Casey McCloud Escapes from Hell

Episode II: The Swarm and the Fly

        Though Casey walked through the valley of the shadow of death, she feared no evil. Never mind, that was a complete lie; Casey was petrified.

Many people would have found Casey extremely attractive had she not been the strange, lonely nineteen year old girl who wandered around town at night while drinking beer out of a brown paper bag like a homeless person (even though it was sorta' scary how many people were totally into that). She had black long, hair with a few strands hanging down at eye level and blue, expressive eyes that always gave away her emotions, no matter how hard she tried to mask them. She was tall and skinny, but the odd sort of skinny that you get when you only eat two bowl of stew a day from the local Soup Kitchen and running a lot. I am explaining how attractive Casey was because it leads directly into how she met a very flirtatious fly.

Casey was walking tiredly through the hills of Hell. They were gentle now, but she could feel each one getting steeper and steeper. She was certain that soon enough, these hills would turn into mountains. And those would be impossible to climb. She would have to go around them. Or over them, if she had the energy. But things were not looking good for her.

Casey was beginning to wonder if this was really a good idea. I mean, the Edge of Hell seemed so far away, and she wasn't sure she really wanted to spend eternity trying to get there. But, as she told the Devil, she had nothing better to do. And plus, she needed to get back. For Molly.

Suddenly, there was the sound of somebody whistling. That kind of cat-calling whistles she had gotten on occasion back on Earth. Casey spun around, pulling the sword from off her back. There was only silence, save for the sound of a light wind (even though there was no wind, which was horrifying). Nobody had whistled, apparently. All Casey could see were the hills she had already passed, and Satan's tower, off in the distance. She sheathed the weapon and continued her walk...

For about two seconds. Then she heard a deep voice call out "Hey, Sexy!"

Again she turned quickly, grabbing the hilt of her sword. Again, she was met with the odd windy silence that Hell bore. Casey's eyes scanned the horizon. She was certain that something had spoken, called her "Sexy". And whoever it was, if they didn't show themselves, were about to get a rusty sword blade to the face. Casey was about to continue on high guard when a fly landed on her nose.

Casey crossed her eyes and observed the fly. It was slick and black, but glowed red through cracks along its body, like embers. Its little legs rubbed together, and its hundreds of red eyes seemed to be focused on her. Casey stared at it with interest. Suddenly, the fly's mandibles opened and it said, "Sup, Good-lookin'!"

Casey screamed and brought her hand to her nose, trying to swipe the bug away. It rose up off her nose, which caused Casey to smack herself.

"Ow!" she yelled as she held her nose in pain.

"What's a pretty girl like you doin', wanderin' about in Hell all alone? Need a handsome fly like me ta' keep ya' company?"

"No!" Casey screamed. "Go away!"

The fly let out a low whistle. "You're playin' hard to get! I see. Well, listen babe, my brothers and sisters, The Swarm, are comin' in hot. And they'd eat a delicious dish like you up for breakfast. And not in a sexual way. They will literally eat you."

Casey stopped rubbing her nose and looked up to the fly, which was lazily hovering above her head.

"You can help me?" She asked.

"Yup!" the fly declared smugly. "I aint' a human-eater like the fam. I prefer the taste of fire. Gives me this cool little look." The little fly zipped around in circles, and as he did, the red on him glowed brighter, and he want so fast he created a nice little halo over Casey's head. Then he stopped and lowered himself to eye level.