Chapter 3 — A Deal in Hell
Razan watched Loona in silence. He wanted to help—he needed to help—yet deep down he knew that good intentions in Hell sounded like a cruel joke.
If I just walk up and say, "Hey, trust me, I'm not a murderous psychopath, I'm just a nerd who fell into the wrong universe"… yeah, she's never believing that.
Technically, he was innocent. Completely. But innocence meant absolutely nothing in Hell. Nobody cared whether you deserved to be here or not. And Loona least of all.
Still, when he looked at her… that unique mix of ferocity and loneliness, the lost expression buried under that tough façade, the way she moved like a cornered child trying to survive a world that hated her… something inside him twisted painfully.
She was everything he naturally cared about: kids and animals. And Loona was both at the same time.
And to make things worse, she had been the only one who helped him when he arrived.
Of course his protective instincts were screaming like an alarm.
I need her to trust me… but how the hell do I make that happen?
As he stood there, trying to piece together an idea that didn't make him sound like an idiot, something clicked in his mind. A risky idea. But one that might just work.
Loona caught his thoughtful stare and frowned. To her, Razan seemed like just another idiot—strong, clueless, probably dangerous, definitely not someone to trust. But he had just saved her. That alone made him stand out in a place where kindness didn't exist.
Even so, trusting someone in Hell was practically suicide.
"Thanks for the help," she muttered, already turning to leave. "But I'm going now."
Razan saw it—she wasn't just walking away. She was running from the possibility of being hurt again. He inhaled sharply, steadying himself, and decided to take the risk.
"I know that no matter what I say, you're going to think I'm lying… or trying to use you," he said, voice steady and honest. "So let's make a deal instead."
Loona froze and glanced back at him, confused.
"A deal?"
Razan nodded.
"I just got here. I know I have power… but I also know there are creatures I should never mess with. That's where you come in. You live here. You know who's safe to hit and who would get us erased on the spot."
He extended a hand toward her.
"My idea is simple: you become my guide. We hunt sinners who have money but no powerful backers. We take them out, split the profit fifty–fifty… and live well in this garbage world. What do you say?"
Loona stared at his outstretched hand.
The offer was tempting. Extremely tempting.
With that money, she could finally leave the orphanage. No more waiting to be "adopted," no more fear of being sold off to some demon who wanted a living pet. She could actually have a life of her own—whatever that life looked like.
Seconds passed. Her tail twitched. She evaluated him the way a starving stray would examine an outstretched piece of food—dangerous, but maybe worth the risk.
Finally, Loona gripped his hand.
"…Fine. I accept."
Razan's face lit up with a relieved smile.
"Great! Then let's introduce ourselves properly, since we'll be working together for a long while. My name's Razan. Nice to meet you."
"Loona," she replied, curt but not hostile. More like someone who simply wasn't used to expecting anything from anyone.
Razan nodded, then asked:
"So… who's our first target?"
Loona turned toward the broken street ahead and explained:
"There's a gang nearby. Small-time. They don't have anyone important protecting them. If they disappear, nobody will care. We can start with them."
Razan grinned faintly.
"Then let's go."
The two began walking down the dark, cracked street, passing ruined buildings and shadow-filled alleys whispering with the eternal murmurs of lost souls. The ground beneath them was a patchwork of dried blood, smoldering ash, and old scorch marks. The only illumination came from flickering neon signs that buzzed with demonic symbols Razan didn't recognize.
As they walked, Razan found himself staring—without meaning to—at Loona's wolf ears. They twitched subtly with every sound, every shift of the wind, every heartbeat of danger. He was completely hypnotized.
Loona noticed instantly.
She turned around, expression sharpening into a glare.
"If you try to touch my ears, I'll kill you."
Razan jumped slightly, face flushing red. He quickly tore his gaze away, suddenly fascinated by a cracked brick wall to his left.
"Sorry! I wasn't—I mean— I didn't—"
Loona rolled her eyes, brushed past him, and muttered under her breath:
"How did an idiot like this end up in Hell…"
Razan hurried after her.
"Hey! Slow down! I don't know this place!"
Loona snorted but didn't stop. Razan jogged to catch up, dodging a demon that lunged out of a doorway and a floating eyeball that screamed insults at him. Everything around him was new, terrifying, and confusing.
Yet, strangely, he didn't feel alone.
Loona didn't look at him, but her voice softened—just barely.
"Don't fall behind. If you get lost, I'm not searching for you."
Razan smiled despite her tone.
"Don't worry. I'm sticking to you like glue."
"Ew, don't say it like that."
They kept walking. The gang's territory wasn't far now. Loona pointed toward a half-collapsed block of buildings illuminated by bloody red streetlights.
"That's the place. Stay alert. They might be weak, but they're still demons."
Razan cracked his knuckles, feeling his power hum beneath his skin.
"Got it."
Loona glanced at him sideways. There was something new in her eyes—not trust, not yet, but maybe… the first flicker of belief that he wasn't just another threat.
"Don't die on our first job," she muttered.
Razan smirked confidently.
"I'm harder to kill than I look."
Loona scoffed.
"That's not comforting."
Together, they stepped into enemy territory—two unlikely allies, one deal, and a path that neither of them could imagine would change their lives.
But for now, they were just two souls trying to survive Hell.
Side by side.