The night dragged on slowly inside the Hazbin Hotel.
The lobby's dim chandelier buzzed faintly, the cracked lightbulbs flickering over faded red carpet and dust-smeared glass. Outside, Hell's crimson skyline pulsed with neon and smoke, but in here, the chaos seemed muted, held at bay by the old walls and stubborn warmth Charlie carried with her smile.
Alex sat at the edge of a tattered couch, wings folded tightly behind him. Rocky dozed on his shoulder, squeaking every now and then like a snoring hamster.
Across the room, I.M.P. had sprawled out in their usual dysfunctional formation. Blitzo had his boots on the coffee table, flipping through an old magazine he definitely wasn't reading. Millie and Moxxie sat side by side, whispering but not quiet enough, the word "angel" slipping through often. Loona leaned against the wall, her phone's glow reflecting in her eyes, though she occasionally flicked glances at Alex.
And then there was Charlie.
She was tidying the counter, humming softly, like someone desperately trying to convince herself everything was under control. Every so often, she peeked at Alex with a mix of curiosity and something else — worry, maybe?
The silence stretched until Blitzo broke it with a dramatic groan. "So… what's the deal, glowstick? You just show up, fall outta the sky, and now you're rooming with us? Don't take this the wrong way, but you don't exactly scream 'Hell material.'"
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, because you all fit in so well yourselves."
"Hey!" Blitzo sat up, pointing at himself proudly. "We're professionals."
"Assassins," Moxxie corrected under his breath.
"Professional assassins," Blitzo repeated, glaring.
Millie beamed. "We're real good at it, too!"
Alex blinked. "…You brought me to a hotel with contract killers?"
Loona finally looked up. "Welcome to Hell."
Charlie winced, smoothing her hair nervously. "They're not all bad! I invited them because, well… you need allies if you're going to survive here. And they're… experienced."
"Experienced in murder," Alex said flatly.
"Hey, don't knock it till you try it," Blitzo said, grinning.
Before Alex could fire back, the System chimed in quietly, only for him:
[Observation: Compatibility Test Initiated.]
[Directive: Integrate with Local Factions.]
[Warning: Resistance will delay progression.]
Alex groaned under his breath. "You've got to be kidding me…"
Charlie tilted her head. "What was that?"
"Nothing," Alex said quickly, running a hand down his face. "Just talking to my… uh… imaginary friend."
Rocky squeaked indignantly at the insult.
Millie leaned forward, eyes wide. "Wait, the rock is alive, right? I wasn't imagining that?"
Rocky squeaked again, bouncing in place like it understood.
Blitzo nearly choked laughing. "Holy crap, the angel's pet rock has more personality than half the guys I've dated!"
"Not a high bar," Loona muttered.
Charlie clapped her hands, stepping in before the bickering escalated. "Okay! Everyone needs rest. Tomorrow, we'll… we'll start fresh. Alex, I'll explain more about the Hotel, and maybe—" She hesitated, smile faltering. "Maybe you'll see why you're here."
Alex looked at her for a long moment. The sincerity in her eyes, the way her smile held against the weight of Hell itself — it was disarming.
He leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes. "Alright. Tomorrow, then."
The System pulsed softly, almost like it approved:
[Integration: In Progress.]
[Next Trial Approaches.]
Alex didn't like the sound of that.
But for tonight, in this crumbling Hotel filled with assassins, sinners, and a princess with too much hope for her own good, he let himself breathe.
_______________
The morning in Hell didn't look like morning at all. The sky was still a burning crimson haze, neon signs flickering even at what should have been dawn. Only the faint tolling of some distant clock tower hinted at the passage of time.
Inside the Hotel, the atmosphere wasn't much better. The smell of burnt coffee and something that might've once been pancakes clung to the air. Alex sat at a crooked dining table, staring down at a plate of… food? At least, Charlie had called it food. The strange, grayish substance on his plate steamed faintly like it had crawled out of a swamp.
He poked it with a fork. The fork bent.
"…This is a war crime," Alex muttered.
Rocky squeaked from the table's edge, oddly eager to eat.
Across from him, Blitzo was guzzling black coffee directly from the pot. "Don't complain, glowstick. Free food's free food."
Moxxie adjusted his tie, nose wrinkling. "Honestly, Blitz, I wouldn't call this food. It's more like—"
"—a murder weapon," Alex finished.
Millie giggled. "Y'all are so dramatic! It's not that bad." She took a bite and immediately coughed, eyes watering. "…Okay, maybe it's a little bad."
Loona scrolled on her phone, tail swishing lazily. "This is Hell. You expected a five-star breakfast?"
Charlie arrived then, balancing a tray of slightly less-burnt toast and a teapot that whistled even though it wasn't on the stove. She set it down with a bright, almost desperate smile. "Good morning! I thought it'd be nice if we all ate together. Family-style!"
Blitzo raised a brow. "Since when are we family?"
"Since now!" Charlie said, her voice sunny but strained. She sat at the head of the table, clasping her hands like a host holding together a very fragile dinner party. Her eyes flicked to Alex. "I wanted to explain more about the Hotel today… about why it exists."
The room went quieter. Even Loona lowered her phone.
Charlie continued, softer now. "Most people here… they think redemption is impossible. That sinners are doomed to stay the same forever. But I believe they can change. That they deserve a chance." Her smile trembled, but she held it. "That's what this place is for. A chance."
Alex studied her, fork still stuck in the gray sludge on his plate. She sounded… sincere. Too sincere for Hell. The System's cold text slid into his vision:
[Observation: Subject displays anomalous hope. Probability of success: <1%.][Directive: Monitor. Assist if viable.]
Alex frowned. He wanted to dismiss it as nonsense, but Charlie's eyes burned with something he hadn't seen since he died. Something almost holy.
Blitzo broke the silence by burping loudly. "Cute speech, Princess, but let's be real. Most of us don't wanna be redeemed. We like who we are."
"Speak for yourself," Moxxie muttered.
"Exactly," Charlie said quickly, seizing on his words. "Some do want change! And I think Alex's arrival might be… a sign. Proof that something greater is at work." She glanced at Alex with a hopeful smile.
He shifted uncomfortably under the weight of everyone's stares. "Don't look at me like I'm the Messiah. I'm just… here. Trying not to get stabbed."
Loona snorted. "Good luck with that."
Rocky squeaked loudly, thumping against Alex's plate like it was agreeing.
Charlie chuckled softly, but her smile held firm. "Still… I believe you're here for a reason, Alex. And maybe together, we can show the rest of Hell that redemption isn't impossible."
The System pulsed again, colder this time:
[Integration Accelerating.]
[Upcoming Trial: Confirm Alignment.]
Alex rubbed his temple. "Why do I get the feeling breakfast was just the tutorial before the next boss fight?"
Blitzo leaned back with a smirk. "Welcome to our life, glowstick."
__________________
The day inside the Hotel passed strangely. Outside, Hell raged on—sirens in the distance, neon signs buzzing, the occasional roar of something enormous. But within the cracked walls, the chaos seemed muffled, like the building itself tried to cradle the fragile idea Charlie carried.
Alex found himself on the rooftop by evening. The sky bled crimson, dotted with streaks of neon from billboards that never slept. His wings glowed faintly in the dim light, feathers of cosmic geometry shifting like fractured glass. Rocky sat on the ledge beside him, squeaking contentedly, as if the view was just another day in paradise.
"Didn't think angels were the brooding-on-rooftops type."
Charlie's voice drifted from behind him. She stepped onto the roof with a careful grace, her hair catching the glow of the neon cityscape. For once, she wasn't smiling as brightly—just softly, like she didn't want to disturb the moment.
Alex smirked faintly. "Yeah, well, didn't think princesses were the sneaking-around type."
She laughed quietly, moving to stand beside him. "You've had a long day. Thought maybe you'd want company."
For a moment, they just watched the city together. The skyline was jagged, hostile, but from this distance, it almost looked beautiful.
"…You really believe in this place, huh?" Alex asked finally. "This whole redemption thing."
Charlie's eyes softened. "I have to. If I don't… then all of this—" she gestured toward the Hotel below, the lights, the battered streets—"is just pain without purpose."
Alex tilted his head, studying her. "You're in Hell, surrounded by demons, monsters, and assassins, and you're still… hopeful. That's either brave or insane."
She chuckled, but there was sadness in it. "Maybe both. But hope's the only thing I've ever had that Hell couldn't take from me."
The System's voice intruded softly in Alex's mind:
[Analysis: Subject radiates anomalous conviction. Probability of influence: 78%.][Recommendation: Maintain proximity.]
He clenched his jaw, pushing the words away. "You talk like you've been fighting this battle forever."
Charlie glanced at him, her smile wobbling. "Sometimes it feels that way."
Silence lingered, but it wasn't heavy. For the first time since arriving in Hell, Alex didn't feel like the world was immediately trying to crush him.
Down below, a window slammed. Blitzo's voice rang out: "LOONA! Quit hogging the charger!" followed by a crash and Moxxie's indignant yelp.
Alex groaned. "And there's the reminder that peace is illegal here."
Charlie giggled, covering her mouth. "They'll settle down. Eventually."
Rocky squeaked loudly in disagreement.
Alex gave the little rock a side-eye. "Yeah, I don't believe it either."
Charlie turned toward him, her expression brightening again, more sincere this time. "Thank you… for trusting me. Even a little."
Alex hesitated, then nodded. "Don't get used to it, Princess. I'm still figuring all this out."
But as she smiled at him—gentle, tired, determined—Alex felt something shift inside his chest. Something warmer than the System, brighter than the neon skyline. Something that scared him more than Hell itself.
______________
The Hotel quieted as night stretched on. Most of the I.M.P. crew had collapsed into their rooms, Blitzo snoring loud enough to rattle the walls. Even Loona had stopped scrolling, her door cracked open with faint music leaking through.
Alex sat in the lounge, half-dozing on the couch. Rocky slept curled against his chest, squeaking with each breath like a living metronome.
The soft creak of floorboards pulled Alex from the edge of sleep. Moxxie emerged from the shadows of the hall, straightening his tie as if he'd just returned from a business meeting, though his nervous frown gave him away.
"Couldn't sleep?" Alex asked, sitting up.
Moxxie hesitated, then shuffled closer, his voice hushed. "You could say that. This whole situation's… unusual, to put it mildly."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "You mean me?"
Moxxie nodded. "Exactly. You're… different. Not just glowing-wings different, but—" He gestured vaguely, as though words couldn't quite capture it. "You don't act like the angels I've heard about. And the others, they're treating you like a novelty. But me? I need to know. What are you really doing here?"
Alex leaned back, exhaling slowly. "That's a good question. Wish I had an answer."
Moxxie's eyes narrowed. "No games. I've spent too much of my life around liars and killers to stomach another one. So tell me, angel—are you here to judge us? Or save us?"
The System hummed at the edge of Alex's perception:
[Directive: Conceal true origin.][Warning: Revealing core function risks instability.]
Alex ignored it. His gaze locked on Moxxie's, steady but tired. "Neither. I didn't choose this. I died. Woke up with wings. Got dropped into your lovely inferno without instructions. That's the truth."
Moxxie studied him for a long moment. His usual nervousness softened, replaced with something heavier—empathy, maybe. "Then you're just as lost as the rest of us."
Alex smirked faintly. "Guess that makes me fit in more than I thought."
For the first time, Moxxie chuckled, quiet and genuine. "Maybe. Just… be careful. Charlie's got a big heart, but she's fragile. If you're not careful, you'll either break her or get yourself killed trying to keep up with her."
The words landed heavier than Alex expected. He didn't reply right away, just let the silence fill the room again.
Finally, Moxxie gave a small nod and retreated toward the hall. "Good night, Alex."
"Night," Alex replied, leaning back into the couch.
Rocky stirred and squeaked, almost like it was agreeing with Moxxie.
Alex sighed, staring at the cracked ceiling above. "Yeah, I know. This is only going to get messier…"
_____________
The lounge had fallen back into silence after Moxxie slipped away. Alex stretched out on the couch again, but his thoughts wouldn't settle. Moxxie's warning echoed in his head, circling tighter every time he closed his eyes.
Charlie's big heart. Fragile. Break her or die trying.
Rocky stirred at his side, squeaking softly, like it could hear the weight in Alex's thoughts. He brushed a hand over the pebble absentmindedly.
That was when a new voice cut through the dark.
"You think too loud."
Alex cracked one eye open. Loona leaned against the doorway, her phone glowing faintly in her hand. She looked the same as always—bored, disinterested—but her ears twitched just slightly, like she'd been listening longer than she wanted to admit.
"Bad habit," Alex muttered, sitting up. "What are you doing lurking around?"
Loona shrugged, stepping into the room. "Couldn't sleep. Same as you. Place is too damn noisy with everyone breathing down each other's necks." She slumped into the opposite chair, scrolling lazily, though her eyes flicked toward him now and then.
Silence stretched, broken only by the faint buzz of her phone. Then she smirked. "So… angel boy. What's your deal?"
Alex groaned. "Didn't I just do this conversation with Moxxie?"
"Yeah, well, I'm not Moxxie." Her tone sharpened, more direct. "I don't care about redemption speeches or hotel fairy tales. I just want to know if you're going to make this place more complicated than it already is."
The System pulsed faintly in Alex's mind:
[Assessment: Subject hostility moderate. Suggested response: Neutralization or Deflection.]
He ignored it again. "Complicated? Lady, I fell into Hell glowing like a rave. Pretty sure things were already complicated before I showed up."
Loona snorted, almost a laugh. "Fair point." She leaned back, crossing her arms. "Just don't get in my way, alright? Charlie's got her thing, Dad's got his thing, and I've got… well, whatever. But I don't need some shiny newcomer making my life harder."
Alex studied her for a moment. She was sharp, blunt, hiding something behind the sarcasm. He could respect that.
"Deal," he said simply.
Loona blinked, like she hadn't expected him to agree so fast. She looked away quickly, scrolling again. "…Good."
The silence that followed wasn't hostile this time. Just quiet. Restless.
After a while, Loona stood, stretching with a yawn. "Don't stay up all night, glowstick. You'll make Charlie worry, and she already does that enough."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Didn't know you cared."
"I don't," she shot back immediately, heading for the hall. But there was the faintest twitch of her tail that gave her away.
When she was gone, Alex leaned back, exhaling. Rocky squeaked once, as if to say, she cares more than she admits.
"Yeah," Alex whispered, staring at the ceiling again. "I'm starting to notice that about this place."
The System hummed approvingly:
[Integration: Strengthening.][Allies: Acquired.]
Alex wasn't sure if that was comforting or terrifying.
___________________________
The Hotel's halls had finally fallen into quiet. Doors shut, snores muffled through the walls, even Loona's music fading into a low hum.
Alex sat awake, unable to follow the rhythm of Hell's "night." Rocky was curled up in his lap like a warm stone, squeaking every so often, but Alex's mind was restless.
The System pulsed in his vision, sharp and sudden:
[Integration: Progress Acceptable.][Next Trial: Initiating.][Objective: Assess Host's Response to Hostile Intrusion.]
Alex sat upright. "What do you mean, 'intrusion'—"
The chandelier overhead flickered violently, plunging the lounge into momentary black. The carpet rippled beneath his feet, as though something crawled under it. A cold draft swept through the room, impossibly colder than Hell should allow.
Rocky squeaked furiously, hopping onto Alex's shoulder.
A whisper cut through the silence. Not from the walls. From the air itself.
"…angel…"
The shadows along the far corner deepened, folding inward until they tore open. From the jagged rift, a twisted figure clawed its way out. It wasn't a demon Alex recognized—its form was patchwork, as if the void itself had spat out a mistake. Eyes blinked across its body, each one staring at him with hungering malice.
Alex's wings flared instinctively, light pushing against the dark.
Before he could act, doors slammed open. Blitzo stumbled out, gun already in hand. "What the fuck is that?"
"Not me this time," Alex shot back.
Millie and Moxxie weren't far behind, weapons drawn, eyes wide with recognition. "Voidspawn!" Moxxie shouted. "That shouldn't even be here!"
Charlie emerged last, panic written on her face as she froze in the doorway. "How—how did it breach the Hotel?"
The creature screeched, a sound that rattled the windows, then lunged straight for Alex.
The System's voice was calm, mechanical, and merciless:
[Directive: Neutralize Threat.][Failure Condition: Collateral Deaths.]
Alex's jaw tightened. This wasn't just a fight. It was a test.
He summoned his power, Aetherial Forge humming in his veins as a blade of burning light sparked into existence in his hand. His wings spread wide, illuminating the entire lobby.
"Everyone back," Alex warned, stepping forward. "This one's mine."
The creature howled again, and the clash began—divine light meeting warped shadow in the heart of the Hazbin Hotel.
_______________
The creature lunged, a writhing blur of claws and eyes. Its scream shook the windows, dust drifting from the ceiling as it bore down on Alex.
He didn't retreat.
With a sharp motion, Alex slashed his glowing blade upward. The strike carved through the air, not steel on flesh, but light on shadow. The Voidspawn reeled back, its body unraveling where the blade cut—but the wound stitched itself together almost instantly, the extra eyes blinking furiously as if mocking him.
"Of course," Alex muttered. "Nothing's ever simple."
The System chimed in, cold and precise:
[Observation: Subject adapting.][Recommendation: Escalate.]
Aether surged in his veins. Alex spread his wings wide, feathers shedding sparks that seared the carpet. "Alright. Let's get serious."
He slammed his palm against the floor. Aetherial Forge. The ground rippled outward in glowing circles, cracks of golden light spreading like molten veins. From the fissures, radiant chains burst forth, snapping around the Voidspawn's limbs. Astral Chains.
The monster thrashed, screeching, the bindings glowing as they burned into its twisted form. For a heartbeat, Alex thought he had it.
Then one of its many eyes bulged grotesquely, blasting a beam of raw void-energy that shattered the chains in a burst of shadow.
"Shit," Blitzo barked, diving behind the counter. "That thing's nuking the wallpaper off!"
"Alex!" Charlie cried, her hands glowing faintly like she wanted to help but couldn't step closer. "Be careful!"
"Working on it!" Alex shouted back.
The Voidspawn lunged again, faster this time. Alex threw up a shield, pure light snapping into place just as claws slammed into it. The impact rattled his bones, the barrier groaning under the pressure.
[Warning: Shield Integrity 64%...]
"Yeah, I noticed!" Alex growled.
He forced the shield outward with a blast of radiant energy, staggering the creature long enough to take the offensive. His blade dissolved, reforming into a spear. He hurled it with a sharp twist of his hand. The weapon struck true, embedding in the Voidspawn's chest. The light spread like cracks across glass, threatening to tear the creature apart.
But again—it reknit itself. The cracks sealed, the eyes blinked back open, and it screamed even louder.
"Of course you're persistent," Alex muttered, jaw clenched. "Figures the System wouldn't hand me an easy win."
Behind him, Moxxie fired round after round into the beast, each bullet vanishing into the void-flesh like water into sand. "It's not working!" he shouted.
"Then keep it distracted!" Alex yelled.
Millie roared, charging in with her axes, hacking and slashing at the legs. Every strike tore chunks off—but the void swallowed the damage before it could last.
Loona stayed back, phone forgotten, her eyes fixed on Alex with something between awe and disbelief.
Charlie's hands trembled at her sides. "No… not here. Not inside the Hotel…"
The System pulsed again, drowning out all other noise in Alex's head:
[Final Directive: Deploy Radiant Decree.][Failure Condition: Total Collapse.]
His chest tightened. He knew what that meant. The Radiant Decree wasn't subtle. It wasn't clean. It would burn everything tainted by shadow—and here, in Hell, that meant a lot.
He had seconds to choose.
Rocky squeaked urgently from his shoulder, like he was telling Alex to trust himself.
Alex exhaled, eyes narrowing. "Fine. Let's roll the dice."
His wings flared, blinding light filling the lounge as he rose from the ground, power building until the air vibrated.
"By decree of the Demiurge—" his voice thundered, echoing like a choir layered beneath him, "—be unmade!"
The Radiant Decree burst outward, a wave of pure light engulfing the Voidspawn. Its scream cut off instantly as its form disintegrated, unraveling into dust that scattered across the room. The shadows recoiled, the rift snapping shut with a violent crack.
Silence followed.
Alex staggered to the floor, wings dimming. The carpet smoked where the wave had touched, but nothing else was destroyed. Somehow, the power had bent—aimed perfectly at the Voidspawn, sparing the Hotel.
Charlie gasped softly, tears brimming in her eyes. "You… you saved it…"
Blitzo peeked over the counter, squinting at the scorched marks. "Well damn. Guess glowstick's packing more than pretty wings."
Moxxie lowered his gun, still staring. Millie was grinning wide, adrenaline pumping. Loona said nothing, but her eyes hadn't left Alex.
The System hummed in his mind one last time:
[Trial Complete.][Result: Pass.][Reward Pending.]
Alex collapsed onto the couch, wiping sweat from his forehead. "If that's trial one…" He glanced up at the cracked ceiling. "…I'm screwed."
Rocky squeaked in agreement.
______________
The silence after the Trial was thicker than smoke. Every demon in the room had a different reaction—some awe, some suspicion, some barely concealed fear.
Blitzo finally broke it with a loud, shaky laugh. "Okay, uh—new rule, I'm officially never pissing you off. Like, ever. You got 'holy bomb' vibes, and I'm not looking to end up as angelic dust."
Millie beamed. "I thought it was incredible! You tied it down, you blew it up—it was all so cool!"
Moxxie stepped in front of her, his eyes still locked on Alex. "Cool? That wasn't cool. That was… unnatural. Whatever that was, it wasn't Hell's power, and it wasn't Heaven's either. It was something else."
Alex pinched the bridge of his nose, exhausted. "Yeah. You're telling me."
Charlie moved closer, her tone gentle but firm. "He saved us. That has to count for something."
Moxxie flinched but didn't back down. "Or maybe he just proved he's more dangerous than the monster."
Loona's ears flicked back. "He's got a point. That blast could've killed all of us if he lost control for even a second."
Alex looked down at his hands, still faintly glowing. He wanted to argue, but the truth was, they weren't wrong. He hadn't known if he could contain it.
Charlie knelt slightly, placing a hand on his arm. "But you did. You held it back. That matters."
For the first time since the blast, Alex met her eyes. Her faith was steady—stubborn even.
And for a fleeting moment, he believed her.
The chandelier flickered. Once. Twice.
Alex froze.
________________
Before anyone could speak, the Hotel shuddered like something had seized its foundations. The lights buzzed violently, glass rattled, and the crimson neon outside blinked out, leaving the windows black.
Blitzo sprang to his feet. "Uh, okay—this isn't you again, right? Please tell me this isn't you again."
Alex shook his head. "Not me." But he already knew what it was.
The System's voice filled the Hotel, no longer confined to Alex's mind. It was everywhere—walls, ceiling, even the floorboards echoing with it.
[Trial Complete.][Result: Pass.][Issuing Reward...]
Charlie gasped, stepping back as a glowing circle appeared beneath Alex, symbols rippling across the carpet. Celestial. Infernal. Alien.
Millie grabbed Moxxie's arm. "What's happening?!"
Loona's ears pressed flat. "I don't think it's good."
A sphere of aether rose from the circle, humming with impossible light. Inside it, an object struggled to take form.
Alex braced himself. "Here we go again…"
[Reward: Relic of Genesis.][Function: Adaptive Catalyst. Usage—Unstable.]
The sphere shattered, revealing a shifting gauntlet that dropped into Alex's hands. Its surface shimmered with living patterns, pulsing to his heartbeat.
Charlie's eyes widened in awe and dread. "That… that doesn't belong to Heaven. Or Hell. It's…"
"New," Alex muttered. The gauntlet flared with a burst of light, and his arm jolted with raw creation energy.
The System's voice concluded, final and unyielding:
[Integration Ongoing.][Further Trials: Imminent.]
Then the lights steadied, the neon skyline returned to the windows, and the Hotel's silence fell heavier than before.
Every gaze fixed on Alex—not just with awe, but with the unease of realizing he wasn't a guest anymore.
He was a variable.
Maybe even a threat.
______________________
The gauntlet pulsed like a living heart, each thrum sending ripples through the air. The faded wallpaper peeled and mended itself in strange patterns, the chandelier swayed without wind, and for a moment, the entire Hotel seemed caught between collapse and rebirth.
Alex clenched his jaw, gripping the gauntlet as light crawled up his arm. "It's… not stabilizing…"
[Warning: Catalyst Unbound.][Recommendation: Host Adaptation Required.]
The System's voice rang in his skull. Everyone else just saw the light climbing higher, licking across his shoulder like wildfire.
Charlie took a step forward, hand outstretched. "Alex, breathe. Try to—try to ground it."
Blitzo yanked her back. "Ground it? Princess, he looks like a nuke about to sneeze!"
Millie raised her axe defensively, torn between helping and protecting Moxxie. "Do something!"
"I'm trying!" Alex snapped, wings flaring wide. His power resonated with the gauntlet, amplifying it, feeding it. The floorboards beneath him warped into glowing sigils, the kind Charlie had never seen before.
Loona swore under her breath, claws digging into the wall. "This place can't take much more of that. He's gonna bring the whole Hotel down!"
Charlie's eyes darted between Alex and the spreading cracks in the ceiling. Desperation broke her voice. "Alex, look at me!"
He forced his eyes open, sweat glistening, the glow nearly blinding.
"You're not alone," Charlie said, her words trembling but certain. "You don't have to fight it—just shape it. That's who you are, isn't it? A creator."
The word struck deeper than she knew. Alex's breath hitched, the reminder cutting through the System's static. Shape it… not fight it.
His trembling hand pressed against the warped floor, and instead of resisting the surge, he guided it. The sigils shifted, folding inward until they formed a small circle of calm beneath his feet. The light dimmed, the gauntlet settling against his arm like metal instead of wildfire.
The Hotel groaned once, then stilled.
For the first time since it appeared, silence returned.
Alex fell to one knee, panting hard, Rocky squeaking worriedly at his collar. The gauntlet no longer writhed—it had fused, pulsing faintly in rhythm with his heartbeat.
[Integration: Stable.][Relic Bonded.]
Blitzo slowly lowered his gun. "…Okay. Gotta admit, that was hot. Terrifying, but hot."
Moxxie pushed his glasses up, still pale. "That thing's dangerous. If it destabilizes again—"
Charlie cut him off softly, but firmly. "Then we'll help him."
Her words hung heavy in the ruined lobby.
Alex glanced at her, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips despite the exhaustion. "You really don't quit, do you?"
Charlie smiled, fragile but unshaken. "Not when it matters."
Rocky squeaked, as if in agreement.
For now, the Hotel still stood. But Alex knew this wasn't the end of a trial. It was the beginning.
The gauntlet pulsed again, quietly. Waiting.
The gauntlet's glow finally dimmed, its violent pulses settling into a faint simmer beneath the bandages Charlie had wrapped around Alex's arm. The lobby smelled of ozone and burnt fabric, the walls pockmarked with fresh cracks. Everyone stood in stunned silence, the echo of what almost happened hanging in the air.
Blitzo whistled low. "Well. That wasn't horrifying at all."
"Speak for yourself," Moxxie muttered, pulling Millie closer.
Loona shoved her phone in her pocket, ears flat. Husk reached for a fresh bottle.
Charlie, though, didn't move. Her hands lingered on Alex's arm, steady even though her own shoulders shook. "It's over. For tonight."
Alex managed a weak smirk. "Pretty sure I'm banned from using sharp objects for a while."
Nobody laughed.
Charlie looked around the ruined lobby, her expression softening with something like guilt. "We'll fix it in the morning. For now… we all need rest."
She helped Alex to the battered couch, Rocky hopping onto his lap like a makeshift paperweight. Slowly, the group dispersed—Loona slipping upstairs, Husk dragging his hammer behind him, Moxxie muttering under his breath until Millie shushed him.
The last thing Alex saw before his eyes slid shut was Charlie, still standing watch in the flickering light, as if daring the darkness to try again.
____________________________
The Hazbin Hotel had always been a patchwork of old charm and stubborn hope, but after last night's surge, it looked more fragile than ever.
Splintered beams jutted from the ceiling, scorch marks crawled across the wallpaper, and the chandelier hung lopsided, clinking faintly every time the building creaked. Sunlight—if Hell's pale, crimson haze could be called that—filtered weakly through cracked windows, throwing jagged light across the ruined lobby.
Charlie stood on a stool near the counter, stretching to sweep dust off the top shelf, her tiara glinting faintly in the dull glow. Niffty zipped around in a flurry, scrubbing scorch marks that refused to vanish, muttering about "burnt carpet smell." Husk grumbled from behind the bar, a bottle in one paw, hammer in the other, half-heartedly nailing a board over a cracked frame.
Alex sat at the base of the staircase, gauntlet hidden beneath a length of bandage Charlie had wrapped around it. Rocky sat balanced on his knee, squeaking softly as if trying to comfort him.
The others were less subtle.
Moxxie paced near the ruined couch, voice sharp. "It's too dangerous. That thing—whatever it is—nearly tore the Hotel apart!"
Millie tried to soothe him, but her tone carried worry too. "Sugar, maybe it just… needs practice? Angels are supposed to control their powers, right?"
"Normal angels," Moxxie shot back, glaring at Alex. "He's something else entirely. A walking hazard."
Blitzo was sprawled across the patched couch, one boot dangling, smirking like he was enjoying the drama. "Hazard? Please. If anything, he's entertainment. Like a ticking time bomb you can't stop watching."
Loona, still hunched over her phone, muttered without looking up. "Yeah, until he takes us all out with him."
The words stung more than Alex wanted to admit. His grip tightened on Rocky, but he said nothing.
Charlie finally hopped down from the stool, brushing dust from her skirt. Her voice was calm but firm, cutting through the tension. "He saved us. Don't forget that."
Moxxie snapped back. "And he almost killed us, too!"
The silence that followed was heavier than the dust in the air.
Charlie glanced at Alex, then back to the group, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "We're all trying to change. That includes Alex. If we give up on him now, what does that say about what we're trying to build here?"
Her words weren't just for the others—they were for herself, too.
Alex finally looked up, eyes shadowed. "You're not wrong," he said quietly. "But Moxxie's not wrong either." He lifted his bandaged arm, the faint glow leaking through the cloth. "This thing… it's bound to me. And I don't know if I can control it."
The System's reply echoed in his mind, cold and merciless:
[Correction: You will control it. Or you will perish.]
Alex clenched his jaw, forcing the thought away before it showed on his face.
Blitzo clapped his hands together suddenly, breaking the heavy mood. "Well, either way, if he blows up again, I call dibs on his wings. Those'll sell for a fortune on the black market."
Loona rolled her eyes. Millie swatted Blitzo's arm, half-glaring. Moxxie still looked unconvinced.
Charlie, though, didn't move from where she stood—between Alex and everyone else, shoulders squared, her voice steady. "He's not going anywhere. Not until he's ready. And I'll make sure he is."
Alex met her gaze, surprised at how fiercely she believed it.
For the first time since the gauntlet had fused to his arm, he felt something like… relief.
But as the Hotel groaned again under the weight of its fractures, he couldn't shake the unease gnawing at him.
The System had warned him.And warnings never came without a reason.
_____________
The silence in the lobby held after Charlie's words, like the entire Hotel was holding its breath. Dust floated lazily in the crimson light seeping through the cracked windows. For a fleeting moment, it seemed like things might calm.
Then Alex's vision blurred.
The System's voice cut into his mind, sharper than before, each word pressing against his skull like iron weights:
[Directive Update: Trust Evaluation.][Condition: Prove reliability to local allies.][Failure: Isolation Protocol will activate.]
Alex staggered, clutching his bandaged arm. The gauntlet pulsed beneath the cloth like a living heartbeat. Rocky squeaked nervously, sensing the shift.
Charlie rushed to his side, steadying him. "Alex? What is it?"
He wanted to lie. To say it was nothing. But the eyes on him—suspicious, unblinking—left no space to hide.
"The System," he said through clenched teeth. "It's… testing me. Us. Says I have to prove I can be trusted, or…" He trailed off, the words heavy.
"Or what?" Moxxie demanded, voice sharp.
Alex's gaze darkened. "…Or I'll be cut off."
Loona tilted her head. "Cut off like… powered down?"
"No," Alex muttered. His hand brushed the gauntlet, still pulsing faintly. "Cut off like erased."
The weight of the word erased seemed to drag the room into silence. Even Blitzo stopped smirking.
Charlie straightened, fire flickering behind her smile. "Then we prove it. Together. That's what this place is for, isn't it?"
Moxxie crossed his arms, unconvinced. Husk muttered something about "another damn suicide mission." Niffty was already scribbling "Trust Test Cleaning Schedule" on a notepad.
The System chimed again, colder this time, filling Alex's head and spilling faintly into the air as if the walls themselves were listening:
[Task Initialized: Trial of Accord.][Objective: Complete mission with allies without breach of trust.][Parameters: Active Immediately.]
The lights flickered. A low rumble passed through the Hotel's foundation. Outside, the neon skyline pulsed brighter, as if Hell itself had heard the call.
Alex met Charlie's gaze. Her hand was still on his arm, warm and steady despite everything.
"Looks like tomorrow came early," he said.
Charlie's smile wavered, but she didn't let go. "Then we face it head-on."
Behind her, Blitzo grinned wide, sensing opportunity. "Ooooh, a mission? Now this I can work with."
Moxxie groaned. Millie lit up with enthusiasm. Loona just sighed and checked her phone.
And Alex—though dread coiled in his chest—felt the faintest spark of something else.
Maybe this was the System's way of forcing him to stop running from the distrust.Maybe this was the first real step.
_______________
The lobby still smelled of smoke and scorched fabric from the night before. Cracks spidered across the walls, dust clinging to the air with every creak of the old beams. The chandelier swayed faintly overhead, as if the building itself was holding its breath.
Alex sat at the base of the staircase, gauntlet wrapped in fresh bandages that still pulsed faintly, betraying the System's presence. Rocky perched on his shoulder, squeaking uneasily with every thrum.
No one spoke at first. The only sound was the faint hum of neon through the windows.
Finally, Moxxie broke the silence, voice sharp. "So this is it. A trial. Whatever that means. And we're supposed to trust him not to explode again in the middle of it?"
Millie grabbed his arm. "Sugar, he saved us. If Alex hadn't been here, that thing would've torn the Hotel apart."
"And if he loses control again," Moxxie snapped back, "then we'll wish it had."
Loona flicked her phone shut, tail twitching. "He's not wrong. If this trial thing is about trust, then the System's already laughing. We can't even sit in the same room without fighting."
Blitzo grinned, far too amused for the tension in the room. "Oh, come on. A trial, a mission, teamwork exercises? Sounds like a goddamn corporate retreat. Only with more fireballs. I'm in."
Charlie's voice cut across them, steady but trembling with urgency. "Enough."
Everyone turned. She stood at the center of the ruined lobby, dust streaking her skirt, tiara crooked from exhaustion. But her eyes burned with determination.
"This Hotel was built on the idea that people can change. That trust can exist in Hell. If the System wants us to prove it, then that's exactly what we'll do."
Moxxie scoffed. "You make it sound simple."
"It's not," Alex said quietly. His voice drew every gaze. He flexed his bandaged arm, the faint glow pulsing beneath the cloth. "The System doesn't test for fun. It's going to push us until we break—or prove we won't. And right now?" He glanced at the group, at their divided faces. "We're not exactly proving anything."
Charlie stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm despite the glow. "Then we start now. We plan. We work together. We don't let the System dictate how this ends—we decide that."
For a heartbeat, silence stretched again. Suspicion still lingered, sharp and unyielding—but beneath it was something else. The first fragile thread of possibility.
Blitzo clapped his hands, breaking the heaviness. "Fine, fine. Team meeting. Trust falls. Group therapy. Whatever. Let's figure out how to not die."
Moxxie muttered something unkind. Millie looked hopeful. Loona rolled her eyes but didn't leave.
And Alex—though doubt still burned in his chest—felt the faintest spark that maybe, just maybe, Charlie was right.
The System pulsed faintly in his vision, like it was listening.
[Trial of Accord: Preparation Phase Accepted.][Observation: Alignment unstable.]
The ground shivered beneath the Hotel's foundation, a reminder that their time to prepare was limited.
[End Of Chapter 2]
{Soooooo how's chapter 1 and comment on how's chapter 2....}
{I think its going so well so far now what you guys think}
{Drop a review and Give me those stone ehehehehe}