Mid-Night Walks

The dim red glow of Hell's eternal fires painted the castle walls as Yumi silently slipped out of her bedroom. Her boots barely made a sound on the obsidian floor as she crept down the hall. She was dressed in her usual goth attire: a black hoodie, ripped jeans, and dark makeup. This time, though, she had a small satchel slung over her shoulder containing a few essentials: her sketchbook, a dagger (just in case), and some hellfire candy she'd swiped from the kitchen.

Sneaking out wasn't exactly a new thing for Yumi. In fact, it was becoming something of a tradition. The castle was stifling, and with her mom's angelic energy always hanging around, it felt like a prison sometimes. Tonight, she needed freedom—and, more importantly, she needed to see Elnora.

She carefully unlatched the grand iron doors of the castle and slipped outside. The sulfuric air hit her immediately, hot and heavy, but it was comforting in a strange way. The landscape before her was a nightmare made flesh: rivers of molten lava, jagged rocks, and the unmistakable sounds of torment in the distance. Demons of all shapes and sizes roamed freely, engaged in their usual hellish activities.

As she made her way through Hell's chaotic streets, Yumi passed scenes that would make most mortals faint. A brawl between two massive demons was happening by the lava pits, their roars echoing as one ripped the arm off the other. Pools of blood and ichor stained the ground. Further along, she stepped around a group of imps arguing over the remains of a corpse, their high-pitched shrieks filling the air. She even passed by a shadowy alley where things were... happening—things she did her best to ignore.

"Just another night in Hell," Yumi muttered to herself, pulling her hoodie tighter around her. She was used to this kind of stuff, but it didn't make it any less disgusting.

As she walked, she couldn't shake the feeling of being followed. Her instincts told her to keep going, but she also couldn't help glancing over her shoulder. At first, she didn't see anything out of the ordinary—just the usual demons lurking in the shadows. But then, a small bark reached her ears.

"Cerberus?" Yumi hissed, stopping in her tracks. She turned around, scanning the darkness until she spotted him. Sure enough, her dad's tiny, fiery-eyed Chihuahua was bounding after her, his tail wagging furiously.

"Damn it, Cerberus!" she whispered, crouching down as he trotted up to her. "What the hell are you doing here? You're gonna get me caught!"

Cerberus barked again, wagging his tail as if he didn't care at all about her predicament.

"Ugh, fine. But you're not ruining this for me, okay? Stay quiet," she said, scratching behind his ears. She picked him up, cradling him in one arm as she continued on her way.

After a few more minutes of navigating Hell's fiery streets, Yumi finally arrived at Elnora's house. It was a modest, gothic-style home carved into the side of a massive basalt cliff. The glowing red windows cast an eerie light on the rocky path leading to the door. Yumi's heart skipped a beat as she approached. She hadn't told Elnora she was coming—this was a bold move, even for her.

Setting Cerberus down, she knocked softly on the door. For a moment, there was nothing but the crackling of distant flames. Then, the door creaked open, revealing Elnora.

Elnora was breathtaking, as always. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her pale skin seemed to glow faintly in the darkness. She was dressed in a loose, oversized sweater and shorts, clearly ready for bed, but she didn't look annoyed to see Yumi. In fact, her lips curved into a small smile.

"Yumi? What are you doing here?" Elnora asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"Couldn't sleep," Yumi said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Thought I'd come by. Hope that's okay."

Elnora raised an eyebrow, then her eyes flicked down to Cerberus, who was wagging his tail and looking up at her expectantly. "And you brought your dog?"

"Uh, yeah. He kinda followed me," Yumi admitted, scratching the back of her neck.

Elnora laughed softly, stepping aside to let them in. "Well, come on, then."

Yumi stepped inside, the warmth of Elnora's home wrapping around her like a comforting blanket. It was cozy, filled with dark furniture, bookshelves lined with ancient tomes, and candles that flickered with unnatural flames. Cerberus immediately ran to the rug in the center of the room and started spinning in circles.

"Nice place," Yumi said, shoving her hands into her hoodie pockets.

"Thanks. So, what's up? You don't usually drop by unannounced," Elnora said, sitting on the couch and pulling her legs up under her.

"I don't know. I guess I just wanted to... hang out," Yumi said, avoiding her gaze.

Elnora smiled knowingly. "You're not very good at lying, you know."

Yumi sighed, sitting down next to her. "Fine. I missed you, okay? I've had a crappy day, and I just wanted to see you."

Elnora's cheeks flushed faintly, and she looked away, a small smile playing on her lips. "Well, I'm glad you came."

For a while, they just sat there, talking about everything and nothing. Yumi told Elnora about her mom walking in on her earlier, and Elnora laughed, teasing her about how she was "such a rebel." They talked about school, their friends, and the weird stuff they'd seen around Hell lately.

As the night went on, Yumi found herself relaxing more and more. She even let Cerberus jump onto her lap, despite the fact that he was shedding like crazy.

Eventually, though, Yumi knew she couldn't stay forever. "I should probably get back before my parents realize I'm gone," she said reluctantly, standing up.

Elnora walked her to the door, her smile soft but teasing. "Try not to get caught, rebel."

Yumi grinned. "No promises."

As she turned to leave, Elnora reached out and gently grabbed her wrist. Yumi froze, her heart pounding as Elnora leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Thanks for coming," Elnora said softly.

Yumi nodded, too stunned to speak. She quickly turned and left, Cerberus trotting happily by her side.

Walking back through Hell's chaos, Yumi couldn't stop smiling. Sure, sneaking out was risky, and she'd probably get in trouble if her parents found out. But for now, it felt worth it.

The End of Chapter 3