~~Young~~

Chapter Twenty Two

   “No, Jerry,” Gage whispered in disbelief, “You don’t have to do this.”

   He smiled at him and held out his arms, “it is already done.”

   Gage looked down to see the ice claiming Jerry’s legs, extending upwards, reaching, higher... the flame let go of Gage to hover in front of Jerry. It didn’t want a fight, it wanted to hurt not be hurt and Jerry was now the easier target.

   Jerry pulled his hands away before the ice could encase them too and grabbed for Gage. With one powerful swing Jerry broke the ice beginning to form around Gage’s feet and tossed him into the pathway. Away from the flame, away from the ice he was free.

   Gage spun around and pointed his blade at the flame, “don’t move or I will scatter you again, tell me why Jerry,” he demanded.

   Of all the things, he laughed.

   “I saw de trut’ in de words d’u used. Dat just because we re’side in hell fo’ acts of sin, because we are de’mons, it does not make us evil.”

   Gage’s blade felt heavy and he struggled to hold it up, “wh…what?”

   “I de’serve tu be here true. I killed men in cold blood,” his head fell forward on his shoulders as he shook it, “but I did it because t’ose men took what I loved most from me. And evil does not love.”

   Gage stumbled back just a step when he realized what Jerry was doing, this was his penance. It was too late, and he knew Jerry was fully aware that it was too late to have this revelation. Once Lucifer bestowed the demon status on Jerry there was no repentance… no way for him to meet his wife and unborn child in heaven. But that didn’t mean he had to be the demon Lucifer wanted him to be. This is how he would fix it, make it so his wife and child knew he wasn’t the evil soul Lucifer would make him out to be.

   Gage almost fell to his knees. Only his need to keep that flame from attacking Jerry was what kept him upright, “Jerry…” he whispered wretchedly.

   “Go,” he said with a smile, “dis is what I want.”

   Gage fisted his hand over his heart, “I will come back for you brother.”

   “D’u better, brot’er.”

   With a heavy breath Gage dropped his arm and the flame wasted no time. But neither did Gage. Knowing he wouldn’t make it out of hell from so deep in its belly he tore through the hellfire fields for the upper chambers. Anyone who got in his way was either ignored or dealt with without pause. He skidded to a halt only when he rounded the corner in front of Lucifer’s palace, it was probably better if he just went from here instead of trying to get by the Twins…where were the Twins?

   Neither of them were on guard at the doors and a terrible feeling came over Gage. It felt like it was eating him from the pit of his stomach…oh, that would be guilt wouldn’t it? He looked back down the hall from where he just came, thinking it could only be Jerry’s suffering he felt guilty for. No…no he made that choice willingly…he looked back to the gold doors in front of him. It was something behind those doors…

   Fuck it.

   He charged forward with his blade at the ready and crashed through the doors. He lost the element of surprise by doing so but stealth wasn’t what he was going for, only speed. Right, right, left, right, left, left he navigated the halls, two sets or archways, another left and he was in the grand chamber. Immediately he knew the reason for the guilt seeing Greed looking greener then usual and clinging to his stomach as he backed towards the wall. Lucifer was punishing him for Gage’s actions, and in Bane’s absence the Sadist Twins were dolling it out. They were stalking him, circling their prey… Lucifer was doing nothing as usual but supervising…no wait. He was licking his claws clean. Gage looked back to Greed and saw the blood seeping from between his fingers.