The Hel Experience

-2 years left until Ragnarok- Muspelheim-

I was petrified. Shaking. About to cry.

But Balder stood by my side, mumbling comforting words. Or, at least, I assumed they were comforting. I couldn't hear them, of course, for I was too busy distracting myself with whatever I could. That wasn't much. Everything was flashing by the windows of Jormungard with the speed of sound.

"Hel?"

"What." I looked up. There were tears in my eyes, reflecting the moonlight as it passed by through the dusty windows. "Sorry. What?"

No reply. He'd looked away again. Guess I just pissed him off.

Music played in the background, so vibrant that I could almost see it. Soft, trance-like drums and a smooth guitar sound. The thick smell of tobacco must have been carried into the train by some fat, ugly Midgardian. Also, it was dark. Not pitch-black, but dark. There were lights on the ceiling, right above the path, but they were dim and spread a gold color over the walls, not the area.

I breathed in deep. Children yelled in the background.

"Look, we don't have to do... This. We can just go back home and pretend nothing ever happened, or we can go for it. This is the only way to get your revenge, though. We all know Odin's army is far too strong to defeat if we don't do this, but I don't want to force you into anything. I just want to see you happy again." His voice sounded like an alarm, waking me up from my thoughts.

"Quieter."

"I was whispering."

I blinked at him. "Oh. Sorry. I, uh..."

"I know. It's okay." His ice-cold touch on my skin. Then the freezing sensation as his hand passed through my hand and the leg I was resting it on. "Ready?"

"Ready."

Everyone looked so innocent. As I scanned the crowd of sweaty people pressed up on benches, I raised my arms into the air and muttered my default welcome. Nobody would suspect my true intentions if I could just hide my evil gaze under the rim of the top hat.

As I spoke, I tried distracting people. When I said "Hel's Experience!" I tapped on the pocket watch attached to the top hat. When I smiled up at them, just teeth reflecting the bright spotlights, eyes hidden from sight, I saw what I was looking for, and the nervous smile grew.

Someone yelled. I stepped back, waved in the performers, and rushed into the hallway. It was dimly lit and a gray haze hovered over the floor. In order to get to the exit, I had to run through a good dozen spirits.

Cold. Freezing, in fact. Suddenly, I couldn't see anything other than a blinding light. My legs slowed, was I standing still? I didn't know. It felt like it. It was getting even colder. I couldn't feel my legs anymore. Where was I? What was happening?

They moved aside. Finally. I coughed up the resting energy in my veins, looked around shortly to recalculate where I was, and ran.

It was warmer outside than it had been in the hallway. Twilight poured over the land, washing out the sepia color of the dull countryside. It already looked like death to me. Like the universe knew exactly what I was going to do, and was going to stop me.

Dear gods, I wish it had.

I hurried on. Past my personal little tent. Past those of the spirits. Sand crunched under my boots, air flew past my face. The visitors entrance felt miles away, when in reality, it only took a few more heartbeats for me to reach the door handle and throw it open.

Darkness. Small lights on the sides of the seats led me towards the stairs. By now I was walking, a fake smile on my face as I asked people if they were enjoying the show, without leaving them any time to answer. Usually, they just smiled up, because they'd missed the question, but every now and then I could hear them start talking behind me.