Through Hell

She fell.

There was no ground beneath her.

No sky.

No sense of direction.

Only darkness stretching endlessly around her as her body dropped deeper into the unknown.

She expected herself to panic.

Instead, she smiled.

The words she’d spoken to the fallen angel echoed through her mind.

“I think I’d go through Hell if it means seeing him again.”

She had meant every word.

So when the darkness finally split open beneath her and a wave of scorching heat rushed over her skin, she didn’t scream.

She opened her eyes.

Hell.

A vast black landscape stretched before her.

Jagged mountains pierced a crimson sky. Rivers of glowing fire wound through valleys of black stone. Ash drifted from above like snow, settling over twisted trees and strange flowers that bloomed beside the flames.

In the distance stood enormous iron gates.

She slowly lowered toward the ground.

Her bare feet touched the black stone.

She looked around.

“So this is Hell.”

A voice spoke behind her.

“You actually came.”

She turned.

The fallen angel stood several feet away, his dark wings spread behind him.

She smiled.

“You told me I had to.”

“I warned you.”

“You did.”

“I didn’t think you’d listen.”

She glanced toward the gates.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

The angel stared at her.

“Because you’re human.”

She shrugged.

“And?”

His expression hardened.

“You don’t understand what you’re walking into.”

“Then I’ll learn.”

“You could die.”

“Then I die.”

The angel’s eyes widened slightly.

She turned back toward the gates.

“I already told you I’d go through Hell.”

She started walking.

The angel followed.

“You’re not afraid?”

She looked over her shoulder.

“No.”

“Not even a little?”

She smiled.

“Should I be?”

He didn’t answer.

She stopped in front of the enormous gates.

They towered above her, covered in strange symbols that seemed to shift whenever she looked directly at them.

She placed her hand against the cold metal.

The gates began to open.

A deep groan rolled through the valley.

Beyond them was a road surrounded by darkness.

She stepped forward.

The angel caught her arm.

“Wait.”

She looked at him.

“What?”

“There are things in Hell that can smell fear.”

She glanced toward the darkness.

“Good thing I’m not afraid.”

He studied her face.

“You really would walk through all of this for him?”

She didn’t hesitate.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

She looked at the gates.

Then back at him.

“Because I want to see him again.”

The angel slowly released her arm.

She stepped through the gates.

⸻

Hell was strangely beautiful.

That was the first thing she noticed.

She’d expected fire everywhere.

Instead, there were enormous black flowers growing beside rivers of molten light. Dark trees twisted toward the crimson sky, their branches covered in silver leaves. Strange creatures watched her from the shadows.

Some had horns.

Some had wings.

Some looked almost human.

Every one of them stopped when she passed.

Whispers followed her.

“Human.”

“What is she doing here?”

“She’s looking for him.”

She continued walking.

A creature stepped into her path.

It was enormous, covered in dark scales with two curved horns rising from its head.

“You don’t belong here.”

She looked up at it.

“I know.”

“You should leave.”

“No.”

The creature growled.

“You don’t understand what you’re saying.”

She smiled.

“Then explain it to me.”

The creature stared at her.

She stared back.

Neither moved.

Finally, it stepped aside.

She walked past.

“Thank you.”

The creature looked back at the fallen angel.

“She’s insane.”

The angel sighed.

“I know.”

⸻

She continued deeper into Hell.

The angel eventually stopped following.

She turned around.

“You’re not coming?”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“This place isn’t mine anymore.”

She glanced at his broken wings.

“Then I’ll go alone.”

He nodded.

“There’s a forest ahead.”

“The Black Forest?”

His expression changed.

“Yes.”

“That’s where he is?”

“I don’t know.”

She frowned.

“You said you’d help me.”

“I brought you here.”

“You could at least point me in the right direction.”

He looked toward the distant forest.

“Go through the Black Forest.”

She nodded.

“And then?”

“You’ll know.”

She smiled.

“I hate mysterious answers.”

“I know.”

She turned away.

The angel called after her.

“One more thing.”

She looked back.

“Don’t let Hell change you.”

She smiled.

“I came here looking for someone.”

Her gaze shifted toward the dark forest.

“I’m not leaving without him.”

Then she walked away.

⸻

The Black Forest lived up to its name.

The moment she stepped between the trees, the light disappeared.

Branches twisted overhead, blocking out the crimson sky.

The silence was unnatural.

She walked deeper.

Something moved beside her.

She stopped.

Nothing.

She continued.

Another movement.

Closer.

She turned.

Still nothing.

A voice whispered through the trees.

“Turn back.”

She smiled.

“No.”

“You don’t belong here.”

“Neither does he.”

Silence.

She kept walking.

The whispers grew louder.

“You’ll never find him.”

“He doesn’t want you here.”

“He’ll hurt you.”

She rolled her eyes.

“You’re going to have to do better than that.”

The forest went silent.

Then something laughed.

She stopped.

A low, distorted laugh came from somewhere ahead.

She smiled.

“Finally.”

She continued forward.

The trees slowly began to thin.

Beyond them stood a massive black castle built into the side of a mountain.

Its towers disappeared into the clouds.

She stared.

“Are you here?”

No answer.

She walked toward the castle.

The enormous gates were closed.

She stopped in front of them.

“Open.”

Nothing.

She sighed.

“Really?”

She placed both hands against the gates.

“Open.”

The metal trembled.

A cold breeze moved through her hair.

Then—

“Go back.”

She froze.

That voice.

Her heart skipped.

She knew it.

She slowly lifted her head.

“You.”

The darkness around the castle seemed to shift.

“You shouldn’t have come.”

She smiled.

“I know.”

“You don’t understand what this place is.”

“I don’t need to.”

“You need to leave.”

She took another step toward the gates.

“No.”

Silence.

Then his voice again.

“Why?”

She stared into the darkness.

A smile slowly appeared on her lips.

“Because you made me feel something I didn’t think I was allowed to feel for a demon like you.”

Silence.

For the first time since she’d entered Hell…

there was no answer.

She took another step.

“And now I want to know what that feeling means.”

The darkness shifted.

Something moved behind the gates.

She could feel him.

He was there.

Her heart pounded.

She placed her hand against the gate.

“I came all this way.”

The gates slowly began to open.

She smiled.

“Now show yourself.”

The darkness beyond the gates deepened.

And two faint silver eyes appeared within it.

Watching her.

Waiting for her.

Exactly as he’d always done.

From the corner.

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