Welcome To Hell

EP 3: Welcome To Hell

Episode 3

Camilla's POV

"Where the f**k am I?" I struggled to stand on wobbly legs.

I had always dreamed of attending a reality show, maybe even The Bachelorette, but as the stage venue came into view, I felt anything but thrilled.

Fuck. Did I hit my head? Am I on a drug-induced trip? What the everloving f**k is goin' on?

It felt strange in this dark place, and it made me feel as if I was now far away from civilization.

There were no bright lights of the parking lot flickering, no happy music piped in, not even a crowd of eager fans or audience. Instead, a creepy silence filled the air.

"Hello?" I swallowed hard and took a few steps, testing out my legs.

A faint red light illuminated the stage, and four figures sat in the center, their faces hidden by eerie masks. Behind them, six more bulky masses hid in the darkness of the shadows. The figures were tall and intimidating, sending a chill running down my spine.

"Welcome, my dearest, Camilla," the voice of the first figure purred, which was fitting since he had a panther mask on. "We are so glad you could join us tonight."

Frozen in place by fear, my heart pounded in my chest. I had no idea where I was, what this show was about, or what would happen if I tried to leave. It didn't help that a wave of vertigo had my stomach contents sliding into the back of my throat.

"Tonight," the first figure seated continued to speak. "You are the star of our show. The four of us are all looking for the same thing. Care to guess what that would be?"

"Not really?" I squeaked out. It made me wonder about the other six figures behind them.

"A bride." He chuckled. "A word of advice, Camilla, dear. The competition is deadly. However, if you choose wisely, you might just walk away with your life."

"Excuse me?" My mind raced, and I tried to figure out what to do. "Where am I? What is this place?"

"Hell, of course." He grinned, exposing a row of bright, pointed canines. "I'm the demon Vassago, by the way."

"Wake up. Wake up. Wake up," I changed to myself.

"Oh, sweet Camilla." Vassago laughed again. "Trust me. You're fully awake."

If I'm really awake, and if this is hell . . .

The realization of what I needed to do to get out of this alive hit me. I'd have to outsmart not only four bachelors on the stage by all ten.

One thought kept playing over and over again in my head like a mantra: find a way. Don't get caught.

"What did you call this . . . whatever it is?" I drew in a deep breath and started to size up my opponents.

The first bachelor, Vassago, was a tall demon-looking being with purple skin, sharp horns, and a long tail. His eyes glowed a menacing yellow.

"The Find Your Mate show." Vassago spread his lips into an evil smirk. "Are you ready to play?"

"Uhm, no." I shook my head.

To his left, the second bachelor was a red-skinned devil with a forked tongue and razor-sharp claws. He had a menacing air about him and seemed to be just waiting for the chance to pounce.

The third bachelor was a pale green creature with pointed ears and a long, snake-like body. He had an arrogant air about him, and his eyes glinted with a hint of mischief.

The fourth bachelor was the most bizarre of them all. He was a short, rotund creature with a wide, toothy grin. He seemed almost friendly—almost, but I had a feeling that he could be just as dangerous as the others.

"So, I ask once again," Vassago's voice boomed. "Are you ready to begin?"

I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I did know one thing, I had to be brave.

My grandfather's words of advice, the one he used to say often during my childhood, came to mind.

Never show fear—for fear is only an illusion.

With my eyes closed, I said a silent prayer for help before opening them again and wondered if anyone or anything had heard my plea for aid.

"I'm ready," I said bolder than I felt, wondering if I had just sealed my fate. "Are you?"

The four bachelors in the front row threw their heads back and laughed. The sound was unnerving. It was as if they had not had a good belly laugh in a while and were making up for the lost time.

"Excellent! Shall we begin?" Vassago clapped his fleshy hands together, and the back row disappeared from view.

“What happened to the others?” I asked. “The six figures who seconds ago had occupied the back row?”

“Only the top four may vy for your hand and affection,” Vassal said.

"I am so excited to get a first glimpse of my bride-to-be." Bachelor number two ran his clawed fingers through his feathery hair. "I'm Kalki."

"Call me Apollyon." The third bachelor flicked his forked tongue in my direction as if tasting my essence. "I am looking forward to getting to know you better, all of you."

"And I am going to make all your dreams come true, Camilla," Azrael, bachelor number four, whispered.

"And who are you?" I asked.

"You may address me as Azrael," the pompous ass said to me.

"Hmm." I stared at him. "Like the Angel of Death."

He chuckled and winked. "Exactly."

All at once, the lights went out, plunging the stage into total darkness.

Fuck me running. This shitshow just keeps getting better and better.

My heart beat loudly in my ears. My legs had turned to jelly, and I sank to the floor.

In the pitch-black darkness, someone tapped me on the shoulder. "Are you ready for this?"

A yelp passed my lips. I turned to find bachelor one, Vassago, looming over me.

"Yes," I whispered softly, not entirely sure what else to say.

From the corner of my eye, I could make out the form of another being standing beside me that looked almost translucent, but I couldn't quite make out who it was.

"Okay, then," Vassago continued. "Then, let us begin the game."

"The game?" I repeated. "You keep saying this is a game."

The translucent form beside me leaned closer and whispered, "This is your chance to get out of this alive." Something felt familiar about him. And that same something told me that I knew this being. "So use your time wisely."

"My love," Vassago said. He was no longer in his panther mask but now looked like my high school history teacher.

"What the f**k?" was all I could manage to mouth.

"Surprised?" His lips spread into an evil smirk again. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Brian." He morphed into a human, but his eyes kept the same glowing look. "I was your history teacher in high school."

"The f**k you were?" I shook my head. "Vassago, I liked you better with the purple skin and pointy horns."

Vassago laughed so hard that the boom of his voice created a vibration on the floor.

I turned to my mysterious helper and whispered, "Wait. Are you, Sam Likely?"

My childhood imaginary friend nodded, then helped me to my feet. He kept whispering in my ear, "Keep your eyes and ears open. There's a loophole you need to find." And then, he vanished.

"Look, guys." My gaze bounced between the four bachelors. "I'm flattered. Really, I am." I paused a moment to steel my nerves. Then it came to me. "There's only one problem."

"And what would that be?" Bachelor three, Apollyon, asked with a pithy hiss.

"I promised I'd marry Sam Likely next week. On my twenty-first birthday."

"Ha!" Vassago laughed. "You can't marry an imaginary friend or lover."

How does he know about Sam?

"That's right." Bachelor two, Kalki, threw his head back and laughed, then said, "So, you see, you're a free woman."

"Ha!" Bachelor four, the Angel of Death, Azrael, laughed. "Way to look on the bright side."

"But I promised to marry Sam Likely next week on my birthday," I paused. "A promise is a promise. Wouldn't you four agree?"

"Hmmm." Vassago stroked his chin. "You're right. Promises aren't to be trifled with."

"However, you can't marry him if you're dead," Apollyon said.

"Dead?" I repeated the word, and it sent a chill shooting through me. "Why?"

"Did you not read the rules?" Vassago grinned again.

"What rules?" I held his unblinking gaze, which led me to wonder if he even had eyelids.

"The rules on your ticket stated you must choose one of the four of us as your mate—or all of us," hissed Apollyon. "If not, you forfeit your life. You'll die."

"Yep. Dead. Deader than a doornail. Deader than roadkill on a busy human road," Kalki added. "You must marry the one whom you choose at the end of the show. I mean, the one you agreed to marry no matter who it is."

"And what if I don't choose any of you?" I asked.

"Then, you get none of us," Azrael said with a shrug. "And then Death will come for you."

"Wait." I held up a hand. "When you say death, do you mean like the natural order of life and death, or do you mean Death as in a real Reaper?" At this point, I couldn't rule anything out with these crazy, demonic fuckers. But I did know that I didn't want to risk a chance meeting with Death if he was real.

All four of the bachelors broke out in laughter.