[ Downwards ] (Alastor x reader)

Chapter 2

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"... like that before..."

"... she's okay?"

My eyes fluttered open; my head was dizzy, and my ears were ringing. Whatever I was lying on was hard and spiky.

..where was I?

I hesitantly looked around - I felt so meek and small, as if I was not quite next to the others. I shakily tried to get up, but my arm made contact with one of my sharp surroundings, and with a whine, I pulled out my second arm from my side to lick my thumb and rub at the new cut. The voices quietened down until they completely stopped talking, and my vision unblurred. Only then was I able to make the devastating realisation: I was in the ground.

I fell through the floor.

All of a sudden, panic set in. My breathing quickened; I was trying to get out, reaching for the unbroken floorboards, but I was too far away. Colourful shapes danced around, resembling body parts, but my eyes were tearing up and I couldn't make anything out. I lowered my head and relaxed my body - there was nothing I could do: I was hurt. With the back of my hand I rubbed at my eyes, wiping away any tear stains.

Suddenly, two striped, snake-like arms twisted themselves around me, gently picking me up. I winced at the scratches as the broken floorboards poked me whilst I was being lifted.

I was placed onto the ground just beside the hole, and, when my head stopped spinning, I moved the hair out of my face and slowly looked up. My view moved from one person to the other. They didn't look like angels, or even humans.. They were sinners.

Demons.

I stumbled backwards, mumbling in confusion, almost falling back into the hole I created. The demon caught me again.

"Woah there, steady, babe."

I jerked my head upwards. He looked.. sweet, although somewhat worried. but I then noticed.

He had four arms.

I shrieked and pulled away, but as I noticed how quiet everyone was, I decided that I might've been too prejudiced.

I looked at the trio from left to right. The group of sinners consisted of an incredibly tall striped demon, a blonde pale-skinned girl and a grey skinned demon with a cross for an eye. Huh. Have I seen her somewhere before? I stood up drowsily and ran a bruised hand through my hair to untangle it, at which I failed, ripping out a few hair strands. My heart was palpitating, but I remained calm on the outside.

I made eye contact with the grey skinned demon

"Hey," she said, monotonously , "You're in hell."

The blonde, kinder-looking demon added, "We have never seen such an arrival! New sinners usually pop up in the centre of the city! But you..." I glanced back, not fully listening, but relieved to not see my wings. "I'm Charlie, by the way! It's a pleasure to meet you!" she grinned.

Her smile warmed my heart - I trusted her. I took her hand as she pulled me up. "That over there.." She pointed at the girl, who was already on the other side of the hall, "- is Vaggie : she's not too warm to others, but if you get to know her, she's a real sweetheart!" I heard a faint "Hey!" and we both giggled. Then the tall demon came over, looming over me. He reminded me of a.. spider. "I'm Angel Dust." he smirked at me and leaned closer, in turn making me lean backwards. Charlie pushed him back and glared at him, to which he just shrugged and strode over to Vaggie. Charlie turned back to face me, "Come on! Let me show you around."

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