"That's hell's gate. And that big dog is cerberus. So you're right Akana." The devil informed us.
"I hope that thing likes you." The ghost commented as Cerberus growled at us.
"I used to pet him."
"Oh good." I said. I don't want to be eaten by a big dog.
"But he doesnt follow my bid. So you better be ready. He will attack anyone that gets too close to that gate. So dont cross that line. Not without Hades' permission." she was talking about the horizontal white line just ten feet from us.
"Even you?" I asked.
"Yes even me. I was gone for almost 500 years . He might have forgotten about me already."
"If we can't cross that line what now? What should we do? Shall we go back and just find another way?" the ghost asked.
"We can't go back. This is the only way. And besides Nagid and his gang might be reporting now to the council. They now know were here. So we need to enter that gate where it's safe."
"We're safe there? I find that hard to believe." I commented.
"Hell is an independent kingdom. And with millions of souls in here Hades got tons of armies that abide to his will. The council got no power over him. They can't attack us from the inside without his permission. Even key holders can't enter his kingdom. And That gate in front of us is the only way." she explained.
"Why did Joseph not tell us about that damn dog?" the dog is hard to miss. I wonder if he's really a traitor and was just luring us to our deaths.
"Cerberus used to guard the back door not the front gate. It eats those who want to escape not the one who wants to enter. And besides that gate cannot be opened from the inside."
"How did Miftah escape hell then?"
"Through a portal. It's in Hades' room. He's the only one who has access to it. It's the only way out. The back door is a trap to give false hope to those who wants to escape its part of the punishment."
"Wow you know a lot."
"I'm a devil, remember?"
"And he just let us go? That sounds kinda fishy."
"Well technically he has no choice. You're still alive. You're not allowed inside hell if you're alive."
"He could just easily killed us if he wants to. You know to qualify in his kingdom."
"Truth is I have no idea why he chose not to. He's a very unpredictable god."
"Just like that hound." I said.
"Let me test its unpredictability." Eelie started walking towards the hound. As she was about to cross the line a voice was suddenly heard
"You are not allowed here. Better leave at once," the voice commanded. His echo filled the whole place.
"Porter, show yourself, " the devil called.
"Hello Eelie its you. Long time no see." he greeted the devil as he steps out behind the three headed dog.
"Who is he?" Akana asked.
"The gate keeper."
"So you know him. That's good news. I guess its safe to enter now?"
"You're not supposed to be here Eelie. Your job now is to mark the dead not bring them here."
"I'll tell you the story later. Please let us in."
"You know the rule. Only the dead can enter." As he said that a bunch of demons appeared in front us.
"Porter we have a delivery for you." They announced. "A whole damn bus." they sound pretty excited.
A virtual door suddenly appear and a queue of chained humans one by one steps out of it.
"Cause of death?" Porter asked.
"Most of them gunshot wound to the head. There's a buy bust operation earlier and a drug raid. Half of them died there." one of the devil casually informed him.
"What about that guy? he looks clean for a dead guy." Porter asked.
"Oh that? Heart attack while doing the drug raid. He killed two drug pushers but he also killed a four year old girl. So he went straight here."
"Their fate are sealed now. I would enjoy punishing all of them." he gleefully said. He then open a small door of the gate. The devil is quite welcoming to the new arrivals. Even Cerberus seems to be smiling at them.
"By the way please be reminded once again that all you lost and sinful souls must not break the queue and dont you dare..." but as he was giving them warning one of the dead panicked and started running away. It's a useless attempt.
The demons didnt even try to run after him. It's the cerberus that chased him and easily catch up to him. And without any hesitation one of the dog's head swallowed him whole. I cringe at what I saw. I can still hear his cry for help.
"Okay now I guess you'll know what will happen to you if you try to run away. And you if you try to enter that gate without my permission." He then looked in our direction. His message is clear and just to be safe I move back a few feet away from the line.
"What should we do now?" I again asked Eelie.
"Lets wait till all the soul were delivered inside. Then i'll talk to Porter again."
I again observed the souls that was line up waiting for their turn to enter hell. Most of them look lost and confused. And some of them were even crying and couldn't accept that they were already dead. I could have been one of them.
I was watching the queue when i suddenly saw a man who looks familiar. Half his face is covered with blood but as i look at him long and hard i finally recognized him. "Wait i think i know who that guy is. Thats Razor." I almost shouted.
I walk towards him. "Razor what the heck happened to you?" I asked in disbelief. I was just talking to him yesterday.
He looked at me. He seem baffled. But atlast he recognized me. "Oh its you Niccolo glad to see a familiar face." he smiled a little. "You wanna know what happened to me? Well according to those devil who took me here, I'm dead. What about you? What are you doing here? You dont look dead to me."
"Truth is I'm still alive. Who killed you?"
"Those bastard cops. They raided my house while I was sleeping and shot me in the head. They also killed my four year old daughter."
"Where is she now?"
"Hopefully in heaven. She's innocent afterall. Unlike me i know i'm going straight to hell." he seemed resign to his fate.