Pandemonium

Stage Ten Part V

After we finish up our letters, we all stand in a bit of a circle, very reluctant to part ways. "I suppose I should be off first then," Pandora speaks up. "I have to go the long way around," he smiles. 

"Are you ready to enter the new game?" Mulciber grins. 

"I'm going to save Fonso," Pandora nods, determined. 

"Good luck," I smile. 

"Thank you," he smiles back as his body starts to disappear. "I hope to see you all again, but if I don't, just know that meeting you was the best thing that's ever happened to me." 

"You go next," I turn to Hector. 

"Can't we go at the same time?" 

"I'll catch up," I smile. "There is just something I have to do first." 

His eyes widen slightly and his lips are pressed into a firm line. "I can't talk you out of it?" 

"No, I don't think so," I smile. 

"You better make it quick then," he returns my smile, or at least tries to, and gives me a kiss on the cheek. 

"Would you like to keep your memories of the game?" Mulciber asks him. He nods. "I wish you well. Have fun in Heaven." 

Hector turns to face me and smiles, waving as his body disappears. I know he is trying to stay strong and not cry but he can't keep it all in. A tear or two escape his eyes. "See you soon," he says before his body is completely gone. 

I face Mulciber and place my hand over my chest. I take in a deep breath and build up my resolve before saying, "I want to make a deal." 

"Oh?" he smirks, not quite believing me. "What could you possibly want?" 

"I want to take Hyde's place in the cage," I smile. Faust grabs my shoulders and shakes me. 

"What are you talking about? You can't do that you just sent Hector to Heaven! Don't you want to see your beloved again? If you make a stupid deal on my behalf I'll never forgive you. Do you hear me? You can't curse your soul to Hell when your partner is in Heaven! Do you know how mad that is?" 

"He understands." 

"What?" Faust stares at me confused. 

"Besides, I'm just taking Hyde's place. If you decide to keep up your deal then it's not like I won't ever be free again." 

"Once I get Hyde you have absolutely no way of knowing if I'll even go through all of that again for your sake! I could leave you and live happily ever after in Hell on a nice little volcanic rock!" Faust continues trying to shake sense into me by shaking my body as well but I just continue smiling at them. 

"Then I'll just be a fool, won't I?" I laugh. 

"You're an idiot. A proper idiot. You're such a dumb human I can't even fathom it," Faust releases their grasp on me and their jaw drops slightly.  

"If Faust leaves you behind you'll be trapped in the cage forever becoming one with that floor of Pandemonium. There will be no set of other rules that will set you free," Mulciber clarifies for me. 

"I know." 

"There is absolutely nothing benefiting you in this deal," Mulciber points out. 

"I know." 

"Then why are you doing this?" Mulciber frowns, unable to understand where I'm coming from. 

"Faust deserves better. Hyde deserves better. I don't mind helping both of them out. Faust has done a lot for me during this game, this is the least I can do." 

"There is nothing small about what you're trying to do," Faust snaps at me. "I'll leave you behind. I will. Don't think I won't!" They point at me. "I've known you for three seconds compared to how long I've known Hyde! There is no reason for me to try and save you!" 

"I know." 

"Then, the arrangement of our deal is this: Hendrix will take Hyde's place in the cage. He will interfere with nothing and Faust's original deal still remains. Should Faust win their deal by saving an entire group of people in a game, then Hendrix will be released." Mulciber clarifies. I nod. "That sounds like the perfect deal for you Faust, aren't you happy Hendrix is such a cretin?" 

"There is still time, you don't have to do this," Faust tries again to talk sense into me. 

"Of course I don't have to, but I'm going to," I smile and face Mulciber. "I'm ready." 

"Just so you know, if you die at any point in time you'll be recreated and sent to the cage. But it won't be as a human..." Mulciber starts drawing symbols in the air before me. The deal is a bit more complex than Pandora's so it takes a few more adjustments. 

"Really?" 

"You won't be a half-demon like Faust either. You're taking Hyde's place there will be no spot for you in Heaven." 

"Guess I shouldn't die then," I smile. "Hector would get mad if I never got to Heaven." 

"Faust?" Hyde's voice comes from behind me and I turn to see them. They're patting their body down and looking at their fresh clothes. They stare at the pillars and the ground and then look at Faust. "Faust...what's going on? Is this real? Am I dreaming again?" 

"Hyde..." Faust runs to Hyde and hugs them. "We don't have to play the game anymore. We can go! We can run away together!" 

"What?" Hyde blinks. "Really? No tricks? We can just go?" 

"I figured you'd like to see the outcome of your deal. It would be rude to send you in the cage without some sort of information," Mulciber smiles at me. Thanks for that, I suppose, but this is just to amuse you, isn't it? You want to see my expression once I find out if Faust has betrayed me or not. 

"Deal?" Hyde stares at me and pushes Faust away. They walk over and grab my shoulders, sniffing me, and then let to to squint at my face. "You took my place, didn't you?" I remain quiet without saying anything and Hyde places their hands on their hips, staring right at Mulciber. "Well then there is only one thing to do about that, isn't there? I'd like to make a deal!" They announce, Faust stares. 

"Hyde, darling, what?" Faust grabs Hyde's arm and drags them a few feet back. "We can leave. We can go. Do you understand the words coming out of my mouth? We. Do. Not. Need. To. Stay. In. Pandemonium. Anymore." 

"I don't know who you think you're fooling, sweetie," Hyde smiles and pats Faust's fluffy white hair. "I know you were just going to start up again. You're not leaving anyone behind. You're too nice for that. I've went and found myself a new Jekyll so I have no intentions of leaving the pure little bean in that cage. Do you know how miserable that is?" 

Hyde faces Mulciber and points a finger at themself. "If I find a way to get Hendrix out of the cage without killing anyone or putting anyone else inside it and we make it to floor nine everyone is happy. You take away whatever demon-y nonsense Hendrix has out of him and then send him on his merry way! Got it?" 

"You'll be competing with Faust?" Mulciber snickers, crossing his arms. "I wonder who will win. Faust has been trying this for an unhealthy amount of time and you've been trapped in that room for the same duration. Haven't you tried everything already? Not to mention you and Faust ending up in the same game again will be extremely rare. Do you know how many games you'll have to lose just to see the progress each of you has made?" 

"Are you going to accept the deal or not?" Hyde huffs and crosses their arms. 

"I must admit, I am very intrigued to see how this ends," Mulciber motions his hands in front of Hyde, connecting them to my deal and then Faust's. 

"You're all a bunch of morons!" Faust groans, placing their head in their hands. 

"Teehee," Hyde winks. 

"Enjoy your time in the cage," Mulciber faces me and my body starts to disappear. 

"Don't worry, Jekyll, I'm not going to fail you!" Hyde grins and gives me a thumbs up. 

"Try not to take too long though," I laugh awkwardly but I'm not sure if they heard me. I faded away pretty quickly compared to Pandora and Hector.