Helga (unedited)

Chapter 18: Enter the Belly

The belly of the Beast as it is aptly called; we were now there. To our surprise, Hell also had law. The demons were forbidden and had no jurisdiction in the Belly; the lesser demons that is. The demons that we had to encounter in the Belly were viler, sinister, and cold.

‘These don’t play around,’ said Calypso.

We were headed in. The entrance was darker and more eerie. Shadows danced of the walls. The shadows had daring voices.

‘Goodbye,’ they sang ‘this is it for you...’

We did our best not to let them get to us.

‘Pay no attention to anything that cannot kill you,’ said Ngi. Like Anastasia, she had grown during our time in Hell. She had more insight, a braver heart, and ample spirit to gain redemption. For us, getting out of Hell was only the first of many stages of our own. We were not going to leave the children in Hell. We were not going to leave our land in the hands of the rebels. Vengeance was to be gotten.

I could only imagine of what lay ahead. My death was obviously also on my mind; not that anything else didn’t matter.

‘What exactly do we do?’ asked Anastasia. She looked dirty.

‘The exit is a shaft  which goes up,’ said Calypso, she was reading her tattoos ‘ the shaft is in the very centre and is guarded by the queen and her guards . These guards are real beasts.’

Satane Santa, the queen, was responsible for this-I was sure of it. Although I had no true knowledge of her relationship with the rebels, I knew that it was imperative. But what role did we have to play in Hell? Why not kill of us?

‘Smash and out?’ asked Ngi. I could tell that this was important to her.

Calypso said something in response, which I cannot recall because, as I listened, the voice of Manual drew me into mental conversation.

‘Now you’re going to destroy Hell?’ he asked.

‘That’s the plan. What else can we do?’ I returned. By the way that he questioned, I knew that we were in the wrong.

‘What good is it to destroy this Hell if many more will be built to replace it?’

He was right.

‘So how do we go about ...?’

I could hear him chuckle, ‘Destroy this Hell, your personal hells, and everything else that is related to Hell. If you carry Hell’s things, you may as well carry Hell itself.’

‘...that’s what we do,’ ended Calypso.

Ngi and Anastasia were in agreement with her. The moment was imperative and I didn’t want them to know that I wasn’t paying attention.

‘Is this where I die?’ I asked. The question was bound to be asked. I had to say something.

‘I would’ve thought that he would’ve told you,’ returned Calypso.

Of whom was she speaking?

‘Manual?’ I asked.

‘Yes,’ she returned ‘he has many names. It was he that gave me my gift. I could tell that you were conversing. ‘

I had no response. I was only glad that my sanity was intact. Calypso stared at me; confirming it.

‘So where is this friend of yours?’ asked Anastasia.

I was sure that she was speaking of Manual.

‘He is everywhere,’ I answered.

‘She’s not far from here,’ added Calypso. It was this that made me awkward and confused. She? I was under the impression that Manual was male. But then again, he could show one things one could never have thought of, perhaps he could also be female.

‘She hasn’t seen you and Ngi in a while,’ went Calypso ‘I’m sure you’ll be relieved to see her.’

It definitely wasn’t Manual! But it could be who I thought she was talking about. She left us-I was certain. When we most needed her she was gone.

It turned out that the Belly had a few cells itself. These cells were kept in the darker parts before going deep where the real torture began. Inside these cells I heard a familiar voice, when we walked in.

‘You guys are still a couple,’ said the voice ‘I guess love is stronger than anything.’

Ngi progressed to look at me in the same blushing and innocent way as she had before the rebels. Only one person could be so ambiguous about our relationship. And there she was. She was chained by her ankles and wrists to four corners. She looked different; more human. She was dressed in a white gown that looked brown with age.

‘Well why don’t you melt your bondages?’ I asked. I missed this humour.

‘Really? We’re in Hell and you have smart jokes,’ she returned ‘They have something blocking my abilities.’

‘I guess I’ll have to save you now,’ I said.

‘’There’s no time,’ added Ngi in discomfort. She hadn’t felt so uneasy in months.

A few large rocks were about. This is what we used to break the chains and free Helga. She instantaneously fell to the floor. I guess a month in suspension has that effect on people. I wanted to hold her in my arms until she could recover, but Ngi’s emotional eyes gestured to me that I rather shouldn’t. Instead, Anastasia and Calypso helped her.

‘Now for battle,’ said Helga.