4chan Hazbin Hotel story - stairs to heaven

from /hhg/ - Hazbin Hotel General #357 and #358
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Bumping with greentext

>Charlie sighed
>Quietly
>Any noise she makes threatens to turn into a sob
>It was one of those nights
>She felt like crying

>She ran her fingers over the old photograph of her and her lost love
>She was happy that Vaggie was safe in Heaven
>She was happy that everyone was safe in Heaven
>But it was so lonely down here now

>So

>So

>Lonely

>That was the cost of achieving her goals
>Hell was practically empty now
>Even Mom and Dad had rebuilt those bridges they'd burned, healed those old wounds, and returned to the light they'd been cast out of so many millenia ago
>But her?

>She wasn't a mortal soul
>She wasn't really an angel
>She wasn't strictly a demon either
>Honestly, she had no idea what she was
>She wasn't quite sure where she fit into Creation
>She didn't know if she could exist outside of Hell
>And so she was stuck here
>Even though it was clear Hell had no use for her anymore

>Charlie sighed again and rose from her seat
>Maybe some ice cream would make her feel better

>With the annual cleanses halted, and the once torrential influx of sinners reduced to a mere trickle, Hell had returned to a state it hadn't seen since before The Fall
>The native demons had shed the way of life that the fallen angel on the throne and the wickedest of human souls had foisted upon them
>The imps had left their dreary wage slavery behind and returned to the vast network of clans and tribes they had once been
>The hellhounds ran in packs through the wastelands and forests once again
>The demon lords, freed from the everpresent threat of divine wrath and therefore from the tyranny of the highly centralized monarchy needed to stave it off, had returned to their elements
>The master botanists tended to their gardens in peace
>The astronomers were free to stargaze once again
>The poets could write, and the musicians could play
>Hell was once again running as it had been meant to, and it would from now on
>It had no further need of her
-
>Charlie forced herself to open the freezer quickly, and not dwell on any of the pictures of the hotel's former occupants that decorated it
>Too saddening for the present moment
>She looked over its contents
>It was rather bare
>With the hotel empty, there wasn't much call to keep it stocked
>Nothing but a pint of strawberry swirl and a bag of ice

>Charlie fished out the ice cream and went to retrieve a dish and a scoop
>She took a spoonful of the confection and let it melt over her tongue
>It was good
>But she still felt like crying

>No surprise there
>Really, she ought to just go to bed
>She knew from experience that nights like these tended to drag on and on
>No matter what measures she might take to cheer herself up, she'd just be miserable until her head finally hit the pillow and the blissful oblivion of sleep washed away her sorrows
>She pushed the scoop of ice cream away from herself and left it to melt away
>She wasn't really in the mood for sweets anyway
>Nothing more than a wild thought

>She stretched as she pushed herself away from the counter, even though she didn't really need to
>She ran a hand through her length of blonde hair and made for the stairs
>No sense in trying to keep herself occupied
>She'd just trade in her suit for a set of pajamas and go to bed
>Maybe she'd feel better tomorrow

>As her foot came down on the first step, she heard a knock at the door
-
>That was unusual
>While Hell's nobility did occasionally visit her, it was strictly a perfunctory gesture
>A young knight or duke, sent on behalf of a prince or president to show the 'proper gratitude' to the woman who had done Hell such a great favor
>They'd come wearing a smile and bearing typical tokens of appreciation
>But both she and they knew, without speaking, that the visit was a neccesity, demanded by tradition, not something they actually wanted to do
>They didn't know what to do with her any better than anyone else in Hell, or indeed she herself, did
>They'd call early in the day, say and do what their traditions demanded of them, and then leave as quickly as possibly
>None of the nobles would come calling for her at such a late hour
>So who could it be knocking at the door?

>Charlie crossed the floor, biting her lower lip
>She wasn't sure why she suddenly felt so nervous
>She checked her reflection in a mirror as she walked, straightening her bowtie and brushing back her hair, trying to make herself at least somewhat presentable for whoever her visitor might be
>She drew a deep breath and let it out before taking hold of the door's handle and easing it open

>"Hello, Charlotte"
-
>A man, lean and bearded, stood in the doorway, propped up by a simple walking stick
>She wasn't sure what to make of him
>He was...plain
>He wasn't a sinner, his form was far too human
>But he wasn't an angel either, she could see no wings, and his skin was earthy in color compared to her father's ivory complexion and rosy cheeks
>Even his clothing was humble
>Simple robes in simple colors
>The only accessories to his garb were a massive key, hanging heavily from his belt, accompanied by a single rooster's feather, fluttering at the slightest touch of breeze

>"My name is Peter."

>Charlie scrutinized the man further
>He seemed familiar
>She'd never seen him in person, but she knew him from somewhere...
>Her eyes widened as the realization came over her

>"You...you're Sai-"

>The man raised his hand to stop her before she could finish

>"I'm Peter."

>"Just plain Peter."
-
>Though she knew she had nothing to fear from him, Charlie felt her pulse quicken

>"Well then...Peter..."

>It didn't feel right to address him without his title, but it seemed he cared little for it anyway

>"Ummm, what brings you to my neck of the woods?"

>She forced herself to chuckle and tried to act casual
>It seemed to work
>Peter smiled at her

>"I'm here to extend an invitation"

>"There are some people who'd like to see you"

>He gestured lightly upward as he spoke
>Charlie felt, well, not fear, but something bolt through her
>Something intense
>She almost couldn't believe it

>"They want to see me...up there?"

>He nodded

>"A lot of us have been admiring your good works from afar"

>"They helped us to...gently remind some of our peers of our proper purpose in the Great Design."

>He looked at her pointedly

>"And of course, there are those you helped to ascend from this place"

>"They, more than anyone else, are eager to see you"

>Charlie wanted to shout with joy, but she reigned herself in
>She needed an answer first

>"Can I...can I even pass through the gates?"

>Peter nodded

>"We were concerned about that for some time as well"

>He shifted slightly to scratch at his head

>"Our wisest and most learned studied the subject very thoroughly"

>"You can make it"

>"They wouldn't have sent me if there was any doubt"
-
>"So then, do you accept?"

>Charlie felt a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth
>She had to speak carefully to keep her voice from cracking

>"Well, I'd have to be a real idiot not to, wouldn't I?"

>Peter chuckled

>"I don't know that I'd have phrased it like that, but you're not wrong"

>"Well then"

>Peter held out his hand
>Charlie took it, feeling the rough, circular scar from where the nail had been driven into him rub against her palm

>"Shall we go?"

>Charlie hesitated for a moment
>Was there anything she needed to get before they departed?
>Hmmm
>No, no there wasn't
>But she did have a quick question

>"Ummmm, how do we get there?"

>Peter shrugged

>"We take the stairs of course"

>He pointed past her with his walking stick
>Charlie turned and gasped
>There was a staircase in the lobby of the hotel that hadn't been there before
>It stood in stark contrast to the crimson tones of the rest of the building
>Gleaming white marble and glittering gold
>Somewhere high above it, a brilliant light shone down
---
>Peter led the way

>"Come along now. I may have learned a great deal of patience over time, but your friends certainly haven't. They've been harrying me like no one else ever since they heard that you might be coming"

>Charlie smiled

>"Really? Who?"

>Peter turned to her as they walked, eyebrow raised

>"Guess"

>She would have, but there was no time
>As Charlie stepped into the light, a warmth washed over her
>A different sort of warmth
>Not like the fires of Hell
>It was gentle, and welcoming
>It stole her breath away
>She felt the light calling out to her, and they began to ascend

>Peter spoke to her as they slowly made their way skyward
>She tried to listen, and to respond appropriately
>But it grew more and more difficult with every step they took

>The higher they went, the more giddy she felt
>Mom and Dad had described Heaven's beauty to her, but she'd never seen it herself
>She was dazzled, transfixed, her feet moving up the steps of their own accord as she drank in the light
>All those wonderful souls she'd met
>Flawed, and broken, but beautiful
>Were they really waiting for her up there?
>Could she really see them again?

>It was the scraping of Peter's scar on her hand as he released her that drew her back to the present

>"Charlie"

>She looked over to him
>She blinked several times, trying to clear her head
>She realized tears were running freely down her cheeks

>Peter put his hand on her shoulder and pushed gently

>"Why don't you just go ahead?"

>"I forgot, you've never been before"

>He pat his leg and fixed her with a self-depreciating smile

>"I'm there all day and night, and these bones are getting awfully old now"

>"I'm in no hurry"

>The Saint gestured with his walking stick and his free hand at once

>"Go on"

>"They're waiting for you"
-
>Charlie tried to wipe her eyes before she spoke, but it was a futile effort
>She clutched her hands to her heart, and whispered the most sincere thanks that had ever crossed her lips
>So softly that even she could barely hear it, so choked up was she

>Peter waved her off dismissively, hiding his broad smile by leaning over and attending to some feigned ailment in his leg

>Charlie turned back up the steps and began to climb anew
>It was easier now
>Easy to let the elation she felt drive her feet faster and faster
>And as she continued to ascend, the simple act of moving upward become effortless
>She felt lighter and lighter with each step, as if she was barely touching the stairs
>Before long, it felt as though she was floating right over them

>Flying

>She was flying
>Flying up to the brilliance that reached out to embrace her
>Growing nearer to Heaven's glow, she could see familiar figures in silhouette
>They all turned to face her as she passed the final step
>A voice she thought she'd never hear again reached her ears

>"Well, it's about time"

END