The Demon's Mark

Our Home

Jack held Alex's hand tightly as they entered the unknown, feeling an unnatural heat settle into his bones as they descended into darkness.

When he glanced up, he froze, a deep pit forming in his stomach as he realized exactly where he was. the Underworld, Hell, whatever you want to call it.

It wasn't the fiery inferno he'd pictured his whole life. There were no seas of flame, no agonized screams piercing the air—just a dense, all-encompassing twilight that stretched across the landscape like an oppressive weight. It looked almost like Earth, with darkened dead trees, looming shadows, and a gray sky that held a permanent dusk. Jack could feel an underlying evil in the air, like an unseen presence lingering just out of reach, blanketing everything.

They walked through a dim neighborhood, Alex still holding his hand, guiding him around.

Jack wanted to let go, but yet he was afraid to do so. He was in an unfamiliar place- his soul connected to this demon, this entity.

As they walked Jack noticed homes lined the street, arranged almost like a typical town—except everything had an eerie, drained quality to it.

The houses seemed to sink into the ground, as if they were trying to escape the weight of the sky, while the air felt thick and heavy, like an endless, humid night.

Alex cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence.

"This isn't what you expected, is it?" he said with a sly smirk, though his eyes never softened.

Jack swallowed and managed a weak laugh.

"Yeah...I wasn't expecting it to look like some haunted suburb at dusk," Jack admitted.

"It's like... everything's here but it's all wrong. Just covered in darkness." Jack observed.

Alex chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down Jack's spine.

"Your experience is different from the others here, Jack," Alex explained. "It doesn't look like this for everyone. This," he gestured around, "is what it looks like for me."

Jack raised an eyebrow, a flash of curiosity breaking through his dread.

"What do you mean by that?" Jack asked against his better judgment

Alex glanced at him, his eyes glinting.

"Let's just say Dante was closer than most think. There are levels here—circles, if you will. Since I work directly with the devil himself,as one of his top sales performers... I get certain...privileges. Comforts, you could say." Alex explained.

He smirked.

"You're lucky I'm extending some of that luxury to you." Alex said plainly.

Jack laughed, though it was a humorless sound.

"Luxury? In Hell?" Jack said sarcastically as he shook his head, still in disbelief. "Don't think 'luxury' applies to the underworld."

Alex grinned, his gaze sharp.

"Maybe not in the sense you're used to, but you'll see. I've made arrangements to ensure you'll only receive the...attention that comes from me directly. Consider yourself...specially protected." Alex declared.

Something about the way Alex said 'you'll only receive the...attention that comes from me directly' unsettled Jack.

Before he had a chance to ask what that meant- A gut-wrenching scream echoed faintly in the distance, reminding Jack that while it looked deceptively normal, this place was anything but.

Jack gasped and  instinctively squeezed Alex's hand out of fear.

"It's ok Jack you are in the safest part of the underworld." Alex said reassuringly.