"Nngh..."

I groaned and blinked slowly, squinting slightly.

I'm alive?

I looked around, seeing filth littered about. Flashing signs, drug machines, clubs, casinos, porn studios, crack houses...

My eyes widened and I shot up into a sitting position.

My breaths came heavy and harsh.

Confirming my thoughts, a bright sign above me read, "welcome to hell!"

I stood up shakily, like a fawn learning to use its legs. I focused on the people around me, and noticed their appearances were...

Strange.

Some were grotesque, and some were like him...

Human like.

I looked at my hands, and my little black claws looked sharp. They weren't as long as his, but I'm a female, so my anatomy may be different.

I don't know how this works.

I felt my face.

I feel normal...my cheeks are fleshy and...I still have a nose.

I need a mirror.

I walked over to a building, my reflection seeming foreign.

My hair had become a lighter shade of brown, but still held its wave.

On my head looked like little fluffy ears.

The more I looked at my appearance...the more I realized I look...

Just...

Like...

Him.

I felt something twitch on my tailbone, and quickly looked behind me.

There sat a little fluffy tail, brown and white just like my hair. I was wearing the same clothing as when I died.

I quickly discarded the sweater, the heat finally getting to me. I guess hell really is hot.

Now that I know where I am...now that I'm grounded...

My eyes widened...I slowly smiled. My teeth were white, not golden, and they were mostly flat save for my sharpened canines.

I snatched my purse off the ground where I'd landed.

Come on, it's got to be here...

Aha!

I pulled the music box out and held it to my chest. I've got to find him. I've got to find him...

I began to walk, and stumbled a few times over the broken sidewalk and various forms of dangerous litter.

I passed by a television display, a man named Vox was on all of the screens. His name was plastered everywhere by the store.

Then I turned and froze.

There, tacked to a wall was a poster.

I got closer, my eyes narrowing. Drawn on it was...Alastor.

I think that's him...

I peeled the poster off the wall, and held it gently. My eyes scanned the details, they had painted him horrendously.

But it was him.

Beware the radio demon!

DO. NOT. FUCK WITH HIM.

That's what was written on the poster. I couldn't help but roll my eyes and smile. Of course he's mr. big shot down here...

A demon walked past me, and she was petite like me, relatively nice looking.

She looked to be an arachnid of sorts, several glossy black eyes dotting her cheeks around her normal two eyes.

"Excuse me, miss..." I stopped her and she seemed startled, but turned to me.

"Yes?" She asked and I turned the poster towards her, her eyes widening at the sight of it.

"Do you know where I can find him? I really need to find him," I said, almost desperately.

She looked at me like I was crazy.

"Um...are you feeling ok? No one...actively seeks out the radio demon," she said, bewildered.

I shook my head, "please...do you know where he would be?" I asked, definitely sounding desperate that time.

She shrugged, "it's not my funeral...down the street, take a left then go straight. You'll see a huge building with an antenna on the top, he stays in the top floor penthouse," she spilled the information and I blinked.

That was very specific and helpful.

"Thank you!" I said, quickly running in the direction, clutching the music box and the poster.

After I followed her directions, a building matching the description came into view.

I sprinted up to the front doors, busting through.

The small receptionist jumped, and looked over at me nervously. She looked to be a lamb of some sorts.

She actually looked kinda cute for a demon.

"C-can I help you miss?" She asked softly, and I stumbled up to the desk. I probably looked absolutely insane.

"Where is Alastor?" I asked and her eyes widened.

"Um...the radio demon isn't taking interviews right—"

I shook my head, "I'm not a journalist...call him down here or buzz me up there, please, I know he's up there..." I begged her with my eyes.

She looked up at me like I was a teenager standing on the edge a busy overpass.

"Ma'am he won't t-take kindly to being disturbed, I—"

"Please let me see him..."

My voice was soft, and she scanned my features before slowly picking up the phone and pressing a few buttons.

"Sir..." she said softly, and then winced at whatever he responded with.

My heart fluttered, knowing he's on the other line.

"I-I know, I apologize, but you've been requested in the lobby..........no, they're not challenging you, I-I don't think.........she's very insistent.........yes, she......Ok...y-yes sir..."

The soft click of the phone being placed down sounded, and the lamb intertwined her fingers nervously.

"The Radio Demon has accepted your um...meeting. Go to the elevators, and take this," she handed me a key, "put this into the button that says P and turn it. It'll take you to his penthouse......may god have mercy on you," she said the last part to where I barely even heard it.

I quickly went to the elevator, still clutching the poster and music box.

I got in and shoved the key into the correct place and pressed the P button.

Knots formed in my stomach as the elevator began to rise. Slowly the numbers changed, higher and higher...

Ding.

The doors slowly opened and revealed a spacious living area. Decorated in red and gold.

Yea, this is his place.

I stepped in and the familiar scent hit my nose. It was so much stronger, so much heavier now that I was in his place.

All those times he came to my apartment, now I'm at his.

It was quiet, and dim. The soft red glow from the red sky outside gave the room an eerie ambience.

I quietly looked around. My eyes caught his small library. Good lord, he had a lot of books.

"Give me one good reason you shouldn't be my dinner tonight."

His voice behind me didn't even scare me. The growl beneath his tone didn't send a single chill down my spine.

But instead, my chest swelled immediately.

I lowered my hand that had been gently observing a nicknack.

I picked up the poster I had set down and looked at it, the music box in my other hand.

"You know, they really didn't draw you properly," I said, and I could practically hear him stop breathing. The room was completely silent.

I turned around, and there he stood. My stomach fluttered, and our eyes met. He was wearing a regular black dress shirt, unbuttoned at the top, and maroon slacks.

He blinked, and I smiled.

"Come on, laugh...that was funny," I said, and took a few steps forward. He recoiled, as if he were afraid of me.

I proceeded, and his eyes were big and...

Scared.

He was terrified. I don't know if it's of me, or of my presence. Or if it's even fear at all.

His ears that had laid back flat perked up and his look hardened.

He growled at me, and my eyes softened. Slowly he grew, black tar leaked from his mouth. His eyes turned into dials, sinking down into his skull.

I know the pain all too well, the mourning. He hasn't accepted that it's me.

"I'll tear you apart...for impersonating her, I'll tear you limb from limb!" He roared, and I watched as the same black tar began falling from his eyes. His voice was wavering.

I stood calmly, looking up at him.

He looked into my eyes, and growled again, "stop looking at me with her eyes!"

He yelled and then lunged at me, but he froze a couple feet away after I held up my hand.

I held his music box in front of him, giving him that same soft look.

He slowly shrunk back to his normal size.

He was staring straight at it, disbelief in his eyes.

He looked up into mine, and I held the box close to my chest.

"There's no one I trust more to take proper care of it..." I recited what he said to me, and watched as his eyes filled with real tears, tar still staining his cheeks.

"Darling...?"

I smiled bigger then, and tilted my head, "did you miss me?" I asked with a soft laugh.

"Yes..." he breathed softly, and in that moment I felt solid.

I felt whole again.