The InBetween

Twenty-One Full Seats (Tyrone's POV)

"So I guess this is it, huh Jay?"

"I guess it is Ty."

"Honestly, there's nobody else I'd rather burn alive with."

"You mean that, Ty? That's so oddly sweet of you."

"Yeah. I guess there's something about dangling below a black pit of fire, moments away from being merged with Satan's wife for the sake of pleasing these mutant imps that makes me wanna air out all my emotions."

"Well in that case, you are my best friend, Tyrone. If I had known we'd be dragged into the pits of hell to act as bait for a demon queen; I would pick you as the partner in crime to do it with. I'm just sorry I couldn't be anymore help."

"Hey, don't beat yourself up. You got us past those spider when I was too much of a quivering coward to do it."

"Now look who's beating himself up! You got us past everything before this. Chaos, Timpy, Skimpy, The Habillabarblab. That was all you. Own it."

"Really?"

"Really!"

"Oh my god shut up!" An impatient demon from the middle row called out to the stage. "Just sacrifice them already! They aren't supposed to talk!"

The boys glared but kept their mouth shut from there on. Tyrone still had a lot more to say; more to admit to his friend, some good, some bad, but he still felt like he had eons of stuff worth to say in these final moments.

"So as I was saying," The grand head of the Satanic forces, Doom, was speaking on the stage from a podium, not too far away from the dangling boys and the black pit. "As the prophecy which was birthed from this gorge states: These innocent souls shall be used as sacrifice to energize our unholy mother Lilith, raise her from the dead and she will help us conquer The Four Dimensions!"

For a crowd of only twenty-one people, they sure were loud. Tyrone could close his eyes and mistake this for the audience of a rock concert. Then he heard Chaos' voice, loud and clear screech "Yeah! And then we can feast on their mangled soul flesh!" Everyone piped down at once to stare. Even Doom seemed a little taken aback by the girl's suggestion. Soon the crowd grew loud once more, voicing their aggressive disagreements with her option.

"What the f**k, Chaos?"

"Why would we eat children souls?"

"We aren't the mutants. Let them eat it."

"I had a big breakfast anyway."

"You stupid weirdo."

"God I hate her."

"How did she get front seat?"

The displeasure of the crowd got more and more aggressive as they chucked things at Chaos and those near by even struck her. Scaram shook his head in disappointment. "Do we LOOK like mutants to you?" Before she could answer, he cut in again "Well, in your case that would be debatable."

Layers of boisterous laughter now filled the area. Chaos look defeated as a few demons continued to slap her on the back. Doom joined in with the laughing, as did the kids.  

At least before their final death, Tyrone could enjoy the last thing that brought him and Jacob any sort of entertainment down here. Bullying Chaos and laughing at her pain.

Once they died down, Doom began the ceremonial speech once more. That's when they faced another interruption. Three demons made their way to the area, the tallest one shouting "Excuse me! Excuse me!"

"What now?" Doom groaned in frustration.

"You forgot us. Where are our seats?" This new stranger said as he made his way to the stage. His entourage just stayed by the seats, trying not to be noticed. 

"Who are you?" Doom asked

The leader demon had olive skin with curly light brown hair. If it weren't for everything else about him Tyrone would think he was rather innocent looking. His awkward accomplices were awfully short, Tyrone was certain if he stood beside them for measurement he'd be at least a centimeter tall. Their faces were covered by these anarchist masks, but they wore the same color scheme and pentagon as everyone else.

"We came here earlier and booked these front row seats, then when we come back from our dangerous mission in brining in more souls for hell, they're TAKEN? I won't stand for it!" the leader nagged.

"When did you book these seats?"

"Early. Earlier then everyone else. Before YOU got here, even."

"I think you're confused, I was the first one here."

"No, no. YOU'RE confused. I was here before everyone and left before anyone else arrived. My crew have my back, don't you?"

"Give us our seats!" Tyrone wanted to laugh. The minion that spoke sounded like a CHILD. The crowd started getting impatient again. Murmurs and complaints floated around. The leader shrugged at Doom "You're the one holding everyone up." "Ugh, alright! Pick whatever seats were yours and the ones sitting in them can move to standing in the back."

Scaram and two others beside him were shunted into the back of the crowd. The newcomers looked rather pleased getting their important seats back, the midgets couldn't stop shaking.

"Psst!" Chaos had the gall to try drag attention back to her again "How are you with the idea of eating these two once this is all over?"

The leader shot Chaos a revolted look, but his answer remained casual "There wouldn't be anything left of them after there souls are burnt to ashes and fused with Lilith. So I have no idea, plan, or desire to eat them when they are gone. Ya freak."

"Are we done talking now?!" Doom was now over these cut-ins and wanted it to happen already.

"We're allowed to talk, you gave away our seats!" The child-like one spoke out again, his voice sounded shaky. Tyrone could swear it was almost like he was nervous.

"Whatever! Ugh, You've made me forget the rest of my speech! You know what? Just plop them in!" He punched the podium he was standing at and walked off stage "Made me hate the one thing I was looking forward to this year! But I hope your happy, with your seats and all!"

Doom made his way to the crane suspending the kids above their fate. He dropped the two in slowly, allowing time for them to properly soak up that this was the end of the road. The pit below them was a lot calmer than a few minutes ago. Before it was a roaring flame, reaching out and trying to grab them. Now it was a quiet pool of hot sludge.

Jacob started crying. Tyrone let a few tears fall himself, watching them evaporate before even touching the surface below them. Tyrone wanted to calm Jacob down, but there was no point. There was honestly nothing left to say that could even get his friend to c***k a smile. All that was left now was the end greetings. Tyrone tried to compose  himself as he felt the heat now blistering his shins. A million thoughts started racing: His family, his memoir, his school, classmates, bedroom, favorite snack, Miguel and Connie...

Then nothing. His mind was blank as his toes now entered the incandescent sludge. There was nothing. Soon he would be nothing. Now, he just had to accept it.

"Goodbye, Jacob."

"Goodbye, Tyrone."