Wails of the Damned

     *Violence Warning*

I stumbled against the door, yanking at the knob, twisting and pushing and pulling. But the lock held. I looked back at the beast, a scream escaping me, trying to call for help. I shoved my shoulder into the door, kicking at it, trying to use brute force. I whimpered when I heard a gurgling growl come from behind me. I screamed for help again, sobbing splitting open the rest of my calm. Panic settling as I put my back to the door and stared at the thing. Its long tongue licked over its gums and teeth. It knew I couldn't escape. I glanced around, trying to find anything of use, my eyes landing on the fire poker.

    I waited, my body trembling as the beast got closer, only about five feet were between us. And each drop of drool made me want to puke. It got into a pounce position, my body stiffening against my control. Then, it lunged, its jaws were snapped opened, its aim at my leg. It liked to make its prey suffer. But I ducked, and crawled away, a loud thud telling me it hit its head on the door. Its screeching clawed over my skin, my hands grasping the metal of the fire poker. I spun around to try and defend myself, but then I felt it. Searing pain and a hard force knocked me back, falling against the wall as I yelped. My entire thigh was trapped in its jaws, its spindling fingers clawing at me as it bit down harder, I screamed.

    My hand fumbled to the poker again, the force had made me dropped it, it laid a foot away. I was trembling as agony ripped at my soul as the beast ripped at my leg. I let out another loud pained scream, sobbing as my body shook in horror and pain. My mind was going blank, and I couldn't focus. I felt its slobber dripping over my leg, or maybe that was my blood. I don't know. I bucked at it with my good leg, it yelped taking the blow to its hip as I went again for the poker when it loosened its bite just enough. I felt my flesh tear as It hissed and bit down again as I turned my body, just an inch away, the poker laid mockingly. Spots started dancing around my vision, my fingers brushing against that metal as I felt the creature rip away, I screamed as the blackness and pain started to consume me. A blue fire sparked in my peripheral vision. The monster screamed its own pain and I tried to see, to look. I froze when I saw the creature's head get thrown towards the window. Hands grabbed my shoulders, turning me onto my back again, I moaned in pain in response. The pain was blinding, someone was talking. Then another replied. Then they were arguing. Blue light blasted my vision again as I hear a roar respond to the other voice. I closed my eyes, darkness consuming me. The darkness of pain and fear and regret. A nightmare.

    I was in a hallway. The floor was white and there were lockers. I slowly walked down the hall. Everything seemed...normal. That's when I heard a screech from behind. That familiar high pitch screech, I swirled around to meet the beady eyes that were growing closer. I didn't hesitate, I ran down the hall, its thudding steps sounding from behind. It was getting closer. I slammed into the hall doors, pushing them open and swinging them shut again. A loud bang jostled the door as I pushed against it, the screeching piercing through my skull again. And then...silence. I looked through the tall and thin window that was on the metal door. I stared at Samael. His back was turned to me but I could tell it was him. Nathan stood across from him.

    Nathan...That's right..Nathan was the shy quiet guy that I used to know. Until he started drinking and partying. I started to open the door when I noticed the veins that glowed bright orange. They covered every inch of him and he fell to his knees, screaming in agony as he burned from the inside out. Bile rose in my throat and I turned away, covering my mouth. I didn't want to see anymore. I closed my eyes, hoping it would just disappear.

    A hand of fire grabbed my throat and lifted me off the ground. I looked down the arm to the red-leathered monster. His eyes pure evil, he cocked his head and grinned. His hand slowly closed, my nails doing nothing to him as I clawed and squirmed. I couldn't breathe. I heard it first. The sudden crack of bone and ripping of flesh. I watched in slow motion as my head was twisted, and ripped off. I saw my headless body drop. And then I fell with it, Darkness swallowing me once more.

    I sat up, instantly regretting it as my leg screamed at me from the pain. I looked around, panting as I forced back the yelp. I was drenched in sweat and I was in a bed. It was like a twin bed, small and confining. But relaxing and cool. I looked down at the white sheets covering me, and slowly, I pulled them off.  My clothes were different. A white tank top and gray gym shorts. I slowly slipped my shorts farther up my thigh, studying the bandages that covered it. Red already showing on the white cloth. I winced, betting that my sudden jump disturbed the wound. I slowly mulled over what happened in that room. I shivered as the memory of the beady eyes stared at me.

    "..It will probably scar.." I snapped my head up caught off guard. Samael raised his hands, surrendering. "I'm...I'm very sorry.." he said softly. He was being sincere and it almost made him cute. He met my eyes guiltily and looked away.

    "How...how long have I been here..?" I whispered, my voice hoarse and dry.

    "In hell? Nine days. In here? Two." He watched my reaction as I slowly processed his words.

    "What...happened those six days before I awoke...?" I croaked out. He winced a little, quickly moving to a table with a pitcher and a glass cup. He filled the cup up with water, and slowly brought it to me.

    "Well...you were healing. You had three fractures, remember?" He watched me, as I took a sip of the water. I thought back to what he said when I woke up. I nodded slightly, satisfied he looked away. "You seemed to have fallen into a coma. Probably from the hits you took. And the travel to hell wasn't pleasant for you either." He grimaced as he thought back on his story.

    "What do you mean?" I gulped my water, feeling the moisturizing liquid slip along my dehydrated throat.

    "Well...for starters, you were in so much pain, it was hard to carry you without causing you to yell or cry. You did try to wake at one point, but you went back out as soon as you opened your eyes." He looked at me, regret lining his face. "I thought you were going to die.."

    "Why didn't you leave me there? The hospital would've taken care of me."

    "Because...Belial would've found you...or any other demon that's sent to hunt you down. Right now, everyone in my realm thinks you're dead. I was hoping to get you home before anyone noticed your presence." He sighed softly. "But your scent isn't easy to cover. Especially from that incident...your blood....it brought in a lot of beasts." His eyes flicked to me. "Why did you look through the window?"

    "Why did you lock the door?" I snapped back. He winced and grumbled "touché..."

    The door opened slowly and a faintly red female walked in. She was of average height and only a strip of black cloth wrapped around her breasts; her legs were—I gasped when I noticed her legs. They were like a goat, with short dark red fur that went all the way up to her hips. Black hooves clopped against the white tiled floor.

    "What do you want?" Samael snapped, bearing his teeth, his orange eyes glowed slightly. His gaze threatening death. The woman stopped and put a hand on her hip, a furless tail swishing slowly behind her. She scowled, her long black hair looked smooth and soft. But her demeanor and her eyes said destruction. Her eyes were a pale yellow, and her horns started red but faded into black as they leaned back before curling up. She leaned on one leg, making a show of looking over her black pointed nails. "spit it out, Cahtora."

    I tried to keep the shock from my face when I looked at the woman I heard him talking to earlier. She promptly ignored him. She was getting really close to a flame. Literally. Samael fought back his anger as he gritted out his words, a small blue fire raced over his arms. "Now. Cahtora."

    "Kedar has killed all the demons that had trespassed onto your land." She huffed. Her eyes flicking to me for an instant. Her frown grew deeper and she looked at Samael again. "Your orders m'lord?"

    Samael hissed, "finish construction. And stop with the attitude before I cancel all your 'party' plans."

    Cahtora narrowed her eyes and she hissed, "fine." She turned, her eyes catching mine; she sneered and stomped out of the room.

    "I...I'm sorry about her." I looked back at Samael as his fire was extinguished and a calm settled over him.

    "She seems to be a bitch.." I said.

    Samael laughed and nodding, looking towards the door. "Yeah. She definitely is one..but she means well. Usually.." he snorted and shook his head. "I've known her for decades and she still acts like a teenager."

    I looked at him confused, "what? Decades?" He looked at me, a sheepish smile showing.

    "Immortality.." he said softly, a hand reaching up and tapping one of his horns. "I'm a demon, remember?"

    I looked away, "oh.."

    "Still getting used to it?"

    "....yeah..."

    "It took me a long time to get it through my head. So don't worry, it's not uncommon. It takes time to adjust." He smiled and looked away. "You're probably hungry, huh? The soup we give you wasn't exactly the best, but it would keep you from starving."

    I looked back at my clothes, my face slowly blushing, "who...put me in...these clothes..?"

    He looked at me confusion flashing in his eyes before remembering. "Oh! Don't worry, it wasn't me." He said quickly, raising his hands and taking a step back. "I let Latifa take care of that."

    "Who's Latifa?"

    "She's our...I suppose you would call her a doctor of sorts..?"

    "Oh.."

    He hesitated, looking me over, stopping on the bandages. "Speaking of which..." He looked towards the door. "Latifa." He spoke as if she were right beside him, and I opened my mouth to comment when the doors swung open. Cahtora had been beautiful, I will admit, but Latifa was far more pleasant. Unlike Cahtora, she had a slim form; her skin was ghastly pale but her eyes were big and a soft green. Her ears were longer, like a donkey's, but they were furless and much thinner. They pointed slightly down and her horns were like a ram, thick and curled. As She got closer I noted the soft gray freckles that sprinkled her face. The finishing touch was her white curly hair, the length going down to her jawline. She stopped about two meters away and she bowed her head slightly. Her long-sleeved dress was gray and white, reaching all the way to the bottom.

    "My lord?" Her voice was smooth and gentle, she was the total opposite of Cahtora.

    "Her wounds need a new dressing. And she needs food. And if able, a bath. She's probably sore. Do what you need to to keep her safe." Samael started towards the door before pausing. "Should I call Kedar to come to guard you?"

    "No my lord. I'll just call for Sorscha. She is much more responsive to orders. No offense my lord." She replied, looking towards him with a respectful smile. "She is just easier for me personally."

    He chuckled and nodded, "she is your familiar...and I do agree. Kedar is...very rebellious."

    She smiled, "off to your duties now?"

    He sighed, "sadly..."

    "Slacker."

    He grinned, "correct."  He looked towards me, his smile growing. "I will see you later, and don't worry. Latifa is the worst demon in the world. She cries if she accidentally steps on a spider." He looked at her again, she blushed shyly.

    "It was cute.." she mumbled.

    "See? Worst demon ever." He chuckled and started walking again. His hands sliding into his jean pockets.

    "It was just so fuzzy and cute! And I had named him the day before." She said, looking towards me.

    "What...did you name him?" I asked slowly.

    "TeddyBear."

    I laughed so hard that I couldn't breathe, and she fussed over me. She really was the worst demon ever. She probably fell in hell by mistake.

    Samael was right though. She was gentle and efficient. I never did see Sorscha. The only sign of her was the soft noises that would be moving around the room. Latifa assured me that I was safe.

    And, for a moment...

    I believed her.