Pentagram City was 1800 miles away and would take around 9 hours to reach, including stops along the way.
At this moment, a class of 30-odd students, demons of all different species—from hellhounds to imps to fish demons—was on the train.
An imp, about 4 feet tall, was unenthusiastically droning on outside the window, giving the kids a speech about the Pride Ring.
But not a single person was listening.
They were either on their phones, scribbling on the seats, or doing something unproductive.
Even the teacher was just looking at her nails, speaking to a colleague on the phone about how she totally ghosted her boyfriend, took all his money, made him homeless, and laughed as she sent him a video of her setting his car on fire while he cried.
"...and that's why the Pride Ring is known for its excessive..." the imp droned.
One hellhound kid yawned loudly. "Why don't you pride yourself on shutting up?" he muttered, throwing a crumpled piece of paper at the imp.
The imp sighed, continuing as if on autopilot. "Pride is one of the most important aspects of this ring..."
"Yeah, yeah, we get it," another kid, an imp with a nose ring, said while doodling on the back of the seat in front of him.
The teacher laughed into her phone. "Oh, and then I set his car on fire! Can you believe it? He was crying like a bitch. It was tots Hilarious!"
The imp talking to the kids barely registered the abuse, his eyes glazed over. "And of course, the Pride Ring is ruled by—"
A hellhound kid threw a brick at the imp, hitting him squarely in the chest. The class erupted in laughter.
"Nice shot, Buster!" a fish demon kid shouted, high-fiving the hellhound.
The imp stumbled but continued, his voice monotone. "—by Lucifer himself, the embodiment of pride."
Meanwhile, one peculiar student was just looking out the window, a bored expression on his face as he watched the landscape pass by. The other kids couldn't help but gossip.
"Look at the noble boy, pretending he's too good for us," one kid sneered.
"Bet he thinks he's better than us," another added.
"His family must be embarrassed to have a freak like him," a third chimed in.
The boy could obviously hear them as they weren't making an effort to lower their voices, but he didn't care.
He continued to look outside while playing with a green coin in his hand, effortlessly juggling it between his fingers before putting it away in his pocket.
"If I wanted to smell shit, I'd ask you to speak," he said, his voice calm and disinterested.
The hellhound kid who had been speaking the most crap growled at him and grabbed another brick to throw, but the train suddenly shook, stopping him.
After it stopped shaking, the hellhound looked towards the boy, but he was gone. He huffed before going back to harassing other kids.
...
Meanwhile, in another cart, the caboose, ten demons were smoking and gambling. At the other end, two imps in suits were beating another imp that was tied to some rope and dangling.
They were enjoying the spectacle before finally, the only shark demon among them, Jaws, told them to stop. They let the imp down, and Jaws approached the kneeling imp, smiling.
"It hurts me to do this, really," Jaws said, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "But you don't mess with the business."
The imp demon tried pleading for his life, but Jaws tutted him silent, stroking his head like he truly cared. "None of that now."
The demon looked terrified and wanted to say something, but Jaws turned around and walked away before nodding to his henchmen.
The imps grinned, dragging the prisoner to the end of the cart and outside. They tied a rope around his body, and at the other end was a hook.
The henchmen threw the hook in the air, and before the demon could plea again, the hook got snagged on a trail track, and he immediately flew backwards, his fate unknown...
This was Hell, where no one was safe. Not Hellborn, not nobles, not even royalty was truly safe.
...
Back in the passenger cart, the noble boy found himself in a quiet corner of the train. He pulled out a small notebook and began to jot down his thoughts.
....
Meanwhile, in the cart ahead, inside the second class cabins, number S14, a certain fox demon was looking through the menu of the train.
The more he read, the more disgusted he felt, deciding he wouldn't order anything.
'Seriously, Sexburger, Roadkill, Squid and Peanut Butter, Granny's Unknown Liquids, Yeast Infection, Wart Waffles, and Egg Rolls... actually, the egg rolls might not be so bad.
He might try them later. If not, he still had some burnt chicken sandwiches Valentina prepared for him.
How does one burn a chicken sandwich? Honestly, he couldn't tell you, but somehow Valentina pulled it off.
In any case, he only had 9 hours before he got to Pentagram City. He should message Lucy and tell him.
So he did. He messaged his friend he still hadn't met face to face. Although he thought it would take a while before getting a response, it was only 30 seconds later that he got a reply.
Tucker: Hey Lucy, on the train now. Should be in Pentagram City in about 9 hours.
Lucy: Ahoy there! 👋
Tucker: Hey! How's it going? Got everything planned for my visit?
Lucy: Oh yes, got it all lined up! 🎉 So, uh, where are you now?
Tucker: On the train, heading to Pentagram City.
Lucy: Right, right! Of course. I knew that. Just making sure you're still on track! 🚂
Tucker: Busy day?
Lucy: You bet! Sorting through my new collection of rubber ducks. Got this rare one that quacks old-school. 🦆 How's the ride?
Tucker: Pretty good, but the menu here is something else. They have stuff like Sexburger, Roadkill, and Granny's Unknown Liquids...the only normal thing on it are egg rolls, and even now I'm doubting if these egg rolls are actually made up off eggs.
Lucy: Good grief, who makes these menus? Maybe go for the Egg Rolls. Or bring your own food next time. 😂
Tucker: Yeah, thinking of trying the egg rolls. Or sticking with these burnt chicken sandwiches Valentina made.
Lucy: Burnt chicken sandwiches? That's rough. Better than Granny's Unknown Liquids, though. 😆 Oh, got a dad joke for you: Why did the scarecrow win an award?
Tucker: Why?
Lucy: Because he was outstanding in his field! 🌾
Tucker: Haha, nice one. Hey, while I have you, do you know how to get a subscription for Voxflix? Been trying to figure it out.
Lucy: Voxflix, huh? Piece of cake! Let me see...
Tucker: I tried signing up but it's asking for a Hellpin code or something.
Lucy: Hellpin, Hellpin... let me think. 🤔 I got this, just give me a sec.
A few minutes later...
Lucy: Ok, might need to call in some reinforcements. Hold tight.
Tucker: Reinforcements?
Lucy: Yeah, let me call my daughter. She's a whiz with these things.
After a short while...
Lucy: Got it! Here's the step-by-step from Charlie. She's the best. 📋
Tucker: Thanks, Lucy. You really saved me there.
Lucy: No problem, pal! Anything for you. Can't wait to see you. We'll have a blast! 😊
Tucker: Yeah, see you soon.
Lucy: See you! 🥳
After finishing texting Lucy he looked out the window. But as he was staring, his nose caught a whiff of something, a smell all too familiar to him. Blood.
He glanced to his right where some imps in suits and fedoras walked by before heading towards the front. Tucker gave them a fleeting glance before looking outside again.
As he was lost in thought, a demon who had bravely decided to try one of the menu items choked and gagged before his face turned purple.
He stood up to go to the bathroom but couldn't hold it in, vomiting green goop with unknown chunks on an unsuspecting female demon who was posing for a Sin-stagram story.
The moment she clicked the photo, she was covered in vomit. The picture immediately got 10,000 views and was turning into a meme.
"..."
Tucker looked at the scene and thought, "You know what, that chicken sandwich isn't looking too bad now."
.
.
.
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I thought developing Tucker's and Lucifers Friendship now would be a good idea, plus I think that guy really needs a friend after his divorce.
Lots of fun things planed for those two...