First Day Of The Rest Of Your Afterlife; Clyde’s First Day In Hell
The first days of anything are always messy. Work, life, existence is always a balance. Hell will never make that easier.
There was a pounding in the back of his head, this throbbing that begged to be addressed even in his slumber, forcing his dreams out of the way. A groan croaked out of him, eyes slowly opening like peeling back a layer of flesh that had been sewn to his face. Candlelight cascaded into his vision making him squint back reaching to pull the covers over his head, only to be stopped by the thrumming in his head washing around his cranium like thick poison claiming his once fresh body. Another groan left him and he flung off his blankets like some petulant child. For such a put together man he did have his moments in private, this being one of the bigger ones as he swung his legs off the side of the bed. Stepping upon the fluffy rug he was trying to remember when he’d bought a rug?
Had mother brought him home with all the new decorations? Was he back to just being a puppet to his wretched father?
Placing a hand on the back of his head as he shuffled he found himself at a marbled sink, hands shaking, eyes affixed on the sight of a monster. A cruel play on a soul’s inner workings, fears that could not be manifested verbally. Grey tinted skin, one of a darker cadaver rested in front of him, nimble fingers resting on the cheeks that claimed to be his own. Golden eyes dimly glowed like the lamps on the streets caught in moonlight. Caressing the mightily cold skin he rested his hands on his lips pulling them up ever so slightly as he inspected his maw. Might sharp little daggers scattered amongst his gums, sharp enough to pull a cut across his visible decay.
Pulling his hand back he closed his mouth, a rabbit nose breaking his features, twitching ever so slightly as though it didn’t want to be recognized. Like Clyde had affronted its very nature by acknowledging it.
Forcing himself to take in the bigger picture of his existence the rabbit ears stood out, like a hare with floppy ears he could lift them, twitch them, very connected to his head. Why a rabbit? Why was this visage he inhabited made of pieces of hunted prey? It sickened him… until he willingly looked at the meat suit itself. Tall, lanky… chestless. He couldn’t stop staring. He’d remembered performing his own at home surgery but unbuttoning that shirt the lines were clean, perfect almost. This was a man’s chest he didn’t think he’d ever have. Fingers touching them as though they weren’t real he thought they might disappear, or his eyes were playing tricks. Stark white ears, hair to match, a pink undertone to it as though he were some sort of mochi covered in powdered sugar.
Unable to take it, bubbles rising in him he started to laugh. Sputtered at first, not understanding what he was looking at. Hands shaking he was buttoning up his shirt, the laughs became more brutal, becoming full body rocking, shaking that previous pain in the back of his head out of place. “What is HAPPENING?!” He shouted through the giggles, and a can knocked on his bathroom door.
“Sorry I know it’s pretty jarring.” A familiar voice spoke, cane gently tapped on the carpet to get the lad’s attention. Clyde froze, head snapping towards the door, “I was trying to be here for when you were going to wake up, give you the run down but… I got a little distracted!” The Morningstar admitted sheepishly.
That stupid duck on his wrist came to mind and Clyde went to roll up his left sleeve. Assuredly, under all the vines Lilith had imprinted on his body like shadowy tattoo’s that silly little yellow flying duck was still there. The one that signified his contract with Lucifer. He’d stated that no child should have the mark of Cain to remind them of their choices, after all his choice to sin was only after thousands of prayers, of begs for help. “Sir… I’m free?” He wasn’t exactly sure how else to put it.
Earth was a cage, a rotten circus where he was the clown. The only person he’d ever loved was already gone, perhaps in heaven himself since Clyde painted him so angelically having found him after his deal with Lucifer. He hadn’t a reason to be there anymore other than to carry out a life sentence of suffering. The train of thought dropped when Lucifer’s eyes shifted softly, something different than he’d expected for the ruler of hell he’d been told to fear his whole life.
“Your afterlife begins today Cathrine!” The angel declared before stopping himself. That was a dead name, he cringed at using it. “Con- My Hunter.” He couldn’t find the name the rabbit demon had picked so improv it was!
He snorted, laughing again, softly this time, fading into the wind just as quickly as it came. So this was his ‘punishment’ for the rest of eternity. Bowing to Lucifer, a joy he hadn’t felt in a lifetime filled his tone like a song of the universe. “Forever and always my king. Just as promised.”
