Satan's Paradiso

9: Emotions

(Ext. Anne's cabin, night. Anne enters the scene to find Baal sitting on a nearby log, he stands as she approaches him.)

Baal: Anne, may I speak to you in your cabin? I would have attended your appointment, but I'm afraid things have been rather busy today.

Anne: Alright, come on in.

(She holds open the door to her cabin, and they both step in.)

(Int. Anne's cabin, night. Anne sits down at the table, while Baal stands across from it, next to a separate chair.)

Anne: Well sit down.

(Baal sits.)

Anne: So what did you want to tell me?

Baal: You see, your roommate, Mistress Cherry, has been reincarnated, meaning her soul has been transferred to another body, and she will not be in Hell any longer. I am truly sorry, you seemed to be very close to her.

Anne: (Long pause.) I- That just... What?

Baal: Take your time.

(Anne bolts out the door and runs down the dirt road to Satan's manor, letting out several screams as she does so. Baal runs after her.)

Baal: Anne, where are you going?

(She bursts through the doors of the manor and dashes up the stairs.)

Baal: I really don't think you should be disturbing my lordship right now.

(She runs through the doors of the office. Satan sits in front of the side window playing a rubec, he stops as Anne enters, looking up to her in shock.)

Anne: Tell me everything you can about reincarnation.

Satan: Anne? Why are you-?

Baal: (Entering from behind her, out of breath.) I apologize for this intrusion, my lord, she ran over here as soon as I told her about Mistress Cherry.

Satan: Oh, I see what this is about. (Sighs.) Very well, Baal, please wait outside, Anne, have a seat, I fear this may be a long day for all of us.

(Exit. Baal, Anne and Satan sit down.)

Satan: I do hope you don't intend to engage in this kind of behavior again.

Anne: I won't sire, I promise.

Satan: Good, and you should understand that the only reason I am allowing this conversation in the first place is because I know Mistress Cherry was important to you. That being said, what about reincarnation do you wish to know?

Anne: Will I ever see her again?

Satan: That is a complicated question. If you are simply asking if your consciousness and Mistress Cherry's will interact with each other again, then yes, it is almost guaranteed. However, you need to understand that even though the living things you and her will be when that happens, share the same soul as you do currently, everything else about you and her will be entirely different. You will have lived through entirely different experiences, meaning your personalities and interests will have completely changed, and because that also applies to your memories, the both of you will be deemed strangers. When a person reincarnates, that is when God is no longer joking with them, they are actually gone. (Firmly.) Do you understand that.

Anne: I do sire, but if that is indeed true, than why do we need to go through this process you've set up for us?

Satan: Because often times young children retain vague memories of their previous life, they're only present for a few short years, but if a child has positive connotations towards a memory of doing something harmful, the consequences can be disastrous.

Anne: I see, well that is all.

Satan: (Standing up and stepping to the door,) In that case, I'm going to bring Baal back in, but Anne?

Anne: Yes sire?

Satan: I don't want you to be afraid to mourn, I may be an unemotional being, but believe me, there can be truly terrifying results when a person denies themselves of basic human emotions.

(Satan opens the door and signals to Baal, he enters the room.)

Baal: Can I help either of you?

Satan: Could you please escort Anne home? I feel she could benefit from having a friendly acquaintance to chat with.

Anne: Actually, may I walk alone?

Satan: If that is what you want, then yes, you may, but Baal, I need you to stay here for a few minutes.

(Exit Anne.)

(Int. Manor hallway, night. Anne steps quietly down the stairs, but stops abruptly when she hears muffled, laboured breathing, as though someone is in pain. The faint, soothing voice of Baal accompanies the noises. She continues listening for a short moment, then shrugs it off and continues walking.)