The Devil's Ex

Chapter Seven - Burn

Jenny stood stock still, staring out at the scene before her. "But...but, why?" She repeated for the seventh time.

Luca gave her the same sideways smile, "I thought you said you'd been before?"

"I have. But....this...." she waved her hands towards the throngs of people before them, "this wasn't here."

Luca chuckled lightly, "then it must have been a long time ago. It's been like this for as long as I remember."

Jenny shifted uncomfortably, eager to avoid discussing her age. Even for a demon, she was considered old. (Yay for eternal youth to hide the wrinkles). "It's just so different," she whispered as she watched another demon arrive beside them. He gave them a cursory glance, before lumbering ahead to join the never ending queue.

In the distance, she could see the main entry way to hell, but in between her and it, there was a line of beings ranging from demonic spirits to creatures from forgotten depths of the world, zigzagging from left to right. At the very back there was some kind of check in desk; a line of screens and clipboards separating the queue from the Hell hidden just behind.

Long gone were the monolithic gates that used to tower over any entrant, the curls of the devil's horns adorning each door. Long gone was the lava oozing from the sides, threatening to spill across creation at any moment. Even the staircase that led from multiple locations on earth down into these dangerous depths, were now lined with safety tape, and signs pointed to accessible lifts around the corner.

This was not the hell she remembered.

She watched in morbid fascination as the demons trudged forwards, one step at a time. There was no fighting. No killing. Not even a drop of blood spilt, save for the DNA sample every entrant was forced to give. Hell had never been this organised when she was here.

"But...but it's so..."

"Chaotic?" Luca supplied, watching as another demon joined the queue.

"Bureaucratic," Jenny corrected.

Luca shrugged and tugged on her hand, "come on, you should join the queue. I'll see you on the other side."

Jenny nodded absently and let him lead her forwards. To the far left she could see demons moving through at a quick pace, not needing to go through the same process as she was. "Is that where you'll go?" She asked Luca quietly, aware of listening ears as demons and creatures alike began to file behind her in the queue.

"Yeh, it is. I'm pre-cleared so..."

Luca looked a bit unsure, and Jenny realised he was waiting to go, "oh, go, it's fine. I'll be fine. Honest. I'll meet you in there."

"You're sure you can survive without me?" Luca crooned, telltale relief at the thought of skipping the queue splintering across his face.

"Yes, yes, go. See you in a lifetime," she whispered with a smile and an eye roll at the slow pace of the line.

He smiled back, and like that, was gone.

Jenny faced forwards in the queue and began the slow trudge towards the front. In the distance she could see demons giving DNA tests and cameras flashing as photos were taken. They were identifying everyone in line. She cursed under her breath, the last thing she needed was her face and name appearing on a demonic database somewhere.

Dropping her head down, she used a quick glamour spell to slightly readjust her facial features. She'd have preferred to change her hair colour too, but the others in the queue around her would notice too easily. A slight crook in her nose, eyes slightly smaller and a different colour – that should be enough to disguise her. That, coupled with centuries of separation, would hopefully stop the devil from identifying her. Hopefully. Assuming he was even still looking for her.

Her chest burned.

By the time it was her turn, she was well and truly done with queueing and somehow missed the days of an all-out brawl to see who would get through the gates first. She even missed the lava burns she'd get from trying to scale the walls to avoid the bloodshed. She stood on the red line as directed by a demon who looked as bored as she did.

"Name?" He barked, his voice thick and wet. Despite his human appearance, Jenny could tell that he was hiding a demonic form. Probably one of the lower demons from the 7th circle, judging by the smell – assuming she was remembering correctly. The stench was similar to the Christmas Brie she'd left in her fridge until Halloween the following year. Her stomach rolled at the thought.

"Casey Timpton," she lied, using the name of one of her ex-neighbours, who she'd actually been quite friendly with. That was, until she'd had to move on because the local wiccan community found out she was there. So slow to forgive, those wiccans.

It happened wherever she went. They always found out she was there and then proceeded to make her life hell until she left. Something else she had to thank her ex-husband for.

"Look into the camera," the demon drawled as he held up his pen towards a small black camera. A red light flashed and Jenny blinked away the temporary blindness. "All entrants into hell are required to provide a DNA sample. We take your privacy seriously and assure you that your blood will never be shared, tasted or used to control you. We only collect it as a way to identify you, should your trip into hell end in injury or, most likely, death."

Jenny nodded her way through the unsettling speech and then held out her hand, allowing the demon to stab her with a small pin, just as she'd watched him do with the others. The pin was dropped into a small metal container, which the demon sealed with a drop of his own blood.

"Sanitary," Jenny commented under her breath.

The demon growled at her, and turned to drop the metal container into a tube. It slid down and into the dark depths, just as a light on the wall turned green and a door in the screen wall unlocked.

"Welcome to hell, we hope you have a wonderful damnation." The demon recited, directing her towards the door.

Taking a deep breath, Jenny sent him her best sarcastic smile and then, did something she never thought she'd do again.

She walked back into hell.