Hellbound Hearts

1. Life and Death

The first ray of the sun peeks out from behind the grey concrete giants. I quietly mutter as my sleepy eyes are irritated by the light. Nothing irks me more than the morning shift.  

I hate waking up this early with every fiber of my being. Leaning against the wall, I inhale the fresh spring air and contemplate the tasks awaiting me. Bicycles, scooters, and people with their furry companions whiz past on the sidewalk as I remain rooted, praying that my small cup of warm coffee never runs empty.

Early mornings have a way of playing tricks on your mind. You suddenly start wondering how everything works. And what happens when it doesn't work anymore? How do we die? How does it feel? Does waiting for the end require any effort at all? Does paradise exist? What about hell? Is death suffering or liberation?

People are always interested in incomprehensible and inexplicable things. They want to get to know the rules of this game. To finally understand what to expect when the light shines at the end of the tunnel and it's time to say the final goodbye.

But things like this never turn out the way you'd expect. I know for sure that everything is, and is not, as it seems. Somewhere deep inside, I probably sensed this from the very beginning. This kind of reasoning sounds a little crazy, right? But my existence is indeed unique.

I'm far from ordinary. My perception of the world and everything within it is vastly different. The realm I inhabit is teeming with spirits and other mystical phenomena that defy common sense.

I exist in the most obvious place in today's constantly bustling city. Right under everyone's nose, I secretly do things no one could even imagine. Quietly, without grandiose declarations, I fight against evil forces.

I'm still human, but at the same time, I am no longer fully human.

Now, the meaning of my existence is to ensure harmony and banish evil bastards—demons. I chase them like a mad dog, day and night. But they keep spawning and spawning, ensuring my workload is never light. And on top of that, I still have to earn a living, just like any other ordinary person.

The glorious service of heaven, they said. Tsk.

"Nathaniel! Your coffee break is over!" A familiar voice interrupts my thoughts.

Today, my shift is a little shorter, and that realization makes me cheerful. Although it's not very pleasant, treating wounds makes more sense to me than selling books and coffee. After all, there are plenty of other bookstores in this city.

Stretching out, I crumple up the paper cup and throw it in the trash. I peek inside. Everyone seems to be in a hurry. I immediately realize what's going on. Official work will have to be postponed again. Colleagues hastily prepare to start the hunt.

"Get changed."

After hearing the comment behind me, I turn around. My reflexes are sharp, so I successfully catch the clothes flying toward me just in time.

"Could've been a little more polite." I sigh dramatically and roll my eyes. "No one respects me in this house."

Arthur just snorts and rolls his shoulders.

"Stop complaining, princess." He nods toward the door. "Let's roll."

Even though he's in his fifties, he's far from a boomer, so we get along very well. He's just like me—like everyone else here.

I glance at the people in the room. Eleonora frantically searches for something. Her curly, frost-kissed hair flutters wildly, so I can't fully see her face. Kaja, the biggest mischief in this house, is already stepping outside.

Although none of us are blood-related, no one would dare question our family situation. We care for each other deeply, and instead of biological fluids, we're united by the same goal.

"What did you see?" I ask Kaja as we all pile into the old van.

"Not far from here. Can't say the exact category, but he's not super strong. Probably first level." She briefly shares the information.

"It won't be too hard then." I sigh and stretch, putting my hands behind my head.

"Don't be like Arthur. The last time he said that, I spent three hours healing his broken leg," Eleonora mutters.

"No need to blame me. You're just getting old," Arthur snorts.

"Ungrateful parasite," Elle hisses but playfully punches his shoulder.

Arthur laughs and glances at the rearview mirror.

"We'll be back before lunch," he grins enthusiastically, pressing the accelerator.

Adrenaline starts coursing through my veins once again. It's overwhelming but also exhilarating. In this state, I feel fully alive. My body tingles with excitement, and I love this feeling.

I was made for this.