A groan escapes my lips as my head feels like I got hit by a truck, a look around shows I'm tied to what looks like an office chair of some form but there is a spotlight directly over me and I can only see a few feet in front of me.






A woman's voice with a bored tone comes "The human is awake." and another with a southern twist "My, those blue eyes of his really show the surprise." with a little giggle towards the end.






"Hehe, that whack he took was surprise enough." a mans voice with glee and amusement, followed by "It's a first that one of them decides to follow us to Hell, I wonder if there is a motive here." with a Yorker twist.






My eyes finally focus "Where am I?" as I try to get a feel for where I am.






The first guy replies "We are the ones asking the questions here! SO.... why did you come through the portal?!"






It all comes back to me, I offer to explain myself and the second woman I heard insists they hear me out, after a few sighs I am allowed to make my case known... but the sound of something sharp being tended to makes my hair stand on end.






................................






A yawn escapes me as I look around the kitchen for some breakfast, a stack of open mail is on the kitchen table, all of which are rejections for jobs as according them my interview seemed off or they just straight up thought I had no experience... for an entry level position with on the job training... brilliant!






"Geez, fresh out of school and no one will hire me.", I heat up a breakfast sandwich and start munching "I can always re-apply but I need some kind of income right now....", I hop on the computer and the power goes out "Oh yeah, these black outs are helping me out just fine." as I rest my hands on my face.






After waiting for the power to resume for about half an hour and picturing the lecture I may very well receive for failing the applications, I decide to go on a walk and see if maybe I can do something around town. I put a few quarters in a news paper machine and start reading it as I take a seat at the park, the obituary section has been interesting over the past few months as talk of a crazed serial killer taking care of what looks like vendettas or in some cases just straight up murder with seemingly no connections to anything what so ever. There is talk about creating a curfew but most don't see a point to it, though there are similar cases popping up across the country, heck even the globe... but the dirt on the dead is just insane, talks of double cross, cheating and laundering over a partners expense, it's better then any show on tv I've ever seen and it makes the 'front page' look like a joke.






I raise an eyebrow 'Why don't they make a show about these guys? I bet it would be a smash hit.'






There is also a new ad that catches my attention that looks like one from the 1930's, 'Alastor's Telegraph Service' with the description that basically talks about granting wishes, settling debt and offering friendship... sounds weird and interesting at the same time. There is also an advisory from what looks like a government agency about reporting any known information of who is carrying out the killings mentioned earlier, with my news paper read I decide to make my way back home with the rest of day being stale and just another day. Night creeps in and I find a movie to watch, nothing like a showing of the Terminator to help make a dull evening turn exciting. My mind goes back to those murders for a few moments, I wonder if I were to find anything about them I would get some reward money? My mind goes with me having more money I can possibly count, me driving my dream car and being set for life... a daydream but a welcome morale booster.






A loud crash catches my attention from upstairs, I shrug as I think the neighbors just dropped a plate or something, then I hear screaming and begging followed by gunshots, to which I dive onto the floor, I grab my cellphone as I hear a window being smashed, a quick look out the window and I see three shadows running into the woods, I decide to run after them... here it is, some pics and a call and hopefully I'll be set for a while. A flash of red comes and I see a portal of black and crimson, I try to stop myself but trip and I go through the portal, followed by me hitting my head on something hard and I black out instantly.






..............................................






"And now I'm talking to you guys after waking up....", I look around the darkness "And that is the truth."






Nothing comes from the darkness except for some whispers and a chuckle or two, I keep hearing the sound of a blade being sharpened though and I'm starting to think I'm going to die here. The lights come on a moment later and the sight takes me by surprise, three of the four look the same with red skin and tails with business suits, horns that are black and white with one being taller then the other two, the fourth is different in that she looks like a canine, her coat colors of black, grey and white, a black crop top with an inverted pentagram and black shorts with a crescent moon, her eyes though are the most striking as they are red sclera with white irises, her exposed black claws conveying power.






I shiver for a few moments... are these the killers? They look to be...






The tall red one approaches me "You either have thee worst luck possible or your desperate... I can work with both." as he rubs his hands together and his tone having a joyful tang, he throws his hands up "Who am I kidding?! You have both!" that smile full of glee.






One of the smaller ones rubs his chin "I don't know, he is human and is thus still alive. Technically we can't make him a client." and the other walks around him "He is kind of cute though, maybe we can work out some kind of deal?"






As for the canine, she simply rolls her eyes while revealing an axe which causes me to gulp, but those white eyes focus right me and it's a little uncanny.






Taking all the information in I am scared to death as two words ring out the most... human and alive... I want to cry out for help or scream but both are pointless, I need to think of something and fast.






"Allow me to introduce myself, the name is Blitz as the o at the end of my name is silent and we are I.M.P. which stands for Immediate Murder Professionals, we carry out the unfinished business of our clients." the tall one still giving me that grin, he looks at the others "The two shrimps are Moxxie and his wife Millie and the adorable puppy is my daughter Loona."






The canine gives a scoff "Adopted daughter!", Blitzo gives a cutesy tone "It still counts." and she replies "It does.... NOT!" revealing those teeth of hers while giving a glare which sends a shiver down my spine.






Minnie gently waves her hands "Now, now... this fella is a little shooken up." she moves over to me "You just seem a little down on your luck sugar."






I try to put a smile on "It's nice to meet you, I'm Adam." though I am so nervous it practically fails.






Moxxie goes "But we still have one crumb of a situation, a human in Hell will raise a lot of questions."






I don't focus on the back and forth that much as the three red creatures talk amongst themselves but Loona just looks bored as she puts her weight on the axe, Blitzo looks to Loona and asks her to untie me, she leaves the weapon where it is and begins to undo my binds, she is freaking tall as she seems to be roughly seven feet tall, her breath laced with remnants of alcohol, those eyes glance to mine for a brief moment, her black pupil shifting as they focus for that split second. With a teasing smile to both me and the others she finishes and takes a seat right next to me with Blitzo giving a silent scoff by the looks of it, while Millie gives a giggle and Moxxie rolls his eyes.






Blitzo puts a finger to his chin "But you are looking for a job and maybe we can find a spot for you... in terms of hiring you that is tricky, as a human being here will bring a lot of attention. On another detail, it could do the same in the human world if you disappeared."






I blink "Honestly, I'm just some guy back home.... while I do have some friends most won't notice.", giving a sigh "Besides, trying to maintain the apartment at this point is impossible, so I need a fresh start if possible, I was a few weeks from being bankrupt after-all."






Millie puts on a smile "I know, he can be our informant. He can help fill us in on the human world and it's customs while we provide him what he needs and get him trained up should we need another assassin."






Loona glances to her "That actually isn't a bad idea, since you stooges keep failing in a few areas in the human world it would go a long way." keeping that bored tone but she gives a smirk.






Blitzo informs me that he needs to clear this up with someone he knows and to give me special authorization, but they inform me that if I take the job I can't go back to Earth. I accept as it would give me a chance to start over, in terms of living accommodations they would see what they can do, having Loona next to me just makes me feel so small as I'm only 5' 6" and I come to just below her shoulders, though Blitzo is about my height without the horns and Minnie and Moxxie look to be a little over four feet. I can see Loona sniffing the air around me a little, I think she can smell my fear as I see a new grin form at a glance.






Blitzo gets on a smartphone and after tapping the screen "Hi Stolas, we've got a... unique situation.", his eyes dart for a moment "Well, a human followed us back and is looking to work with us..."






A violet/blue portal suddenly opens and a tall, thin form emerges and by tall I mean three times my height easily, the form resembles an owl with blue and grey feathers, eyes a stark red with no pupils, a tail in plume form with talons on his feet and wearing what looks like a form of royal attire, his four eyes look to me instantly with a glare.






Blitzo puts his phone away "Stolas, I wasn't expecting you to be over so soon."






The owl looks me over "Blitzy! Having a human trespass before death in quite an offense and might I add can draw some attention from the other lords."






The atmosphere is now extremely tense, there now seems to be a lot of power in the air and it feels like something is gnawing on my brain, Blitzo informs him of the situation and how I arrived in Hell, Moxxie looks indifferent while Millie looks excited, as for Loona she looks to be more fixated with the show in front of us, she actually is munching on some popcorn. Blitzo finishes explaining to the owl, those quad eyes look to me as he makes his way over, the air feels cold as ice and warm like fire all at once.






Stolas kneels "So, you are looking for a new start? I think that can be worked out, for your protection I will need to provide the means but even then many will consider you a target... not only that but this will require quite the paperwork." with his arms crossed.






"Honestly, it is something I need... there really is nothing going for me back where I'm from. Back home... I am literally nothing." trying to keep myself together, back home I can't keep anything together and no one giving me the time of day.






Millie puts on a sad look "Aww."






The owl nods "I will provide something to show your protection here in Hell, in the meantime go back and take what you need from Earth.", he looks to Blitzo "And make sure to write a contract to make him immune to your business practices."






We make up a quick contract to protect me from any revenge schemes, with help from Moxxie and Millie we get my close and personal belongings from the apartment... to which I set on fire and we head back into Hell. The next question though, is where I am going to stay, as Moxxie and Millie explain that they have limited space, the office isn't set up for any one to really live there...






Loona looks to everyone as she puts a smirk on "He can stay with me, I do have a spare room that I'm not really doing anything with."






Blitzo puts on a shocked look "Absolutely not!"






The hellhound rolls her eyes "What's wrong, afraid I'll make him a toy or something?"






My eyes shoot open at those words 'Oh my...'






Loona rolls her eyes "If I want a guy over that is my choice.", she looks to me "So Adam, wanna hang out with a hellhound?" with a grin, those teeth showing in that smile.






'Alright, play it cool, she is a demon that can rip me to shreds in seconds but I'm sure it can't be that bad.', I give nod and I say "Uh, yeah sure." a little nervous but I am more then willing to try.






Loona drags a claw around my right eye, I can feel how sharp it is, to where if she were to apply any pressure I would just lose my eye instantly, the imps having mixed looks. Loona and I eventually find our way back to her place which is rather bare with little if any decoration, I get my stuff put in place with help from Loona, my bed basically being a pullout couch she had stored in here, I'm still paranoid as the hellhound seems to be keeping tabs on me from what I can tell.






The canine eyes me "I am surprised, I don't know too many people who would do something so drastic, your back must've really been against the wall."






I sigh "Yeah, with nothing going for me, I figured hitting the rest button was better call." as I get an alarm clock set.






Loona comes over to me, her gaze zooming down with a teasing smirk "You ever been with a woman before?" while she brushes her hair with a quick paw.






I blink as I become nervous and start to stammer, earning quite a snicker from the hellhound and saying she's only messing with me. Truth be told, I've never had any luck with the ladies and so I decided to just gave up on it for the time being, Loona makes us some dinner and puts the news on, which instantly grabs my attention, it's nothing like the news back home as it shows turf wars and feuding lords, the hellhound catching how vested I am in what is going on, from what I can tell it is happening in a place called Pentagram City which according to Loona is on the same level we are on which is Pride but is a ways away. I inquire if Hell is unified or made up of individual powers working together, she simply replies that it's a little of both, though there is a set code of conduct formed by Lucifer. The news soon finishes and Loona wants to ask me a few questions when it comes to recommending what I'll be doing within I.M.P. and everyone has a few skill sets.






I think for a few moments "Well, I'm not much use in a fist fight, though I do have an understanding of firearms from researching but I have no actual experience with them."






The hellhound rubs her chin "Hmm, I'll recommend that we train you to be fire support. I think we'll just start you off with machine guns and go from there, what weapons are you most familiar with?"






I shrug "Mostly World War 2."






The night soon comes to a close with me deciding to go to bed as I've had quite a day... or two. I lay under the covers for a few minutes as I stare at the ceiling, a glance out the window shows a very dark purple sky with what looks like a thunder storm forming, I let a sigh out as I try to relax and glance to the door that I left open by a crack, that way if anything happens Loona can hear it. I close my eyes and lay on my side with my face towards the door, my mind slowly sliping away to slumber, I feel my side being touched so I open my eyes drunkingly to see the hellhound with her hand on me, she gives me a sniff, those white eyes scanning me and freaking me out a little.






Loona gives a smile "You seem to be relaxing a little, turning in at 8:30 is a little weird for someone your age.", she puts on a more awkward expression "Is there anything I do to help make you more comfortable?" while she twirls her tail a little.






I blink a little as I think I'm dreaming, I decide to speak "Is it okay, if you can lay with me? At least for a little while?" as I glance to the pillows, I can feel a tear come as I start to realize how alone I actually am.






Loona puts on a blush and she looks a little flustered "Er... sure, I don't see the harm in it."






The hound gets onto the bed and over the covers, holding me with her left arm draped over me, her head resting over mine... her fur just caked in warm air, it's putting me to sleep faster as I slowly wrap my right arm around her. I think I'm starting to cry as demon or not I haven't gotten this close to a woman, the hellhound tightens her embrace a little as I can hear a light groan or something, but I do fall asleep.






The morning is interesting as I wake up to actually see Loona holding me... it wasn't a dream after all?! Part of me starts to panic but a quick good morning from Loona clears it up as she seems to pass it off, a quick breakfast and drive we are back at I.M.P. with Stolas present where he gives me a silver seal with his symbol on it to wear as a badge to show I am protected under his name and that when Loona informs the others of what I want to do, Moxxie puts on a gleaming smile and quickly gets me a batch of firearms to use, an fg42, mg42, mp3008, two p38's, an m1a1 flamethrower, a scoped kar98k and a scoped ptrs-41 with a range of explosives... including a panzershrek and a few panzerfausts for good measure with a decent trench knife for close combat should the need arise.






I examine the trench knife and the flamethrower instantly, getting an idea to see if I can help another way, I ask for a plate of metal which gets their attention and a lit candle, they become confused by provide them, I start to heat the metal plate earning quite a few raised eyebrows, I take the knife and cut pentagrams into the tops of my hands, similar to the way they portrayed in the show Supernatural and burn them into place, fighting through the pain as best I can in the process. I take off my shows and do something far mor drastic... I take the candle and burn my finger and toe prints off one-by-one... by the time I'm done I feel like I'm about to black out, everyone stares at me as I slump into a chair. Millie bandages me up with some kind of potion, those eyes showing concern while the other just look puzzled.






Blitzo sits next to me "So... why did you do that?" with a raised eyebrow.






I sigh "I did it, so that if I touch anything I won't leave any prints, the pentagrams for protection... this is a new life for me, a new start. I burned my old home down, I burned it all to ash... I needed to do it... I will come back from those ashes... to prove I am something more."






The demons look to each other, with Stolas looking the most unsure, I had to make it clear I was starting anew, that this will be my real chance of trying to rebuild in my own way. I am told that my training will start after my wounds heal completely, though Millie and Moxxie decide to stay with me for a few minutes to keep me company.






Moxxie eyes me "A little extreme... but I do approve." as he crosses his arms.






Millie sighs "Adam, I can understand starting over, but I think all of what you did is a little too far."






"I had nothing going for me back home, with everything just going wrong all of the time I just had nothing to lose.", I look to my bandages "Besides, if no one finds me soon they'll think I'm dead anyway."






The two imps look to each other, they definitely look concerned, to be fair my mentle health hasn't always been the best, but they both say they are there for me and given enough time so will Blitzo and Loona in their own ways. I start to tear a little as I take the information in and with another look at my bandaged hand I let some loose, Millie gives a quick hug and Moxxie gives me a fist bump.






The start of a new chapter, the beginning of a new time and phase, I couldn't make it on Earth... but here... I'll give it one Hell of a shot!






To be continued...






(Theme Song: Dancing with the Dead by Powerwolf)