The next morning was hell.
Not in the figurative sense. Husk was long past that. Everything here was literal hell. The light in the bar was dimmed just enough to keep from hurting his head, but the ache behind his eyes was persistent, crawling its way through his skull like a goddamn parasite.
He grumbled under his breath, his wings twitching irritably as he refilled his glass. The bar was empty again, save for the faint smell of stale liquor and the residue of last night's interactions. You weren't there. You had left at some point, probably sometime after Angel Dust's dramatic exit. Good riddance. He didn't need the extra company.
Husk took a long sip, letting the burn of the whiskey settle in his chest. He didn't like thinking too hard in the mornings. Hell, he didn't like thinking at all most days, especially about what had happened the night before. Your eyes. That unsettling calm you had, the way you didn't push or pry but somehow managed to get under his skin anyway.
He hated that.
"Good morning, Husk!"
The voice came with the force of a freight train, bright and chirpy enough to make Husk's feathers stand on end. Charlie entered the bar like a ray of sunshine bursting through the clouds—if the clouds were drenched in misery and sarcasm, and the sunshine was entirely uninvited.
Husk winced, squeezing his eyes shut as if that would block her out. "Too early, Charlie," he muttered, his voice hoarse.
"Oh, don't be like that," she chirped, unfazed as she skipped behind the bar and began rifling through the shelves like she owned the place—because technically, she did. "You look like you could use some fresh air! Have you been in here all night again?"
Husk grunted, not bothering to answer. Charlie was relentless in her optimism, an unstoppable force that seemed to have no concept of the crushing weight of reality—something Husk had long since resigned himself to. How she kept that kind of energy in a place like this was beyond him.
"You know, Husk," she said, her voice dropping into a more serious tone, "you really should get out more. There's so much more to life—uh, afterlife! I mean, it can't all be drinking and sulking."
"Watch me," Husk growled, taking another sip of his drink. He wasn't in the mood for one of Charlie's lectures about redemption or hope or whatever nonsense she was peddling today.
Charlie, ever the optimist, didn't seem to notice—or didn't care. She just gave him that same bright smile and leaned over the bar, looking around as if she was expecting someone.
"Oh, I heard we had a new guest last night!" she said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "I was going to introduce myself, but I didn't want to interrupt you two!"
Husk stiffened. You. She was talking about you. He grunted, his feathers ruffling as he set his glass down with a bit more force than necessary. "They're nobody," he muttered. "Just passing through."
Charlie's smile faltered for just a second, but it was barely noticeable. "Well, still! I'll make sure to say hello if I see them around. Everyone deserves a warm welcome!" She paused, tilting her head slightly as she eyed Husk. "Did they say what they were here for?"
"Nope." Husk's answer was curt, and he hoped that would be the end of it. He wasn't interested in getting into the details of your cryptic demeanor or the unsettling feeling you left in your wake. The less Charlie knew, the better.
Before Charlie could respond, the room seemed to shift. The air grew thicker, and a faint, almost imperceptible hum filled the bar. Husk didn't need to look up to know what was coming next. He could feel the change in the atmosphere, the weight of it pressing down like an invisible hand.
"Well, well, well… What do we have here?"
Alastor's voice slithered through the room, smooth and dripping with that unsettling charm that made Husk's skin crawl. The Radio Demon materialized in the doorway, his wide grin plastered across his face as he surveyed the bar, his red eyes gleaming with mischief.
Husk rolled his eyes, taking another swig of his drink. "Great. Just what I needed."
Alastor ignored him, of course. He sauntered into the room like he owned the place, his cane tapping softly against the floor as he made his way over to the bar. His presence was always overwhelming, a mix of charisma and menace that made it impossible to ignore him. And, of course, he thrived on that.
"Good morning, Husk," Alastor said, his voice crackling like static from an old radio. "And dear Charlie, always a delight to see you so early! You're positively radiant today."
Charlie smiled warmly, clearly not put off by Alastor's theatrics. "Good morning, Alastor! I was just telling Husk about our new guest. Did you happen to meet them last night?"
Alastor's grin widened, his eyes flicking toward Husk for a brief moment. "Ah, yes. I heard we had a newcomer. I didn't have the pleasure of meeting them myself, but I do hope they're… enjoying their stay." His voice dripped with amusement, and Husk couldn't help but scowl.
"They'll be gone soon," Husk muttered, though he wasn't sure if he was trying to convince Charlie, Alastor, or himself. You hadn't exactly given any indication of how long you planned to stay. Hell, you hadn't given much of anything except for that calm, unsettling stare.
Alastor's eyes gleamed with something dark and knowing as he tilted his head toward Husk. "Is that so? How curious…" He let the words hang in the air, the crackle of his voice sending a shiver down Husk's spine.
Charlie, ever the peacemaker, quickly changed the subject. "Well, I'm sure they'll come around! Everyone does eventually." She gave Husk a pointed look. "And you should really get to know them, Husk. You might find you have more in common than you think."
Husk scoffed, setting his glass down with a clink. "Doubt it."
"Now, now, Husk," Alastor crooned, leaning in closer, his grin stretching impossibly wide. "Don't be so hasty. You never know what surprises this place might hold. Perhaps our new guest will bring… a little excitement."
Husk's feathers bristled, and he shot Alastor a glare. "Don't care."
Alastor chuckled, the sound low and crackling like distant thunder. "Oh, but you should. After all… in a place like this, it's not every day that someone interesting shows up."
Husk grunted, refusing to engage further. He didn't need Alastor stirring up trouble, and he sure as hell didn't need Charlie's boundless optimism about new guests. He just wanted to get through the day with as little interaction as possible.
But something about the way Alastor said "interesting" made Husk's stomach twist, a gnawing feeling that settled deep in his gut. He wasn't sure why, but he couldn't shake the thought that maybe… just maybe… Alastor knew something he didn't.
Before Husk could let the gnawing feeling fester, the door creaked open again.
It was you.
You stepped into the bar with the same quiet confidence you'd had the night before, your presence commanding attention without trying. Husk's feathers ruffled instinctively, though he tried to play it off. There was something about you—something he couldn't quite put his finger on—that set you apart from the usual riffraff that wandered through these doors.
Charlie perked up immediately, her eyes lighting up as if Christmas had come early. "Oh! You must be the new guest! I've been waiting to meet you!" She practically bounced over to you, her hands clasped together in delight. "I'm Charlie, the owner of this hotel. Welcome!"
You nodded politely, offering a small smile that didn't quite reach your eyes. "Thanks."
Charlie didn't seem to notice your restrained demeanor. "So! How are you settling in? Anything you need? A tour, maybe? We're all about making sure our guests feel at home here!"
Husk rolled his eyes, reaching for his glass again. The last thing you needed was Charlie's endless cheerfulness shoved in your face, especially first thing in the morning. Hell, he didn't even want to deal with it, and he'd been here long enough to know what to expect.
"I'm fine," you said, your voice even but distant. You glanced briefly at Husk, meeting his gaze for just a moment before looking back at Charlie. "Just needed a place to be for a while."
Charlie's smile faltered slightly, but she recovered quickly. "Well, you've definitely come to the right place! We specialize in giving people a chance to… turn things around." Her voice wavered just a little at the end, as if she knew she was throwing her usual optimism into a void that wouldn't catch it. But still, she persisted. "If you ever need anything, just let me know. We're all about second chances here!"
You gave her another nod, your expression unreadable. "I'll keep that in mind."
Husk's ear twitched. It was the same thing you'd said last night—short, direct, giving nothing away. It was like you were purposefully keeping everyone at arm's length, and Husk couldn't tell if that irritated him or intrigued him. Probably both.
But before he could dwell on it, Alastor slid into the conversation, his grin widening as he studied you with far too much interest.
"Well, well, well… A fresh face," Alastor purred, his voice dripping with amusement as he tilted his head to get a better look at you. "And what brings you to our humble little corner of Hell, hm? Looking for a bit of redemption? Or perhaps something more… exciting?"
You didn't flinch under his gaze, didn't even seem fazed by his presence—which, in Husk's experience, was rare. Most people either got unnerved or irritated by the Radio Demon's larger-than-life personality, but you? You just stood there, calm and composed, like you'd dealt with far worse.
"I'm just passing through," you said, your tone measured and deliberate. "Looking for a place to stay, nothing more."
Alastor chuckled, the sound crackling with static. "Ah, yes. Just passing through. Aren't we all, in a way?" His red eyes gleamed with a mixture of curiosity and something darker. "But tell me, dear guest… what exactly are you passing through from? It's not often we get someone who can hold their own in a place like this."
Husk's grip on his glass tightened. He didn't like where this was going. Alastor had a way of digging into people, finding their weak spots and using them like a cat toying with a mouse. And while Husk didn't particularly care about you—or at least, that's what he told himself—he didn't want Alastor stirring up whatever was lurking beneath your calm exterior.
You didn't answer right away. Instead, you met Alastor's gaze head-on, unflinching. The tension in the room thickened, like the air itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to break.
"I don't think that's any of your business," you said finally, your voice low but firm.
Alastor's grin widened, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he'd just discovered something interesting. "Oh, I like you," he said, his voice practically oozing with amusement. "So mysterious. So guarded. You'll fit in just perfectly around here."
Husk shot Alastor a warning glance, his feathers bristling again. "Lay off, Alastor," he muttered. "Ain't none of your concern."
Alastor's gaze flicked to Husk, and for a moment, the grin faltered. Just for a second. But it was back in place before anyone could comment on it. "Oh, Husk, you wound me," he crooned, his voice dripping with mock hurt. "I'm merely being… hospitable. Our guest here has a certain air about them, don't you think?"
Husk ignored the comment, focusing on his drink instead. He didn't like where this was going, didn't like the way Alastor seemed so intent on prying into your business. He didn't trust it.
Charlie, ever the optimist, tried to smooth things over. "Alastor, we don't want to overwhelm our new guest! Let's give them some space to settle in, okay?"
Alastor chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Of course, of course. Far be it from me to intrude." He glanced at you one last time, his red eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "But do let me know if you need anything. I'm always… available."
With that, he turned and strolled out of the bar, his cane tapping rhythmically against the floor. The static in the air seemed to dissipate as soon as he was gone, leaving behind a strange, heavy silence.
Charlie turned to you with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. Alastor can be a little… intense, but he means well. Kind of." She laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. "Anyway! I'll leave you to it, but seriously, if you need anything, just let me know. We're happy to have you here!"
You gave her a small nod, still calm, still composed. "Thanks."
With that, Charlie gave one last wave and flitted out of the bar, leaving you alone with Husk.
For a long moment, neither of you said anything. The tension from Alastor's intrusion still hung in the air, and Husk could feel the weight of it pressing down on him. He didn't like it. Didn't like the way you just stood there, so calm, so collected, like nothing phased you. Like you were used to this. Used to people like Alastor and places like this.
"What's your deal?" Husk finally muttered, breaking the silence.
You glanced at him, one eyebrow raised. "What do you mean?"
"I mean…" Husk grumbled, trying to find the right words. "You don't belong here. Not like the others." He gestured vaguely around the bar. "People come here lookin' for redemption, or to drown their sorrows, or… whatever. But you? You ain't here for any of that, are you?"
You didn't answer right away. Instead, you looked at him with that same calm, steady gaze that Husk was starting to hate. Like you saw more than he was comfortable with.
"No," you said finally, your voice quiet but firm. "I'm not."
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