I wrapped my hands around the tall grass and started choking it.
"Where's my mother!?"
I demanded while the grass choked.
"Answer me!"
I started shaking it by what I assumed was throat.
"S-stop."
The grass managed to choke out. I retreated my hands. The tall grass took deep breaths for a while. It was two meters tall and hovered over me but I wasn't scared of it.
"I'll tell you what I know! Just stop acting like an animal!"
I crossed my arms over my expensive pink dress with detailed embroidery and white cardigan with real pearls sewed to it.
"Hmph!"
If the grass had eyes it would've rolled them.
"Listen here little brat, I don't know where your mother is and I don't care. What I care about is how nine years old little girl got here without being eaten by monsters or fallen in traps."
I had not seen anything out of the ordinary expect this speaking tall grass. And to answer it's question, I was simply on a walk with my mother until she disappeared in this large tall grass field. But the words about monsters and traps piqued my interest.
"What monsters? What traps?"
I asked.
"Ha! Like I would tell you!"
The grass grinned with it's imaginary mouth. I quickly wrapped my hands around it's throat.
"Okay okay! I'll tell you! This field isn't just any field. It's a cursed field created by every evil deed humans have ever done. It's filled with death traps and monsters and other extremely dangerous things. Normally you can't walk longer than ten meters before you're killed or chased. But you have gotten this far without even being aware of the monsters. How? What's your secret?"
The tall grass narrated ending his explanation with question that I completely ignored.
"So where's my mother then? With the monsters?"
I felt fear creep up on me and I felt lost.
"She's probably dead already."
I started to cry and wail loudly. My fists tightened and the grass started to choke again.
"H-hey stop! S-stop hu-hurting me!"
It choked and coughed but it's pleads went to deaf ears. I had started scream cry and couldn't see through my tears. In the silent field the grass' pleads and my wails sounded like a rock concert.
I started pulling the grass towards me to hug it. It screamed and yelled me to stop and calm down but I didn't listen.
"MOTHER!"
I screamed between my wails. I pulled the grass closer. I pulled and pulled and pulled until… RIP! I looked at my hands to see the grass silently laying in my arms.
It was silent. Then I screamed. I stumbled back until I tripped on a stone and fell down. But instead of hitting the ground, it opened and swallowed me in.
I screamed for my life as I fell down the dark pit with the tall grass still in my arms. My heart heated like a maniac and my stomach felt hollow when I realized that I would die.
But instead of hitting the ground I fell in deep black water. The hit hurt me and took my breath away. The grass was long gone under the water. I tried to swim up but I couldn't without breathing which I needed to do since my breath was away but what I couldn't do since I was underwater. My reflexes took over and I took a deep breath.
The water immediately went in my mouth and I started coughing and taking more breaths. It felt like drowning, which was probably because I was drowning.
My lungs were burning and my vision slowly blurred and darkened until I felt someone pull me the back of my collar.
SWISH! I was pulled above the water and on a slim wooden boat. I coughed water out and saw someone who was hidden behind a dark cloak hover over me. He pushed my chest down and I coughed even more water.
My legs and arms felt weak and when my breathing started to calm down I felt the cold. I started to shiver in my wet clothes.
I wiped the water from my eyes and saw that we were sailing on a black sea. Wherever I looked there was only black water. The sky was also black with stars shimmering on it. I couldn't find the moon but what surprised me most was that it was night. When I was still on the ground it had been day.
I turned to look at the cloaked figure who was now oaring us forward with a single oar. It stood at the back of the boat. On the front of the boat there was a yellow lantern hanging from the boat.
"Where are we?"
I asked and stood up on the boat. I walked over to the lantern but it didn't give me much of a light.
"I'm the River of death."
The hissed figure answered. His voice was deep and hoarse as he hadn't spoken for a long time.
"Where's my mother? Am I dead? Are you dead?"
"You'll get your answers soon, little Penelope."
It answered.
"Hod o you know my name!?"
I was alarmed.
"I know everyone's name."
"Who are you?"
"You'll get your answers soon, little Penelope."
"Maybe I should push you of of the boat."
I spat out and the figure looked at me amused. It chuckled slightly.
"Even if you would push me down you wouldn't be able to get anywhere without me. This boat is my soul."
It answered. I glared at him but he just ignored me. I sat down without an answer and propped my head with my hand.
Every now and then we sailed past island where I could hear screaming and screeching. The cloaked figure told me to just ignore it. It said that those were where the lost souls had gotten. The ones who's couldn't move to afterlife.
Even though we had sailed for a long time in the smooth water I felt no hunger or thirst. In fact I didn't even feel tired anymore. I felt great.
I thought about my mother and where she could be. She was probably worried about me.
It started to be more and more clear to me that we weren't on earth anymore but instead somewhere between life and death. My glowing skin made clear.
Finally when we stopped at a pier I noticed that my clothes and brown hair were completely dry. I rose up to the pier and looked down at the figure.
"Are you not coming?"
I wanted to know.
"No. My journey ends here."
"But what should I do?"
"Just follow the road. You know you've arrived to your destination when you reach it. Good luck, Little Penelope!"
He wished and started to sail away. I watched him until he disappeared in the fog and the turned away.
In front of me was a deep and dark forest with a road. I barely saw around me but the white road shimmered under the stars. I started to follow it.
I didn't need to walk for long in the silent forest when I came to two large iron doors. I looked behind it and saw the road continue there but I knew that this was where I was supposed leave.
The doors had carvings of demons and tortured people on it. It didn't have a doorknob and I couldn't push it open. When I pressed my ear against it I heard someone clear their throat.
I jumped and looked right where I saw two red eyes staring at me. Suddenly a light lit and I could now see around me.
The voice came from a creature who was standing behind a stall. It was red, skinny and bald with two long black horns on it's head. On the stall it read "Tickets to Hell."
"Yes?"
I said to the demon.
"If you want to enter you need to sign in here."
"Why would I want to enter Hell?"
"Because there's nowhere else you can go."
I slowly walked over to the creature. It had a large book in front of it.
"Name?"
"Penelope."
"…Penelope what..?"
It's voice sounded faltering like it was doubting something.
"Penelope Levine."
It's eyes grew and it looked at me like I had just grown giant spider's legs on my back.
"P-Penelope Levine..?"
It stuttered and started to shake.
"Yes? That's me."
It nodded and with weak fingers opened the book and checked my name on it. Then it looked back to me.
"I-it's honor to meet you young master."
It almost breathed it's words out. Then it gestured towards the, now open, doors with it's hand and bowed down.
"Enjoy y-your stay!"
It exhaled. I looked at it confused but didn't waste time on questioning it.
I walked trough the iron doors but instead of entering the other side of it I entered Hell. It looked like… well… like Hell!
It had black stone path for me to follow and around it was two black rocks. The sky was red and orange and I could see smoke and fire behind the black rocks. It was so hot that I needed to take of the white cardigan I was wearing. Around me floated black ashes. Some of them were still on fire and when they landed on my cardigan it started to burn and I tossed it aside with a scream. I wasn't the only one screaming. Behind the rocks u could hear cries and howls of agony and cruel laughter following the screams.
I started walking on the black road and heard the iron doors slamming behind me. I felt panic creep up on me. I was in Hell all alone and didn't know how I could get out of here and where my mother was. I wrapped my arms around me and slowly followed the stone path.
The path continued for a long time. I walked through a flaming forest, past underground lava streams and through bushes with red suspicious berries and black thorns. To my surprise the flames didn't touch me, the lava didn't burn me and the thorns didn't scratch me.
I something in my vision and started pushing through the bushes to get to it. The bushes moved to let me through and I almost fell down.
I was on the edge of a cliff. A long, deep and large canyon opened before me. I looked to my sides but couldn't see the end of it. I looked down and could see the lava at the bottom. Something moved in it. I looked forward and saw that at the other side there was a large black palace with lava and fire all around it. That must be my terminus. But how could I get to the other side? I definitely couldn't jump since the other side was hundreds of meter away from me.
I looked back and tried to push through the bushes but they didn't let me go this time. What was I supposed to do? I felt frustrated and helpless.
I looked at the path under my feet. It was clear that I needed to go over the canyon.
Wait, what's that? I squinted my eyes and looked at the rock path. There was something written on it. Just before the fall.
"Walk."
Oh great! Now the path wanted me to commit suicide. Just great!
I threw my hands up in frustration and huffed. I turned over to the bushes. I glared at them.
"What are you looking at!?"
I knew that talking to a bush was stupid but I had encountered walking plants before.
There was silence before I heard rustling from the bushes. What was it? A demon? I prepared to bite someone's ankles but instead of a demon a hand came out of the bushes. Or not exactly a hand but a pointing finger made out of berries, leaves, sticks and thorns. It pointed towards the palace.
"Yes, I know that I need to go there! Thank for the useless advice! Hmph!"
I crossed my arms and glared at the bush arm the same way my mother glared at our servants when they had done something wrong.
The bush started to point at the castle harder and the pointed at the writing on the path. It took me a moment but then it hit me.
"Oh! You mean that I need to commit suicide to get over to the palace?"
If the bush hand had a face it would slap it right now. But the bush decided that maybe it was just easier to not tell the kid the actual truth so it gave a thumbs up to her. Then it disappeared in the bushes.
I looked back to the palace. This was probably a test of courage. I thought. If I'm able to kill myself they bring me back to life and give me my mother who must be in that palace waiting for me.
To a nine years old this made a total sense.
I took a step over the cliff but instead of falling i felt something solid under my feet and just before I had time to question it a suspension bridge appeared under my feet.
Oh! So that's what the bush hand meant! I thought.
The bridge was old and looked like it would broke any minute but it was my only way to the palace so it had to do. I walked on it carefully. It moved in the warm wind. I avoided looking down and before I even noticed I was at the other side of the cliff.
The black stone path continued and I was greeted by a large palace with many towers, windows and balconies. It was silent and I didn't see anyone anywhere. I felt something pull me towards the palace and I followed it.
I walked through the front yard with thousand of red flowers and orange trees, then I climbed up large stairs and went in through large doors. The I walked through many different halls and climbed many stairs until I came to a large hallway with windows on both sides. I looked out and was able to see that I was walking towards the biggest tower. I hadn't seen anyone on my way there and it made me think that maybe the palace was abandoned.
Finally at the end of the hallway I found two largest black doors I had ever seen in my whole life. They opened automatically and I saw something that I've never seen before.
A black throne room filled with different kinds of demons in beautiful dresses and suits. They all wore dark colors and my pink dress stood out. They were all watching me. At the end of the room there was a black and sharp throne with the Devil sitting on it.
He was fully red and covered in red hair. He had a black hairless tail and black goat's horns. He had weird ears that were on top of his head instead of on the sides and they looked more like an animals ears that human's. He also had black long beard and crooked nose. His legs weren't human's but goat's. But the most biggest thing about him was his big and black wings. They were both the same size as him and were neatly shut. He was holding a black trident with red end. The only clothes he was wearing were simple pants and golden shackles around his wrists and ankles.
Even thought I was in front of a room full of demons and the devil I was calm. I felt welcomed and wanted. I walked confidently through the throne room. Everyone were watching me silently. Every time I looked at someone they bowed a little and smiled at me.
Finally I walked in the front and curtsied to the Devil. He smiled at me showing his sharp teeth. I smiled back showing my white human teeth.
"Welcome, young Penelope. I believe that you have walked for a long time. Is this your first time in Hell."
His strong voice filled the room. I shook my head.
"Yes. What am I doing here?"
The Devil smiled at my question like it would be obvious.
"You're here because you're going to be a princess of Hell for the next month."
…This was not what I thought.
"What?"
"I'm going on my first holiday in two thousands years and I need someone to rule Hell while I'm gone. I asked my advisors to find the best human to the job since I don't trust in my demons and they told me about you."
I was silent for a moment.
"What about my mother?"
"You'll get her when I come back. Then I send you both back on earth and you can live the rest of your lives with peace."
"And what if I don't want to rule the Hell?"
The Devil's smile faded.
"Then you won't get your mother back. Deal?"
I thought about this for a moment. My mother had always said to never make a deal with the Devilbut I didn't really have anything to lose if I made the deal.
"Deal."
I answered and an old paper appeared before me and next to it floated a pen. I wasn't an idiot and read it completely before signing my name.
After the last letter I felt something burn inside me. It wasn't unpleasant and felt like hot food when you swallow it and can feel it go down to your stomach.
I felt a burst of heat and power travel through me and I looked at the Devil wit question. He smirked at me.
"A little bit magic to help you rule the Hell."
He walked down and gave me his black and hairless hand. I took it and he brought me to his throne. I sat down and watched as his hands burnt in flames before the flames exposed a golden crown. He gently placed it on my head and retreated back.
His hand flew up in the air.
"THE PRINCESS OF HELL, PENELOPE LEVINE!"
He announced with a deep bow. Everyone else in the room bowed deeply and some even kneeled.
The Devil gazed at me and winked one last time before disappearing in flames.