Hell's Redeemer

Chapter 38

Verosika leaned back in her chair, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips as her crew sat in awkward silence after hearing her latest track, Hell’s Redeemer. The usual excitement that followed her song releases was absent, replaced by a mixture of uncertain glances and furrowed brows. Her music had always been sexy, edgy, and pop-driven—exactly what her fans wanted. But this? This was a complete departure.

The heavy riffs, the pounding drums, and the aggressive lyrics were unlike anything they had heard from her before.

Her agent, standing near the back, rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "So... Verosika," he began, his voice hesitant, "like I said before, it's definitely... uh, different. I mean, it's intense. But it’s not what people expect from you. Are you sure this is the direction you want to go?"

One of her backup dancers chimed in, "It’s got a cool vibe, though. Dark and edgy. But... will the fans get it?"

Another crew member shrugged, half-heartedly. "Yeah, I mean, I like it, but it’s not your usual style. Feels like it could alienate some people."

Despite their lukewarm responses, Verosika remained completely unfazed. She crossed her arms and leaned forward, her confidence radiating through her devilish grin. "Good," she said simply, her voice full of determination. "I want to push boundaries. I’m tired of playing it safe. My fans need to see that I’m not just some pop star in Hell—I’m more than that. And if they don’t like it? Tough."

Her agent frowned slightly. "But Verosika, you’ve built your brand on a certain image, a certain sound. This heavy, almost rebellious tone... it's risky."

Verosika scoffed. "Risky? That’s what makes it exciting. Hell isn’t about playing it safe. It’s about power, raw emotion, and owning who the fuck you are. I’m not here to stay in one lane forever."

The room fell silent again, the crew exchanging uneasy glances, but no one dared to argue with her. Verosika had always been bold and unapologetic, and they knew that once her mind was made up, there was no turning back.

"I’m not just here to give Hell a good time," Verosika continued, her eyes sharp and fiery. "I’m here to make them feel something. Something they didn’t know they needed. And Hell’s Redeemer is just the start of that."

The room was still tense, but a few of her crew members nodded, slowly coming around to her vision.

Verosika stood, hands on her hips, her confidence unwavering. "Look, you can either get on board, or you can get out of the way. Because this train isn’t stopping for anyone."

A couple of her crew members exchanged glances, catching on to something in the lyrics they hadn't noticed before. One of them spoke up hesitantly. "Uh, Verosika... some of the lines in Hell's Redeemer, they seem pretty... specific. Like, are we talking about that Spawn guy here? I mean, some of the references are pretty hard to miss."

Another crew member, one of her backup singers, raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, like that part about 'chains of vengeance' and 'the shadow that consumes all fear'? That sounds exactly like Spawn. You’re not even being subtle."

Verosika's smirk widened, her eyes gleaming mischievously as she leaned back against the soundboard. "And why should I be?" she said, her voice dripping with confidence. "I'm not trying to hide it. Yeah, Spawn was the inspiration for the song."

Her crew looked at each other in surprise, but no one seemed too shocked. After all, Verosika had a habit of taking her muses from the most unpredictable places, and it wasn’t a secret that Spawn had been making headlines lately. His brutal, merciless way of handling things had everyone in Hell talking.