Good Omens

One (2 years later)

Muriel goes running into the bookshop, kneeling over to place their hands om their knees to pant. They just spoke to Möbius from Heaven and received some alarming news. They hear a throat clear and they look up, finding Crowley standing there, an eyebrow raised high.

"What's wrong with you?" Crowley asks as he leans against one of the beams inside the bookshop. It took him three full months before he could walk back into this shop after Aziraphale went with Metatron, and he hasn't left it since. He stays up in Aziraphale's small apartment that the Angel miracled into what should be the attic,

"I just spoke with Möbius," Muriel says. "He is a receptionist in Heaven and he's good friends with Aziraphale. He just told me some very alarming news." They've been on Earth since they came down the first time and wanted to fall and Michael allowed them to do so.

"About what?" Crowley remembers Möbius. They met in 201AD and he was already good friends with Aziraphale.

"About Aziraphale," Muriel replies as they finally begin to regain their breath. "He's not the head Angel like he was supposed to be ---- Michael is."

"That's just bloody great," Crowley says. He absolutely loathes Michael. "Where's Aziraphale?"

"That's the worst part," Muriel replies. "Möbius did some asking around. Verchiel saw Phaziel and Matael."

Crowley grows rigid. Phaziel and Matael have been working at the Heavenly Prison in Hell since before the beginning of time. They've been there since Hell was there, since Lucifer was put in there.

"Where is Aziraphale?" Crowley demands.

"Michael had him arrested," Muriel replies. "He was taken by Phaziel and Matael."

"Which means he's in the Hell prison," Crowley says. "There are three. One in Heaven, one somewhere in the galaxy, and the her one in Hell. The one in Hell is the worse, that's where Lucifer is. Judas is in Heaven still. I was in the Galaxy one and that's when I fell."

"What do we do?" Muriel asks.

"We have to save Aziraphale," Crowley says.

"Aren't you mad at him?" Muriel asks, confusion filling their eyes.

"I am, but I love him more than that, and I don't want him dead," Crowley replies without hesitation. "It's been two years and he's been in Hell, not Heaven, and he's not been enjoying the luxuries that Hell has to offer. He's been in prison, which is way worse for an Angel in Hell. Look at Satan."

Muriel shudders as they recall Satan. They saw him shortly after the Antichrist sent him back. They were sent down to check on him to be sure he was locked up. That was several years ago.

"We can't let Aziraphale end up that way, or worse," Crowley says. "I have some demons I trust still 'me of which works as a prison guard. She'll know how he's being treated."

"I have Möbius and Verchriel in Heaven," Muriel claims. They watch as Crowley's face crumbles as he starts to think. "Hey, we'll get him back, Crowley, okay? We will."

"Yeah, but in what shape?" Crowley's confident that they'll get Aziraphale out of prison, but what shape will he be in after spending two years in a prison in Hell. "He's been there for two years, Muriel."

That's when the door opens but the person doesn't enter.

"Speak of the demon and she shall appear," Crowley muses when he spits Yachempusa, a demon who works as a Prison Guard for the Heavenly Prison in Hell. She's one of the sixteen demons that Crowley knows he can trust.

"Hello, Crowley," Yachempusa greets her friend.

"Invite her in," Crowley says. "Aziraphale left the bookshop in your name and warding when he left."

"Come in," Muriel says and Yachempusa walks into the bookshop.

"Aziraphale is tortured physically every day," Yachempusa says. "They don't have to torture him mentally; he does that to himself. He hates himself for trusting Metatron. Lucifer is his only friend down there and that says something."

"Where is he to Lucifer's cell and chains?" Crowley asks.

"They're right across the hall from one another," Yachempusa replies and Crowley's eyes widen, the yellow fills the sockets. "Lucifer pities Aziraphale. He likes him."

"That's... both alarming and relieving," Crowley says.

"Would Satan help us free Aziraphale?"  Muriel asks.

"I don't know," Yachempusa replies honestly. "Maybe. I don't know if Aziraphale will be willing to leave. He fought against the demons and the Angel torturers and Michael when she comes down for a few months but on the end of month five, he started hating himself. That was over a year and a half ago. He tried convincing Lafar to make him a blade with hellfire just last month. He wants to die," she says the last sentence in their native demon tongue that Lucifer created upon making the Knights before he made the demons.

Crowley turns and he walks away without another word.

"I'll speak with the others downstairs," Yachempusa says to Muriel once the two are left alone. "I'll get one of our sneaky ones that Crowley trusts in to talk to Satan once the Angels take Aziraphale out."

"Thank you..."

"Yachempusa," the demon says.

"I'm Muriel," Muriel says and they shame the demon's hand.

Muriel goes to check on Crowley in the back room once Yachempusa leaves.