though her heart was clearly fighting a different battle. «What the fuck were you thinking, Pentious?» she exclaimed in a scratchy voice. «First you kiss me, you tell me you love me, and then you get yourself killed like an idiot? What did you think would happen? That I would be happy? That I would see you as a hero?»

Pentious scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed look. «I can understand how you felt, but... when Adam cornered us, with Alastor out of the picture... I thought I had to do something. My death ray could have hindered him, if I had had more time. I knew it would be a suicide mission... but it was the only option that seemed to be viable. And... I couldn't leave without telling you how I felt.» His voice dropped, laden with vulnerability. «I hope you can forgive me. And I hope I can see you again... in person, sooner or later.»

Cherri pursed her lips, feigning indifference. «You're just a pathetic moron.» she replied, turning her head away stubbornly. Pentious lowered his eyes, obviously hurt by her reaction.

But after a tense moment, Cherri dropped her mask. A tender smile appeared as she looked into his eyes. «But... I'm glad you're okay. And it would be nice if I could at least give you a hug.» she admitted in a much softer voice.

Pentious' smile widened visibly, relieved by those words. After all, the bond between them was still intact.

Sera, visibly annoyed, interrupted them rudely. «Very emotional. Now, back on track.» She turned to Adam with a stern look: «Did your ... DEM do something to bring you back here?»

Lucifer passed the tablet back to Charlie, so that Adam could talk to Sera better.

Adam looked confused for a moment, then his face brightened as he understood what Sera meant. «Oh, that? Uh... I might have...» he buried his head between his shoulders, like a child preparing for a lecture. «...lost it.»

Sera's reaction was almost instantaneous: hundreds of eyes appeared on her body, partially revealing her true form. «WHAT?!» she shouted, her voice a mixture of disbelief and anger. «How could you lose such an important item?! Do you have any idea how powerful and dangerous it is?»

Adam raised his hands in a defensive gesture, trying to minimize the situation. «Sera, it's not like it obeys the one who wears it, okay?»

«It doesn't matter! You were supposed to keep it safe! If it falls into the hands of a sinner, the consequences could be catastrophic! We don't know what it might do!»

«Take it easy.» Adam tried to reassure her. «It must have reappeared in its owner's rooms, otherwise we would have noticed it, right?»

«That's not the point.» Sera continued, angrily. «You were entrusted with a very important object, and you had to bring it back!»

Adam, now exasperated, raised his voice: «Well, I don't know if you noticed, but I couldn't bring it back because I DIED!»

The group at the Hazbin Hotel exchanged puzzled glances, unable to fully comprehend what had caused such agitation between the two.

But Charlie, Lucifer, and Eddie exchanged eloquent glances, aware that they might have guessed what they were talking about. Eddie stared for a moment at the Deus Ex Machina around his wrist, as if suddenly the bracelet had become heavier. With a slow, discreet gesture, he tucked his arm behind his back, hoping not to attract attention.

Sera, still angry, made a gesture as if she wanted to strangle Adam through the screen, but stopped herself. Trying to calm down, she rubbed her temples, holding back her anger. She took a deep breath and regained her composure.

«All right.» she said in a measured tone, but charged with pent-up tension. «This is what we're going to do: I'll search the celestial archives for documents that explain how death works outside the realm of the living... and you...» Sera turned her icy gaze on Adam «... you'll find the DEM.»

Adam sarcastically shook his head and crossed his arms. «Oh, sure! You think I'm using this fucking tablet for fun? I'M IN JAIL, BITCH!» he shouted with a hint of desperation.

Sera clenched her fists, her wings vibrating ominously. «Adam, watch your mouth!»

«Oh yeah? And what exactly are you going to do to me?! I'm already in hell!» retorted Adam, raising his hands as if to emphasize his desperate condition.

Charlie, feeling the tension growing too much, lowered the tablet in her hands and tried to restore calm. «All right, all right! Let's all calm down.» She paused, trying to find the right words. «Sera, could you explain exactly what Adam lost?» she glanced at Eddie.

Sera ran a hand over her forehead, obviously frustrated. «I can't give too many details, Charlie. Just know that it is an artifact that could disrupt the entire plane of existence.»

Lucifer, who had been silent until then, approached slightly, his tone calm but charged with subtle irony. «It could disrupt the entire plane of existence... and you gave it to Adam?»

Sera fixed him with a sharp stare. «First of all, it wasn't me. It was entrusted to him by its rightful owner. And second... after what you did in the Garden of Eden, you are the last one who can speak. And by the way...» she added in a venomous tone «...how is your wife, Lucifer? The one you lost your Grace for?»

Lucifer's face darkened, his expression cracking for a moment, but he immediately tried to compose himself, not wanting to show how much that comment hurt him.

Emily, seeing what was happening, stepped in and tried to mediate. «Sera, that was too much. After what happened with Sir Pentious, you should know that there is a second chance for everyone.» she said.
Sera looked at Lucifer with disdain. «Not for him.» she said coldly.
The whole room shuddered at that sentence. Even Angel Dust, who usually joked about everything, put his hand to his chest. «Shit, I felt that too.»
Husk nodded and took a sip from his glass. «Yeah... it's heavy.»
Eddie, who remained silent, watched Lucifer thoughtfully. The King of Hell was clearly struggling to maintain his composure, and the pain behind his mask of composure was obvious. Feeling a cold rage rise within him, Eddie clenched his fist. Angels could be crueler than demons.

Charlie, too, felt a rising anger as she watched her father in that state, but she couldn't find the words to respond to Sera. The tension was palpable.

To everyone's surprise, it was Alastor who intervened. With his usual smile, he approached the seraph, his eyes shining with a calculating light. The mellifluous tone of his voice, always like that of a radio announcer, grew sharper.

«Ah, my dear Sera...» he began with an air of ironic kindness «...how wonderful to see such an "enlightened" angel show such a...human side. Forgiveness, compassion... aren't them divine virtues? Or is there something that frightens you?»

Alastor drew nearer, letting his words creep in like a sharp blade. «Perhaps you fear that someone, once fallen, might do what even YOU couldn't?»

The Radio Demon's tone was polite, but the provocation was obvious. The entire room held its breath, surprised at his audacity, while Alastor watched with barely concealed pleasure as Sera's anger grew.

Sera, clearly annoyed, clenched her fists. «Afraid? Me? I just think that Lucifer has already done enough damage. There are limits to forgiveness, and some people don't deserve it.»

Alastor replied with a wider smile: «Of course, I forgot...forgiveness has to be selective, right? Not everyone deserves to be saved. Especially when it means admitting that someone, in this case my dear princess, can succeed where you have failed.»

Sera's original form revealed itself again: «How dare you, you filthy...»

Before Sera could continue, Emily interrupted her, trying to defuse the tension. «Sera, maybe you should start with the research, you know? I can continue the conversation with them.»

Sera gave Alastor one last icy look. «I'm watching you, Radio Demon.» she threatened him before disappearing from the screen. A door was heard closing, a sign that the Seraphine had left the room.

Emily breathed a sigh of relief. «Forgive her, she's not used to being contradicted. But I must admit, Mr. Alastor ... I am surprised. Even I can't stand up to her like this.»

Alastor nonchalantly adjusted his jacket. «No one can abuse Lucifer. Except me.» He said with a more menacing smile than usual.

Lucifer was taken aback by the unexpected defense. Despite their rivalry, a small smile escaped him. He tried to hide it, but a wave of gratitude warmed his heart.

«Well, then.» Emily continued, taking the lead. «Sera is right about one thing: Adam needs to find what he lost. It's essential.»

Cherri, not at all satisfied with the vagueness, interjected dryly: «Yes, but what the hell did he lose?»

Emily shook her head, keeping her diplomatic tone. «I can't tell you.» She paused for a moment before continuing with a serious look at Charlie: «I also want you to get Adam out of his prison cell. Not only to retrieve what he has lost, but also to bring him to the debate.»

Charlie leaned forward slightly, obviously intrigued: «A debate?»

Emily sighed, lowering her eyes as if preparing for a complex explanation. «Yes...a lot has happened since the last extermination. When Adam died, or so we thought, Heaven went into total lockdown for fear of an attack from Hell. Then Sir Pentious suddenly appeared, and that's when we realized... that things weren't as we thought. So Sera and I started working on paving the way for your idea of redemption... but things got complicated.»

She paused, then continued «Lute has not forgiven you for the death of her commander. She gathered all the people who claim that sinners don't deserve salvation, and now... Heaven is split in two. The situation is tense, with protests and debates fueling the divisions. Sir Pentious, though redeemed, is treated as a pariah by those of the opposing faction.»

Emily became more serious: «However, if Adam were allowed to speak... maybe he would be able to change that. He's still a leader, his word still carries weight. He could convince those on the fence to come over to our side. Especially Lute.»

The silence that followed was tense, as everyone exchanged worried but also curious glances. No one dared speak until Husk spoke up in his usual hasty tone: «We might as well try it.» He shrugged, as if it was an idea to take lightly. «Frankly, Adam has improved a lot since he arrived here. You already gave him a cell phone, right? Hasn't he at least earned his parole?»

An amused smile formed on Husk's lips as he continued: «I can make sure he behaves. After all, I don't have much else to do. And having him around would allow me to do my other job without problems.»

Charlie took a moment to think. She had seen the change in Adam during his incarceration. She looked at the tablet screen and noticed how his colors had changed: his skin had taken on a purplish-gray hue, while his once white and gold exorcist robes were now black and red. His eyes, with black sclera and red irises, had lost the glint of superiority that had always characterized him. Even his recently sprouted horns seemed less intimidating than his former arrogant gaze. Now Adam seemed more humble, as if he had been bent by a guilt he dared not admit.

Charlie sighed deeply, then she decided. «All right. She said, keeping her eyes on Husk. "But don't let him out of your sight for a second!»

«Count on it, Princess.» Husk replied with a wry smile.

Adam's face brightened visibly, freed from his captivity at last. Lifting both thumbs, he exclaimed, «Thank you, Cat!» Though he couldn't see it, Husk made a casual gesture, like telling him it wasn't a problem.

Charlie turned serious again and quickly pointed out: «Well, we know Sir Pentious is okay. Now we have to find out why he is in heaven and Adam is in hell, but Sera should be back with answers. I have one more question, though.»

Emily nodded and invited her to speak: «Go ahead.»

Charlie cleared her throat. «Belphegor told me that I am a Nephilim and that I play a key role in Roo's permanent imprisonment. What does that mean?»

Emily immediately stiffened, her face glowering. «Well ... according to the myth ...» she started to say, but a sound of breaking glass abruptly interrupted her.

A furious voice boomed from the screen: «SHUT UP!»

Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared. Lilith, with a hallucinated look, grabbed Emily by the collar and blocked her. «Don't you dare say anything! She will do nothing! I will not let my daughter end up like that!» she shouted in a desperate tone. A maternal fury, ready to do anything to protect Charlie, radiated from her pained face and newly reappearing horns.

At the Hazbin Hotel, the group stood paralyzed with shock. The Queen of Hell, missing for nearly eight years, now appeared alive and well, in heaven.

No one was more shocked than Charlie. She dropped the tablet from her hands, unable to articulate anything but an incredulous: «Mom?»

Lilith realized her mistake too late. She turned back to the screen and met her daughter's gaze for the first time in years. Her eyes filled with tears as nostalgia and remorse overwhelmed her. She let go of Emily and hesitantly approached the screen. She opened her mouth to speak, but could only mutter: «I'm sorry, Charlie.» And with a sudden gesture, she ended the call, ignoring Emily and Sir Pentious's attempts to stop her.

The screen went blank and the phone returned to its place, leaving an icy silence.

The silence that followed was heavy as lead, everyone exchanging uneasy glances while Eddie clenched his fists, feeling a growing frustration inside him. Angel Dust, always ready with a joke, couldn't say anything. The only sound came from the tablet that had been left on the floor, transmitting Adam's voice trying to get their attention: «Hey! Can somebody put me back up? I can't see anything but the floor!»

Charlie, paralyzed, continued to stare at the spot where the screen had been moments before. Vaggie, concerned about her girlfriend's condition, approached her and held out a comforting hand. «Charlie... are you oka-»

But the gesture provoked a violent and unexpected reaction. With a sudden jerk, Charlie slapped Vaggie's hand, pushing it back with a force she had never shown before. Vaggie was shocked and looked at her own hand in disbelief, then at Charlie, who had never been capable of such an aggressive gesture toward her. A terrifying aura enveloped the Princess of Hell, as if something dark was emerging.

Lucifer, sensing the change, quickly approached and placed a hand on Vaggie's shoulders to pull her away. «Vaggie, stay back...» he murmured, noticing his daughter's increasingly labored breathing as her body began to change.

«Eight years...» Charlie's voice had become throaty, eerie.

«Eight years without seeing her.» Her body began to swell, her clothes torn, and the others began to understand what was happening.

«Not a message...an email...a post-it note...» With each word, Charlie grew to over ten feet in height, eyes multiplying over his face and body.

«Then we finally talk...» Lucifer motioned for the others to run while Husk quickly grabbed Adam's tablet.

«...and SHE HANGS UP ON ME?!» With a scream of rage and frustration, Charlie transformed into a huge, grotesque creature.

It shattered the ceiling of the bar and appeared in the hotel lobby in all its terrifying glory. It reached a height of about sixty-five feet, six wings sprouted from its back, each adorned with eyes, and another giant eye appeared on its forehead, along with seven horns. Its skin was rippled and bare, and a ghostly light shone from every cavity of its body. His once demonic but familiar appearance had now become that of an otherworldly creature, ready to unleash destruction. Her scream broke the silence like a wave of pure rage.

Eddie watched in disbelief as the creature that had once been Charlie screamed with all its fury. «What the hell happened?» exclaimed Eddie, completely stunned.

Vaggie, heartbroken, whispered softly: «Charlie...» A tear trickled down her cheek as she watched the love of her life turn into something unrecognizable.

The creature that was once Charlie looked down and saw her friends and other guests fleeing in terror. For a moment it seemed to calm down, but suddenly it lifted a huge hoof and swung it violently down towards them. The group managed to avoid the impact by a hair's breadth, but were thrown off by the shockwave.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Lucifer stood up. «That's no longer Charlie...» he said, looking at the remains on the ground. He turned to the group and took charge: «We have to get her out of here before she destroys the hotel! Cherri, prepare an exit! Nifty, Angel, Bruce and Kitty, evacuate the guests! Alastor, help me hold her back! The others, with me!»

Eddie removed his jacket in one swift motion, letting the wings emerge from his back. He turned to Angel for a moment and said: «Be careful!» before taking flight and following Lucifer, Husk and Vaggie.

As they flew, they tried to get close to Charlie's face, but she tried to hit them with her huge clawed hands, narrowly missing each time. Vaggie, flying faster, positioned herself in front of Charlie's eyes and tried to reach her with her voice: «Charlie, please! It's me, Vaggie! Come to your senses, darling!»

But Charlie shook her head with a furious scream, forcing Vaggie to fly away. Eddie, meanwhile, drew his guns and fired two shots at the creature's eyes. Charlie seemed to take no damage, but instead became even angrier. She tried to hit him, but Eddie dodged the shot, which instead hit the ceiling, creating a huge hole.

Alastor tried to block her, summoning his black tentacles, but Charlie's devastating strength easily broke them.

Cherri continued to drop bombs with precision along the main wall of the hotel, creating an ever-widening gap. Meanwhile, Angel, Nifty, Bruce and Kitty worked frantically to evacuate the guests, making sure no one was left behind.

Inside the hotel, Lucifer, Eddie and Husk tried to distract the colossal Charlie, but even Alastor, still weakened from his previous battles, had trouble keeping them at bay. The tentacles quickly broke, and Vaggie, heartbroken, kept trying to talk Charlie down, but she couldn't get her to stop.

With another fierce scream, Charlie finally managed to free herself from Alastor's tentacles and ran out of the hotel, further breaking the gap created by Cherri on the main wall. Once outside, she paused for a moment to look over the city. With a devastating scream, she began to move toward it, each step shaking the ground.

Eddie, following the group, tried to shoot her again, but when he pulled the trigger, his guns revealed themselves to be empty. «Fucking Thor!» he cursed, throwing away the now useless weapons.

Gathered outside the hotel, they watched as Charlie's giant form moved away and began to destroy the first buildings as the inhabitants fled. The damage to the front wall of the hotel was enormous, but fortunately the structure didn't collapse.

Vaggie, now distraught, lost control: «What happened to her? I've never seen her like this! Lucifer, do you know anything about it?» she asked, her voice filled with fear.

Before Lucifer could answer, a voice interrupted the conversation: «IF YOU MAKE ME UNDERSTAND WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING, YOU'LL BE DOING ME A FAVOR!» Adam, still on Husk's tablet, looked confused, frustrated, and a little worried.

Husk, visibly irritated, turned the tablet toward Charlie's giant figure. «You see that monster? It's Charlie! She saw her mother and went crazy!» he explained in a brusque tone.

Adam looked at the colossal creature for a moment, then whispered a single word with an expression of horror: «Nephilim...»

Vaggie, clinging to the faintest hope, pressed him: «You know what it is? Can you change her back?»

Adam nodded uncertainly. «I've actually seen some... when I was on Earth. Never this big, of course, but maybe with a big enough sigil we can do something about it.»

«Then turn her back like she was!» shouted Vaggie, shaking the tablet in frustration.

«She must be the one who wants to turn back to her old self. The only thing we can do is keep her from doing any more damage until she do so.» Then he turned to Lucifer in a tense but firm tone. «Lucifer, I know we hate each other, and it won't be easy for either of us, but we have to put aside our differences. You have to help me create the sigil... and of course, I have to get out of this damn prison.»

Lucifer was silent, his face impassive. His eyes darted between Adam, Charlie, and finally the clearly conflicted Hazbin Hotel group. «Adam.» he said with a serious tone: «Maybe my daughter was willing to trust you, but I'm not so inclined. How can I trust someone who has been nothing but a monster for thousands of years, starting with the way you have treated Lilith?»

Adam, now angry, replied vehemently: «I have faced more Nephilim than you have ever seen! If you want to save your daughter, you must swallow your pride and trust me, at least for now!»

With a long, heavy sigh, Lucifer looked up into the sky. Then with a determined gesture, he snapped his fingers. The sound of a metal lock opening was heard in the video call. Adam's face lit up in disbelief at the sudden turn of events. «Fucking finally!» he exclaimed, as the video call abruptly ended.

The silence that followed was heavy, full of tension and uncertainty. No one knew what to expect: perhaps they feared that Adam would run away or betray their trust.

Eddie commented: «Are we sure this was a good ide...?»

But seconds later he appeared, flying. His new demon wings carried him with impressive speed. «I'm here!» he exclaimed, landing with a look of raw determination.

As he approached, he immediately began to give orders: «Here is the plan. We must stop her from destroying the city. Edge Lord, use the orb you threw at me last time, you have to block her in an area with a large square. Lucifer, you and I will draw the sigil. Cat, tease her with your cards, flap around her and keep her away from buildings and people. Spider-Porn and Pumped Up, you help Cat until the sigil is ready, then make sure she enters it.»

Eddie, annoyed by the nickname, muttered: «Uh, we have names, you know...»

Adam ignored him and continued relentlessly: «Vaggie and the bomb lady, evacuate the neighborhood. And her...» he pointed at Nifty, who was sharpening her knife with an eerie grin. «...Keep her away from me.»

With a firm command, he yelled: «Come on, go, go, go!»

The group moved quickly. Charlie tore down buildings like a demonic Kaiju, devastating the Uptown with colossal punches and kicks. Sinners fled from all sides as some tried in vain to stop her with their weapons. Her friends managed to catch up: those who couldn't fly were carried by those who could, either by their arms or on their shoulders. Vaggie and Cherri immediately began the evacuation, while Lucifer and Adam frantically searched for a place large enough to draw the seal. Adam pointed to a debris-free town square. «Over there!» he shouted. «Push her there!»

Eddie laid Angel down on a building that was still intact. «Make sure you don't die, okay?» he said with an uncertain smile.

He started to leave, but Angel stopped him: «Wait!». With a quick gesture, his third set of arms appeared, bringing up Eddie's rifle, the one he had used during their escape from the criminals. «My rifle!» exclaimed Eddie, recognizing the weapon he feared he had lost forever. «I was afraid I would have to rely only on the Beretta.»

«I told you I'd give it back.» Angel replied with a cheeky grin as he reached for another automatic.

Eddie paused for a moment at the sight of Angel's slim waist and the elegance of his handling of the weapons. His heart was beating faster than usual. He asked vaguely: «How many guns do you have in there, exactly?»

Angel shrugged, his usual demeanor unflappable: «As many as it takes, Shotty.» His eyes met Eddie's with a flash of complicity. «Stay on point.»

Eddie shook himself, but Angel's smile remained etched in his memory; it was a new spark he found hard to ignore.

Meanwhile, Alastor erected a black barrier with a green aura, blocking Charlie's path and making her scream with rage. The creature's fists slammed furiously against the wall, shaking the ground. Husk flew around Charlie's head, distracting her. She tried to grab him, but he deftly avoided all attempts. Vaggie, her evacuation complete, cried out her lover's name in desperation, trying to reach the creature's heart.

Below her, Eddie, Angel and Cherri Bomb attacked relentlessly. Eddie, on the ground, aimed at the tendons of Charlie's huge legs, while Angel and Cherri threw explosives and bullets, leaping from building to building. Each blow seemed to enrage her more, and the ground shook under her heavy footsteps.

Charlie, now lost in her fury, tried to strike Husk once more, advancing menacingly toward Lucifer and Adam, intent on completing the sigil.

«Are you sure this is what it looks like?» cried Lucifer, the frustration in his voice evident as he tried to keep from losing control of himself. Each of Charlie's blows echoed like a boulder.

Adam, with tense muscles and sweat pouring down his forehead, nodded confidently: «I've done this a thousand times, I know it for a fact! Gabriel taught me personally!»

Lucifer stared at him, exhausted and angry. «I don't give a damn about Gabriel!» he growled, gritting his teeth. «Just make sure it works!»

Adam lowered his eyes despite his fear. «There's no reason it shouldn't work...»

Finally, with one last collective effort, they managed to push Charlie inside the sigil. Adam pressed his hands with desperate force, but...nothing happened. A surreal silence fell over the battlefield.

«What the hell...?» muttered Adam in disbelief. He tried and tried again. But the sigil did not respond. «I could do it as a human, why can't I do it now that I'm...» The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. «...a sinner. Fuck, I'm a sinner now, and the sigil won't activate without Grace!» he realized in horror.

Lucifer, enraged, exploded: «And it only occurred to you NOW?!»

Charlie, growing angrier, raised a colossal foot, ready to crush everything beneath it. Lucifer and Adam dove away at the last second as Charlie's hoof shattered the ground with a deafening roar.

Nifty, with her usual impetuosity, launched herself from Husk's shoulders and landed on Charlie's shoulder. Without hesitation, she began slashing at her with the knife, screaming like a madwoman, «Stab! Stab! Stab!»

Charlie looked at her indifferently, as if a fly had just landed on her. With a quick, almost distracted movement, the creature positioned its fingers as if to pick off a crumb, and with a snap, sent Nifty flying away with a high-pitched scream that was lost in the air.

«Nift!» cried Husk, panicked, but relaxed when he saw one of Alastor's tentacles catch her in mid-air and carry her to safety.

On the other side, in the ruins of a building overlooking the square, Cherri, Angel, and Eddie watched the whole scene unfold, witnessing the failure of the seal and Charlie nearly killing his father. Things were getting worse by the minute.

«She wants war?» said Eddie angrily, loading his gun. «We'll give her war!»

Together, the three of them began firing wildly, but it all seemed futile. The bullets and explosions only irritated Charlie. The creature's giant hooves continued to crush whatever it found beneath them, while its colossal fists tried desperately to grab Husk, who managed to dodge with great skill.

Eddie fired relentlessly, the now red-hot rifle in his hands, but out of nowhere he seemed to stop firing. The ammunition was still there: it had jammed. He was so distracted by the attempt to fix it that he wasn't immediately aware of the fist Charlie was throwing at him.

For a moment, the world seemed to slow down. Eddie braced himself for the worst, his heart pounding in his chest. But just as he thought it was over, he felt a strong grip on his arm: Angel Dust had grabbed him, pulling him away from the impact at the last second.

«Watch out, Headshot!» Angel warned, pulling him behind a pile of debris for cover.

Panting, Eddie breathed a sigh of relief. «That was really close. Thanks, Angel...» he murmured, his gaze lingering on him for a moment.

Angel gave him a smile, but not one of his usual ones. It was a sincere smile, sweeter than usual, that almost caught him off guard. «Don't worry, Shotty. With this one, we're even.» Angel replied, the arrogant tone was only a façade.

Eddie felt a strange warmth grow in his chest. He allowed himself to watch Angel for a second, his eyes lingering for a moment too long on his slender, flexible waist. For a brief moment, in the chaos and destruction that surrounded them, Eddie felt... closer to him. A strange spark.

With a quick gesture, Angel drew another automatic weapon from his third set of arms. «Now get back to work, Shotty! Don't get too distracted!» he said with a mischievous smile, regaining his joking tone.

Eddie recovered and shook his head. «I've got to pull myself together.» he muttered to himself, trying to regain his focus as he went to lend support.

Meanwhile, the situation was falling apart. Alastor's black walls were beginning to weaken, a clear sign that the radio demon was succumbing to fatigue. Charlie, increasingly enraged, had resumed pounding the barrier in blind rage, each blow a roar that made the ground shake. Husk, exhausted, continued to try to get their attention when he could, dodging as best he could, while Adam was unable to recover: too distraught by his failure to respond.

Lucifer, with deep sorrow in his heart, prepared to do what he never wanted to do to his daughter.

In a desperate gesture, he opened a massive portal beneath Charlie's feet, hoping to trap her in a distant dimension. Charlie staggered and lost her balance. The creature's screams of rage rang in everyone's ears as she fell, but in one brutal motion, she grabbed the edge of the ground outside the portal with her colossal hands.

The air itself seemed to vibrate with tension, every second counted. If Charlie managed to pull herself out, the fury she would unleash would destroy everything.

«Help me make her fall!» Lucifer commanded, flying toward his daughter's giant hands that were clutching the ground, trying to keep her out of the portal.

Vaggie could not believe her ears: throwing her beloved into an empty dimension? Her heart clenched. «No...we can't do this to her!» she cried, barely holding back tears.

Lucifer, however, did not stop. His face was a mixture of determination and pain, aware of what he was asking. «It's the only way, Vaggie! We cannot stop her!»

Vaggie stared desperately at Charlie's monstrous face, feeling her heart break between love and horror. «Charlie, please... don't make us do this!» she begged, but Charlie, fueled by rage, was already pulling herself up with all her strength.

Her friends were forced to keep attacking, every blow and blow weighing heavily on their hearts.

«Sorry, Toots.» Angel Dust muttered as he fired the automatic rifle.

Eddie cursed the Norse gods as he watched his ammunition run out again. Hope was fading, and with a desperate sigh, he rolled over, trying not to be spotted, and spoke to the bracelet on his wrist, «Listen, pal, if this is not an emergency, I don't know what it is. Live up to your name for once!»

But the bracelet made no response. Eddie's frustration grew and made him shake with anger. Before he could do anything else, Charlie managed to free half of her body from the portal with an angry scream. She planted one elbow on the ground and struck with a devastating blow. The shock wave blew them all away, in every direction.

A few feet away, with his head in his hands, Adam groaned in despair: «If only I hadn't lost the Deus Ex Machina...»

Just then, Eddie landed ruefully in front of him. The bracelet on Eddie's wrist, glowing in the eerie light of hell, was clearly visible to Adam. For a moment Adam was speechless as an angelic chorus echoed through his mind at the sight of the bracelet.

Eddie, trying to get to his feet, was grabbed by Adam who stammered in disbelief: «You...you've had it...all this time...but how?...» He shook himself quickly. «We don't have time for explanations!» He squeezed his arm tightly, pulling him up. «Get up, we have work to do!»

Eddie, confused and dazed, tried to gather his thoughts: «What...?» Only when he was on his feet did he realise that Adam was pulling him by the arm that carried the Deus Ex Machina. An icy chill of terror spread down Eddie's spine, the PTSD surging violently. With an instinctive movement, Eddie pulled back his arm and tried to wriggle free: «Let me go, asshole!»

Adam had no intention of letting him go. He grabbed his scruff with his other hand, determined. «Listen, Guy. I don't know how you got your hands on that bracelet, and I don't care. But now we have to make it work, or your friend will fall into a black hole of emptiness and despair!» He pointed at Charlie, still grotesquely transformed and angry, struggling to get out of the portal.

Eddie looked at Charlie and in that moment the terror of his past was replaced by a new fear: the loss of someone he cared about. Angel and all the others... they were counting on him. But how could he make the Deus Ex Machina work if it continued to ignore him?

«Do you think I wouldn't have used it already, if I could make it work? It ignores my every request! It just keeps reappearing on my arm every time I try to get rid of it!» cried Eddie in frustration.

Adam gripped his arm tightly and looked at him intently. «Oh, so you know what it is. Good. Then you should also know that it has a will. It doesn't activate just because you want it to.»

«It seems its will is for us to fend for ourselves!» replied Eddie, annoyed.

Adam shook his head. «No. There's a reason it showed up just now when I was talking about it. I'm sure he wants something from you. It's as if he wants to push you further, take you one step further.»

«One step further? What more could I give?» Eddie stared at him in disbelief.

«Anything, Pumped Up...»

«MY NAME IS HEADSHOT!»

«Whatever.» Adam looked at him with piercing eyes. «The Deus Ex Machina wants you to expose yourself completely. Not just physically, but emotionally. You must reveal every part of yourself, without reservation. It is only then that it will give you the power that you need.»

Eddie exploded: «Haven't I opened up enough? I've told everything! My past, the scars, the nightmares... what more can I say?»

Adam remained calm, his voice low. «It's not just the scars, Headshot. There's something deeper. You need to dig further. Speak up.»

Remembering all his past mistakes, Eddie began to speak, agitated and almost stuttering. «Well, um... I've done terrible things... I've worked as a hitman, I've killed people for money... I had to slaughter half of my guild when there was a literal internal power struggle to protect Bruce... and of the other half, I recently had to erase the memories... they were all my former colleagues and friends, but I had to do it... because I didn't want them to reveal to Alastor that I was the one who tried to kill him.»

Trembling, he concluded: «There... I revealed the things that weighed most heavily on me. And I did it out loud, so that practically everyone could hear me. I hope the Deus Ex Machina is satisfied.»

A tense silence enveloped the air, but the Deus Ex Machina remained inactive.

«That's not enough.» Adam said calmly. «There's something deeper that you can't say.»

Eddie shook his head, sweat dripping from his brow. «What more can I say? I've already confessed everything... I've told about my father, about the nightmares, I've shown the side I've always kept hidden, I've even practically endangered my sister's life by confessing what I've done to the others in the guild! I exposed every dark side of myself, and the only thing I got out of it was a reminder of how much I'm disgusted with myself! How much I hate being in hell, how much I hate being me, how much I hate being...» Then a moment of realization came over him. His eyes opened wide. «...a hitman.»

Eddie took a deep breath, his thoughts swirling. «It's not just that I'm disgusted by what I did... It's that I'm tired, exhausted, of being "Headshot" the hitman, the guy taking lives on call.» He paused, his chest heaving with emotion. «I spent years killing for money, never really questioning who I was beyond my gun... then I found my sister. My life... suddenly became more beautiful because I had more to live for.»

Adam listened intently as Eddie continued, his voice shaking with the intensity of the revelation. «In fact, I haven't wanted to be a hitman for a long time anymore... but I've never admitted it, not even to myself. I want to be... protective. I want to protect my sister, Charlie, Angel... all of you. I want to be the one you can count on, not the one you have to fear. I want to be a warden, someone who protects the people they love. I... I want to finally do the right thing.» Eddie's eyes filled with determination. «I'm not that hitman anymore, I never was. I... I am a Guardian!» shouted Eddie, his voice filled with a new strength.

Suddenly, the Deus Ex Machina lit up, emitting an intense blue and gold glow that exploded around him and Adam, infusing their bodies with divine power.

«This is it!» shouted Adam, his eyes glowing. «Quick, help me rebuild the sigil!»

Without hesitation, Eddie threw himself at the broken lines, his hands moving with frantic speed as the energy grew around them. Each trace he repaired seemed to pulsate with divine light, perhaps due to the Deus Ex Machina active on his wrist. With a final gesture, he placed his hand on the sigil and activated it.

A wave of power exploded from the circle, projecting glowing chains toward Charlie. The chains clung to the giant creature, gripping its flesh with superhuman strength. Charlie fought, unleashing her fury with each blow, but this time it was not enough. Each time she tried to break free, the chains tightened, trying to force her to the ground.

«Come on, come on!» cried Eddie, his muscles tense as he held on to the seal.

With a grimace of pain and frustration, Charlie tried one last time to wriggle free, but she surrendered to the divine power and her body was pinned to the floor, her back to the ground and her face turned to the sky. His body relaxed, his breathing heavy, a sign that the battle was finally over.

With a sigh of relief, Lucifer closed the portal with a tired gesture.

The Deus Ex Machina on Eddie's arm was still glowing, its blue and gold light illuminating the now less chaotic scene. The group took a moment to catch their breath, watching Charlie's motionless form, still trapped in its monstrous form. There was a tense silence as everyone wondered if she would return to her former self.

Vaggie, heartbroken, dropped her spear to the ground and ran toward Charlie's huge neck, clutching it with all her desperation. Her tears flowed relentlessly from her remaining eye as she tried to find the right words: «If you're in there...if you can hear me...please come back to me.»

Vaggie's silent cry sounded loud as everyone else stood by, the weight of the situation bearing down on them.

Eddie, visibly exhausted, ran a hand over his eyes to wipe away the dust, then turned to Adam: «All right, now what?»

Adam, sitting on the floor with a grim expression on his face, clicked his tongue. «We wait and hope for the best. Charlie must be the one who wants to go back to the way she was.»

Eddie raised his arm, the Deus Ex Machina still glowing slightly. «Come on, I have the power of God in my hand, is it possible there's nothing I can...» He cut himself off when the light from the bracelet suddenly went out and came back the way it was before. «...do?...» he finished in disbelief.

Adam looked at him with a sarcastic smile. «Nice work, dummy. He doesn't like arrogant people.»

Eddie stared at the unlit bracelet, his sense of failure as heavy as the silence around him. «I just wanted to help...» he murmured, but his words were not enough to reactivate the Deus Ex Machina.

Charlie's wailing echoed as she tried to free herself from the chains, only to let go with a moan that shook the ground. Eddie looked at the scene and a wave of memories washed over him. The chains wrapped around Charlie's body were not so different from the ones that had held him captive for months. But what struck him most was the look on her face. There was no anger left, only a deep resignation, an expression Eddie knew all too well: it was the face of someone who had lost hope. It was a face that had been with him during his eight months of imprisonment, and to see it now on Charlie brought a lump to his throat.

Then something caught his eye: a sparkle in one of Charlie's original eyes. He widened his gaze and saw a tear fall, rolling to the ground, glistening in its sadness. It was large, like a bowl of water, a tear that reflected all her suffering. Charlie turned her face to the sky and wept silently, her pain visible to all, but only Eddie seemed to truly understand.

Inside Charlie's mind, a furious battle was being waged. For eight years she had believed that her mother was off on some important mission, that she was busy making Hell a better place for everyone. She had told herself that her mother was so caught up in her responsibilities that she had no time to contact her. But now, in a single moment, that certainty collapsed: her mother was in heaven, dressed casually as if just back from the beach, and no explanation. No plausible justification.

Why work so hard to improve Hell, only to abandon everything and flee? Why leave a daughter behind, alone and without answers? She founded the Hazbin Hotel to make her mother proud, to follow her example and inspire sinners to redeem themselves, to believe that even in Hell there was a glimmer of hope. But now it all seemed like a big joke. And who was she if not the leader she had always tried to be? Who was she without the inspiration that had fueled her for years?

Exhausted, Charlie lay on the ground, her eyes turned to the distant sky, to Heaven, that seemed out of reach. She tried to reach out, trying to grasp it, to grasp the dreams she had built in her mind, but the chains held her back. And so she simply gave up. She gave everything for an impossible dream, and now she had nothing. A tear rolled down her grotesque face. It was all for nothing.

Eddie felt himself start to cry when he saw Charlie looking like that. She was the personification of despair, the same despair he knew all too well. The entire group seemed to notice the change, except for Vaggie, who was still clinging to her loved one's neck, lost in grief.

As Eddie was about to intervene, someone else preceded him. Angel Dust approached Charlie's ear, which was now as big as half his body. As he leaned back against her head, he pulled out a cigarette and lit it as calmly as if the world around him was not about to collapse.

Angel Dust leaned more comfortably against Charlie's skull and took another long drag on the cigarette while he thought about what to say. Finally, in a relaxed but serious tone, he started, «Toots, I have to say... you fucked up, bigtime. Destroying an entire city block...you really outdid yourself, didn't you?» he chuckled, but immediately his look became more serious. «But I don't blame you, you know. Hell, I'm not one to judge, since I've killed for much less, and regrets... well, I have very few. But you, Charlie, you are different. That I can promise you.»

He took another drag from his cigarette, pausing for a moment, choosing his words carefully. «I know how much your mother meant to you. You have always looked to her as a role model, as the star that lit the way for you. Every step you have taken, every decision you have made... all with her in your mind. Her absence must have devastated you. And then to find out that... well, that she wasn't where you thought she was, that must have been a blow. But... Charlie, listen to me. She wasn't the one who made all of this possible, everything you built. She wasn't the one who made hell a place where someone could have hope for the first time in their afterlife. It was you.»

He sighed, glancing around the ruined square, cigarette smoke wafting through the air. «I'm not one to talk about redemption or anything, you know. But I saw something in you that made me reconsider. You even gave Sir Pentious a chance, and look where he is now: redeemed in heaven. Who would have thought, huh? You did. If it had been up to us, we would have killed him on the spot, but not you. You opened that door for him, a door we all thought was closed forever. It was you, Charlie, who changed the rules of this infernal game.»

Angel's tone softened, almost protective. «And if your mother can't see that, if she can't understand how special you are... well, screw her. She has no idea what she's missing. She hasn't seen how strong you are. How determined you are. You have done what no one else has dared to do: give hope to hell. You are destined to be something great, much greater than anyone ever imagined. Perhaps even greater than your mother.»

He took a last puff on his cigarette and stubbed it out with a casual gesture. «Don't give up now, Toots. This place, us, we need you. You are not a lost cause, you are the heart of it. And if anyone has made you believe otherwise, they better get ready to be damned... again.»

As Angel spoke, Charlie's face began to change. The resignation and sadness melted away, making room for a new light, a spark of gratitude and hope. The tears continued to fall, but they were no longer of despair. With her eyes closed, Charlie relaxed and her body began to glow. Slowly, her monstrous form shrank, gradually returning to her familiar appearance. Angel had to move, and Vaggie released her grip on Charlie's neck and stood still, her heart swollen with hope as she watched her beloved return to herself.

Charlie was completely transformed, but she lay unconscious, curled up in a fetal position, naked and vulnerable. «Charlie!» cried Vaggie, running to hold her in her arms as tears of relief streamed uncontrollably down her face. The others approached, their faces worn with exhaustion but relieved to see their friend was safe. Lucifer, in a thoughtful gesture, took off his jacket and laid it on Charlie's naked body, a simple act but one imbued with fatherly affection.

As Lucifer helped Vaggie lift his daughter, Husk approached Angel Dust, looking somewhere between proud and surprised. «I'm impressed.» Husk commented «When did you get so good with words?»

Angel shrugged and pulled out one of his usual lines. «I learned from the best, Husky.» He gave him an affectionate punch on the arm, trying to maintain his usual tough-guy facade.

Husk laughed and nodded. «Remarkable.»

Not far away was Eddie, who had been a silent observer of the whole thing. Angel's speech, the way he had handled the situation, had affected him more than he was willing to admit. There was something about the spider-demon that had a hold on him, even if he had no idea what it was. «Truly... remarkable. You are full of surprises, Angie. No wonder everyone adores you.» he said in a softer tone than usual.

Angel Dust paused for a moment, surprised by such direct sincerity. He felt almost vulnerable for a moment, but immediately recovered, puffing out his chest and returning to his usual arrogant attitude. «Oh, baby, of course they adore me! I'm Angel Dust, the most famous porn star in all of hell! Would this be the case if they didn't adore me?»

Eddie smiled and shrugged. «Who knows?»

Angel tried to act nonchalant but could not hide the slight trembling in his lower arms, something Husk could not help noticing. Eddie's words had affected him more than he wanted to believe.

«Anyway...» Angel said, trying to change the subject «...let's get her home before the leeches get here.» He nodded to the sky, where a blue helicopter with Vox's logo was rapidly approaching.

«Of course...» Eddie commented. Lucifer ordered: «Let's get out of here, quick!»

The group hurried away as Vox's helicopter continued its flight, documenting everything it saw.

–

Charlie was gently placed on the bed she shared with Vaggie. The covers were pulled up and tucked in to keep her warm while she regained her strength. Lucifer left his daughter in the loving care of Vaggie, who stayed by her side and waited for her to awaken.

«She'll be fine.» he informed the others «She just needs to rest.»

Cherri's sharp voice broke the silence: «Very well. Now answer one question: what the hell happened?»

Angel Dust, distracted by Valentino's angry messages flashing on his phone, huffed. «You were there too, Cherri. Charlie saw her mother in heaven and lost her mind.»

«I got that part.» Cherri replied «But since when can she turn into that thing?»

Adam approached, his voice calm but heavy with memories. «Since she's a Nephilim, technically since birth. When Lucifer and Lilith got...» it sounded really hard for him to say it «...together, they paved the way for similar relationships between angels and humans. Though forbidden, some families were formed in secret. The children born from these unions belonged neither to Earth nor to Heaven. They were made for justice, but sometimes they lost control, as happened to Charlie. I've seen them before. I've had to stop some of them.»

Adam paused for a moment, looking at the faces of those present, then continued: «On Earth, the Nephilim didn't get that big. They reached four or five meters at most, but they still caused massive destruction. Growing up in Hell definitely empowered Charlie and pushed her beyond those limits.»

Eddie asked in a pragmatic tone: «Now what?»

Lucifer turned back to the group, his face marked by fatigue, but with determination still present. «We wait for Charlie to recover, and in the meantime we repair the hotel. When she wakes up, I want everything to look like it did before. Thanks to my magic, it should be a quick process.»

Adam, his fingers ready to snap, declared: «Well, what are we waiting for? We got a lot of work to do!» He took a determined step toward the devastated lobby of the hotel, but was blocked by the collar of his jacket, grabbed by Alastor.

«Not so fast.» the Radio Demon said with his usual enigmatic smile. «Remember, you're still on parole, Adam. You'll help, sure, but you won't get more than five feet away from Husk.» He snapped his fingers and a green chain appeared, binding Adam's wrist to Husk's.

Adam groaned in frustration. «Oh, really?»

Husk rolled his eyes, equally annoyed. «No way...»

Alastor shrugged, ignoring their complaints. «No excuses. If you want to stay out of the cell, you'll stay with Husk. Otherwise, your prison awaits.»

Both Adam and Husk sighed in unison, reluctantly accepting their situation.

«I hate you, Alastor.» Adam hissed.

«I agree.» Husk added under his breath.

Angel Dust gave Husk a comforting pat, trying to lift his spirits as the group walked towards the half-destroyed hall. Eddie, ready to follow them, was stopped by Alastor's calm but threatening voice.

«Headshot, can I talk to you for a minute?» The tone left little room for interpretation.

Eddie stiffened, but turned nonchalantly to face the demon. «Go ahead, Alastor.»

With an eerie smile, Alastor began: «During the battle, I overheard a certain "butterfly" confess that he had tried to kill me years ago. However, this butterfly swore to me that he knew nothing...»

Eddie interrupted him coldly. «Yes, it's true, I lied to you.»

Alastor tilted his head slightly, surprised by the abrupt confession. «I beg your pardon?»

«I was the one who tried to kill you. And I deeply regret it. I was inexperienced, eager to prove myself. Everyone in my guild had rejected that contract, but I, with my arrogance, thought I could pull off the big score. Of course, I failed. I'm sorry I lied to you... but you threatened my sister's life. I couldn't take the chance.»

The atmosphere grew tense. Alastor's eyes twinkled for a moment, his voice lowered. «I understand ... but you know what happens to those who threaten my existence, don't you?»

Eddie took a step forward, his face serious and determined. «You will do absolutely nothing, Alastor.»

The demon's eyes grew thin and sharp as blades. Alastor's smile grew thinner, almost hissing. «Oh? And who gives you such confidence?»

Eddie raised his arm, showing the Deus Ex Machina glowing slightly. «This one. I don't know if you've noticed, but this bracelet is not just a piece of jewelry. It's far more powerful than you can imagine. And now that it listens, I will not let anyone threaten those I love.»

Alastor took a step forward, his smile ever present, but his eyes more dangerous. «So, you think this... trinket... makes you untouchable?»

Eddie stared at him, unfazed. «It's not just the bracelet, Alastor. It's my determination. First and foremost, I protect. And if that means I have to face you, then I will.»

Alastor felt a slight pain as Eddie's finger tapped him on the chest, just above his wounds from months ago, which still ached. The radio demon recoiled slightly, irritated but impressed by Eddie's firmness.

With a wry smile, Eddie added, lowering his tone: «If I were you, I'd let this slide. Or I'll show you how determined I am to stick to my new assignment.»

In a more relaxed, almost friendly tone, Eddie added: «See you down in the hall!» and walked quickly away to join his friends.

Alastor stood motionless for a moment, frustrated by the unusual turn of events. Few could stand up to him like that, and they were always the Overlord. For it to happen to a sinner was unprecedented; he could not tolerate it. As he walked away, he looked at the bracelet on his wrist with a mixture of curiosity and anger: if he was going to make things right for himself, he would have to find a way to get his hands on that power.

–

The wall of the Hazbin Hotel was quickly rebuilt thanks to Lucifer's magic. Many of the evacuated guests had already returned to their rooms as all activities for the day were suspended. The rest of the group was busy collecting debris and cleaning up the dust that Charlie had left behind when she transformed into the monstrous creature. There was a sense of shared exhaustion, but also a palpable relief: the battle was over, and there was still a hotel to save.

Nifty went on a rampage, moving quickly from surface to surface, cleaning with obsessive dedication, showing no intention of stopping until every nook and cranny was perfectly polished. The others knew this well and did their best to help her, especially to prevent her from to run out of energy by cleaning non-stop.

Adam, however, proved to be a poor helper. The broom seemed like an unfamiliar weapon in his hands, as if he had never lifted a finger in his life. Husk, who was tied to him by the magical chain, kept correcting him.

«No, that way you pick up little and leave half the dust on the ground. Small, gentle movements. You have to remove the dust, not just spread it around.» Husk scolded for the thousandth time.

Adam rolled his eyes in frustration. «Oh, please!» he huffed. «I'm not supposed to do this! It's a woman's jo...» He stopped abruptly when he saw Husk's withering stare. «... uh... I mean... it's a chore... traditionally associated... with the... female figure?»

Husk stared at him for a moment, then shook her head with a sigh. «I'll let you get away with it just because we're chained.» he said, and went back to sweeping with the broom. «You know, I thought after what you did today that you had improved a lot. But apparently you still have a long way to go.»

Adam lowered his eyes, struck by Husk's words. His tone became more serious. «Changing the habits of a lifetime is not an easy thing to do, Husk. I have spent millennia being praised and coddled by angels. And now... now I'm here and everything looks different. I'm only now beginning to realize how wrong I was. Maybe I am not the great of person I thought I was.»

Husk looked at Adam for a second, seeing something different in his eyes. He let out a faint smile. «Now, that's something.»

Eddie, meanwhile, had put on his headphones and let the music soothe him as he swept the accumulated dust with his broom. He felt lighter, calmer. Having been freed from the secret that had haunted him for so long, the feeling that Alastor was no longer a looming threat to his and his sister's lives had allowed him to breathe again. The song "Mary On A Cross" played in his ears as always, as if to keep him company as he traveled through the memories of his long life.

Suddenly, someone pulled one of his headphones off. Eddie turned to see Bruce holding Molly. His mentor placed the headset he had just removed from Eddie's ear on his own ear and listened curiously to what he was broadcasting. «Still with that song?» he asked with a hint of irony.

Eddie grimaced and shrugged. «It's my favorite, what can I do?»

Molly climbed down from Bruce's arms, holding her cell phone, which she quickly showed to her brother. «Check it out, they're streaming you live. The fight with Charlie-zilla is already going viral in hell. You've become famous! It's amazing how you managed to activate the Deus Ex Machina!» she exclaimed enthusiastically.

Eddie looked at the screen of the cell phone: the footage clearly showed the moment when Charlie was captured, him standing at the edge of the seal with his hands pressed to the ground, the bracelet on his wrist shining brightly. He smiled faintly as he took Molly in his arms so he wouldn't have to keep bending down: «It wasn't me. It activated itself as soon as I was honest with myself.»

Molly looked at him, intrigued. «Really? What does that mean?» she asked, sitting comfortably in her brother's arms.

Eddie looked up at Bruce and then back at Molly. «Well, this bracelet wanted me to look inside myself to find out what I really wanted to do with my afterlife. It forced me to look inside myself.»

Bruce nodded. «Interesting. And what did you discover? What do you really want to do?» he asked with a touch of curiosity.

Eddie looked fondly at Molly and smiled. «I want to protect. I want to be a keeper, a guardian. The person you can count on. The one you turn to when you need help... even when you wake up in the morning and find a cocoa fruit growing on your head.» He said, giving his sister a loving pat on the nose, who laughed warmly.

«By the way, how's your tummy?» Eddie asked, worried.

Molly shrugged nonchalantly. «Fine, no big deal.»

«Did you understand how the products work? Which ones to use and when?»

Molly nodded.

«And you still want that party, right?»

Molly smiled. «As long as no marriages are involved.»

The three of them laughed together, the tension melting away.

Bruce made a comment as he watched Eddie and Molly. «You know, this role fits you like a glove, Headshot. Much more than the hitman role. One only has to see you with Kitty: loving, patient, protective... you almost look like a father to her.»

Molly widened her eyes theatrically and covered Eddie's ears. «No! Don't ever call him that! After everything that happened with his father, he would never want anyone to think of him as a father. He is still traumatized!»

This comment made Bruce's face darken and a heavy silence fell between them. Only Eddie caught the faint scent of regret wafting through the air, a scent he always smelled around Bruce when he spoke of his past traumas.

The silence was broken by Angel Dust's voice a few feet away: «Cherri! Help me with this!» he called as he struggled to move a large piece of wall.

The trio turned and watched as Angel and Cherri worked together, a harmonious image in the surrounding chaos. Eddie felt that strange pressure in his stomach again, the same feeling he had felt when Angel had helped Charlie recover. It was a feeling he found increasingly difficult to ignore. The more he watched Angel, the more the pressure grew, becoming almost overwhelming. His eyes slipped, almost against his will, to Angel's body: his androgynous, ethereal presence, the way he moved, agile but with a certain innate grace. And then that mischievous smile. It was as if he couldn't stop looking at him.

He felt saliva building up in his mouth, a symptom of his growing nervousness, and had to swallow. Molly, who was always aware of every detail, especially when it came to her brother, immediately noticed his expression. She looked at him first, then followed his gaze to Angel. With a mischievous smile, she understood everything.

Without saying a word, she gave her brother a complicit look, like someone who had just discovered a precious secret. Eddie, noticing the way she was looking at him, asked her: «What?» in a suspicious tone.

Molly, with the most mischievous smile ever, began to chant under her breath: «Headshot and Angel, sitting on a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!» pounding her fists on her brother's body in rhythm with each letter.

«Oh, shut up.» Eddie replied, obviously embarrassed, but with a smile he couldn't hide. He tried to silence her by ruffling her hair, while Molly burst out laughing, delighted to have caught her brother red-handed.

Bruce, too, immediately sensing what the little girl was implying, joined in the fun. He glanced at Eddie, then cast a glance in the direction of Angel Dust, and with a surge of pride that made his chest swell, he exclaimed, «Oh! You sure can pick 'em!»

«Pick what?» replied Eddie, still confused.

Bruce paused, realizing that Eddie had not yet fully understood how he felt. Forcing his hand could be risky, and he didn't want to ruin another potential relationship for the boy. So he shrugged and replied: «It doesn't matter. You'll figure it out.»

«Sometimes you two are a mystery.» Eddie said, still looking puzzled.

Not far away, Angel Dust called out in a ringing voice: «Shotty! Will you help us?»

Eddie turned to see Angel and Cherri struggling to lift the large chunk of wall. «Uh, yeah, I'm coming!» he replied promptly, putting his sister down. «Gotta go. See you later!»

As he watched Eddie approach and lift the heavy stone with ease, Bruce breathed a deep sigh of relief. His pupil had finally found his place.

–

After hours of hard work, the hall was back to the way it was before Charlie's transformation. Exhausted from both the cleaning and the previous battle, the group lounged on the couches in the relaxation area. Nifty, in particular, seemed to be completely exhausted: as soon as the work was done, all energy had left her, and she was now panting on the couches, unable to move.

The only one still standing was Lucifer, who was indifferent to human fatigue. With a proud look he said: «Well, we all did a great job. Charlie would be proud.»

Only a few weary groans emanated from the group, unable to articulate an appropriate response.

Recognizing the situation, Lucifer decided to let them rest. With a simple snap of his fingers, he summoned a warm blanket and a cup of latte, topped with a swirl of whipped cream, for each of them. Though none of them could express true gratitude, their looks conveyed it.

Lucifer felt his chest fill with loving warmth. He was happy that his daughter had found such a close-knit team, a group that truly loved her. Though they were a hodgepodge of sinners, in that moment he saw something deeper, something that resembled a real family.

Smiling to himself, he sat down on a stool and basked in the silence of this rare moment of peace. Maybe this odd group of demons and sinners would become his family after all.

But the peace was short-lived. A sudden, thunderous noise shattered the silence: something from outside struck the window, shattering the glass. Exhausted and irritated by an endless series of events with no respite, the group let out an angry roar.

«Now what?!» blurted out Husk, his tone visibly exasperated. Nifty, as if struck by lightning, jumped to her feet and cried out in despair: «MY WINDOWS!» Lucifer walked over to examine the object that had broken the glass and found a rock with a note tied to it. He calmly untied it and, reading aloud, said: «"You are slaughter fodder". What the hell? Who would be stupid enough to threaten us?»

As soon as he finished reading, Angel Dust pulled out his phone and did a quick search. It took a few seconds to find out what was going on in Hell.

«I'm afraid ... we have a problem.» Angel said, showing the video on his phone. On the screen, every news report from Hell was talking about Charlie's transformation, describing the event in harsh and alarming terms. Their faces looked confused as the unmistakable voice of the two reporters filled the air:

«Good afternoon! I'm Katie Killjoy!»

«And I'm Tom Trench! Today was supposed to be a quiet day in the Uptown, but out of the blue, an unknown creature the size of a building emerged from the infamous Hazbin Hotel.»

Pictures showed the devastated neighborhood, and Katie continued in a venomous tone: «The creature, for no apparent reason, wreaked havoc, leaving hundreds of people homeless. Worst of all, the members of the hotel, led by Lucifer, had to resort to an angelic seal to stop it. An angelic seal...in hell! What on earth were they thinking? And, most outrageous of all, Lucifer stood by and did nothing! The ruler of Hell does nothing while the city burns!»

«You can say it, Katie.» Tom added with a theatrical expression of horror. «Maybe we would have overlooked his lovely daughter's crazy redemption project, but this is too much!»

Katie turned to the camera, her voice full of contempt: «And that's not all, Tom. Do you know who that devastating creature was? None other than the daughter, the Princess of Hell!»

Tom made a gesture of theatrical horror similar to Munch's Scream: «Unbelievable!»

«Yes, Tom! To think that this "princess" will one day be queen! But how can she lead Hell if she cannot even control herself? And most importantly, what can we expect from the sinners she is harboring in her hotel? If their leader was capable of all this, who else lurks within these walls? And how many more disasters will we have to endure before they are exposed for what they really are?»

With a mischievous grin, Katie approached the camera for her closing: «If this is their idea of salvation for hell, maybe it's time to ask ourselves: who's going to save us from them?»

–

Angel Dust lowered the phone with an exasperated sigh, the eyes of the others focused on him. «Well, things have gotten a lot worse. It seems like everything is our fault now.»

Husk huffed and put his head in his hands: «Sure, why not? As if what just happened wasn't enough.»

«I'll take care of it.» Alastor suddenly appeared behind them, a dark shadow darkening his face. «I will slaughter anyone who dares speak ill of Charlie or the hotel.»

«Bad idea.» Eddie said, getting to his feet. «My sister recorded the call to Heaven. We can publish it. You just don't do anything.»

Alastor stared at him with eyes that looked ready to kill, but maintained his usual creepy smile. «Since when do you think you can give orders?»

«Oh, it's not an order, it's just a...» with a casual gesture, Eddie tucked a strand of hair behind his ear and turned his wrist to show the Deus Ex Machina: «...suggestion.»

The message was crystal clear: behave or you'll have to deal with me. Alastor's smile remained unchanged, though it was clear that his anger was simmering. «Of course, Headshot. I'm always willing to consider suggestions - though, as you know, I don't have to follow them. Just this once, I'll listen to you. Just this once.»

A tense silence stretched between them. Angel Dust, watching the exchange between the two, could not contain himself: «Get a room, you two!»

Eddie and Alastor both shuddered at the idea. «Oh, please, no!» exclaimed Eddie, shaking his head.

Lucifer interrupted the moment. «In any case, he's right. Headshot, where's your sister? We need to release that video.»

Eddie nodded. «No problem, but how will you get around Vox and Velvette? They'll never broadcast it.»

Lucifer grinned, his eyes gleaming with calculated malice. «Don't worry. I have my own methods.»

–

The guests of the Hazbin Hotel all found themselves under an unprecedented media attack. Their cell phones were flooded with hate messages, trolls and haters flooded social profiles with insults and threats, driven by Vox and Velvette's defamation campaign. The situation was especially hard for Molly: her innocent blog was ravaged by violent comments, so much so that she could no longer look at her phone. Despite her troubled past, online words hurt her more than lashes, causing her to crack.

Lucifer, with an enigmatic smile, had taken her phone, indicating that he had something in mind to resolve the situation.

After twenty minutes of silence from the King of Hell, Bruce began to consider using his "talent" as an assassin to silence the haters one by one. But before he could act, all of the screens in Hell suddenly went blank, leaving the populace stunned. After a moment of darkness, a never-before-seen study appeared on the screens, with Lucifer sitting behind a desk, surrounded by lavish red curtains.

«Hello, hello, Pentagram City!» Lucifer began in a theatrical tone and with a smile that promised nothing good. «Ah, the gossip! It always amuses me to see how people love to talk and question authority.» He paused, staring into the camera with a piercing stare. «It has come to my attention that there has been some... criticism. Some have even dared to say that I, Lucifer, have no control over my daughter and her redemption project. Well, let me set you straight.»

A screen in the upper left corner showed the image of Sir Pentious, still in sinful form. Lucifer continued in a sardonic tone: «You remember Sir Pentious? Well, I do. Former wannabe Overlord, quite ridiculous, if you will. Well, check this out.»

The video showed the phone call with Sir Pentious in heaven, confirming his redemption. For a few moments, all of Hell was silent. The proof that someone had successfully redeemed himself shocked everyone.

As the video ended, Lucifer returned to the foreground with a smug expression: «Yes, you saw right. Not only are the charges against me and my family absolutely ridiculous, but redemption is possible. Even for those who, like Sir Pentious, seemed lost. Now I wonder, what will be the next slander that certain "critics" will want to hurl? That my daughter is destroying hell? Ridiculous. The truth is that we are saving this place, one sinner at a time. But of course, if anyone prefers to keep looking out the window and throwing baseless accusations... well, let me tell you: it won't be so funny when your lies backfire.»

With a satisfied smile and a theatrical nod of his head, Lucifer concluded: «So the next time someone wants to test us, just remember one thing: I am Lucifer Morningstar, and in this place, things go the way I decide they should. Until next time, Pentagram City!»

With these words, the broadcast ended, leaving all of Hell speechless and the Hazbin Hotel in an untouchable position, at least for the moment.

–

«And cut!» shouted Angel from the other side of the camera.

Lucifer took a long breath and slumped in his chair: «Phew, that was tough.»

«That was very convincing.» Cherri replied, sitting down on the desk: «I would pay gold to see Vox's face.»

«Aha! It sure is a stupid one.» Alastor commented, waving a hand to make his shadows, who had been used as crew for the special broadcast, disappear.

«I bet people will be lining up at the entrance after this.» Eddie said, starting to put the curtains back up.

«Shit, more work for us.» Husk commented.

Adam, raising his chained arm, commented: «And I could be putting myself at great risk by still being tied to him.» He turned to Husk and showed his chained wrist: «The moment they see me, they'll want my head.»

Lucifer intervened in a more comforting tone: «We'll put a new mask on you, different from the old one, and maybe even give you a change of clothes.»

Adam nodded with a sigh of relief. «Great.»

Lucifer adjusted his jacket, almost satisfied. «When Charlie wakes up, she'll be happy to see so many new faces.»

Husk, still skeptical, muttered: «Now all we have to do is to find out what her mother is doing in heaven.»

The mention of Lilith made Adam turn slightly pale, and he hurried to change his expression before anyone noticed.

«I'll try to use the phone again tonight.» Lucifer said: «I can accept that she left me, but leaving Charlie behind and running off to heaven...I think she owes us an explanation, and I'm not going to settle for rejection this time.»

Eddie said with a worried expression: «The fact that she left is not all that matters. My concern is why she seemed so afraid of Charlie discovering what it means to be a Nephilim.»

Lucifer nodded thoughtfully and clasped his hands. «That will be one of the many questions I will ask her.»

After a brief pause, the tension in the room dissipated as Lucifer asked with a slightly forced smile, «So, who's up for pancakes?»

–

That night, Eddie awoke from his usual nightmare. Although he had opened up about his trauma, the dreams would not leave him alone and continued to torture him every night. Breathing heavily, he reached for his cell phone, hoping to distract himself. He noticed that since Lucifer had announced Sir Pentious's redemption, the tone online had changed: many influencers who had previously discredited the hotel were now forced to admit their mistakes. The comments were almost all positive, though some suspicion remained. Someone was obviously happy with hell as it was.

After a few hours of not being able to sleep, he decided to go to the shooting range. He needed something to clear his head, and a few shots with his sniper rifle would be just the thing. He quickly got dressed, grabbed the briefcase with the disassembled rifle, and headed down to the basement, strictly going down the stairs.

Once at the gun range, he carefully assembled the rifle, every gesture now automatic to him. When everything was ready, he began his training.

Inhale. Exhale. Fire.

Each shot was perfect: pinpoint accuracy, always the same point in the center of the target's forehead. The movement had become almost therapeutic, as if with each shot he could release some of his fears and demons.

In the middle of the silence of the polygon, there was a knock on the door. Eddie turned and a smile appeared on his lips as he saw Angel Dust standing in the doorway.

«Oh, hello, Silly.» Eddie said, hinting at a smile.

«Hey, Shotty.» Angel replied with a half smile. «The door was open and I heard you shooting from upstairs.»

Eddie continued to aim and fire. «Can't sleep either?»

Angel leaned closer and watched his friend. «Slept like a log until half an hour ago, then... boom, sober as a judge. No point staying in bed.»

Eddie took the opportunity to tease him: «You? Sober? Unbelievable!»

Angel chuckled and shook his head. «Come on, I'm getting better.» His smile quickly faded, giving way to a more somber expression. «Though... sometimes I wonder if it's really worth it... cleaning up, I mean.»

Eddie paused and turned to meet his eyes. Angel lowered his gaze and continued: «Yes, now we know the hotel project is working, but I still have a contract with Valentino. Even if I became worthy of redemption... my soul isn't mine. And Valentino won't let me go. So why bother? Why fight the withdrawal?»

Eddie let go of the rifle and stood up, approaching Angel and placing a hand on his shoulder in a reassuring but loving way. «Because you do it for those who love you. So your friends don't have to spend their nights dragging you to bed after you get high. And maybe because one of your friends in particular suffers from seeing you like that.»

Angel squeezed Eddie's wrist, his gaze locked on his, the distance between them suddenly charged with tension. «And this friend... it's you?» he asked in a low voice, his tone more vulnerable than usual.

Eddie, slightly distraught, tried to dampen the moment with a laugh. He gave him a gentle nudge. «Don't play dumb, you know it's me.» he replied, his voice a little harsh. «It hurts me to see you like that. I don't judge you, I know your situation is complicated. But the more I see you destroyed ... the more I want to slaughter Valentino.»

«But...didn't you want to stop killing?» asked Angel, raising an eyebrow.

Eddie went back for his gun, his voice cold and firm. «To stop killing for money.» he emphasized. «But being a guardian also means eliminating threats. And Valentino is a threat.»

Angel looked at him, a note of fear in his voice. «Don't do anything stupid, Shotty.»

Eddie sighed. «Don't worry, I know I don't have much of a chance. I'm not even sure this bracelet would help me in a mission like this. But I won't let you down.» Eddie approached him again, determination in his eyes. «You will get your soul back if it is the last thing I do.»

A tear formed in Angel's eye, but he quickly wiped it away and tried to smile. «You're kind ... but seriously, I can handle it.»

«And why should you do it alone?» asked Eddie, his voice lower and deeper.

The silence that followed was charged with emotion and tension. Angel tried to change the subject, «You know, I have never fired a sniper rifle before. I've handled a lot of guns, but I miss this one.»

Eddie smiled and looked at the rifle. «Would you like to try it?» he said, casting a curious glance at Angel.

Angel's eyes brightened slightly, surprised. «Are you sure?»

Eddie held out an arm, inviting him to come closer. «Sure. Come here.»

Angel moved slowly toward him. As he stepped behind the rifle, he felt Eddie's body behind him, guiding him with a gentle touch. The contact was almost electric. Eddie told him how to position his hands and how to hold the gun. Angel felt Eddie's warm breath on his neck and his chest pressed against his back, and a shiver ran through his body, confusing him.

«With a sniper rifle, breathing is important.» Eddie explained, his voice calm. «Breathe in, hold, fire. Or do what I do: inhale, exhale, fire. Any little movement can make you miss. Breathe as you wish, but remember to fire only when your lungs are still.»

Eddie stepped away to allow him to shoot: «Come on, try it.»

Angel concentrated on the rifle, trying to ignore the feeling of emptiness Eddie had left him by pulling away. He took a deep breath, held it, and fired. The shot hit the target where the heart should have been.

Eddie smiled and applauded. «Wow, Angel! Not bad for your first time. You're talented.»

Angel smiled, trying to get back into his swagger. «Of course, Shotty. I am Angel Dust. You shouldn't be too surprised.»

Eddie chuckled. «It was your first time anyway, Silly.»

Angel winked with a teasing smile. «Honey, I always shine, always. Even during first times, if you know what I mean.»

Eddie shook his head and laughed. «Always making sex jokes, huh?»

Angel shrugged: «It's my trademark.»

«Of course.» he replied in a half voice, his tone deeper. He shrugged and tried to pull himself together; «Come on, I'll teach you some more tricks.»

And so they spent the rest of the night, shooting and laughing, exchanging tips and jokes. The longer they were together, the more they realized how much they loved each other's company. And Eddie realized he was really glad he had chosen to stay at the Hazbin Hotel.

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