Paine's Guide to Hell

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

   “I know I shouldn't have expected much seeing as this is Hell and all, but...” Paine grimaced, running a hand through his hair in slight wonder. “Even I didn't think it'd be this bad.”

   “Beggars can't be choosers,” Angie said flatly, sending him a reproachful glance. Despite his subsequent nod of agreement, Ilari was also eying the town with a mixture of distaste and apprehension, the corners of his mouth curling into a frown. “You can either suck it up and go down there, or continue walking for who knows how long in hopes of finding another one, which will probably look the same anyway.”

   “I know,” the boy replied, biting his lip. “I'm still deciding.”

   The town – which, in Paine's mind, was a very generous name for the handful of buildings cluttering the valley floor – truly was not made to be aesthetically pleasing. The few houses were constructed of crumbling stone and creaking wood. Several had shattered windows, and the glass remains littered the streets, accompanied by various bullet shells, empty cans, and other debris. The shadows seemed longer and darker within the town limits, and the only way down from the clifftop where they stood was a steep, weathered flight of steps cut from the rock itself.

   “Who runs this place again?” Paine whined as they started down the stairs. “It looks abandoned.”

   “It is manned by the demons assigned to do so and any poor sinner they managed to rope into helping them,” the girl answered evenly.

   “How would they...” He trailed off upon seeing her amused, knowing look.

   “Fire is not the only power we are in control of,” she smirked, hopping onto the next step.

   “Now what do you think she meant by that?” Paine questioned, turning to face Ilari in confusion. The other's responding look was flat and cool, and all he offered before continuing down. The dark-haired teenager pouted for the remainder of the journey, leading to a silent climb. Upon arrival, the three quickly found that the town was not nearly as empty as it had first appeared. Silhouettes flitted through the shadows between buildings, and suspicious eyes glinted behind dark, shuttered windows.

   “A lovely place,” Ilari remarked, fingering his knife.

   “It's probably my fault,” Angie admitted, drawing her wings in even closer to her body. “I'm thinking demons aren't usually seen associating with the sinners.”

   “That'd do it,” Paine agreed, wincing at the sound of shutters flying closed farther down the path. When they at last came to a stop before a small building, set apart from the others only by a sign above the door declaring it to be an equipment store, he turned to Angie apologetically. “Sorry, but would you mind waiting out here? I don't want to scare the shopkeeper off.”

   She nodded, sighing in defeat. “You're probably right.” The girl moved to lace her fingers together over her head, stretching lazily. “I'll wait here and try to recover from that walk.”

   He snorted, rolling his eyes. “Lucky you. 'Six hours' my ass. That was at least eight.”

   “Don't be such a baby.”

   “Says the one stretching it off,” he said with a cheery grin.

   “If you are both finished,” Ilari cut in before an argument could break out, “I would like to find new clothes as quickly as possible.” He tugged at his bloodied shirt to demonstrate, already liberally dusted with red sand from the journey.

   With a nod he bid Angie farewell, then headed into the shop, Paine trailing at his heels curiously. The interior was surprisingly neat, despite what the outside may have suggested. Weapons of all sizes, shapes, and countries of origin lined the walls, some suspended on hooks, others laid out on shelves. There were several clothing racks running down the center, creating aisles leading to the back. A wooden counter dominated the far wall, behind which sat a dozing young man.