A Seraphim's Bubbling Desire

(1) The Red Sky

I open my eyes to a dark red sky, a pentagram replacing the sun. Moving my head to get a better look at everything, I quickly figure out I'm in an alley of some sort. The buildings are dreary and filthy. Old blood stains the ground in patches all around.

"I don't think I'm in Heaven."

I look at myself as best I can without a mirror. My arms and hands are scaled with claws at the end of my fingertips instead of nails. The scales colored a deep blue that faded into a bright white as the scales changed to skin.

Other than the weird hands, and body color, I don't find anything particularly wrong with myself. I keep trying to find something missing but I'm not sure what it is until I pat my stomach and realize. I'm not in pain anymore.

"No fucking way."

I lift the crappy shirt I had woken up in and find that the surgery scar looks more like a tattoo, or a reminder of what happened. I could almost tear up but I am interrupted when I hear some people walking by.

Having already realized this is Hell I hide behind a dumpster keeping out of sight from the street hoping they won't do anything but walk by. The closer they get the more I can hear their voices clearly.

"Charlie, do we really need to go to the outskirts of the city to place flyers?" The first voice asked, "Alastor is already broadcasting ads on his radio show and your dad has officially endorsed the Hotel on the news. We should go back before some demon decides to do something stupid and attack us."

"Come on Vaggie, you know people don't care about the news. And besides, posters always do the trick." Charlie replied.

I heard the rustle of paper and tape as they tried to attach a poster to the front of one of the brick buildings. Being curious I tried to peek over the dumpster. Unfortunately one of my feet landed on a piece of trash and made me fall and crash onto the ground.

"Charlie, stay here." Vaggie said.

As the steps grew closer I became anxious. It had been a very long time since I fought someone. And I told myself I wouldn't do it again. But hey, it wouldn't be hell if I was forced to fight someone on my first day.

The person, Vaggie, was moving slowly and carefully. I decided if anything was going to happen I would start it. So I grabbed a bottle that had been thrown aside and appeared from behind the dumpster in a defensive stance.

"Back off! I don't wanna hurt you!" I said, hoping they wouldn't notice I was scared.

"What were you doing, hiding behind the dumpster?" The lavender-skinned figure asked. She was holding a spear with a white tip threateningly at me. Her single working eye narrowed as if trying to determine if I was a threat.

"I don't know! I died and then I woke up here in Hell."

"You're a new soul in Hell?" She asked, her hands unmoving but her eyes slightly more relaxed.

"Yeah, I just killed myself. That's kinda how things go right? You die then get put in Heaven or Hell."

"I mean but like, what the fuck dude?" she replied.

"What did I say something wrong?"

"No it's just, you're different from a lot of the souls that usually end up here."

Before I could ask her what she meant I could hear the other voice make their way towards us.

"Vaggie? Are you okay?" Charlie asked.

"Charlie, what did I say about staying back while I dealt with him." she replied, now distractedly waving her spear towards me.

"He is right here." I say, no longer scared of any conflict. For people who lived in Hell they at least seemed like they could be amicable.