My Angel Girl

The shimmering void between Heaven and Flame Island was quiet, save for the soft fluttering of wings as Ere'ana cautiously descended into the fiery realm. It was her first time visiting Flame Island, and she wasn't sure what to expect. As her glowing blue halo dimmed slightly in the suffocating heat, she felt a pang of unease.

Flame Island was alive with chaos. Demons roamed the streets, their jagged laughter mingling with the shouts of sinners bartering for scraps. Buildings of blackened stone lined the narrow pathways, their jagged rooftops glowing faintly from the molten rivers running below. Casinos and bars buzzed with activity, flashing signs tempting even the most hopeless souls to gamble away their eternity.

Ere'ana wrinkled her nose as she landed on the island's surface, her feet barely grazing the ground as she floated just above it.

"This place…" she muttered to herself, taking in the overwhelming sights and sounds. "It's worse than I thought."

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden bark. Ere'ana turned to see a tiny Chihuahua sprinting toward her, its little legs moving with a frantic energy that seemed completely out of place in such a grim setting.

"Well, aren't you a surprise," she said, crouching down as the dog skidded to a stop in front of her. The Chihuahua barked again, tail wagging as if greeting an old friend. Ere'ana reached out to pet the dog, her hand glowing faintly with her divine aura.

"Somehow, you ended up here," she murmured, scratching behind its ears. "You don't belong in a place like this."

The Chihuahua yipped in agreement—or so it seemed—before darting off down one of the narrow streets. Ere'ana sighed and straightened up, turning her attention to the massive obsidian castle looming in the distance.

"I guess that's where I'll find him," she said softly, taking off toward the throne room.

The castle was a sharp contrast to the chaotic streets below. It loomed over the island like a dark sentinel, its spires reaching high into the void. The jagged obsidian walls seemed to hum with a faint, sinister energy, and the grand doors groaned open as Ere'ana stepped inside.

She made her way through the cavernous hallways, her glowing halo lighting the way. It didn't take long for her to find Kikidori.

He was slouched in his obsidian throne, one arm resting lazily on the armrest while the other held his chin. His glowing purple horns shimmered faintly in the dim light, and his eyes were half-closed, a look of complete boredom etched on his face.

"Kikidori," Ere'ana called softly, her voice echoing in the vast room.

Kikidori's head snapped up, and his expression shifted from disinterest to mild surprise.

"Ere?" he said, sitting up straighter. "What are you doing here?"

Ere'ana didn't answer immediately. Instead, she floated toward him, her glowing aura contrasting sharply with the dark, oppressive atmosphere of the throne room. She sat down on the edge of the throne, her hands folded neatly in her lap.

The Chihuahua, which had somehow followed her into the castle, yipped happily before leaping up onto the throne and snuggling between Ere'ana and Kikidori. Kikidori raised an eyebrow, glancing down at the tiny dog.

"What's with the mutt?" he asked.

"I think it followed me," Ere'ana said with a small smile, scratching the Chihuahua's head. "It seems to like you, though."

Kikidori scoffed, but he didn't push the dog away. Instead, he leaned back in his throne, crossing his arms over his chest.

"So, what brings you to Flame Island?" he asked, his tone casual but tinged with curiosity. "This doesn't exactly seem like your kind of place."

Ere'ana hesitated for a moment before answering. "I wanted to see you," she admitted softly.

Kikidori's purple eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he quickly masked it with a smirk.

"Missing me already, huh?" he teased.

Ere'ana rolled her eyes but didn't respond to his jab. Instead, she looked around the throne room, her gaze lingering on the dark walls and flickering torches.

"This place… it's like a darker version of Hell," she said quietly. "The demons here have built so much... but it's all so twisted."

"Don't look at me," Kikidori said, raising his hands in mock innocence. "The only thing I built was this castle and this throne. The rest of it? That's all them."

Ere'ana nodded thoughtfully, her eyes drifting back to the Chihuahua curled up between them. She reached out to pet the dog again, her fingers brushing against its soft fur.

"You know," she said softly, "some family is probably mourning the loss of this little guy, not knowing he ended up in a place like this."

Kikidori snorted. "Yeah, well, life's cruel. Or afterlife, I guess."

Ere'ana frowned but didn't argue. Instead, she turned to Kikidori, her expression serious.

"Kiki," she began, her voice hesitant. "Do you ever think about… leaving this place?"

Kikidori raised an eyebrow. "Leaving? And go where? Heaven?"

"No," Ere'ana said quickly. "Not Heaven. I just mean… somewhere else. Somewhere better."

Kikidori let out a dry laugh. "There's nowhere else for someone like me, Ere. This is it. Flame Island is my kingdom, whether I like it or not."

Ere'ana looked down, her fingers absently playing with the Chihuahua's fur. "I just wish things could be different," she said softly.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was broken only by the faint crackle of the torches and the occasional bark from the Chihuahua.

Finally, Kikidori sighed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"Look," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "I know this isn't the life you wanted for me. Hell, it's not even the life I wanted for me. But it's the life I've got. And honestly… it's not so bad. At least I'm free."

Ere'ana looked up at him, her blue eyes shining with a mixture of sadness and understanding.

"I just don't want you to lose yourself, Kiki," she said softly. "You've already been through so much."

Kikidori smirked, though there was no real humor in it. "Don't worry about me, Ere. I'm too stubborn to lose myself."

Ere'ana smiled faintly, though her heart still felt heavy.

As the two of them sat in silence, the Chihuahua snuggled closer, its small form a strange but comforting presence between them. For a moment, the chaotic world of Flame Island seemed a little less overwhelming, and the distance between their opposing realms didn't feel quite as vast.

The end of Chapter 21.