The Devil's Office

7: A Demon's Garden

          Anato awoke from her sleep. Her spine made a cracking sound as she sat up, as if she has been sleeping for a long time. Then Satan entered the room arbitrarily, he went towards the windows and tied the curtains. "What--" "--Argh!" He screamed and fell on the ground as he turn around. Anato was startled at his shouting as well. "You scared me!" He shouted. "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that." She said. "Anyway, are you feeling alright?" He asked while approaching. "Yeah, I'm fine. How long have I been sleeping?" She asked. "30 years." He said while smiling. "What?!--" She started coughing due to dry throat. "Have I been sleeping for 30 years?" She asked again. "Yeah, well it's three days here. But it has been 30 years in earth." He explained. "Oh, well that's-- 3 days?! That long?!--" She coughed again. "Yeah, It's no wondering why, souls can't really stand powers like us demons. But yours is pretty short. Shahmeel had it like 70 years." He said. "Oh, thank god then." She said. "Not really, you can thank him after getting out of this place. " He said. "Well then, I need to do some cleaning cause apparently today is cleaning day." He said as he went towards the door. "Cleaning day?" She asked. "Cleaning day, you know where you clean your house and all. Everyone is cleaning right now, but your room doesn't need to cause it's already clean. Anyway, if you're hungry just head to the kitchen. Beelzebub prepared a buffet, and I'm telling you. It's a amazing." He said and opened the door. "Oh, and don't eat at the dining room. I'm cleaning there." He said and closed the door. Then silent befall the room, she stood up and walked towards the window to look at the view. There was nothing to look but just clouds moving towards one direction. But somehow it felt calming knowing there was nothing to know out there Anato feelings said.

          Anato went inside the kitchen to see an alignment of foods being displayed on the counters. She went near and open the cover, the smell of the food hits her nose and made her mouth watered like fountain. "Good morning." Beelzebub said as he entered the kitchen. "Oh, good morning." Anato greeted. "Would you like to help me harvest the vegetables and fruits at my garden later?" He asked while smiling. "Urm, sure." She agreed. "Great, let's go." He said and walk towards the door. "B-but, I want to--" "--Don't worry about the food, I'll cook you your own meal later on. Super special!" He said while smiling. "Okay then." She said. "That's the spirit, come on!" He said and exit the kitchen, Anato followed him. As they walk along the hall, coincidentally Shahmeel went out of a room. "Come on Shahmeel, I need your help!" Beelzebub said as he walk pass him. "O-oh okay. " Shahmeel said and followed. "Hello." Anato greeted him nervously. "Hi." He replied. Then they arrived at the garden which was at the edge of the hall way. "Welcome to the demon's garden." Beelzebub said and he open the glass doors widely. Anato and Shahmeel entered. It was a field, with various vegetables and fruits planted according to its section. "You know the drill Shahmeel, but since it's Anato's first day. Do me a favor and guide her with you." Beelzebub said as he took off his apron and wearing a gardening suit. "Suit up, and get into work. You two should start picking the fully developed vegetables, I'll be planting some cabbages in the back."Beelzebub said and took some tools. Anato and Shahmeel stood quietly, waiting for one of them to initiate the act. "Well then, chop chop!" Beelzebub said and walked away. Then it became silent. "So what do we do here?" Anato asked. "Urm, I guess we could take the baskets." Shahmeel said. They took four baskets and gloves, then proceed towards the tomato section. "So, have you done this before?" Anato asked. "Yeah, too many times now." He said and chuckled. They arrived at the tomato field. "Urm, you can start picking apples-- I mean, tomatoes that look ripe and red, and not the green ones." Shahmeel explained. "O-okay." Anato said, sounding slightly confused. "Well then, you can start there and I'll start here." He said and crouch down. Anato went the other side and crouch as well, then she starts to pick the tomatoes. "So, did you remembered anything? I mean if you want to tell me." He asked. "Well, I remembered how I died. But I wasn't able to trigger my other memories." Anato answered. "It's alright, I'm sure you'll be able to trigger it the next time." Shahmeel said and smiled. "You've been staying here for quite a long time right?" Anato asked. "Yup, but not an expert with this house. I still get lost from time to time, I would call out to anyone nearby who could help me find my way."Shahmeel said. Anato chuckled. "I got lost the other day as well, in the long hall." Anato said. "Oh, you meant the Infinity hall?" Shahmeel asked. "Urm, I think so." She said. "If there's any long hall you can get lost at, it's always the Infinity hall." He mentioned. "Oh, so I got lost in that but somehow manage to end up in a garden room." Anato said. "Garden room? There's a garden room?" He asked. "Yeah, don't you know about it?" She said. "I'd always get lost at there, but I've never been to a garden nearby that hall." He said with a confused look. "Really? For someone like you who stays here for a long time to not know about that room is quite odd." Anato said, who was confused as well. "Well, I guess I gotta do more touring in this house." Shahmeel said and chuckled. "Yeah, or I might be able to catch up with your level." Anato joked. He chuckled. "I think you are able to anytime soon." He spoke as he continued to pick the tomatoes. "So how about your progress?" Anato asked. "Me? Well I feel like I'm almost getting to my final memory, it's just about time right now." He answered. "I see. You must be eager to leave this place right?" She said. "Don't even mention it, I can't wait to go to heaven. I'm so excited, I can't hold it no longer." He said. She chuckled to his enthusiasm. "Good for you then. I bet Mammon is excited as well." Anato said. "Yeah, he's probably more excited than me. He's quite terrifying sometimes, but seeing him excited made me really happy to finish this." Shahmeel said. "So why don't you two just wing it?" She asked. "Well, Mammon has a lot of work to do. He'll have to skip a day off just for me." He said. "Why?" She asked. "Well, for him it's quite tiring doing the ritual. One ritual would cost his whole energy for maybe three days or more. But he's used to it now and only sleeps a day." He said. "Really? So meaning to say, Belphine is also the same?" Anato asked. "Yeah, all of them. Well except for Lucifer, he's quite powerful here." Shahmeel said. "Belphine must be very tired. And it's all because of me. " Anato said. "Don't worry about it, she'll be fine. She's resting now and will be back like nothing." He reassured. Anato sighed. "I guess so." She agreed with a slight concern. She felt guilty for overworking Belphine, but even without Belphine's help, Lucifer would be equally the same. Shahmeel stared at Anato who was quiet all the sudden. "Hey." He said and went beside her. Anato look at him. "Don't get so down because of that. Look at the bright side, it's not like they're hurt or what. They just get tired, and when they're tired they would go to sleep. Then they would be back to normal, it's their choice to make when the next ritual would take place. But before the next ritual is set, they would be doing their own fun activities." Shahmeel explained. Anato felt greatly relieved to hear his explanation. She smiled widely. "Thank you, I'm okay now." She said. "There you go." He smiled as well. "Now, let's continue picking these apples." He said. "You mean tomatoes." She said. "O-oh! Yeah, tomatoes! Sorry, I'm quite dumb." He said. "It's fine." She chuckled.