Existence

2. welcome to hell

"Oh, there ain't no rest for the wicked."- Cage the Elephant 

Mandy had absolutely no idea what she was to expect when she closed her eyes for the last time, but she sure as hell didn't expect this. She didn't see a bright light or angels singing alongside a golden gate in the clouds. She didn't see engulfing flames or a demon with a pitchfork. 

Where the fuck was she?

"Oh, Mandy!" A voice called out in the distance, "You made it."

"I guess I did," Her eyes darted around, looking for the source of the sound, "Would you mind telling me where exactly is here?"

"You're in the great amidst."

"Yeah, and you're Peter Pan." She snorted sarcastically, "Seriously, where the hell am I?"

"I hate when people use my home as a curse." The voice muttered, but she caught on.

"What do you mean your home?"

"Well darling," The voice stepped closer, finally revealing a rather attractive looking male, "I am the devil himself."

Mandy didn't gasp at the revelation, nor did the palpitations of her heart speed up. She simply shrugged it off, and played along. 

"Nice to meet you Lucifer," She drawled his name out slowly, "I would introduce myself, but it seems you already know my name."

"You're not going to ask any questions?" He asked, trying to hide the surprise that threatened to break out on his face. He had spent millenniums learning how to mask his true emotions, and he made sure it wouldn't go to waste now. 

"Nope," She pondered for a second, "Oh wait, what exactly is the 'great amidst?'" 

"It's where the wayward and unredeemed souls go to await trial."

"Thank God, I didn't die a virgin." She mumbled. 

"What is it with you using the divine names as curses?!"

"Oh, right," She bit back a giggle, "I forgot you were the devil."

"And you're just..okay with the fact?"

"Well, I'd be lying if I said that I am totally okay. I still have to wrap my head around the fact that God is real."

"But, you didn't even ask for proof."

"Why would I?" She asked, "I don't know if God and his angels like to watch movies, but this sort of thing happens all the time."

"Does it?" 

"A person, maybe someone from the future for example, comes to the protagonist to save the world or some shit. The problem is, they don't believe that the person is who they say they are and they waste half the movie not taking the situation serious. So, for the sake of the world, I have no choice to believe you."

"Mandy-" He started but was then further interrupted.

"Also, I am flattered that you are trying to make conversation. But, aren't you the devil? That means you can read my thoughts right? Holy shit, you can read my thoughts! Maybe that is a good thing though, you can help me make sense of my thoughts. I was never able to do that back on Earth. Wait, did we even leave Earth? How is that even-"

"Mandy!" He raised his voice, "Can you stop talking and just listen?"

"Oh," Her voice dialed down to a timid whisper, "Sorry."

"Don't be sorry," He began to pace back and forth, "I can't blame you, it's a lot to take in. Especially since you aren't even dead yet."

The words didn't surprise her. In fact, they didn't even surprise her. She has lived her whole life not being able to do one thing right. It was her fault for thinking that she could have ended it properly. Taking a deep breathe, she thought of all the best and worst case scenarios, before speaking again. 

"How do we make sure I stay dead?"

"Did you not hear me? You aren't dead yet."

"Right. But we could make sure I never wake up. The doctor's can pronounce me brain dead and my parents will have no choice but to pull the plug. I can also become an organ donor." 

"You say organ donor like it is supposed to convince me to let you stay here."

"Well yes, because isn't it better to give my organs to a body that wants to stay alive?"

"You're talking to the wrong angel." 

"You never answered my question."

"Which one? I bet you have a billion thoughts running through that little head of yours." He mused, crossing his arms. 

"Uh, lets start with the most important one." Mandy pulled her eyebrows together in mock thought and made sure to light her face up as if the light bulb went off in her head, "Oh yes. Are we going to save the world?"

"Why would you think you're that important?"

"Why else would the devil himself be talking to me?" 

"That's because," He took a step closer to her and lifted her chin with his pointer finger, making her look into his eyes, "We're not going to save the world. We are going to save yours."

"But what if I don't want it to be saved?" Her voice was nothing but a frail whisper, giving Lucifer the first glimpse of the vulnerable girl who took her own life. 

"Then, I guess I will have to show you the life God has planned out for you." He released her chin and took a step back.

"Does he actually do that?"

"You'll see for yourself," He grabbed her by the shoulders, "Close your eyes."

She obeyed, caving into the curiosity of a whole new world. Literally. Suppressing the guilt of her actions, she let the devil himself take her hands in his. There was no reason to dwell in the past, not when she was good as dead. There was no hope left. 

The wails of the agonized souls condemned to eternal damnation, was the first thing she heard. The cries weren't loud, but rather, timid murmurs. It was heartbreaking. They reminded her of the times where she would lay in bed with her hand pressed against her mouth, preventing the sobs that threatened to spill. The whimpers were strangulated and only then did she begin to second guess her decision. 

"Open your eyes." His deep voice commanded and the hairs on the back of her neck spiking up.

"Where are we?" She asked as nothing but grey fog stretched on forever.

"Welcome to Hell."