Oh, Crumbs... [ Strixxie - Helluva Boss ]

Prologue - How did this happen?

The small imp slowly opened his eyes. His head was still ringing and hurt like hell. His hair felt a bit sticky on the right side of his head, probably because of the small loss of blood.
He tried to bring a hand to his head, just to find out both his hands were tied above his head, on an old, rusty radiator. He felt the panic raise and tried desperately to break free. Moxxie tried to call for help, but his mouth was gagged, he couldn't say anything. He tried to scream but no one seemed to hear the poor boy.
Moxxie looked around, to see if he recognized the place. The room was dark, but not completely. With the small light entering from the broken curtains he could say this was a motel room. A very cheep one... It looked like one of those cliché hideouts for serial killers in the movies.
Still, he was trying to remember what happened...

He was at his in-laws farm the moment before, fighting the snake-imp who tried to murder Prince Stolas.
He remembers walking inside Striker's room and finding the blessed rifle. He was aking himself what Striker would use that weapon for.

《Why don't you ask me, little dude...》

Moxxie gasped and turned around to find the snake-imp on the door frame, looking at him with a wicked grin.
They had a fight in that same room and he could've died there if it wasn't for Millie. The woman arrived and saved him, stabbing the hitman multiple times . Oh, Millie....
Moxxie remembers Millie getting defeated and seeing her arm broken, and the moment they were thrown in the basement and her leg finished right on that bear trap... He felt tears coming out from his eyes. He wondered if she's okay....
After getting out of the basement he remembers the fight with Striker, stealing the rifle from him with Blitzø's help. They finally cornered the cowboy when Loona slammed the door open kicking it.

《'Kay, I'm here》

She said. Obviously not caring much about it.
The door hit Moxxie right in the face, making him step back a little, bringing one hand to his nose as the other was still holding the rifle.
It was in that moment that the situation got completely out of control for the I.M.P. members.

Striker's evil grin spread on his face as he eyed the small imp holding the blessed rifle.
Blitzø made a step towards Moxxie when Striker pushed him away to take advantage of the distracted boy. Getting distracted so fast during a fight, pathetic... That's probably what Striker thought when he grabbed Moxxie's arm and started to pull him towards the window. It was in that moment that the small imp let the rifle fall on the ground, desperately trying to free himself from the strong grip. He turned to look at Blitzø with terrified eyes.

《MOXXIE!!》

He yelled. His boss tried to reach out for him as fast as he could, but the cowboy pulled the hostage away from Blitzø's reach, keeping the sma boy blocked under his arm. He jumped on the window frame.

《Maybe You'll get me next time, Blitzy~...》

《Wait--WAIT!!!》

As Blitzø tried to catch him before he could leave with his employee, Striker jumped out of the window.
The imp looked outside the window  with the gun in his hand but the snake was nowhere to be found... And so was Moxxie...

The small imp remembers his multiple attempts to get free as Striker brought him to a narrow alley not far from there.

《LET ME GO!! I SAID LET MEMmmh--》

His crying was suddenly stopped by Striker's hand shutting his mouth and pushing him hard against the wall near them. Moxxie grabbed Striker's hand trying to pull it away from his mouth and run away.

《If you haven't noticed it before, you are not in the condition to demand something,  Vermin.》

He said, looking him right in the eyes. Moxxie gulped.

《Now you'll be a good boy and come with m--》

H didn't get to finish the sentence because Moxxie bit hard on his hand, makimg him pull back.

《OUCH-- LITTLE SHIT--》

Once free from his kidnapper's grip, Moxxie sprinted towards the alley exit. He almost made it when he heard a sinister rattle and felt a tail grabbing his leg, making him fall on the ground.

《You do have some fight in you little dude, I'll allow that..》

The snake said grabbing the small imp by the hair and pulling him up, making him yelp because of the sudden pain.
He brought the boy's ear next to his mouth and whispered something that made Moxxie's blood run cold.

《But that won't be enough to save you...》

And then Moxxie remembers his head being slammed against the wall next to them. Then everything became black...

And now he's here. With a terrible headache and tied to a fucking radiator.
As he tried to get free for the million time, he heard the door nob start to move. He looked over the old, dusty door and froze in place. He gulped as the door started to open with a creaking sound.
The now too familiar rattle echoing in the room as its owner looked at the tied creature in the room and smirked.

《Finally awake, Vermin?》

Oh, crumbs....

~ To be continued ~

A/N: i know there are planty
of versions of this alternative ending
here and on A03, but after all
I thought about giving it my own
twisted version, I hope you like it!!