The Fire Inside

22. What the Hell I'm in Hell!

Jimin woke up with throbbing wrists and ankles. Even her neck was sore. She opened her eyes and realized she was on the ground. She looked around to see Maria and Julien on the opposite end of the room in their own cage. Emmalynn and Varun has been chucked in their own cage as well. She found herself looking at Heiwa and Riley, who were the only ones awake.

"What happened?" Jimin croaked, "Hows everyone alive?"

"I don't think they wanted to take anyone's life. They haven't hurt any of you after they got a hold of you," Riley said sniffling a little.

"Heiwa. You feeling any better?"

"I guess. How are you? The cuffs should be made of the same material as the bars," Heiwa worried.

"My wrists, ankles, and neck hurt slightly, but I think something was applied against them to dull the pain," Jimin concluded.

Next to her, Isadora began to stir. She jumped up and yelped as she realized her restraints. Unlike the rest of them, she had a collar shackle and a muzzle on. Both of which were extremely uncomfortable and tied to a metal pole in the center of the cage. Jimin scooted over to the surprised pup and held her. She kept apologizing although she knew their situation was no one's fault.

"Jimin? Are you ok?" Julien asked from the opposite side.

"You finally woke up?" Jimin asked in disbelief.

"Yeah... Looks like everyone else is waking up too."

In no time, the entire group was awake and over their first sense of shock when they noticed they had been shackled. Of course Maria and Varun has a lot more to say.

"Why don't Riley or Heiwa have shackles!" Varun complained.

"Yeah! These things are uncomfortable!" Maria whined

"Hey! You're a girl so it's easier for you! I'm a guy so the shackles are tighter!"

"Oh yeah? Well then. Fine. Be a wimp!" Maria retorted.

"Guys. Guys. Guys. Can I have your attention?" A voice came from the already hated corridor.

Jimin frowned at the voice. Why'd it sound so familiar? She didn't know. She made eye contact with Julien who seemed to come to the same conclusion. They definitely knew this person.

"Are you Hell?" Jimin shouted.

The voice made a sound of disapproval, "Only I ask the questions my friend. And what an ugly name. Hell. Why Hell? Why not Earth? Isn't Earth a beautiful place? The grass, the trees, the flowers. The tall mountains and skies. The rain and snow. The lighting and thunder. But most of all, the passing of every life as it succumbs to the force of nature. As much as humans want to control Mother Nature, it will never happen. They will always be destroyed. Beyond all of this, the one ruling power. Fire. The great and supreme force of all. The flames of life. The Fire of Amber Vale. Why hide the life source of this beautiful world when you can nurture it into an omnipotent force? That's where you come in Jimin. Song Jimin. The keeper of the flame. You're the one I want. But you brought me more! Your friends shouldn't have come! But no matter. I'll dispose of them anyway. At the end of everything, I'll be the only one standing. Everyone will either gain the new understanding of the world or be destroyed due to their ignorance. Oh! But don't worry! I don't just punish. I'll give everyone a chance to see the change, but you must be willing to accept it."

The figure of the voice came into view, initiating a collective gasp from the kids. In front of them stood none other than the mountain man. Clad in a suit of red. Flames dancing off his shoulders as he smirked at the shaking teens. His eyes changed from orange to red to a unsettling black before going back to orange. He turned to Jimin.

"So how about you join me?" He asked smoothly.

His voice was enticing. It was the effect a Venus Flytrap has on a simple fly. The entrapping feeling of safety and security. As if going along with it would give you everything you wanted. Everything you needed.

"No," Jimin stated."

"Excuse me?"

"I said no. I'm not going with you. Especially not if you're gonna kill if my friends."

"Ooh. Yeah. That didn't sound pretty, did it. Ok fine. They'll be given a swift and painless death. Ok?"

"What! No!"

"Hey. They gotta go! It's either they die or they have a terrible lifetime as they watch their families burn—oh wait. One of your families already did. Oof. That's too bad. I'm really sorry about that. It wasn't my intention," Casper said turning to a furious Julien.

"Jimin," He gritted his teeth, "I want him dead."

Casper flicked his finger. The cuffs around Jimin's neck began tightening in a way it shouldn't have. She clawed at her throat in attempt to ease the metal bind. She gasped and tapped the choker as it finally eased its grip.

"I'm sure you don't care, but you'll probably want to know. The moment you stepped through the tunnel in the side of the mountain, the second you split paths and walked through the separate doors, you guys stepped into Hell. You stepped into my territory. Well then, I'll be coming back later and I expect your answer. Make me happy, because I don't know what I'll do if I'm upset," Casper said motioning to her bruised neck.

Jimin glared at him as he sauntered out of the caged area. As soon as he left, she collapsed to the ground gasping. Isadora patted her arm whining.

"Jimin!" Julien exclaimed, "Are you ok! Can you breath? That asshole didn't destroy your windpipe, did he? I swear if he did..."

"I'm okay. I'm okay," she said softly but surely.

At this point she had to be ok.

"I don't know what to do, but as of now we need to get out of here," she told the others.

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Varun asked.

"I have an idea, but it'll take more than me to get it done," Jimin said looking at Isadora.