As Ivy and Malcolm made their way back to the office, the bright serenity of the meadow faded behind them, giving way to the darker, more chaotic elements of Hell. Shadows twisted along the paths, and whispers echoed off the jagged cliffs, but Ivy felt a renewed sense of confidence in her stride. She had faced a Grim Reaper and helped a soul move on. She could handle whatever Hell threw at her next.
Upon entering the office, Ivy settled into her seat at the desk, her mind still buzzing with the events of the day. Malcolm plopped down across from her, a satisfied smile on his face, as he began to sift through the stack of paperwork that had accumulated during their absence.
"Not a bad first day," he remarked, glancing up at her. "You handled yourself well with Jonah, and I'm impressed you stood up to Viktor. Most new assistants would have cowered in fear."
"Thanks," Ivy said, a mix of pride and nervousness coursing through her. "But I didn't do it alone. You were there to back me up."
Malcolm waved her off. "You'd be surprised how many people don't take that step. Anyway, don't get too comfortable. Tomorrow, we'll be doing it all over again."
Ivy nodded, eager to learn more. "What's next on our agenda?"
He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the desk. "More soul collection, but this one will be trickier. Our next target is a soul with unresolved issues—Sarah, a woman who refuses to let go of her earthly possessions. She's been causing quite the stir among the demons, and we need to retrieve her before she gets in deeper trouble."
"What kind of trouble?" Ivy asked, her curiosity piqued.
"She's been hoarding items from her past life, creating chaos in the material world. That attracts unwanted attention. If we don't act soon, she'll either be claimed by other reapers or trapped in a cycle of torment," Malcolm explained, his expression serious.
"Sounds like we need to get to her fast," Ivy said, determination in her voice.
"Exactly. We leave at dawn," Malcolm replied. "But for now, I need to address some administrative tasks." He picked up a quill and began scribbling notes, and Ivy took the opportunity to study the office more closely. The walls were adorned with various artifacts—strange objects that looked both ancient and otherworldly.
"What's this?" Ivy asked, picking up a small, intricately carved box from the corner of the desk.
"Put that down!" Malcolm snapped, his eyes narrowing.
Ivy jumped, quickly placing the box back down. "Sorry! I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine," he said, his tone softening. "Just don't touch anything without asking first. Some things here are best left undisturbed."
"What's in it?" Ivy asked, curiosity bubbling to the surface again.
Malcolm sighed, leaning back in his chair. "That's a Pandora's box of sorts. A collection of souls that didn't make it to their destinations. I keep it here as a reminder of what can go wrong if we don't do our jobs properly."
"Does that happen often?" Ivy inquired, her interest piqued.
"More often than you think. The bureaucracy of the afterlife is chaotic. Souls can get lost in the system, especially if they refuse to move on," he explained, his tone serious. "That's why our work is critical."
Ivy nodded, absorbing the weight of his words. She understood now that the stakes were high in this realm, and failure wasn't an option.
---
The next morning, the two set out to find Sarah. Malcolm led the way through the winding pathways of Hell, guiding Ivy deeper into the labyrinthine landscape. The air was thick with an unsettling energy, and Ivy felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
"Is it always like this?" Ivy asked, glancing around as shadows danced along the rocky walls.
"Pretty much," Malcolm replied, his tone casual. "But it gets worse in some areas. We're entering the Hoarding Grounds, where lost souls gather their possessions in a desperate attempt to cling to their past lives."
As they continued, Ivy spotted various souls wandering around, clutching items that sparkled and shimmered—old photographs, trinkets, and mementos from their human lives. Some looked content, while others were filled with despair.
"I can't believe they're all still holding onto these things," Ivy murmured, observing a soul cradling a rusted bicycle.
"It's their attachment to these items that keeps them here," Malcolm explained. "The longer they cling to their past, the more trapped they become. That's why we need to find Sarah quickly before she becomes lost in her possessions."
As they approached a clearing, Ivy spotted a figure surrounded by a chaotic array of items—a woman with disheveled hair and wild eyes, frantically gathering belongings that seemed to float in the air around her.
"Sarah!" Malcolm called out, his voice cutting through the noise.
The woman turned, her eyes wide with fear. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"We're here to help you move on," Malcolm said, his tone authoritative but calm. "You need to let go of these things."
Sarah's eyes darted around, panic settling in. "No! They're mine! I can't leave them behind! They're all I have left!"
"Sarah, holding onto them is what's keeping you trapped here," Ivy urged, stepping forward. "You can't take them with you. You have to move on to find peace."
"No! You don't understand!" Sarah cried, her voice rising in desperation. "These things are my life! If I let them go, I'll be nothing!"
Malcolm exchanged a glance with Ivy, a mixture of frustration and empathy. "You're not nothing, Sarah. You're a soul with the opportunity to find a new existence. Your life is not defined by your possessions."
But Sarah shook her head, retreating further into her pile of belongings. "I can't! I won't!"
As Ivy watched, a wave of sadness washed over her. She could see the anguish in Sarah's eyes, the fear of losing everything that had once mattered to her.
"Sarah," Ivy said softly, her voice steady, "I know it's hard. I've lost things too. But clinging to the past will only hurt you more. Letting go is the first step toward healing."
The words seemed to resonate, and for a moment, Sarah hesitated. Ivy could see the conflict in her expression, the struggle between fear and the desire for freedom.
Suddenly, the air crackled with tension as a dark figure emerged from the shadows—a rival reaper with a sinister grin, much like Viktor.
"Look what we have here," the figure drawled, his eyes glinting with malice. "Another lost soul being cajoled by a human."
Malcolm stepped protectively in front of Ivy, his stance rigid. "Back off! This soul is under our protection."
"Protection? How charming," the reaper mocked. "You think you can save her? She belongs to me now."
Sarah's eyes widened in fear as she glanced between them, uncertainty flickering in her gaze. "No, please! I don't want to go with anyone!"
"Enough!" Malcolm shouted, his voice echoing through the clearing. "You will not take her!"
The rival reaper lunged forward, darkness swirling around him. Ivy felt her heart race, panic surging through her veins. She stepped closer to Sarah, reaching out to her. "You have to fight this! You have to choose!"
With a fierce determination, Sarah squared her shoulders, her expression shifting from fear to resolve. "No! I refuse to be taken!"
The ground beneath them shook as Sarah's belongings erupted into a swirling vortex of energy. She began to shed her possessions, letting them float away as she took a step back. The rival reaper's expression twisted in rage.
"Stop her!" he roared.
But it was too late. As Sarah released her final item—a small locket—light enveloped her, illuminating the clearing. The dark figure faltered, his malevolent presence waning as he realized he was losing his grasp on her.
"NO!" he screamed, but the light consumed him, pushing him back into the shadows.
As the light faded, Ivy stood in awe, watching as Sarah transformed. Her features softened, and a peaceful expression spread across her face. "Thank you," she whispered, tears of relief glistening in her eyes.
"You did it!" Ivy exclaimed, her heart soaring.
Malcolm looked on with admiration, pride evident in his voice. "You were remarkable, Ivy. You helped her see the truth."
Sarah smiled at them, her form becoming more translucent as she began to fade. "Thank you for showing me the way. I can finally be free."
With that, she dissolved into a shimmering light, ascending into the sky as her essence merged with the vastness of the afterlife.
"Another soul saved," Malcolm said, a hint of a smile on his lips. "We're on a roll."
Ivy laughed, exhilarated by the experience. "I can't believe we did that! It felt incredible."
But as they began to make their way back, the air grew colder, and a sense of dread crept in. Ivy could feel the shadows tightening around them, and she glanced back toward the clearing.
"Malcolm, do you think we're safe?" she asked, unease knotting in her stomach.
"Not just yet," he replied, his eyes scanning the shadows. "We have to be cautious. Not all souls are grateful, and not all reapers are willing to let us continue our work."
As they moved, Ivy felt a shiver run down her spine. The weight of their existence in Hell was becoming all too clear, and she couldn't shake the feeling that darker challenges were waiting just beneath the surface.