The streets were empty. Not a single demon dared to go outside, for one reason only. A rumor was spreading around all parts of Hell. Sukuna left the Hotel. Sukuna was free. Everyone knew the terrifying Overlord had a softspot for the young Princess, few knew the real reason. But the few were more that willing to talk, given that no one has seen Sukuna in over a week. It was like he disappeared.
There was only a few days left until the next Extermination, and even though everyone knew that the Hazbin Hotel was their target, there was still an Overlord meeting happening.
As Alastor made his way towards the location, he wondered out loud.
"If she doesn't wake up soon, I will have to step in, and move her to a safer spot. I guess Vaggie wouldn't be willing to leave her side, but I can get rid of her easily..." he murmured, glad that the streets were empty. As he neared the place of the meeting, a sudden chill ran down his back. He could sense no danger, there was no reason for this, which made him even more cautious.
After everyone settled in the room, including the Vs, who were oddly quiet, Carmilla greeted everyone, and began the meeting.
"Welcome everyone. As you all know, the Extermination day is rapidly approaching. With Sukuna nowhere to be found, our power is extremely limited." she started. "Alastor, since you're here. How are the preparations in the Hotel coming along? Will you be able to stop the attack?" she inquired from the red demon.
"I'm afraid to say it is less than ideal. Though none of the residents left yet, they can't help but be afraid, since their most powerful weapon disappeared." he said mournfully.
"T'is indeed worrysome." Zestial joined in. "I have tried to track down Sukuna, but he evaded me at every turn. T'was like he was not of this realm at all." he said in a low voice.
"Who gives a shit about the Extermination?" Valentino butted in rudely. "What is even more worrysome, is that your lackey, that furry bitch, used some kind of bloodpact of whateverthefuck, and he destroyed my deal with Angel Dust. Noone should have that much power, and yet he did it. How?" he raged on.
"It wasn't Husker's power per say. Sukuna played the same trick on me with Husker's deal. He has become too powerful." Alastor said.
Suddenly, all the lights started blinking in the room, and a disembodied voice filled the space.
"Indeed I have." was all it said, and the room returned to normal.
"Ohh shit." said someone, sounding afraid.
"He's here?!" asked another.
Naturally, the two who were mainly freaked out by this were Valentino and Velvette, who both experienced Sukuna's power first hand.
"We were searching for thee. Where have thou been my old friend?" Zestial asked, uncertainty in his voice.
"You know. Here and there." Sukuna replied, this time he appeared in person, however, he seemed to have switched his pure black yukata, to a white one with some blue lines along the edges. He himself also seemed to have gone through some changes, there were tattoo like lines all across his face, as well as on his hands.
"You have changed quite a lot it seems. And you have become more powerful in the process no doubt." Carmilla stated, hopeful that the cruel Overlord still remembered his old friends.
As Sukuna sat down, everyone slightly moved away from him in fear.
"How is the Princess doing?" he asked as he turned to Alastor. "Has she woken up yet?"
"Uhmmm..." Alastor looked quite guilty, looking around at his fellow Overlords.
"What does he mean by that Alastor?" Carmilla asked in an accusatory tone.
"Her mind was consumed by the Dark. She has fallen deep into despair, and noone can help her. It has been like that since we returned from Heaven." Sukuna enlightened the others, surprising everyone.
"That long? Alastor why didn't you say anything? We're betting everything on the Hotel being able to repel the attack, while the Princess has fallen to the Dark?" Carmilla couldn't believe it. "This isn't the time for games, Alastor!" she said angrily.
"I'm sure the Princess will wake up when the time is just right. She has quite the talent for dramatic timing, you see." Alastor joked, trying to get out of the serious situation.
"Alright. Change of plans. From now on, we will assume the Hotel will be lost, and prepare ourselves accordingly." Carmilla finished, everyone agreeing.
As the meeting came to a close, Carmilla, Zestial and Sukuna once again entered the smaller room, holding a private conversation.
"So really. Where have you been all this time?" Carmilla started, pouring herself a drink.
"I've been outside." Sukuna simply replied.
"T'is not the time for thy jokes, old friend." Zestial spoke up with a serious tone.
"I mean it. I've been OUTSIDE." he said again, putting emphasis on the last word.
"You cannot possibly mean..." Carmilla started. "No one has survived that to date. That is how most of the overconfident Overlords were lost." she said.
"But I did. I even managed to claim some territory there." Sukuna said nonchalantly. "And those Overlords you mentioned, they were indeed out there. Weak. Unconscious. Husks of themselves. But there none the less. I even met a couple interesting beings calling themselves gods." he finished, further stunning the other two.
"That would mean you're on par, if not even stronger, with all of Hell's Overlords combined." Carmrilla said, beginning to grasp the situation.
"I was already the strongest when I first stepped into Hell. You just didn't know it yet." Sukuna smirked.
Shortly after that, the private meeting ended, and Zestial and Sukuna left the building. At the exit of the elevator however, Alastor was seemingly waiting for the two of them. In truth, he was only waiting for Sukuna, and he looked angrier than ever before.
As they walked, Alastor was surprised that they were heading towards the Hotel.
"Why in all Hell do you think it's a good idea for you to go back there? Everyone thinks you did something to poor Charlie for her to faint like that." Alastor questioned him.
"I couldn't care less about some insect's opinions. I'm here to pay off one last debt." he simply said, as he kept walking.
A dozen weapons were pointed at Sukuna as he entered, including an angelic spear, several guns, and even some cards and dice.
"Even you Husker? After everything I did for you?" Sukuna scoffed, not the least bit scared by their hostile actions.
"Especially after everything you did, you Bastard. You took care of her for centuries, and for you to betray her like that..." Husker became speechless.
"And why do you think I'm here now?" Sukuna questioned them.
"To finish what you started I imagine?" Vaggie spit, endless hatred in her voice.
"MOVE." Sukuna simply said, and everyone was suddenly flung out of his way, some of them only stopping when they crashed into walls. Sukuna calmly started to make is way to Charlie's room, and the rest of the residents tried everything in their power to stop him, but all was fruitless.
As they entered the Princess's room, everyone stood between her bed and Sukuna, trying to shield Charlie's sleeping form from the Overlord.
"■ Open." he said, and the floating black box snapped open and he disappeared once again.
Charlie was floating. She could see nothing. Hear nothing. Taste nothing. Only hear tears kept her company in this realm. She couldn't tell how long she has been here. She didn't care. All she wanted to do was to disappear. After a while, some whispers found her. She didn't know where they came from, but they took on the voices of her loved ones.
"You are weak." "Unprepared." "Naive."
"You failed everyone." "Your friends left you." "And now you gave in to Despair." "Pathetic."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." she cried over and over, but the whispers didn't leave. They tormented her, with every mistake she ever made. Then suddenly, silence.
She opened her eyes, and wiped the tears from them. There was still some determination in her soul. She could see. Even though it was just herself, she could at least see that much.
When she focused on the distance, she managed to make out another thing. It was a small black box, just like the one Sukuna left her.
"That's just great! Your games still follow me here!" she yelled, and suddenly covered her mouth. She could talk again! She had a voice again!
She held the small box, and examined it closely. She saw a faint light coming from it, which got brighter and brighter, until it was almost blinding. When her eyes finally got used to the light, she could make out figures. They moved around, somewhat humanoid shapes, looking at each other, talking to each other.
As she looked closer, she could make out who the figures were. Angel. Husker. Niffty. Alastor. And...one shape, kneeling next to bed. Crying. Begging. Blaming herself. Holding the unconscious figure's hand. The others tried to pry the two figures apart. She attacked them, then went back to the other figure's side. She knew who that was. She didn't want to accept this. She lied to her. Betrayed her. But she still kept by her side. For whoever knows how long it has been for them.
After a while, the box started emmiting sounds. At first, it was just whispers. Like the one who tourmented her for so long. But these ones tried to comfort her. Begging to her to wake up. Offering their souls. Their everything. To any power that could give her back to them.
As time passed, less and less figures stayed by her side. At first, it was Husker who left, saying he needed to keep the Hotel clean. Then Niffty left, saying she had to help Husker. Then Angel. Then Alastor. She expected Vaggie to leave, but she never did. Not to eat. Not to sleep. She kept by her side, for what felt like a millenia to her.
As she watched over the cube, talking to Vaggie, not knowing if she could hear her or not, suddenly, the Dark trembled. Waves of energy washed over her, pushing her further and further. Thankfully the small cube, that provided her with some semblance of self, kept following her.
When she looked back at the light in the cube, she saw Vaggie snap her head up, and hurriedly leaving her side. 'Maybe she finally moved on?' she wondered, the next second the room's door were blasted open, all her friends standing between her, and an unknown figure. They stood there for a while, and then she heard a deep voice echo through her very being. She couldn't understand the first word, the second was clearer than anything else.
"■ Open." and she woke up.