See You in Hell

Costco Run

Christine walked into the house with Ash. She set down a bag of groceries on the counter and he did the same.

"That was incredible," Ash said, "I've never been to Costco. What a beautiful place."

"Do you have supermarkets in Hell?" Christine laughed.

"Yeah, but they're not so big. I mean, toilet paper and a food court? In the same store? Don't get me started on those hot dogs."

Christine giggled. He was so cute.

"I was wondering, by the way. You ask a lot of questions about home, so I was wondering, um, would you like to come with me?"

"What?" Christine's eyes widened. He was going to take her to Hell?

"You'd have to stay with my family, so, I understand if you're not ready for that."

"You want me to come... to Hell. And meet, um, Lucifer?"

"Yeah, it's just my dad."

"Shit," Christine gasped. Princess of Hell, she thought briefly. She quickly pushed that thought away. He wasn't bringing her there to marry her! It was just a tour.

"You don't have to."

"I want to go," Christine smiled.

"Really?" Ash grinned, eyes flashing black, "Cool."

"What's it like there?"

"You'll see," Ash said, "Um, just one thing. I can't really walk around there in this form. Like... I'm gonna have horns. And wings. And, I don't want you to be startled."

"Oh, that's cool."

Christine acted nonchalantly to cover the fact that she thought it was hot.

"I guess," Ash shrugged.

"When can we go?"

"Whenever you want."

"Tonight?" Christine asked. Ash nodded.

Later that night, Ash and Christine stood in the basement of her home. Ash picked up a piece of chalk and started drawing a sigil on the floor. He took out a knife from his pocket.

"Don't look."

"What? Oh!" Christine cringed, watching Ash cut his hand open.

"One more thing, sweetie. You have to drink some."

"What?"

Ash held his bleeding hand out to Christine. The black liquid dripped off his skin onto the floor with a sizzling sound.

"Just a little. It's blood magic. It'll protect you from the heat."

"Okay," Christine placed her mouth over the cut and sucked in. She tried not to think about what she was doing, or she might've thrown up.

"Good job," Ash said, pulling his hand back. "You took that really well."

Christine smiled. Ash placed his hand in the center of the sigil on the floor, and held Christine's hand with the other. His voice said something, but it sounded so distorted, Christine couldn't make it out.

"Hold onto me."

Ash grabbed Christine and fell through the floor with her. She tried not to scream, her stomach dropping as she fell through the air. It was dark and getting hotter and she gripped Ash's arm and shut her eyes. Before she could hit the ground, Ash opened his wings. Christine gasped. He was beautiful, and he was carrying her through the air. Ash landed on his feet at the entrance to a dark tunnel.