Pandora’s POV

I managed to rush out in the hallway in the exact moment to see the doors to torture chamber close followed by a set of clicking noises meaning they were sealed shut and my lockpicking skills would never, ever get them open. Fantastic. Bloody brilliant. My fists landed against the door, before I heard footsteps sound behind my back. With a heavy sigh I turned to look over my shoulder to see Shads leaning against the door frame.

What? No witty remarks? I turned around to see him folding his arms over his chest – his eyes stayed fixed on the door behind me as if trying to figure out a major plan how to get his boss and his boss’s new plaything out of the chamber. Matt’s eyes narrowed on me, before he shook his head, lowering his stare.

„Perfect.” My hands dropped by my sides as I rolled my eyes. „And what now?”

„We wait.” He shrugged, pushing himself off the wall, „Come on, if you could make yourself quite the comfortable living in those chambers, I bet the angel will somehow pull through, knowing the devil is walking with her.”

„Pull trough?” I looked at him with raised eyebrows, before shoving him back in the door frame as I walked past him and decided to walk towards the lobby, instead of Gates office. The lobby at least had a pretty view and super comfy couches.

„What?” Matt rubbed his shoulder as he followed me, looking genuinely clueless.

„Have you ever been in one of them?” I asked as I pushed open the heavy double doors. The lobby instantly lit up in flames – more precisely – the walls did, creating the illusion that the room was truly on fire. The main purpose of it? Illuminating the room. Also the fact that it scared the damned shitless was a pretty rad bonus. The reception table was empty and there wasn’t a single soul roaming the spacious room. Truth be told – I had never seen Hell this empty.

„I have, but that was a long time ago.” Shads pushed his hands in the pockets of his pants as he looked around the room. Wait... He had been there? That was... a surprise.

„Well then you should know that it’s one person torture exclusively.” I explained, taking a seat in one of the Victorian love-seats.

„Exactly.” Matt agreed, „Angel’s torture should be a walk in the park for them.”

I shook my head in pure disbelief. And this was the smartest creature ever created? Give me a break. „And what if the chamber decided to indulge in Gates’ naughty little desires?”

Matt stood silent for a moment. „Then they’re fucked.” He came to take the seat in the other love-seat in front of me. „Well, there’s nothing we can do about it right now.”

I grunted as I laid down on the couch, letting my legs swing over the arm rest. What if she can’t take it? I could only guess what she was going through. I didn’t know if those blessed with a pure heart got it easy or exactly the opposite... Actually I was the single demon who worked for Gates and hadn’t worked in those torture chambers. I guess I got lucky.

You see, those torture chambers work in levels. One to nine. Nine circles of hell – nine levels in torture chambers. Those first couple of levels are pretty basic, nothing too tragic, although after all the time spent there any form of torture was nothing too tragic for me, but... Those last levels... That’s when the zoo keeper comes in play. Think of it like this – the torture chamber gives you a scenario based on your greatest fears or maybe the amount of guilt you’ve bottled up throughout the years, basically all those negative emotions... it’s like a super advanced AI, it takes the worst in you and puts on display. So... you’re going through this scenario – maybe it’s the one where you’ve killed a lot of people, but now the chamber makes you go through it as one of the victims, but when the demons or as I like to call them – zoo keeper’s come in to this form of your reality, it can seriously fuck you up. Think Freddy Krueger type of shit. Sleep would be the very last thing you’d want.

„So... what’s with all the ink?” My head snapped towards the place where Shads was sitting. His eyes were fixed on my arms. Ink? Oh, did he mean these shitty tattoos?

Subconsciously my hands slid over my upperarms. „Had to cover up the scars.”

„Heaven?”

„Yep,” I popped the ‘p’, „If I hadn’t been wearing a mask, I really believe I would’ve been dead on the spot.”

„What was he thinking...” He mused with a shake of his head. What was he thinking? Well, let’s just say Gates rarely ever thought. He just did what he wanted and what he thought was right.

„He thought he could win.” My eyes stayed on the burning ceiling above me. „Well now we know he won’t be making the same mistake ever again...”

„Well...” Matt’s voice made me straighten up in less then a second. I simply gawked at him. He’s not serious... A short moment later a loud thud came from the hallway following with a couple of grunts, making me rush towards the sound, but keeping in mind Matt’s face and the way he said that single word. Gates wouldn’t be as stupid to start another war he knew he was undoubtedly going to lose, right? RIGHT?!

As I stepped out of the lobby and into the dimly lit hallway, I saw both Gates and Teek on the floor. Drenching wet. „Thank fucking god!” Those were the words I never thought I was going to say, but hey, we could all in fact thank God for this situation since he was the bitter bastard who felt the need to control everyone’s step. All the fucking time. “What took you so long? Couldn’t figure the way out of your own damn torture chamber? And why the hell are you wet?”

“I could ask you the same question,” Gates retorted as I rushed towards Teek, pulling her up in a sitting position and hugging her like there’s no tomorrow. But who knew? Maybe there won’t be, knowing how Gates is the most egotistic moron to walk the face of Earth and he puts his pride first. Always.

“You wish,” I grimaced in disgust and out of nowhere Matt appeared with a towel and a sympathetic look. I mouthed a silent ‘thank you’, before I wrapped the towel around Tempest. “Teek, are you with me? You okay?”

I think I was in as big of a shock as she was, because I was hardly comprehending what was going on and what left my mouth. She actually did it. She made out of the chamber… well, barely, by the looks of it, but she did in fact make it out of it. All I knew was the fact that Teek was asking for some dry clothes, I mean, sure, okay, but, honey, you’re in Hell, go stand by the fire in the lobby and they would dry right up.

“I think I still have some clothes in my room,” I said without even thinking much. Only when the sentence had left my mouth I realized that mostly everything I wore back in the day consisted of some form of leather. Tight leather. Hooker tight leather. “But then we’re getting out of here. We’ve had enough adventures in Hell for one day.”

“You said Syn has the key?” Teek raised her head to look at Syn as I helped her up, rubbing the towel against her arms, trying to make her at least a bit warmer. For a short moment I looked at Gates, seeing him searching the inside pocket of his jacket, before I turned away and decided to get this freezing angel a pair of skimpy yet dry leather.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me…” I stopped in my tracks, hesitantly turning my head to see Gates punching the nearest wall in frustration.

“Gates, man…” Shads started, a confused smile mirroring on his lips. “Don’t tell me—“

“Lilith! That fucking bitch!” Gates yelled, brushing his fingers through his hair. He was losing it. I saw the look of terror on Teek’s face and figured this is the moment when I have to push her in my room and shield her from devil’s anger.

I pushed Teek inside my room, which was a simple bedroom with dark grey walls, dark brown wooden floor, yet snow white furniture. “Wow… white?” She raised an eyebrow at me as I walked the room to stop by the closet.

“Yeah,” I smiled, checking the hangers for something decent to put on her skinny frame. “That’s another form of torture for those damned to try and figure how to keep these things white.” I stopped and stepped back, shifting my attention from my closet to Teek and back. “Hey, babe, come here… I think I’ll allow you to pick the outfit out yourself.” Since you won’t find a single potato sack dress in this entire room. So… I think could trust her with this little task.

“Really?” She asked as a couple of thuds came from behind the door escorted with an angry yelling and stuff breaking.

“Yeah,” I nodded, “In the mean time I’ll go check on the boys, come out whenever you’re ready, okay?”

“Okay.” She smiled back at me and I walked out of the door to see the armchair flying out of Gate’s office and shattering against the wall in the hallway.

“Gates, relax!” I heard Matt trying to calm him down. Tough luck, pal. “Pandora got out of here once, I’m sure she—“

“Then go and get her!” Syn shouted right as I walked in his… once had been office.

“No need. I’m here.” I walked in, inspecting the damage. Was there a single thing he hadn’t broken? Yeah, I didn’t think so. “And you can save your breath, I don’t know how I got out.”

“You’re lying,” His eyes were dark and by now I could wholeheartedly admit that the guy had gone insane. He walked across the room and threw me in the nearest wall, pushing every single drop of air out of my body. As I tried to get to my feet, he appeared right in front of me and pinned me to the wall, holding me by my neck. His crimson red irises glared at me as he raised me higher, my feet losing the contact with the floor. “Tell. Me. The truth.”

“I am…” I gasped for air, trying to free my neck from his hand.

“Gates, I suggest you let go of her, before you’ve hurt yourself…” I heard Matt’s voice somewhere in the distance. I knew you didn’t need to breathe in Hell in order to exist, but man did not breathing feel like a true suffocation.

“Not until she tells me the truth,” His fingers tightened. Had he completely lost his marbles? I didn’t lie. Ever. And I couldn’t… not to him at least. Besides how could I tell him anything when he was fucking choking me?!

“She’s bound to you… You do know what that means, right?” Hey, Shads? Maybe less talking and more… you know… helping? Okay, if you’re not helping me, then I guess I’m helping myself. Men…

Okay, Gates, I give you three seconds to let go of me. Three… Two… Two and a half… Well fuck this, he had his chance. My heeled boot went straight for his crotch, making him stumble back and double over in pain. “Oh is she now!” He sent Matt a painful stare, before he straightened up. “That was a dirty trick, Pandora.”

“I swear to your father, Gates, if you come any closer—“ I cut myself off with a cough, before I rubbed my neck. I honestly wasn’t even mad. I was confused. Why was he taking this all out on me? Was he that afraid to stay here?

“You what?!” His eyes flared up. I didn’t know if he got even angrier because I mentioned his father or it was simply because of the fact that I threatened to kick his butt. He went for a hit, but I seemed to be faster and somehow we ended up wrestling on the hallway floor. He was holding me in a choke hold, seemingly panting underneath me. Man, he’s actually getting old. “Now… are you gonna tell me the truth…?”

“I… already… told you,” I managed to roll us around so I’d be facing the floor and I could push us both up.

Right as we were on our knees and I was about to headbutt Gates, Teek walked out of my room. Confusion just gained another meaning for her. “What are you guys doing?”

“What… does it… look like?!” I panted deciding to go for the head-butt. Gates let go of me instantly, stumbling back in the wall.

“They’re just expressing their ungodly love for one another,” Matt walked out of the office and smiled at Teek, “Nothing to worry about.”

“What the hell’s wrong with you?!” I exclaimed as I glared at Gates, trying to catch my breath. He was holding his nose and was that a little bit of blood I was seeing? “You lost the fucking key, why are you taking it out on me?”

“I didn’t lose anything…” His eyes narrowed on me as he inspected his bloody fingertips and finally wiped away the blood dripping from his nose with the sleeve of his jacket.

“Well then where the fuck is it?!” I yelled, finally feeling the anger starting to pulse through my veins. The guy was blaming me for something I didn’t even do? Oh, right. That actually was his thing. Right. Silly me.

“Okay, guys, relax, I’m sure—“

“Teek… Don’t.” I held my hand up, preventing from her coming over. My attention turned back to Gates, “You fucking lost the key and now you act like I’m to blame for it…”

“Okay, enough, Pandora…” He sighed, pushing himself off the wall.

“No!” I argued, puckering my eyebrows together, “What do you mean enough… You fucking come at me, piss me off and now when you realize you’ll end up bleeding on the floor you say enough?!” I yelled and I didn’t care that he was coming straight for me. I could punch him again if that was what he wanted. “It makes no bloody sense, Gates—“

The bastard cut me off by taking me by my hand, opening the nearest door and shoving me in. He shut the door on me not saying a word.

I just blinked staring at the door, hearing it lock in front of me. I was in awe. Was this one of the torture chambers he had thrown me in? If that’s the case, I believe it’s broken, because all I could see was a four by four room with a metallic door standing right in front of me.

“Well someone clearly needs a Happy Meal…” I muttered, turning around and looking ahead in the dark. Where am I?

It felt like a cool breeze kissed my cheek, before someone or rather something whispered in my ear. But I didn’t know the language. Seemed very much like the one Teek spoke in. That angelic gibberish. This made absolutely no sense to me. Was there an angel in here? No. Couldn’t be, I would’ve smelled it.

The voice floated around me for a bit until it started to distance away. I decided to follow it, which seemed to be the most moronic idea I’ve ever come up with. Maybe this was in fact one of Gates’ torture chambers, I mean, what else could it be, but it didn’t act like one. And the room… As I walked further… I figured I’d run into the wall after a couple of steps, but it seemed like I had been walking for hours now, trying to catch up with the voice.

At one point I realized it’s getting brighter. I had to squint my eyes to realize I’m seeing a desert in front of me. No… Wait… I looked down on my feet and saw them sinking in sand.

“I got out…”

Notes