The night we opened hell

Part 14:Beauty and betrayal

Justina's POV

I was hungry.

Again.

I stared at the small piece of bread in my hand.

That was all they had given me.

One piece of bread.

And a small cup of water.

I looked at the cup.

Then at the bread.

Then back at the cup.

"Are you serious?"

No one answered.

Of course, no one answered.

There was never anyone here to answer me.

I picked up the bread and took a bite.

It was dry.

So dry that it felt like it was sticking to my throat.

I swallowed with difficulty and reached for the water.

I took one small sip.

Then I stopped.

I needed to save it.

That was the worst part.

They never gave me enough to actually live.

They only gave me enough to keep me alive.

Enough food to stop me from starving.

Enough water to stop me from dying of thirst.

But never enough to make me feel full.

Never enough to make me feel satisfied.

I stared at the cup in my hand.

"This is ridiculous."

I threw the piece of bread onto the floor.

Then I immediately picked it back up.

I was hungry.

I couldn't afford to waste food.

I hated that.

I hated this place.

I hated the illusions.

I hated the mirrors.

I hated the way I could never see the face I wanted to see.

Every time I thought I had finally become beautiful, the illusion would change.

The mirror would c***k.

My face would change.

The image would disappear.

And I would be left staring at myself.

Again.

And again.

And again.

I was tired of it.

I was tired of seeing my reflection.

I was tired of being trapped in this place.

I was tired of being alone.

And most importantly...

I was tired of being punished for something that all of us had done.

All of us.

Not just me.

We had all been there.

We had all performed the ritual.

We had all summoned the devil.

We had all been dragged into Hell.

So why was I the one suffering like this?

Why was I the one being kept in this horrible place?

Why was I the one being given barely enough food and water to survive?

I sat down heavily.

My stomach growled.

I glared at it.

"Don't start."

I looked around the room.

There was no one.

Just the mirrors.

The mirrors were everywhere.

On the walls.

On the floor.

Even hanging from the ceiling.

I hated them.

I hated the way they watched me.

I hated the way they showed me everything I wanted to be.

Beautiful.

Perfect.

Desired.

And then took it away.

I closed my eyes.

My friends.

I wondered where they were.

Were they suffering too?

Were they hungry?

Were they scared?

Were they alone?

I shook my head.

Of course they were.

They had to be.

We were all in Hell together.

That was what I kept telling myself.

But then another thought entered my mind.

What if they weren't suffering?

I opened my eyes.

What if they were somewhere else?

Somewhere comfortable?

What if they were being treated better than me?

I stared at the mirrors.

The thought grew stronger.

What if they had forgotten about me?

My stomach twisted.

"No."

I shook my head.

They wouldn't.

Would they?

We were friends.

At least...

I thought we were.

I stood up.

"Maybe they're all together."

The thought made something inside me burn.

Maybe Evelyn was with Nessa.

Maybe Daniel was with Scoba.

Maybe they were all together.

Maybe they were eating.

Maybe they were drinking.

Maybe they were comfortable.

While I was down here.

Alone.

Hungry.

Thirsty.

And suffering.

For something we had all done together.

My hands curled into fists.

"How could they?"

I took a step toward the nearest mirror.

My reflection stared back at me.

I stared at it.

Then I looked away.

"How could they just forget me?"

A strange feeling suddenly moved through the room.

I froze.

The air changed.

The room became colder.

I slowly turned around.

At first, I saw nothing.

Then someone stepped out of the shadows.

I froze.

For a second, I thought it was Nessa.

The resemblance was striking.

The same beautiful features.

The same elegance.

The same kind of beauty that made people turn and stare.

But it wasn't Nessa.

I knew that immediately.

This woman carried something different.

Something darker.

Something far more powerful.

She stood calmly in front of me.

I stared at her.

"Who are you?"

The woman smiled.

"You're angry."

I frowned.

"That's not an answer."

She took a step closer.

I took a step backward.

"Who are you?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes."

The woman tilted her head.

"Why?"

"Because you just appeared out of nowhere."

She smiled.

"That happens here."

I stared at her.

I didn't like her.

I didn't know why.

Maybe it was the way she looked at me.

Like she already knew everything about me.

"Where are my friends?"

The woman's smile grew.

"That's what you're thinking about?"

I frowned.

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

I didn't answer.

She took another step forward.

"You've been down here for days."

My eyes widened.

"Days?"

She nodded.

"While you were suffering down here..."

She paused.

"Your friends were being taken care of."

I stared at her.

"What?"

"Your friends."

She smiled.

"They have comfortable rooms."

My chest tightened.

"They have food."

I said nothing.

"Water."

My hands slowly curled into fists.

"They are being treated well."

I stared at her.

"No."

The woman tilted her head.

"Why not?"

"Because they're in Hell."

"So are you."

I didn't have an answer.

She continued.

"They are not suffering the way you are."

I felt something inside me snap.

"Why?"

The woman simply stared at me.

"Why are they comfortable while I'm down here?"

She didn't answer.

I stepped closer.

"Why am I the only one suffering?"

The woman smiled.

"Are you?"

I stared at her.

"You're lying."

"Am I?"

I didn't know.

That was the worst part.

I didn't know.

And the more I thought about it, the angrier I became.

We had all done it together.

All of us.

But they were comfortable.

And I was here.

Alone.

Hungry.

Thirsty.

Suffering.

I looked at the woman.

"Who are you?"

This time, her smile disappeared.

"My name is Mage."

The name meant nothing to me.

But there was something about the way she said it.

As if I was supposed to know it.

"What do you want?"

Mage looked at me.

"I want to help you."

I laughed.

It came out bitter.

"Help me?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"I can give you everything you want."

I stared at her.

"Everything?"

"Everything."

I looked at the mirrors.

Then back at her.

"Why?"

"Because I need someone like you."

I frowned.

"Someone like me?"

"Someone who knows what it feels like to be forgotten."

My expression changed.

Mage continued.

"Someone who knows what it feels like to watch others receive what they don't deserve."

I swallowed.

"You're trying to manipulate me."

Mage smiled.

"Am I?"

I looked away.

I didn't want to listen to her.

But every word she said seemed to touch something inside me.

A place I had tried to ignore.

I was angry.

I was tired.

And I was alone.

"How can you help me?"

Mage took another step closer.

"Work for me."

I stared at her.

"What?"

"Work for me."

"What does that mean?"

"It means you help me."

"Help you do what?"

Mage's eyes darkened.

"Take back what belongs to me."

I stared at her.

"What belongs to you?"

She smiled.

"Hell."

My heart began to beat faster.

"And what do I get?"

Mage looked at me.

"Everything you've ever wanted."

I said nothing.

"Beauty."

My breath caught.

"Power."

I stared at her.

"Revenge."

The word settled between us.

I thought about my friends.

I thought about them sitting in comfortable rooms.

Eating.

Drinking.

Living.

While I was down here.

Suffering.

I clenched my fists.

"Why should I trust you?"

Mage smiled.

"You shouldn't."

I frowned.

"Then why are you telling me this?"

"Because you don't have to trust me."

She leaned closer.

"You only have to hate them more than you fear me."

I stared at her.

I wanted to deny it.

I wanted to tell her she was wrong.

But I couldn't.

Because somewhere deep inside me...

I was angry.

I was furious.

And I didn't know if my friends had forgotten me.

Mage turned away.

"Think about it."

I watched her.

"Wait."

She stopped.

I swallowed.

"If I agree..."

Mage looked back at me.

"What do I have to do?"

Her smile slowly returned.

"Help me take back Hell."

The room fell silent.

I looked at the mirrors.

My reflection stared back at me.

For once...

I didn't look away.

And for the first time since I had been brought to Hell...

I began to wonder if maybe...

I didn't want to be rescued.

Maybe I wanted revenge.