This story is about a mystery of humanity, an unnatural phenomenon who still many don't understand, a tale of unusual and deeply disturbing things, many horrific sights and evil deeds, our story starts in a seemingly normal cirque.
That theater one day ended, that day I woke up, and realized I was still in hell, the gambler was inspecting me, I felt my eyes in a weird way, and my hairs were also pulled to the string that connected with the sling bar attached to my back "Can I have a mirror?" The demon was still a gentleman, even though the place wasn't like the best one to have good manners, he made a mirror appear "Sure thing dear" I saw my eyes, glowing like sapphires, full of... Some weird power.
"Why do my eyes glow?" I asked naively "Well Alley, I cursed you! So that now you're mine, but... On the other end of the deal you have the power of a puppeteer" "And what powers does a puppeteer have?" "Well! First of all, you can control your strings, as if they were extensions of your body, attaching them to a victim you can control it, and make it do what you want, besides that, some other abilities you'll develop while you use this basic skill I gave you! Just one of my many powers".
One of my many powers... Makes me wonder how many he has really in his sleeves still covered for greater chances. As I sat on the uncomfortable chair he then starts to walk left and right "Now, you will be an example of what I do of souls that made a deal with me" "What?!" I stuttered "You heard it right dear! You see, I recruit souls so that I can have them to do me favors in hell forever!" He got his hands around my shoulders, making me hiss like a snake.
"Don't have such a bad attitude, after all! I gave you an opportunity! You could have melted in fire with your parents if the idea charms you more" I turned my eyes saying ew "No thanks, what's the first mission you will entrust me with?" He makes a piece of paper appear, signed and seemingly menacing, with a photo of an ugly creature on the side "You see it? It's one of my debtors, it must pay with its soul, so I want you to beat it up and make it come here in some way, clear?" "Clear" "I'll see you as soon as possible, have fun!".
The door opened for me, and I got out of the building, sighting the horrific environment of flames, divided only by some roads that let you roam here and there freely, as I walk trying to find the demon I still think about, Virgil...
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He seemed so surprised when he saw me, but on that face...
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On that face there was a covered reason to be happy about, the one he could sacrifice me and save himself not sacrificing his so precious errors, stupid! I'll never forgive him, he played with my kindness, and even had the guts to not feel sorry about it, who the fuck says I'm sorry after sending you literally to hell with no way out, as I talk to myself many souls stare at me, getting the fact I'm alive, since they smell me and say body.
I roamed around for an indefinite amount of time, here time seems either stopped or moving in a really slow pace, until one day I finally got to the demon, I walked around flames, deserts, forests of fire leaves, rivers and water mirrors of blood and mud, I found him laying on a sandy hill, watching sinners get bitten by various insects and snakes, I started to move my strings, feeling them, as well as the pain that they were inside my body, and as I was close enough I pierced his body, and as I did, a world opened to me.
I saw... His memories, his thoughts, he was part of me, and as I wanted him to move he did, just like me, I searched for the gambler, trying to go on the same path as before, but it took more time than it seemed to really need, but once I was there, with the corpse I was taking with me, the gambler appeared "Well well! My dear, you made the fish took the bait huh?" "Yeah... Yeah I did, he's yours now" "You saw his memories right?" I stuttered before answering "Yes, why?".
He smirked "You saw what he owned me?" "Yeah..." "You see, he wanted a good life here in hell, for 100 years he was free from tortures, the time run out a few months ago, and I didn't have time to catch him, but now thanks to you, he's a damned just like the other, proud of it aren't you?".
My face had on it far different emotions from happiness for letting someone suffer, what have I become? I swear I'd have never killed anyone, I used to think I was being a nice person, and here I am... Helping a demon get his interests done, in this world though... No one judges you... Even if I'm a freak now, no one actually cares, and this heartened me, knowing Virgil suffering resides in being not suitable in the terrain world.
That bastard will arrive to hell, sooner or later, and I'll make sure that his permanence here with me will be far worse, the gambler took a box, of metal, carved in gold and full of white ghosts with various expressions inside "Dear, I have another favor to ask you, you see this casket? Can you please take it to a friend of mine? She's quite a... Confusing character, and I don't have time for her bullshit, so just take care of it for me, hmm?".
"Can I even say no?" "Good question! But my good manners impose me to ask first, have fun! She lives in a place where things floats and things are in contrast, good luck Alley, or should I say... Puppeteer?" "No! I prefer Alley" he looked at me, then as an adult ruins a children dreams said "Everyone will forget your name here, you better start to get used to be called puppeteer, there are less than 1000 of you kind of bounty hunters for us demons".
With the ice running through my veins I just walked the other way and got out to meet this friend of my new boss.
