Hell's Inner Circle Vol 1

Section 6

Prologue

Some things are hidden away because they are valuable.

Some things are hidden away because they are dangerous.

Some things are hidden away because the owner never wishes to acknowledge them. And those are the most dangerous when someone tries to uncover them.

The first day back from a long break is always a mix of emotions. Students are excited to see their friends again but there is the dread of going back to classes. The loss of that briefly grasped freedom! But life is what it is.

The cold still hangs in the air. The parade of coats was the normal sight in the mornings. As students came in, they bundled up against the cold.

Marie was absent this morning. She arrived halfway through the day looking rather ragged.

The club met for the first time since the break. All the members were present. Their club president still looked exhausted. She even seemed absent-minded. They didn't have any official business to attend to. This was more of a welcome back.

The room was emptied before the sun went down except for their president. Marie sat at her desk looking out the window at the courtyard below. Something was stuck in her mind. The others noticed but didn't dare say anything about that.

Alone in the room, Marie mutters only one phrase, "Rush... I'm so sorry."

Part 1

Rush was called to the clubroom this afternoon. And only him. Bolly made the delivery this time ensuring no one else would intrude.

Rush took a seat on the couch across from her desk. Her eyes seemed to stare past him into nothing. She seemed lost in thought.

"Something you can see coming head-on can still cause you to crash and burn."

Her eyes didn't move as she pondered something. She was a million miles away. She hadn't noticed that he had even entered the room. Her eyes were blank. Just staring off into a void as she was trapped inside her mind.

"So human or devil, the road of life will run out."

Yes, death is inevitable. No being can escape it. But the hardest part of death isn't for the one dying but the ones they leave behind. There's a space that cannot be filled.

Marie was well aware of this. Compared to a human life, they could accomplish so much more yet comparing to other devils could mean that everything seems so minuscule. It was what was accomplished in that short time that made humans so impressive.

"I've always tried my luck in life. I'll either win or lose. I just have to roll with how the dice are cast."

Risk vs. reward. But what if you have no choice but to take the risk? How does one navigate this? Put everything into one last-ditch effort to save everything. When backed into a corner, any living creature will fight to survive. They will fight as hard as they can and do whatever they can to make it through. Some fall short while others survive and thrive.

"Well, don't worry. It's always quiet here and my door will always be open for you."

An open heart and an open door... Or was it a closed heart with an open door? How can one offer such a luxury to anyone at any time? Something is missing to be able to provide such a normally impossible offer.

"Thank you. Hugs are a rare treat for me. So I treasure them."

Everyone craves some form of physical affection. Human or devil, physical contact is a must. Human or devil, the want to be loved is there and essential for seeking out a connection with others. It doesn't have to be romantic. There's a social need.