To Hell and Back

Falling

(Play the song during the piano/violin scene) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCRa7S8O-tU

Beeping...I could hear the faint sound of beeping. I heard hushed voices, some close, some far. All I could make out were the words, "The only thing keeping her alive is this machine, there is nothing more we can do. She is comatose. Please, for her sake...let us help her passing." But, I'm still here! I wanted to scream and open my eyes, move a finger, anything that told them I was still here. But I couldn't move, I couldn't even get my eyelids to flutter. I heard a choked sob and then, "Okay, do what you have to do, doctor." then I felt a hand on my shoulder, I didn't recognize the voices, what had happened? "I love you sister!" "I love you sweetheart." "We will see you again someday." the voices said and then I heard the door creak open and someone grabbed a hold of my arm saying, "It's time." then I felt something warm spread through my arm and through my body. No no no! I'm fading! What's happening?! I suddenly felt myself falling and the darkness was creeping in. Don't let me die! I wanted to cry out, but soon I felt a cold numbing through my body and the darkness embraced me and I embraced it back.

I shot up, thinking I had been dreaming, but when I looked up, I saw red skies above me and chaos all around. "Where am I?" I stumbled to my feet and suddenly I heard a gunshot, then it all clicked. I had been shot in the chest. My sister...Lucida, she was being restrained by my neighbor, he was going to rape her, I stormed in and took out my cane sword, I was seeing red, I was so filled with rage that I didn't even realize he had a gun until I heard a shot ring out and pain exploded in my chest. I managed to stab him in the heart. My last words..."See you in hell you sick fuck!" I managed to say, coughing up blood and collapsing on the ground I wish my last words had been to my sister, saying I loved her. My sister's voice turned into choked sobbing, "Please, don't die! I need you, Amaris!" Amaris...that's my name. Amaris Umbra. "The hospital...the monitor, the warm sensation that lulled me to sleep." I was dead. I died. I FUCKING DIED! I shook the thoughts away and finally steadied myself. My cane sword appeared before me and I used it to help me find my footing, I was worried my legs would buckle. It took a moment to register what was happening. I noticed my sunglasses also appeared on my face, I adjusted them and stumbled around and tripped over something, a long black dress? Is this what they buried me in? It had been my favorite, it was midnight velvet. Before I hit the ground, someone caught me. I looked up and saw a red figure, I guessed it was a man, but my guess was wrong as he had the antlers and ears of a deer? He had a wide golden smile and red eyes he also had a monocle.

"Are you alright, my dear?" he asked as he helped me to my feet. "My name is Alastor, a pleasure to meet you." he had such a soothing voice, he also sounded a bit like a radio broadcaster, one from the 20's? "The name is Amaris, Amaris Umbra. Where, where are we?" I introduced myself, getting straight to the point I needed answers, but I wasn't prepared for what I was about to hear. "Ah, we are in hell my dear Ms. Umbra." he explained, taking my hand that wasn't on my cane and I suppose he was escorting me somewhere safer. He seemed to be thinking about something, but I guess he dismissed it as I began to speak again, "Hell...I don't know how I ended up here..." Then another memory hit me and I held my head, feeling Alastor steady me as I nearly collapse. I had been raped, brutally, and from that moment on, I would kill rapists, murderers, child molesters, anyone I could find that had that dark aura about them. I would sometimes look at the news to see if there were others I could hunt down to get out all the aggression and help the victims of these crimes, to help them feel safe knowing that whoever hurt them, could do so no longer. I killed at night, and mostly stayed hidden in the shadows. Many news anchors began to call me "The Shadow Queen" not very creative, however, it was accurate, and my family was none the wiser. I kept this entire other persona hidden. I was living a duality. It was as if I was two different people sharing the same body. Everything was going well, at least, until I went to kill the neighbor that intended to rape my little sister, then sell her into sex trafficking. I had received a tip from the neighbor's wife what her husband intended to do. So I took my chance and got to him before he could take it any further. I noticed his wife's bloody corpse on the ground, she had been killed at the bottom of the stairs. Prior to her demise, she had admitted to me that they had done this before because money was tight. She knew well in advance what her husband was planning and only told me as it was about to happen. I guess the guilt finally caught up with her and that is why she called me and explained everything. I guess he heard her snitching and killed her. Saved me a lot of trouble, but I still wish she had died by my hands. I shook my head and my vision refocused on a concerned looking Alastor.