"Fall from Grace" (Private, 18+)

[hal7283]

Rasniel looked amazed at the changing landscape in front of him, and was more amazed by the vast fields of green appearing. Rasniel took Belial's hand and followed him. Since everything in hell was either black from the darkness or red from the flames, at best golden from the lavish decorations in the palaces, some green was indeed soothing for the eyes.

 

"I've never thought there's a place like this in hell!" Rasniel said in awe, and soon he saw the castle walls stretching before them, and he could barely hold the urge to fly over it to see what's beyond.

 

 

(p.s. I've thought about the discussion we had earlier, namely the part about the angels attacking and capturing Rasniel. My earlier idea was having two attacks but now i think it's a bit redundant. So i think one attack should work better. And also about what the angels would do to Rasniel once captured .... I have an idea but it will change the dynamics quite dramatically. i don't want to spoil the fun now but when the time comes let me know your thoughts. I'll shred it if you don't like it)

[Arekushisu]

Belial smiled softly and he leaned to him some, "I'm happy you like it...Not all damned souls stay in torment forever Rasniel. I do have a little paradise for the people who work out their sentences." he said gently and smiled looking at the large building before them. "My demons that work in this area live in this palace which I made for all of them, then the people who have long awaited their peace, live in small towns just beyond." he said leading Rasniel around the palace to the streets which would take you to the small villages of people. "They dont live royal lives like in Heaven....but they are free of the pain their sins have brought them and they can make new lives for themselves here." he said looking at his lover.

 

"I wanted to show you...that not everything about my world is evil. I can tell you yearn to be back where you once were helping people...but really you can help them here too. Hell is something both cruel and beautiful. You just have to work for the peaceful side." he said smiling softly as he looked over his kingdom. "This is my favorite part...reminds me of my life up there...I cant make it like Heaven but I can make it as close to paradise for these people as I can..." he said and seemed to get lost watching the small people walking around in their villages in the distance.

[hal7283]

Rasniel flied around curiously and watched from a distance how the souls here went on with their daily lives, and it almost looked like a normal city on earth. "This is amazing" Rasniel said as he turned to look back at Belial. "So people who have repented their sins after their suffering comes here? This is..... I'm speechless." Rasniel looked around the castle and saw it filled with people, even though disproportionately outnumber the the souls still suffering, were a lot of them. He also noticed a familiar presence, the man who he lead to suicide. He focused on the man and saw him sitting on a bench of a park peacefully. Rasniel sighed in relief and smiled.

 

After looking around for a bit longer Rasniel went back to Belial's side and said: "Alright, how about let's go to earth now? As much as I love your library, I kind of miss my little one too."

[Arekushisu]

Belial nodded and smiled, "yes...I can't guide the souls to heaven but I can give them the second best thing." he said gently and looked over his land once more. He let Rasniel do as he liked watching as the young angle walked about himself looking around the souls who were living at peace in Hell. Belial loved the look on his face, that he knew there was more than just bad here, that Belial was more than just a bad guy. He looked up as he saw Rasniel coming back to him and he smiled, "Yea we can go. I just noticed that the issue with your...suicidal man was bothering you so much I felt like you needed to know that he was at peace now." he said and took his lovers hand.

 

"And yea...we can go to Earth. I have to talk to Lucifer first...he is my commanding officer, so wait in my study please for me to come back It shouldn't take me long." he said pecking Rasniel's cheek after they had stepped out of his paradise lost and he smiled. "I'll be back shortly. "he said and ran off to go find Lu-Lu in order to tell him he was leaving for a short trip to Earth.

[hal7283]

"Okay. I'll wait for you." Rasniel said happily as he flew back to Belial's palace and into his study, picking up a book at random and sat on the couch. But he found himself too excited to keep his attention on the books so he just leave it at the side. Time was almost as meaningless here in hell as it was in heaven, plus the fact that he was taken to hell right after he had fallen, the memories of earth felt distant, almost like from a last life. Perhaps it's because he had fallen, but somehow he felt more attached to the library he built up on earth, a sense of possession, property, sense of wanting and having something of his own.

[Arekushisu]

The confrontation with Lucifer didn't take long and only a few moments after leaving Rasniel did he show up at his own door opening it. "Rasniel? Ready to go?" he asked and smiled softly closing the door behind him as he walked to the wall next to the large door of his room. He touched it gently his fingertips barely touching it and it lit up a door emerging and he looked at Rasniel motioning for him to go. "Come on, I know you want to go..." he said softly a soft sad smile on his face.

 

He knew Rasniel wasn't happy in hell, and he knew he wasn't happy in Heaven either, thats why he took the job on Earth. He knew that he wanted nothing more to enjoy the beauties of Earth and the life that dwelled on it. Belial wasn't into such things, he liked his home in Hell and he liked his home that he had in Heaven, sure he enjoyed Earth but he had been guiding it and seeing it through since its creation, it was a project that had long finished for him and he wanted it to thrive but he didn't need to be there all the time to feel connected to it.

[hal7283]

"Great! Let's go! I really miss the earth somehow. Especially my little library." Rasniel smiled as he allowed Belial to open a portal to earth, something which he hadn't got a chance to learn how to do from hell. Moments later they got through the tunnel, and the abandoned mining island was right in front of their eyes. Rasniel closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the cool ocean breeze against his skin. Somehow the earth seemed colder now, probably because he had got used to the hotness of hell. "I hope the place hasn't got overran by wild grass yet." Rasniel smiled and began to fly towards the island, but suddenly he froze in midair, and the next second, it happened.

 

What occurred in front of Rasniel and Belial's eyes looked like it came right out of the old scriptures, as a giant pillar of fire descend far from the heavens and all the way down upon the lone patch of land , melting, vaporizing, disintegrating the entire island within a blink of an eye. The next moment the pillar of fire disappeared, leaving nothing but a boiling ocean, and on top of it, one man floating in mid air. The man had blond hair, blue eyes and pure white skin, but he looked normal, usual, like the pedestrian you'd pass by and instantly forget. But at the same time you could feel a strangeness, almost like watching a large man wearing tiny clothing, but with the man infinitely larger than life. The man opened his eyes and looked down at the boiling sea, troubled. "Oops! Shouldn't have done that! I really need to practice my landing more." Raniel looked at the man and his body was trembling uncontrollably. The face was unfamiliar, but Rasniel knew the immense pressure he felt from the man all too well. He knew exatcly who the man was: Recording angel, Chancellor of Heaven, communicator of god's words....

 

The man raised his head and looked at Belial, nodding just slightly: "I don't think we've met so allow me to introduce myself. I'm Metatron, chief scribe of heaven, former superior of our common friend here. Which... bring me to you... Rasniel..." Metatron said as he turned his gaze to Rasniel, and instantly Rasniel felt like he was being watched by thousands of eyes, each carrying more fury than the next. "I admired your zeal, and trusted your devotion to our lord. That's why I allowed you to come down to earth. And this!? This is how you repay my trust? Repay our lord's love? I am truly, truly disappointed Rasniel."

 

The next moment Metatron disappeared, then reappear next to Rasniel and grabbed his wrist. "Belial run!" Rasniel managed to scream before Metatron swung his hand back and threw Rasniel several meters away, where he was caught by a group of angels who seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Then Metatron quickly moved to stand between Belial and the angels holding Rasniel, and said with a bright smile: "Don't worry devil, we're here only to enact judgement on my former assistant there. You can go back to that little hole of yours and pretend to be king for a while longer."

[Arekushisu]

Belial laughed softly at Rasniel as they walked through the portal, "Eh well I know you still have that want to look into all of my books so I cant imagine how you feel when you cant see your own library." He said gently and spread his wings ready for when they stepped into pure air. He smiled, "The grass wouldn't have grown up by now...you know this dont you? Hell time is different than that of earth." he said softly and moved to follow Rasniel to the island they would call home for a few months.

 

Belial's mind was focused on hell and the duties he had to achieve when he got back but the sudden cry of dying animals and plants brought his attention back to the present. He looked forward at this giant pillar of fire and his heart sunk. He knew full well that it was an Angle, one of high power, and they were here to either take Rasniel or to fight him. Either way it wasn't going to end well. Belial moved and tensed pushing himself infront of Rasniel his protective instinct shielding the boy from the angles view.

 

He patiently watched and listened before he felt a tug on his wrist and then air. Everything went by too fast, before he knew it Rasniel was on the other side of the angle and he was standing alone the sudden feeling causing him to shudder. "Don't you think he has already been through enough? Your God banished him from his home already, stripped the only pride he ever had from his back, and now you have to do one more thing to ruin him?" he said to the angle when he spoke of judgement completely ignoring the blow to his ego. "Give him back...we have stayed out of your hair and his and you know that when an Angle falls he is mine and you cant change that, no matter how much judgement you pass on he poor soul. You didn't judge me, or lucifer, or Beelzebub when you banished us down to this god forsaken shit pile we call home! There is no need to pass it onto him when he hasn't done anything wrong!" he said anger fuming but his eyes moved to Rasniel and it all passed off of him.

 

"What will happen..? If you Judge him? Hm..? And its against him...?" he said turning to the angle before him his body stretching up and his eyes angerly looking down upon him. He was pissed, he should get some respect he was the King of hell ruler of all things evil and they spit on him like an animal.

[hal7283]

Metatron didn't respond to Belial's questions, and instead he smiled as he opened his arms, the sky was then filled with countless explosions and fireballs as bright and hot as the sun itself, with rays of light beams showering the area like rain, each beam with more than enough holy power to vaporize a lesser demon. However as fierce as these attacks seemed to be, none were aimed at Belial directly. It was rather a barrier to limit his movements and to trap him. But from the outside it looked as if Belial was engulfed in the storm of fire and light.

 

"Belial!" Rasniel screamed as he saw the fire storm engulfing much of the sky. He was confused and filled with countless questions. But at the moment all he cared was the well being of Belial since Rasniel knew how powerful Metatron was, and how merciless he could be when carrying out the orders of God. He couldn't imagine what's happening to Belial inside that fire storm. Immediately he stretched out his tentacles and with a fierce swipe knocked the angels holding him away. But more and more angels occurred and blocked his way. Some of them Rasniel recognized, some of them he had fought with side by side in the past, and now each of them are holding holy weapons, or conjuring spells against him, each staring at him with the same righteous fury they give to all the hell hounds and demons.

 

"Please let me go, I don't want to fight you." Rasniel cried. But his plead was met with a volley of holy fire, lances, angels charging in with their weapons. Rasniel managed to put up a shield and deflected much of the incoming projectiles, but wasn't able to fend of the angels charging in from all sides. One after another their holy blades slashed over Rasniel's body, leaving countless wounds spilling blood over the sky.

 

"Get... out of my way!" Rasniel roared and mustered all the strength he had left, and the water from the sea rose up high in the air, creating a giant tidal wave which swallowed all the angels nearby. Rasniel knew this would only stall the angels momentarily, and the only chance he had was to get back to Belial's side. He flapped his wings and rushed towards the fire storm, seeing a slim gap between the sun-like fire balls and entered it without hesitation. The heat from the fire balls burnt his body, the shower of lights punching holes all over, he could feel his body was getting lighter and lighter as more and more of him was lost. But it didn't matter, since it only allowed him to fly faster. All he could think was to get back to Belial's side. When he finally cleared the fire storm Rasniel looked more like a burnt corpse after a fire than anything else. But it was worth it. He could see the familiar silhouette with the eye he still had, there he was.

 

"Belial!!" Rasniel shouted as he tried to fly to Belial's side, it was then he felt a heavy presence behind him, and the next moment he stopped in mid air. At first he wasn't sure why he couldn't move forward anymore, then he looked down and saw a pillar of light going through his chest, and a bright white flame began to spread from it, disintegrating what little was left of his body. He raised his head and tried to look at Belial, but he could see nothing over the bright flames surrounding him blocking his vision.

 

"It is done." Metatron said as the last bit of the fallen angel disappeared along the flames, and the next moment he vanished, so did the fire storm, and the angels. The sky was blue, the sea was calm, the breeze was gentle, it seemed like nothing had happened. But there was no trace left of the island, nor the fallen angel who once called it home.

[Arekushisu]

Belial sucked air through his teeth, this angle wasn't going to let him get to Rasniel. And he wasn't going to reason with him either. He shook his head and dashed forward to fly to Rasniel but was greated with the burning flames from a wind of fire. He screamed out as he dodged a fire ball causing his shoulder to sustain a burn the mass of his hand. He backed away from the large storm and through glimpses between each fire ball he could see Rasniel fighting against the angles which held him captive.

 

He wanted to scream out, tell him to stop, let them do what they need to. But another part of him just wanted one last kiss, one last sweet nothing whispered to him. He just got Rasniel and now he was being taken from him, "Rasniel! Hold on! I'm going to get to yoU!" He screamed over the roaring flames. Trying some way, some how, to get to Rasniel, the one thing that made him feel whole. He looked around flying up and down the mass of fire looking for an opening but he was completely cut off from Rasniel and the angles with him. There was no way God was letting him interfere with the judgment process.

 

He stopped the useless search for an opening, and he looked through the one window he had to see his lover. Just then he watched as Rasniel dashed away from the angles, throwing water into their faces just to get to the barrier of fire between them. Belial shook his head and watched, Rasniel pushed his way through the wave of fire, his body burning away and becoming dust. "Rasniel! Stop! You have to stop!" he screamed loudly, his body moving to go and stop Rasniel.

 

His entire world however stopped, as he watched the all too familiar light shoot through Rasniel's chest. Tears sprung up to his eyes as he caught eyes with Rasniel. He watched the body he made love to, the one he committed his life too, perish before his eyes. "No!!!! Rasniel!!!!" He jumped forward and tried to hug the body he loved but by the time he cleared the distance the angles, the fire, rasniel, everything was gone. He was alone hugging his waist as sobs retched through his body. He let out an unnatural scream flames covering the water below him and bringing dead fish up to the surface of the water. He hated God.

He hated Life.

He wanted nothing more, than to die.

To be with Rasniel once again.

He teleported him and went to his room ignoring the sounds of Lucifer asking him what happened, ignoring his peers looking at him and whispering, he slammed the door to his room and went to his bed laying down. Tears filled him again, the pillows and sheets still smelled like Rasniel.

[hal7283]

They say that in sleep, you could rest.

 

They say that in slumber, you could find peace.

 

They say that in dreams, you could feel hope and happiness.

 

But he knew none of it.

 

Ever since he could remember, his sleeps were filled with nightmares. But it's a bit different from the nightmares he heard from others, as there were no monsters, no nonsensical events, no random mash up of times and places. No, his nightmares were clear, linear, and every moment of it felt as real as when he was awake.

 

In these nightmares he was always a different person. A man, a woman, or in rare cases unfortunate mutation of something in between. In each of these nightmares he would be born, grow up, he may enjoy some brief years of happiness before everything goes downhill. Whether it was sickness or injury, tragedy or accident, by chance or by malice, in any case he would suffer, sometimes for a short while but mostly for years and years to come, then he would die in the dreams, painfully most of the times, and wake up in the morning, still remembering vividly all the pain and suffering he endured in his nightmares. Any normal human being would have gone mad long ago and took his own life, but for him, the nightmares were almost "enjoyable" in comparison to the "reality" he was living in.

 

It has been centuries since humanity blocked out the sun with all the exhausts from pollution. Even without the fog the overgrowth of population had forced people to build towers higher and higher, denser and denser, blocking the sunlight as a result. Now only the very tip of those towers which penetrated the thick poisonous cloud could ever get a chance of sunlight, while everything beneath that were covered in the shadows, shrouded in toxic fog. The further you go down near the surface, the darker it gets. And darker the world, the darker people’s heart became. 'Blue sky" has become a term synonymous with “fairy tales”, “boogie man”, or “hope” for that matter. So he almost found himself privileged because as bad as all the nightmares were, at least he had seen the "blue sky" in his nightmares, well, at least in the nightmares where he wasn't locked up in a dungeon or born blind. That being said, there was one reoccurring nightmare which tormented him far beyond the others, and unlike the other nightmares this one was always vague and blurry. All he could remember from that was a great burning pain, and a silhouette of someone vanishing in front of his eyes, and it always end with the painful cry of someone calling......

 

“Rasniel!”

 

The loud call awakened him from his usual nightmares. He opened his eyes and found himself being held in someone’s arms. He looked at the one holding him, slowly recovering from the nightmares. Soon he recognized the familiar face and smiled weakly: “Morning Zack. What’s the matter?”

 

“What do you mean ‘what’s the matter’?! I came back from my shift and saw you on the ground like this! I tried to wake you up but you just fucking laid there! I thought for sure they’ve killed you!” Zack said worriedly, tears forming in his eyes.

 

“Me on the ground.....?” Rasniel looked down and found himself bare naked, with blood and other filth all over his body. He tried to move a bit but a sharp pain immediately spread from his lower body, making him groan lightly. The memory of what happened last night gradually began to catch up with him and he muttered calmly: “Right.... A few drunk guys came over last night...”

 

“How could you be so calm about this! They’ve.... They’ve......!” Zack cried as he held Rasniel tightly, the last few words too painful for him to speak out.

 

“It’s no big deal, I’ve been through worse.” Rasniel said as he patted on Zack’s back and said: “Now my dear friend, would you please help me get up and get dressed? I still need to go to work you know.”

 

“But your condition!” Zack pulled away and looked at Rasniel, shocked by what he just said.

 

“You think the Boss cares about what happened to my ass? The only ass he cares is his own on that office chair. You remember his favorite line right? ‘There are plenty of people waiting in line for your work! So you better get to it!’.” Rasniel said casually, changing his tone to mimic the “boss” he mentioned.

 

Zack lowered his head and fell silent for a while, his body shaking as he tried to hold the impulse to cry out. After a while he looked up again, wiping tears off his eyes and made a bad attempt at smiling: “Alright. Let’s get you ready. You can’t go to work smelling like that.” He then began to help Rasniel getting up from the floor.

 

“Thanks buddy.” Rasniel smiled. With the help of Zack he lumped to the other side of the room where there was a bucket of water. Untreated cooling water collected from the broken exhaust pipe of a nearby power plant to be more precise. Zack took a towel and dipped it in the bucket, then used it to clean all the blood and filth off Rasniel’s body. Rasniel had knew Zack since both of them were little. At the time he didn’t have a name, and it was actually Zack who after hearing him described the nightmares he had, suggested him to name himself after the strange name he heard in his nightmares: Rasniel. After they sneaked out of the “processing station” together they’ve been watching each others’ back ever since.

 

After a short while Zack had helped Rasniel to clean himself up and get dressed. By then Rasniel also had mustered enough strength to stand up on his own. “Are you sure you’re okay Rasniel?” Zack asked worriedly.

 

“Don’t worry, you know I’m tough as nails.” Rasniel smiled as he began to walk out of the room. He then turned to look at Zack and said: “You should get some rest now, or you won’t have enough strength for your shift.”

 

“I know...... Take care of yourself.” Zack answered.

 

Rasniel waved goodbye at Zack before stepping out of the room door. The hallway stretched to both ways seemingly endlessly. Rasniel looked at the clock on the wall and it was almost work time. He began to run down the hallway with his teeth clenched tightly, trying to bear the pain all over his body. He climbed up some stairs at the end of the hallway, and after almost 20 minutes of climbing he reached a small metal door. He pushed a few buttons and the door opened on its own, only to be met with another door. As the first door shut behind him he took out a gas mask and put it on. After making sure the mask was secure he opened the second door and was immediately met with a wave of burning wind carrying enough toxin to kill a unmasked man instantly.

 

Rasniel walked out, the street was shrouded in deep fog as usual. If not for the street lights scattered around the city nothing would be visible. Countless people like him wearing masks were rushing to work, and he soon joined the human flood. He squeezed himself with countless others into the crowded tram system, which delivered him to the factory he worked at. He looked at the large factory clock, fortunately he wasn’t late. He got through the air lock and put his gas mask in his locker, then proceeded to his working station. The day was uneventful and exhausting, making parts which he had no clue what were they for, and the fact that he had sores all over his body certainly didn’t help. But the paycheck at the end of the day made everything worthwhile. It wasn’t much, but was enough to keep himself alive, barely.

 

When he got back home Zack had already left for his shift. He didn’t bothered to lock the door as he knew locks meant little around here. Rasniel reached under the bed and found one of the nutrient bars they’ve hidden there. He opened the package and took a small bite before stuffing it right back under. That one bite was enough to sustain him for the next day. After that he collapsed on the bed and fatigue soon began to take over. What nightmare would he see tonight? Would it be the one where he was buried alive? Or the one he was beheaded? Maybe the one he was thrown into a cage and teared opened by a beast? Whichever it is Rasniel prayed that it wouldn’t be the one which he felt that burning pain while the silhouette of someone disappear in front of his eyes. That one was simply too painful to bear.

[Arekushisu]

The days without Rasniel seemed to go on forever. After the accident, Belial seemed almost distant, not like he used to be. Lucifer kept the kingdom up and running while Beilial spent his days either wrapped up in the blankets of his bed or in the sky above the Earth. For some reason, no matter how painful it was to go back to where they had once shared time together, he still found himself hovering over the sea where the green island once stood. He still found himself walking through the streets looking, searching, for anything that could take this pain away.

 

Years have passed since then, and the pain is slightly clouded now. Covered up with lust and sin, and the power he had once given up to be with Rasniel. Belial now, years later, was able to sit on his thrown and smile. It wasn't real of course, it never would be again. Lucifer played with his fingers as they rested on the arm of his chair, "Belial..." he said softly his eyes looking to Belial before looking away again.

 

"Yes?" Belial answered, a stern tone now graced his powerful voice, and that once loving sound no longer rang in his voice. Lucifer noticed this right when he came back and slammed that door years ago.

 

"I just wanted to ask you...when are you going back up...? You haven't gone in a year or two...not even to collect souls..." he said softly knowing that the issue was sensitive to Belial and that he really didn't want to talk about it. But he needed to know, sure Lucifer was happy now that the pesky angle was gone, but he also lost Belial. He slept with Belial in his bed every night, and they usually fooled around before Belial decided he was tired and he would pass out leaving Lucifer thinking if he really loved him or not. Lucifer, slightly missed the Belial that was around when Rasniel was. He was happy and cheerful, and he seemed to always have a smile on his face. Now he cried sometimes for no reason and would have to excuse himself in order to gain control of his emotions again.

 

Belial tilted his head slightly and looked at Lucifer, "I think...I'll go today...I agree its been too long. I want to see the filth once more..." He really hated the cities. The filth, and the fog, and the poverty, and all the crime which now engulfed the world above would normally make him happy, but he really hated it. The world which was beautiful, and lively, and which compelled he and Rasniel no longer seemed to exist. But he still went, searching for that beauty which he couldn't find here in hell.

 

He nodded again and stood, "I'll be back tomorrow possibly, hold down the fort for me." he said and without another word he made a portal and unfolded his wings before walking through the large door.

 

~~

 

The city was worse than he remembered, he hovered above the buildings and it was hard to see through the fog without enhancing his vision to do so. He noticed that people wore masks, gas masks to be exact. He looked around him and he chuckled, he sure as hell wasn't going to wear one of those. He landed on the top of a building which seemed to be a factory of some sort and he ruffled his wings folding them behind his back, and concealing them.

 

He would stand out, he knew that, so he flicked his wrist and a hoodie formed on his bare chest covering its handsome curves. He then shakes his head and pulls the hood up and he smiled, jumping from the top of the building down to the sidewalks below it. He knew his destination, it was a small park, probably run down now, where a littler girl used to play with Belial. He made his way there without any trouble, and he smiled seeing a little park stood there still but it was abandoned, no children played on the plastic curves of the slide or the cold metal of the monkey bars. He didn't mind, it still held beautiful memories for him. And he felt wonderful basking in the memories of Ransiel and the life he did have.

 

Night was approaching and he really had no idea where he would stay, he decided a small apartment complex close to the park would have to work. He walked to it easily and unlocked the door of a vacant apartment walking in and sighing as if he had come home from a long days work. He walked into the living room and sat himself down against the wall, resting his head against it. No furniture, he flicked his wrist and a bed appeared. He stood and got into the covers sighing softly as he rolled onto his back looking up at an unfamiliar ceiling for the first time in a long time.

[hal7283]

Rasniel was awaken by a deafening bang coming from outside the room. He jumped from the bed immediately and put his ear on the door, listening closely trying to figure out what was going on. Already he could hear people screaming, crying, cursing and shouting. He pushed the door slightly open and took a sneak peak, and could see people running towards the exit carrying their bags and other belongings. Rasniel couldn't quite make out what exactly was going on, but from experience he knew he couldn't just stay here and wait.

 

Rasniel reached under the bed and grabbed the metal box which contained all of their savings and supplies, as well as a section of a broken metal pipe to be used as weapon if necessary. Just as he was about to step out of the room the door was suddenly pushed open. Rasniel immediately raised the metal pipe but was relieved to find out it was Zack.

 

"Thank god it's you." Rasniel said as he lowered the metal pipe down. Then he asked: " Any idea what's going on?"

 

"The gangs are fighting." Zack said as he took the metal pipe from Rasniel with one hand, and held Rasniel's hand with another: "Let's get out of here before we get caught up."

 

Rasniel nodded and followed Zack out, and was quickly pushed along by the flood of other people trying to get out of this apartment. At this rate the staircase leading to the exit would be extremely crowded, and it won't be hard to imagine people getting suffocated or even trampled to death. Rasniel gave Zack a quick look and they began to brave out of the stream of people. After they were clear they began to run towards the opposite direction.

 

If there's one trick to survive in a world such as this, it's to make sure there's always another way out. Since the first day the two of them got into this aparment they began searching, and finally found it some weeks ago. The two of them reached a door which had the writing "maintenance room" on it. Zack took out two metal pins and inserted them into the key hole. After some jiggling the lock was opened the the two was able to get inside. There were countless crates and boxes filled with things from building supplies to tools, or even just scrap nobody bothered to throw out, as well as countless pipelines which filled up much of the room. Behind all the crates and boxes a section of the wall was broken, revealing the thin space between walls where all the pipelines traveled. The two of them put on their gas masks and got in, beginning the long climb up towards the surface. The process was exhausting but was worth it, soon they emerged from a maintenance hatch on the surface in a small alley, and found themselves pretty much in the middle of a war zone. Shouting, cursing, sounds of gun fire and explosion could be heard everywhere, and they knew no help was ever going to come. The people who lived on higher levels didn't care what went on below them, and in fact there's nothing these gangs could do to even shake up the high buildings as they were simply immune to the pathetic weapons the gangs could get their hands on.

 

"Where should we go now?" Zack asked as he looked cautiously around.

 

Rasniel thought for a second and said: "Let's try to make it to the outskirts... you know, where the park is."

 

"You sure about this?" Zack asked.

 

"Yeah I'm sure. It's also the only place the gangs aren't interested in fighting over."

 

"Alright... Let's go then!" Zack said as he held onto Rasniel's hand a bit tighter.

 

The two began to sneak their way across the city. It seemed the gangs wanted to end their rivalry once and for all, so the fighting got more and more intense as more men were put to the front lines. Everywhere they could see fighting, corpses were laying all over the place. Adding to the chaos many people saw the fighting as their opportunity to further their interest, and began to break into shops and houses, robbing whatever they feel like, whether it was food, cash, or people. Fortuantely the two were able to avoid all of the trouble, and finally arrived at their destination.

 

It was said that when the fog first began to cover the earth there was a large protest around this area. It ended with someone releasing a chemical weapon, killing all the inhabitants and protesters. Since then the area was abandoned, and somehow survive the centuries of over-development. It retained much of its features from the past, even though much of it had crumbled due to neglect. The two walked by what used to be a park and saw a apartment building close by.

 

"Let's go hide there." Zack said as he pulled Rasniel along. Just as they were about to step into the building Rasniel suddenly felt a sharp pain from the back and fell to the ground.

 

'Rasniel!" Zack turned around and screamed. Before Rasniel completely lost his consciousness he saw a man struck Zack from behind. He then heard someone said something about "these one would sell for a good prize."

[Arekushisu]

Belial was only in his room for moments before he heard the shrill sound of metal against metal. His head tilted and he listened closely. He could hear men laughing as they walked up the stairs of the apartment building. He knew better than most how much crime went on around here, gang fights, people murdered in the streets, everyone was fighting for survival. He rolled out of the bed and moved his shoulders listening still. As he heard the first woman scream, he knew that the building would evacuate and he would have to fall in line with others in order to not stand out.

 

He moved his hands over the room causing any sign of his presence to disappear from the flat. He then pulled the hood over his head and left the room. People already swarmed the hallways and he sighed looking about him searching for a less crowded route. Due to his immortality he really wasn't worried about being hurt, instead of walking with the people he walked away. Heading to the stairs and walking up each one as quick as possible trying to ignore the smell of vomit and shit which lingered in the hallways. He pushed open the door which was to the third floor and smiled noticing no one was there, he went to the railing and he shook his shoulders his wings easily unfolding from his back.

 

He jumped off the building's siding masking his image with the shroud he kept his wings hidden with. He headed to his park, his safe haven, his heart. It wasn't long till he found himself standing in the middle of the small play ground, his mind seeming to take him back to that time when Rasniel confronted him here. He could hear everything, the screams of pain the unimaginable chill as each body hit the ground like a sack of potatoes.

 

"One..." He counted, "Two....Three....Four...Five...Six...Seven..Eight..Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen..." and the numbers kept piling up. He could feel the amount of souls entering hell and the amount which stayed here lingering in the Hell hole we call limbo. He was shaken from his mind when he heard a cry of someone close, he instantly reacted. Even though inwardly he knew to leave it be, to let it go un noticed, but even as business was booming not this many souls belonged in Hell all at once. He looked around and noticed four people, one lay on the other large man seeming to be passed out, and he other was being hit over the head with a bottle. He shook his head and walked swiftly to the group, "Hello, You mind if you let those boys go?" he asked calmly sticking his hands in his pockets.

 

One of the boys still were conscious but he didn't care, if he had to show his face he would, and he would save these boys the best he could. He noticed all of them wore masks and his voice was the only one which pierced the night, not muffled by the sickening head gear. He knew full well that these men wouldn't give up the boys, he smiled sweetly and he tilted his head showing his unmasked face to the men which now had their full attention to him.

 

"Actually, why dont I just take them from you?" he said sweetly, almost cheerfully. He didn't even remove his hands from his pants as he moved his head to the side. One man went flying letting go of the boy who was slightly conscious. He then did the same the opposite way and the man holding the boy whom was knocked out flying into the monkey bars killing him instantly from a wound to the head. "I really hate being so mean." he said softly under his breathe and he moved picking up the two figures which lay on the street.

 

His wings unfolded from his back and he flew to his building walking back to his empty flat once more both men on his shoulders. He moved his head and his bed appeared again, easily he set them both down groaning slightly at the weight of them both. He didn't pay attention to how they looked, he left their masks on and he didn't touch them other than saving them this far. He would make sure both woke up alright tomorrow, but then he would be gone. He walked to the wall and sat down on the floor his back leaning up against it. He faced the black door which led to the ruined, filthy outside world. He would keep watch, for any gang members who decided they wanted to give him a shot, anyone, he decided they wanted to die.

[hal7283]

Moments before Rasniel completely lost his consciousness he saw the silhouette of someone approaches. It looked familiar, almost painfully so, but his clouded mind couldn't figure out who that person was. Soon his mind sunk into darkness.

 

But darkness didn't last, even in such situation the nightmares didn't allow him peace. But the nightmare he saw this time was a bit different, it felt more like a traditional "nightmare" others spoke of due to it being extremely fragmented. In one moment he was surrounded by rolls after rolls of bookshelves, and the next moment he was inside a building more luxurious than anything he could imagine. Then it cut to a scene where he was being held in the arms of someone, but somehow Rasniel couldn't make out any of the features of that man. And then it was the burning pain, spreading from his chest to all over his body. But even more painful than the bright flame engulfing his body was losing sight of someone. Who was the man he was trying to look for? And why was the man so important?

 

Rasniel was brought out of his nightmare when he felt someone shaking him, and heard a familiar voice calling his name. He opened his eyes and saw Zack looking at him worriedly. "You alright Rasniel?" he asked.

 

"Yeah.. I'm okay." Rasniel said as he sat up, the back of his head still hurt from being struck by the kidnappers last night. He looked around and found themselves in a abandoned apartment room. "What happened? I thought we were attacked."

 

"I was about to ask you the same question." Zack answered.

 

Rasniel tried to remember the events of last night, and remembered the silhouette of someone showing up before he lost it: "I think...someone saved us."

 

"Saving us? You sure?" Zack answered surprised, and continued: "It does explain why we're here unharmed. But I wonder what kind of insane person would do such things, helping strangers and disappear without a trace. I mean look, he didn't even take our stuff!"

 

".... Whoever he was, we got lucky. We should be more careful from now on cause luck isn't going to save us forever." Rasniel replied. He then turned his attention outside, and the sound of fighting can still be heard from a distance. "Let's go around this apartment building and see it there's anything useful..."

 

The two then began to explore the apartment. With the fighting still going on in the city they plan to hide here for the time being, but before getting too comfortable they had to learn about their surroundings, in case anything goes wrong they could find a way out.

 

But Rasniel had another reason trying to look around the place. Deep inside he had a slim hope to find his savior again. Somehow he couldn't get that faint silhouette out of his head. For some reason whenever he tried to remember the person's features his heart was filled with pain and sadness, and he intend to find out why.

[Arekushisu]

Belial couldn't stay sitting down, he stood and closed the door to the bedroom walking to the kitchen tapping his fingers on the counter sighing. He really hated these fights, but a part of him wanted to join the blood and rape which echoed through the streets at that very moment. Lust and blood caked bodies running around searching for that release they found in slicing the skin of another human. He could feel it, the lust, the violence, the fear, and even more so, the evil. It was like a warm hug to him and everything seemed right to him. The world seemed to revolve around him and his very being.

 

Turning his attention to the front door he walked to its chipped black shadow and opened it. He took in a breathe and smiled, the smell was there too. Blood, over any smell was very noticeable. Sure he could smell the chemicals in the air, and the filth in the streets, but the blood rang like his favorite brand of vodka. He shut the door behind him and locked it by moving a finger. He found himself walking slowly up to the roof to watch the sunset, wondering if the fighting would continue even during the day.

 

He stood now, hands in his pockets looking over the chaotic city under him. He watched the sun rise slowly from the east and when it was in the sky and the fighting didn't stop he sighed and decided to walk back down to his room. He could hear both men were up and moving and he decided it was better to meet them now or never. He knew they wouldn't find anything in his apartment because it wasn't his. He had no personal belongings in the home, nothing but furniture and food. He unlocked the front door to his apartment and he shut the door behind him listening easily pinpointing both of their locations.

 

He then shrugged and removed his hoodie laying it on the chair before going to the stove. He decided he would make them something to eat, he lit the fire without any gas or flame and he blinked the eggs on the skillet. Being the way he was cooking breakfast and food was simple and easy for him so nothing really took that long. Before long the smell of bacon and eggs could be smelled throughout the entire apartment and he knew it wouldn't be long before both men came to the kitchen looking to see who had brought them here, and ask him why he had done so.

[hal7283]

The two were looking around the place when they were caught by surprise when they heard the sound of the door being unlocked, and the footsteps following it. The two looked at each other and nodded, each garbing the metal pipe they had tightly in their fingers, and carefully moved towards where the sound was coming from and saw Belial in the kitchen cooking. They looked at each other, both alarmed and confused. Rasniel looked at Zack, who pointed at the door suggesting to get out of the place at once. But Rasniel was curious, was this the person who saved them last night? If so, for what purpose? There's another strange feeling spreading inside him, wanting to know more about the man in front of him. Of course there was also cold calculation involved in Rasniel's thought process. He knew the guy was likely dangerous, perhaps armed, or not he couldn't have able to take down the kidnappers from last night. Befriending such a person would be risky, but also rewarding considering the situation they were in. Rasniel handed the metal pipe to Zack and decided to approach the man at the stove. A strange pain began to spread from his chest, it was nauseating, and made him feel dizzy. But he managed to pull himself together.

 

"Were you.... were you the one who saved us from the kidnappers last night?" Rasniel asked as he walked closer cautiously. noticed from the back of the man's head there wasn't any gas masks on. Rasniel figured it must mean the air here was breathable. Rasniel smiled a little and decided to take off his own mask as well, revealing his face to the stranger.

 

Rasniel knew his face was beautiful, even with the malnutrition making him look thin and unhealthily pale he still looked beautiful, and perhaps too beautiful for his own good. It had brought him considerable trouble and suffering in the past, but it was also a good tool, and he had learned how to use it throughout the years. Rasniel made the most friendly and innocent smile he could possibly make and said: "I can't thank you enough for saving us. My name is Rasniel, and that's my friend Zack back there. Is there anything I can do to repay your kindness?"

[Arekushisu]

Belial was slowly pushing the food onto the plates as he hummed to himself slightly swaying to the music in his mind. He stopped however when he heard the creak of a floor board and he chuckled shaking his head, they were armed and planed to take him down. Belial set the plates on the table and he moved back to the stove making another plate, he could feel two people behind him but one moved forward and started to speak. Belial nodded to his question, "Yes. I saved you last night." He was curt, not used to talking to strangers.

 

He turned to put the last plate on the table and he stopped, dead in his tracks. Rasniel, that beautiful face he had tried so hard to forget slammed into his face. He dropped the plate and he shook his head dropping down to his knees picking it up, "Oh I'm sorry about that, you just kind of...I didn't expect you to be right behind me." he said softly stammering from the shock of seeing his long past love. Belial's hands were shaking and his heart felt like it was going to come up out of his throat. He quickly picked up the glass with his bare hands and he sighed softly dropping the glass into the trash, having to do everything like a human would made everything so much harder.

 

"Don't worry about repaying me, I just felt like you guys needed to be saved..." he said softly looking down at the sink his eyes looking down at the stainless steel metal. "I know what happens to people like you guys, men pay a pretty penny for boys like you." he said and turned smiling softly. "Just eat breakfast and rest up, wait for the fighting to stop maybe and it'll be good enough for me." he said laughing softly a cute smile on his lips, and that beautiful laugh filling the room. He was the basically embodiment of lust in a being and anyone who looked on him wanted him. He rolled his shoulders and looked at Rasniel shaking his head lightly from the disbelief, it was so strange to see the boy again. Something he thought he would never see again.

[hal7283]

Rasniel was memorized, shocked even, by the man in front of him, who was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life, or the countless lives he had lived in his nightmares, and the strange ache he had in his chest became even stronger. Despite the pain however he was able to notice the strange reaction on the man's face when he turned around, and he knew it wasn't because he sneaked up on him from behind. In fact he was quite certain the man had sensed him approaching. Which made the whole situation even more awkward.

 

"That's very kind of you." Rasniel said, and he looked back at Zack and said: "Come here Zack, this nice man had prepared some breakfast for us." At first Zack was hesitant, and after a moment of looking at each other Zack finally walked close to the two, with the metal pipes still held firmly in his fingers, and stood slightly in front of Rasniel as if protecting him. He mutterd lightly: "Thank you..."

 

Rasniel looked back at Belial and smiled: "Please forgive him, he's always a bit on nerves when around strangers. This reminds me, we haven't even asked you name yet. How should we address you?"

[Arekushisu]

Belial shook his head and he smiled lightly, he was acting like a puppy again and he shook his head once more cleaning the plate mess along with the food which had spilt to the floor. He finished putting away the mess and he sighed rubbing a hand through his hair looking back at the stove seeing how much of a mess he had to clean up, he then looked at the two once more and smiled. "You're welcome Zack, It's nice to meet you both. My name is Ben. You guys are in my apartment right now, but after the fighting dies down you can leave if you like or stay I'm not really planning on staying myself so you can lock up here for protection if you must." he said softly and turned the stove off and started cleaning up his mess sighing.

 

"Please sit down, Zack put those away. If I wanted to kill you I would have done it already. Just enjoy your breakfast, I worked hard on it." he said and chuckled lightly. The sound was like bells on a christmas morning, it was so pure but his being was so full of lust and hate. As he was finishing up the cleaning, which wasn't taking him long at all because he had cleaned up most of it while he was working, his mind went to the boys infront of him. Rasniel...? His Rasniel? Or could it just be a coincidence that this boy had the same name as his beautiful fallen angle? He really didn't understand it, but his mind knew that Zack had to go if he was going to get anything from Rasniel.

 

Zack was too protective...too watchful...Belial hoped he didn't have any sort of crush on Rasniel. It would make everything harder. He jumped out of his thoughts to the sound of his cell phone ringing and he picked it up and answered it, "Bellial?" he sickly sweet voice could be heard over the phone and he groaned softly walking into the other room. "Yes?" Lucifer didn't seem to leave him alone anymore, now that they were a thing again.

 

"When are you coming back?" He asked over the phone, Belial could hear the whining in his voice and it made him want to hang up. Belial sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "I told you, I was going to stay here for a few days, its only been one. You really need to stop calling me all the time." he said coldly and he sighed. "Go take care of the things that need to be done there. I'll be back soon I promise...just I dont know how soon. Something has come up and I may be a little longer than a few days." he said to Lucifer over the phone and he could hear a sigh.

 

"Okay...I love you Belial. Stay safe." he said and hung up the phone leaving a dial tone in Belial's ear, he shook his head and looked out the window in which he stood infront of watching the hell hounds ravage up every last soul, and he listened as he could hear every pure soul die.

[hal7283]

Rasniel said thanks to "Ben" before taking Zack' hand and drag him to the table. They sat down and looked at the food in front of them, and looked at each other out of confusion. Throughout their lives all they've ate were nutrient bars or synthesized nutrient goo they get from work. Rasniel had "seen" food like these, but only in his nightmares. Slowly Rasniel picked up the utensils and put a spoonful into his mouth. Immediately his eyes opened wide and he accelerated the paste. Seeing Rasniel's reaction Zack too began to eat, more clumsy in his use of knife and fork, but no less quick when it came to devouring the food on their plate.

 

Their attention was drawn away from the food however when the sound of ringing echoed in the room, and they saw "Ben"taking out his cell phone and began to talk. The two watched as "Ben" waked to the other room.

 

"We should get out of here as soon as possible... I don't trust this.... Ben...." Zack said with an eye kept on the direction "Ben" went.

 

"Me neither. But I don't think he means any harm to us, at least not now. So we might as well squeeze all the value out of him.... and I think there's indeed much to profit from him." Rasniel pointed at the plate and continued: "Just look at these food, plus the phone he was using. I bet he must be some rich upper level guy who came down here for a stroll. That also explains how he could deal with the kidnappers, he must have body guards and stuff protecting him." Rasniel said while taking another bite.

 

"Sure, that sounds wonderful in theory. But how do you plan to do that?" Zack asked.

 

Rasniel paused for a second, then he smiled. But the smile was not out of joy or happiness, but rather out of self ridicule, even disdain. He pulled on the collar of his shirt slightly showing off his neck and collar bone. "How else? The usual way of course. From the reaction he had when he saw my face I think I have a good shot."

 

Zack looked at Rasniel with a complicated look. He reached to hold Rasniel's hand and said: "You don't have to do this."

 

"Don't give me that sad face. I mean I get my fair share of fun from doing it anyways, and if we can get some extra benefits from it then why not? Plus things may not work out, for all intents and purposes that 'Ben' guy may be straight." Rasniel chuckled slightly at the end.

 

Zack sighed heavily and looked straight into Rasniel's eyes and said: "Alright... Just be careful. He may end up being a psycho of some sort."

 

"Then I'll count on you to rescue me, like always." Rasniel smiled as he finished up the last of his food. He gargled with the cup of water he had attempting to clean his mouth after the meal as much as possible. Then he said to Zack: "Why don't you check out the rest of this building while I 'work the magic'?"

 

Zack nodded and grabbed the metal pipe, he then slipped out of the apartment quietly leaving Rasniel and "Ben" alone. Rasniel stood up from the dining table and took a deep breath. Then he walked towards the room where "Ben" had left for the phone call. He entered the room and found "Ben" looking out of the window. Rasniel approached him and laid his fingers lightly on "Ben"'s shoulder: "What's so interesting outside?" Rasniel the leaned slightly on him, looking up at his face smiling: "How about we actually do something......fun? Think of it as my way of saying thanks." Despite the growing ache in his chest worsened beyond anything he had experienced somehow he was able to pull off the act perfectly, and he had yet to see a man to not fall for his charms.

[Arekushisu]

It was strange, to hear "I love you" from someone who really meant it. Belial hadn't heard the words in a long while, he had told Lucifer to refrain from saying them because it made him miss Rasniel. It made him miss everything about the small relationship they did have, the small paradise he had made with him. It made him remember the gut wrenching pain that accompanied his death. He watched as a little girl was taken from the far side of the road and pulled into the street where more men waited for her. He watched, silently, unmoving, as the girl was shot in the head and the men toppled over her ripping her clothes off her body and slamming her head against the concrete even though her breath had already left her.

 

He jumped as he felt an all too familiar hand on his shoulder. "Oh? Nothing..." he said gently and he blushed lightly feeling the boy lean up against him. "There really isn't much outside...the fog is so dense its hard to see anything. I guess it's just new to me to see so much violence and filth all in one place." he said gently and quietly looking down at Rasniel and he smiled. His eyes were filled with love and he looked down at this boy like he knew everything about him, and like he had known him far more than twenty minutes or so. He looked back out the window, "Are you and your friend in a relationship with one another? He seems to really care about you...and he seems to really like threatening me because of you." He chuckled sweetly and he pulled away from Rasniel walking to the chair in the living room sitting down in it.

 

Belial ran a hand through his hair and he sighed, he really did want to know if they were together. Because he didn't want to kill someone nor did he want to fight for Rasniel. He would, but he really didn't want to have to, because he would win in the end. Zack seemed like a sweet kid, last thing Belial wanted was to rid Rasniel of a new friend, even if he had hidden feelings for the boy.

[hal7283]

Rasniel saw the way "Ben" was looking at him and he knew his intuition was right, that "Ben" was attracted to him. What he didn't expect was how much so. The emotion he saw in Ben's eyes were almost painful to bear. Rasniel couldn't think of anything he had done to deserve that. Then he thought of a possible explanation: he reminded "Ben" of someone else. Rasniel smiled and thought he may be able to use this to his advantages.

 

"Relationship? No." Rasniel shook his head and said: "Zack and I are just friends, well, more like family actually. We help each other out, watch each others back and stuff. It's nice to have someone who will always be there when you're in need, but such people are hard to come by these days."

 

Rasniel followed "Ben" to the living room and sat next to him, leaning close and smiled: "So... Do you feel better knowing Zack and I are not together?" Rasniel said while putting his hand on Ben's thigh, he leaned closer and whispered: "Let's have some fun... shall we?"

[Arekushisu]

Belial laughed softly and he shook his head, "Oh no, I was just wondering...because he holds a different view of you it seems. I could see it in his eyes that he cared greatly for you so I assumed you were together in a sense..he was ready to take whatever I was gonna throw at him." he said and moved slightly figiding as the boy sat next to him. He was shocked to feel a soft hand on his thigh and he looked at Rasniel and confusion followed his expression.

 

Rasniel was never like this, Belial always initiated the steamy hot sex sessions they had, never once had Rasniel done so. He stood up and he shook his head, "No, I'm not doing that." he said and he crossed his arms looking back out the window. "Plus...people are moving outside too close to here and I can't very well protect you if I'm preoccupied with something else." he said looking back at Rasniel. "You really shouldn't use people..it's impolite." he said and shook his head running a hand through his hair again.

 

"You're very pleasing to the eye...Rasniel..but...you just met me and you're willing to sleep with me for protection and ecerything that I have? Isn't that a little low...?" he said gently and started pacing. "I'll just tell you, You dont have to sleep with me in order to take refuge here, or eat my food. I'll cook for you guys, seems you liked it." he chuckled and he looked at him. "Just don't try that on me again alright? Just ask and I'll give you whatever you guys need." He leaned against the wall. "Speaking of, is he coming back anytime soon or are you and I alone for a really long time?" he said gently.

[hal7283]

Rasniel looked at Ben dumbfounded. After a moment of silence he burst out laughing. He tried his best to keep his voice down, which resulted in him holding his mouth and his stomach. He only regained his calm a minute later.

 

"Hoooo.......Sorry about that." Rasniel said as he wiped the tears off his eye, and smiled: "You're right, it's a bit low I suppose. But it's sometimes necessary around here, especially with my face. I'd rather take the initiative and do things on my terms than to wait for them to force themselves onto me. Trust me that's not exactly pleasant....As for Zack, I told him to go explore the rest of the building while we're at it, and he knew how these things usually go, so he won't be back for a while. "

 

Despite Ben's rejection Rasniel was not discouraged, if anything it made Rasniel more interested and intrigued by the mysterious man in front of him. Rasniel moved even closer to the point where he could feel Ben's breath on his face. He looked up and smiled: " Now we've got all the scheming and calculation outbof the way, I do have something I want to ask you... You said I'm pleasing to the eye.... Does that mean you like me? If there's no food or.shelter involved, would you've slept with me?"