Darkness

Jabez felt himself ripped out of his body. Everything happened so fast, it took time for his mind to catch up to things. As the body collapsed to the floor, he realized that he was just as he was when tossed into Elonia... A soul scrunched up into a ball. He tried to shove himself back into the body, but he just went through it. He still had his senses. He could see the chaos of the battle. But there were so many things going on at once, he felt like his mind would explode.

As Jabez tried to think, a familiar figure appeared.

“There you are! Seems like you’ve found yourself in a rather sticky situation! Don’t worry, though. The party has just begun! We can make it on time if we leave now.”

“Gamugin!” shouted Jabez. “Put me back in that body right now!”

“Put you back? But why? We have more important things to worry about than some old fight!”

“I’m serious! If I don’t get back in there, my friends are going to die!!”

Jabez watched the ebb and flow of the battle. Everyone gathered to Demetra’s side, with Sullivan using his protection magic to defend against incoming attacks. Iris managed to slip past the royal guards and grab Jabez’s body, but Hito gave chase, his body shuddering and shifting all the while.

“We have to protect Iris!” shouted Demetra. “I’ll clear a path. Everyone, follow me!”

“Oh no you don’t, sister!” the queen shouted. Manifesting a giant spiked mace through magic, she charged into the fray, clashing with Demetra.

“Gamugin!!” shouted Jabez.

“Huh? Oh, sorry. I just haven’t seen such a spectacle in years! You really outdid yourself, Jabez! And now for your just reward!” The donkey man snatched up the soul ball before Jabez could move away. “Come along now! We can watch the playback later!”

“No!” shouted Jabez. “Gamugin! Gamugin! GAMUGIN!!!”

Though he tried to fight against the donkey man’s grasp and begged to be released, it was no use. Jabez watched in horror as Elonia disappeared around him. The pair slipped through a portal, returning to the darkness where they first met...

---

“There we go, right as rain,” said Gamugin. The donkey man had decompressed Jabez’s soul, returning it to its prior human shape – though Jabez saw he was still wearing his clothes and armor from Elonia.

“You...” Jabez grabbed Gamugin by his coat. “You bastard!! Take me back right now! I can’t leave them like that!”

“Oh you...” Gamugin smirked. Jabez threw a punch, but the donkey man caught it in his gloved hand. After Jabez was tossed to the ground, Gamugin said, “After everything I’ve done for you, this is the thanks I get? You didn’t want to go to Heaven or Hell, so I gave you an alternative. You asked me for clarity, I gave you a manual with all the answers. And now that I’m about to help grant your wish, you want to punch me in the face? I could just KICK you right now, but you’d probably shatter to pieces.”

“I just... Don’t understand. What’s going on? Don’t you want me to stop Hito?”

“At first I did. He spent so much time lazing around Elonia, I thought he’d never fulfill my request. But after he met you, he changed his tune real quick! He started taking initiative and getting things done! You really left an impression on him! And now, he finally helped stir things up in that rancid realm. The royal family and their hold over Ramtha is falling apart thanks to you two! Who knows what will happen next?!”

“But I never wanted it to end this way... My friends need me!”

“Oh enough with you! Friends this, friends that, is that all you care about now? What about your wish? Your family?” Gamugin sighed, shaking his head. “You know what you need? You need to relax, and I bet our little Watcher Party outta help with that! Now be a good boy and follow me.”

Gamugin walked away. Jabez was ready to scream. If only he had the strength... But that wasn’t how their arrangement worked. Whatever Gamugin was, it was far beyond the scope of a mortal. Feeling utterly defeated, he dragged his feet, shuffling after Gamugin. By the time he caught up, the donkey man was standing in front of a large white door.

“Through here we can reach the party! And you better be on your best behavior, Jabez!” Gamugin chuckled, then he narrowed his eyes. “Or there will be hell to pay.”

Gamugin then pulled the doors open, and everything was flooded with bright light. Jabez covered his eyes, and the surrounding silence slowly gave way to the hustle and bustle of a ballroom. As he lowered his hands and his eyes adjusted, Jabez found himself in a baroque-style manor. Everything was white and gold, with chandeliers, tiled floors, masked musicians, and countless attendees. Some were like Gamugin, with humanoid bodies and animal heads. Others had animal bodies and human heads. Some were chimeric, some were alien in shape, and some were more like shadows on the wall. Dressed in fine clothing, they were a sea of monstrous nobility.

“W-who are these people?” asked Jabez.

“Why, they’re watchers, of course!” said Gamugin.

“But why do they...”

Gamugin yanked Jabez close. “You can’t just say that, silly,” he whispered. “Now follow me. There’s someone you really outta meet!”

Pulled through the densely packed ballroom, Jabez did his best to avoid eye contact with the other watchers. Looking ahead, the path was obscured by the crowd. But soon enough, a distant figure came into view. Sitting casually atop a table, he was the closest thing to a human in the whole room. He was a tired-looking older man with flowing shoulder-length blonde hair, piercing red eyes, and small black horns on his forehead. He wore white and grey business attire, including a grey vest over a white buttoned shirt with rolled up sleeves, black slacks, and polished black shoes. He reminded Jabez of the embers of a cigarette left abandoned on an ash tray.

“Jabez, here is the Watcher of Earth. I present to you... Lucifer!”

“Now this is a bit formal, even for you,” Lucifer glared at Gamugin. After sweeping his hand back through his hair, he said, “So this is Jabez? Nice to finally meet you.”

The realization hit Jabez like a steel beam to the head. He fell to his knees, dizzy and trembling.

“You’re... The Devil.”

“That I am.”

“But... If you’re Earth’s watcher, then that would make Gamugin...” Jabez turned his head, looking over at the smirking donkey man. “I signed a deal with a devil.”

“Oh what is it with mortals and their shock at who we are?” scoffed a six-eyed woman Lucifer had around his arm.

“He’s just a little tired,” Gamugin made a pinching gesture. “Shall I leave him to you for now? I’ve got my eye on that punch bowl over yonder.”

“Help yourself. I’ll take it from here,” said Lucifer. The donkey man then walked off, and Lucifer let go of the six-eyed woman, hopping off the table. “Now Jabez, Gamugin tells me that you wanted to see your family again. I can help you with that, but... You might not like what you see.”

“Not like what I see? What other horrible truth could possibly be waiting for me?! Do you people delight in my suffering that much?”

“I never said I did. Keep in mind that while Gamugin asked for my aid in granting your wish, I can choose to turn down the request at any time. I’m willing to help you, but only if you learn to behave. Now do you want to see your family or not?”

Jabez finally stood up, looking Lucifer in the eye. “Yes. Show me to them.”

“You got a lot of nerve, you know.” Lucifer smirked. “I like it. Reminds me of my youth.” Lucifer then gestured to an open space before him. A pair of doors appeared, but these were charred black, with flecks of red embers in the wood grain. “Through here is my domain. Follow my lead, and do not wander. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee your safety.”

“Fine. After you.”

Lucifer swung open the doors. Beyond their frame was a black miasma, obscuring any hint of what awaited beyond. Lucifer was the first to walk in, then Jabez followed.

While they walked, Lucifer spoke up. “Jabez, We may have just met, but I know more about you than you realize. It’s my job, after all. Record keeping. I know about your past. I know about your upbringing. You probably think Hell is nothing but rivers of lava, demons with pitchforks, and souls burning for eternity. But you want to know the truth? Hell is what you make of it.”

After passing through the miasma, the pair ended up in a very different place than expected. There was no lava, there were no demons. It was just fluorescent bulbs, vinyl floors, and the smell of antiseptics. Jabez wasn’t in the burning pits. He was somewhere far worse.

Jabez was in a hospital.

---

Lucifer knocked on the bathroom stall. “Jabez, get out of there. This is no time to sit on the can.” To this, Jabez said nothing. He was on his knees, bent over the toilet and hyperventilating. He did his best to focus on the cold, sterile water in the bowl. His whole body felt hot and sweaty. But... Was it even a body? He was a soul, wasn’t he? So why did everything feel so viscerally real?

“I’m... I’m going to be sick...”

Lucifer groaned. “I warned you, but do mortals ever listen? No, of course not! They-”

The devil’s voice disappeared as a ringing in Jabez’s ear grew louder and louder. Everything hurt. Nothing made sense anymore. But... He chose this. There was no going back now.

Jabez flushed the toilet, even though he hadn’t used it. Somehow, the rushing sound of the water brought him back to his senses. He forced himself up, walked out of the stall, and washed his hands.

“... You have soap in Hell?”

“How do you think we keep clean?” asked Lucifer.

“I... Hadn’t thought about it.” After splashing his face with cold water, he dried himself off with a paper towel. “Stick with you, right? I... I think I’m ready.”

“Good,” said Lucifer. “Then right this way.”

Jabez followed the devil, shuffling through a never-ending corridor of doors, desks, emergency fire extinguishers, covered gurneys, and ringing phones. Plastered on the walls were numbers for the rooms, but the numbers seemed impossibly long. Some of the doors were open, revealing dark rooms with staticky televisions, sterile curtains, and faceless silhouettes. As Jabez tried to focus on what was in front of him, all he could think of was the past. Doctors rushing back and forth in masks, trying to get to their patients in time. As the past and present blurred together, the world around him shuddered, and inside Room 3199567, Jabez saw himself kneeling beside an empty bed.

“God... If you’re up there... Please... Don’t take her. Take me. I know I’ve done you wrong. I know we don’t talk anymore. But just this once... Answer me...”

“Is that...?” asked Jabez.

“Don’t look at it. Just keep your eyes on me. We’re almost there.”

Jabez turned away, though it took every ounce of willpower to do so. Eventually, his past self’s voice disappeared.

“I don’t understand...”

“Don’t understand what?” asked Lucifer.

“Why am I here? I thought you said-”

“I said you wouldn’t like it. Do you think Gamugin reached out to me for no reason? Every last one of your family is down here.”

“But why?”

“Because they chose to be.” Lucifer stopped in front of another door. He grabbed hold of the handle, pausing for a moment. “Are you sure about this?”

“I... I don’t know anymore. But this is my only chance, right?”

“It is.”

“Then do it. Show me.”

“All right...”

Lucifer opened the door, revealing another hospital room. Most of the lights were off, save the very back row, illuminating eight people standing in front of the windows. Each person was wearing a hospital gown, with a plastic wristband around their left wrist, denoting their name and number. Each of them seemed older than Jabez remembered, but...

None of them were in pain.

“What?” Jabez walked towards them. They never noticed his presence, instead looking out to a distant city in the night. And in the sky? The sky was filled with fireworks. “John... Elias... Sarah... Luke, Edna, Seth, Bernice.” Tears streamed down Jabez’s eyes. “Mom...” He looked back, watching Lucifer’s approach. Somehow, the devil’s red eyes seemed softer than before. “I don’t understand. Why aren’t they suffering? Isn’t this Hell?”

“It is,” said Lucifer. “But... The truth isn’t so simple. When I was cast into this fiery abyss, I was told that this lower realm would forever be a prison for those who forsook God and his teachings. An eternity of suffering, of torture, of torment. It was to be a realm shaped by man’s greatest fears, woes, and doubts. But if it was truly a realm that could be shaped by the mind, what if a man came here that did not fear pain? What if a man willingly walked into Hell so that another would not have to suffer alone? You want to know why all of your family chose to be here? When your sister Sarah forsook God when your mother passed, her soul became bound to Hell. When the rest of your family learned about this, they chose to stay here, to be by her side. Even if it meant an eternity of torture, agony, and suffering. It was their love that pushed back the darkness of this realm.” Lucifer then looked at the family, the hint of a smile on his face. “That’s why they’re not in pain. As long as they’re together, the fires of Hell just look like pretty fireworks.”

Jabez wept. He cried tears of pain. He cried tears of joy. Of sorrow, of regret, and of relief. He tried to reach out to his family so he could hug them one last time, but they slipped through his fingertips. For a moment, it seemed as if Judith felt his touch. She looked at him, a flicker of recognition in her eyes.

“Honey?” asked John. “What’s the matter?”

“I’m not sure...” said Judith. “I thought I saw a ghost.”

Jabez’s mother turned away, returning her gaze to the city beyond. In that moment, Jabez knew he had seen enough. He stepped back into the darkness and left the hospital room. Lucifer followed, shutting the door behind him.

“So now you know the truth,” said Lucifer.

“Yeah... There’s no sense in meddling with their lives anymore. Just knowing they’re at peace is enough,” Jabez wiped his tears with his cloak.

“What should we do with your wish now?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Well, your wish was to try and bring them and yourself back to life. But... If you don’t want that anymore, we need to figure out what your new wish is.”

Jabez stared at the devil in disbelief. Was this a jest, or mercy? “My wish...”

“You fulfilled your end of the bargain, after all. You kicked the proverbial hornet’s nest in Elonia and gave Gamugin a good show. While the contract was signed with his name, he relinquished the duty of fulfilling the wish to me, since I was better suited to the task. So? What do you want to wish for now?”

“What do I want? Why... I want to go back to Elonia. I need to save my friends. I need to strike down my enemies. I need... Power. I need another chance.”

“Power, is it? Enough to help your friends and ensure their safety? I can do that. But you know... Since I’m the one granting your wish, when all of this is over and done with, your soul will belong to me. You can’t make a deal with a devil and expect to escape Hell. So knowing what you know now, do you still want to do it?”

“I do.”

“Then it’s a done deal,” Lucifer shook Jabez’s hand. “You will bear my mark and a fraction of my power. It should be enough to fulfill your wish, but only if you have the courage to see it through. Are you ready to go back?”

“I am,” Jabez nodded. “Send me back.”

“Then it shall be done.”

Jabez felt a burning sensation on his neck as Lucifer’s mark appeared. He glanced at a nearby mirror, realizing it was a trio of black sixes, their circular halves overlapping with each other to make a swirling knot shape. Then, at the end of the hall, a familiar pair of doors appeared.

“That should take you back to Elonia. You’ll find less time has passed than you think. Even so, you’ll have to hit the ground running. There’s a lot to be done, and not much time to do it in. But... I think you can handle it.”

“And when it’s over, I have to come back here?”

“Eventually, but only if you die or exhaust your soul energy. Calling upon my power is taxing, especially for a mortal like you. Use it wisely.”

“I’ll try.” Jabez then marched down the hall, a renewed vigor in his every step. As he put his hand to the door, he looked back at the devil one last time. “Lucifer... Thank you.”

“Tsk, enough with that sentimental crap. Go save your friends already.”

Jabez nodded, then he opened the door. For a moment, the corridor was enveloped in a bright light. Once Jabez was gone, the door disappeared, and Lucifer was left alone. The devil put his hands in his pockets and walked off, smiling.