See you in Hell || Jinkook

17. a

With the portal closed I really have no other option but to continue back to the islands of heaven. It'll take a while to fly, but thanks to Jungkook I have more energy than needed. Much to my surprise, the thick barrier of clouds surrounding the portal doesn't disperse when I approach it. How strange. Its whole purpose is to only open up for angels while letting other creatures find their way though on their own. Why isn't it opening for me? Does it not recognize me as an angel anymore?

The question leaves me pondering. What actually defines an angel? My answer would probably be that an angel has wings and a pure heart. I have wings, but they're technically not my own, and I definitely don't have a pure heart nor body anymore. It doesn't matter though. I'll find my way back home on my own. When I've come this far failure is not an option. 

I build up some speed and dive head first into the barrier. Immediately my vision gets clouded up and everything around me turns gray. The clouds are thicker than I initially thought and it even makes it hard to breathe. Fortunately I've been through worse things, so this is only a minor set-back. 

When I finally emerge on the other side I take a much needed breath before taking in the view of the familiar blue sky. The sun is brightly shining and it warms me up right away, but I won't let the nice weather trick me into a good mood. I have unfinished business to take care of. 

~†~

I'm not quite sure what I expected from the guards here, but they must all either be sleeping or not doing their jobs properly since I can easily land on one of the many jumping platforms without getting swarmed. Seems like they've gotten lazy ever since I disappeared. It's first when I casually walk further into the city that I get greeted by some newly trained angels pointing their swords at me. They're clearly scared when looking at me and I figure it must be because I don't look like your usual angel. With the black wings and clothes from Hell I must look like an enemy. 

"S-state your business!" one of the little soldiers say. It's hilarious to me. Am I supposed to be scared of them? Pathetic. Heaven has some really lame guards compared to what I've gotten used to.

"That's no way to talk to your superior," I answer in a cold voice. 

"Superior?"

They look at each other in confusion and I decide to not even waste my time with them. I push my way through and they panic behind me since they're at a loss for what to do.

"Hey, you can't just enter here without permission!" they yell after me, but I just ignore them.

"Where's Hoseok?" I ask. 

The guards don't answer me, or rather, they don't have to when I suddenly realize what I'm looking at. In the middle of the plaza there's a big fountain surrounded by statues of the former leaders as a way to honor their efforts. Standing right in front of me is a large, marble version of Hoseok, happily smiling as usual while looking at a bird on his hand. It's an accurate depiction of him, but yet there's no sign of his radiant energy. It's just a statue after all. A statue of a fallen hero, just like all the others next to him. 

It's as if the air gets knocked out of my lungs as I slowly walk up to the statue. I remind myself that this is actually happening. This isn't a nightmare. I fall down to my knees in front of the image of my brother with an empty feeling in my heart. He's gone. Somehow Hoseok died while I was gone. 

"What happened to him?" I ask to the guards who followed me. 

"Uhm, after the sudden disappearance of a General, he became devastated and was plagued by awful nightmares every night. About a month ago he was found dead on his throne and the doctors believe it to be the result of poison. Since he killed himself he hasn't showed up here in Heaven again. Suicide is a sin after all. But, mister... Who are you? You look very strange."