"What the-!?" I blurt out as we arrive in a charred hellscape that looks more like a bombed out New York City than what I'd expect Hell to look like. "You know, I always figured it would be bad...but MAN. This is some crazy stuff. And you know...I'm almost a bit disappointed a little, evil Saddam Hussein squeaking in my ear.."
I get looks from the other two, "Just trying to diffuse the tension..."
The place does eat away at you though. Just being here saps all my energy. It strikes fear, despair, and desperation into me as well, but I fight to suppress them.
"Never thought I'd call the River Styx cheery...but I'd rather be in the Underworld right now."
"This is hell?" He'd been expecting something worse. More violent, bloodier and brutal. This was just depressing. But this dimension itself wasn't what gave it its reputation, it was the punishment and its denizens. "I can see why they'd want a change of scenery." His face remained stone, determined, it was looking forward. This his own attempt to lessen the tension between the three of them, he didn't really get Cerberus' reference. This was a land ruled by his "family" but it felt far from a place he would ever call home.
As we have entered hell, what we see thus far is pretty much 'Hell on Earth'. What the Earth would likely look like, should Lucifer have had his way I guess you could say. We walk down this barren road, as there only seems to be one way to go: forward. As I gaze down through the distance, it looks like everything meets and converges at one place. In a building.
Suddenly something exits the building, waiting for us at its entrance. It...it looks like an angel? But with black wings. A fallen angel.
"Do my eyes deceive me? Is Gadreel truly greeted by the son of Jophiel?"
"What? You know my mother?"
My...mother. My goodness. I didn't even
think about her this entire time. I'm coming down here to Hell to save St. Michael the archangel and I didn't even realize that I might be able to save her to.
"Know her? My boy...she spoiled my fun of teasing the one you all know as Eve any further when she was ordered to cast both her and the one called Adam out of Paradise...and yet my master is the one who took credit. So to be in the presence of her son...surely Lucifer smiles up at me, this day. I feel blessed."
Gadreel tilts his head, looking past me and at either Cerberus or Inferno. One of the two. Which one I cannot be sure but for a split second, he lets out a devilish smile before he turns his attention back at me. What's that all about?
"So...seeing as the three of you are not dead, what is your purpose for entering my Lord's lowly kingdom?"
"I'm busting out St. Michael the archangel from this hell-hole, and there is not a thing you can do to stop me or us. Is this going to have to get nasty, Gadreel?"
He lets out a chuckle as I get into a defense pose Kensei taught me, with the Shield of Faith in front of me and the Sword of the Spirit to my side. His chuckle is truly eerie and makes me want to vomit as it greatly exposes his hellish and sharp teeth as he does so. On the outside, he still resembles that of an angel say for the black wings and grayish skin. Though underneath, clearly something else stirs.
"Seeing as you'll have to cross the frozen lake where my true master lies, I have no desire in stopping you now. For that debacle would truly give both he and I pleasure. I shall accompany and show you the way. At the other end of the lake you shall find your precious and shackled St. Michael the archangel."
Checking to see if the other two have any objections or things to add, they simply just nod on, keeping themselves ready for anything that could come our way. I lower my defensive stance, swinging the shield to my backside, and sheathing the sword as Gadreel descends to the ground.
And that's when I ask.
"...will you also be able to show me my mother?"
A creepy smile full of glee on his face as he seems to channel demonic energies and start some sort of spell, Gadreel nods to me.
"Hahaha. If you wish it. Forever condemned to the frozen lake are traitors to God, country, and family. Thus is where your mother lies. I can bring you to her first if you like. And consider her lucky she doesn't suffer the fate of the rest of the souls in the frozen lake who are forever trapped under it, face up, with their eyes and mouths frozen."
His spell is cast, and we are in what surely must be the coldest place on Earth as icy winds blow our direction and as far as the eye can see lies an enormous lake of frozen solid ice. I look around and I can see the faces of the sinners and traitors Gadreel speaks of. Suddenly, I feel like there is no hope in our mission and I've never been succumbed to such a grave feeling of despair.
This is a terrible place, and I try to remind myself why we are here. But it's so hard. Each step I take and each time I remind myself that we are here to save St. Michael the archangel, another gust of icy wind strikes my cheek, and I see another agonizing and frozen face of a sinner, and then I think that there is no hope. The Armor of God keeps me warm for the most part, and it looks like Cerberus and Inferno are able to keep themselves warm as well.
Each step we take across this frozen lake feels impossible. By now we have walked a good amount of time, and I look back and it looks like we haven't even moved much at all. And as I fall to my knees, my eyes fixated on the frozen souls that look up at my in the icy lake, I've got no hope left.
"This...is futile."
Cerberus and Inferno help me up, and I start to wonder why it is they aren't suffering like I am. Could it be my being half angel? My divine heritage? Gadreel laughs hysterically as he glides through the air in front of us, stopping and turning around.
"You wished to see your mother, boy. Well look no further than to your right. The once fair and loyal angel bearing the name Jophiel--'Beauty of God'--lies just there."
Turning my head, I see her. Suddenly, seeing her gives me strength I didn't have at all earlier as I shrug off Cerberus and Inferno's help, and actually manage to
sprint to her. She doesn't see me, as she seems to be slowly treading along.
"Mom! MOM!!"
Shocked she turns around, only to see my figure running her way as seeing her gives me such hope, happiness, and love right now. A few tears run down my cheeks and freeze as the icy winds strike them, crushing softly as I wipe them away from my face.
I embrace her in a hug, and were this moment not taking place in Hell of all places, surely this would be a Kodak moment.