Perspective on Hell or Heaven? ( Short Story)

The neon sign blazes `Abaddon,`
She lingers, doubting, indecisive, unaware. She faintly recalls visiting the club in the past but her memory fails her, blurred, incomplete like her life. Since the first attempt nothing has been quite the same. She longs to rid herself of the past, to free her mind of the torment the pain the suffering. She looks at her watch 11.30pm; she pulls up the collar of the fur in an attempt to block out the chill. The night air grips the capital like a bastard clings to his bedclothes in an orphanage.

`Are you going in? ` He asks.

Startled by the sudden voice she turns to face him. For the first time in months she can see clearly. His sallow skin appears almost ivory in the moonlight. His black suit mirror’s his eyes, the eyes the blackness.

`I’m sorry what? ` She replies.

`You’re going in the club? `

 `I’m not so sure. ` She answers.

 `Please, allow me to escort you down, I’m sure you will not be disappointed. `

A black Hackney screeches to a halt the driver leans out and shouts in a cockney accent.

`Hey sweetheart you need a lift? `

 `No, no I don’t think so. `

`You sure darling it’s bitter cold and this is not the sort of area a lady such as yourself should be hanging around.`

Suddenly the man speaks, `Michael, Michael, ` shaking his head, `how many times must we enter into this ancient conflict? `

The driver laughs. `You know me Louis always around to pick up any lost souls who may be wandering confused and alone. `

 `She is mine, ` the man exclaims, `and you know it. `

 `Not this time mate, ` Michael replies, `not this time. `

 Inside the woman feels panic, she needs to understand the situation she backs away from the black clad stranger and moves toward the cab.

`What is going on? ` She asks the driver.

 `Forget him love, jump in I’ll take you to a club much more suited to a lady such as yourself. `

`Come, ` he beckons, `it’s called Art in Heaven. `

As they drive away she looks back at the well dressed man. The blackness in his eyes has gone and for a split second she could swear they were on fire.

`I look in the mirror and what the fuck do I see? `

`A washed up 26 year widowed journalist who’s addicted to Prozac, Gordon’s and Benson and Hedges. `

`Anyway mother will be phoning soon so I need to get a grip and pull myself together. `

`The last thing I need is for her to be driving down to London making me chicken soup and telling me everything’s going to be OK.`

 `She visited last Christmas and didn’t leave until Ash Wednesday. `

`I know she’s not so bad, she means well, but I just couldn’t stand getting dragged to that depressing old Church just off Piccadilly with the dreadful mural painted by Cocteau.`

`I can hear her now. `

`Ruth, Ruth Lilith will you listen to your mother for once? `

 `My darling everything will be alright, let Christ into your aching heart and your pain will disappear. `

`Fuck Christ he did nothing to save Eric so why the hell should I go exposing my fucking soul to him. `

`Anyway thought he was supposed to know everything? `

`He clearly doesn’t because if he did why on earth does he leave me feeling like shit? Why you bastard, why, why, WHY........`

`Call me Legion for I am many. `

`I love that fucking quote. `

`Especially when it’s orated by some gravel voiced cunt advertising Paramount’s latest attempt to pin me down. `

`I have been known by other nom de plumes, Beelzebub, lord of the flies, Prince of Tyrus, Father of all lies, but my most common name (if I can be called common) is Satan.`

`I personally prefer Lucifer (Louis to my friends) just because it pisses HIM off. `

`The hypocritical old bastard named me that so since that is my GOD given name that’s the one I prefer to be called.`

`Bearer of light! `

 `Yes that’s me alright. `

`Now let’s see what’s on tonight’s agenda? `

`7.30 the rape and murder of a 90 year old woman, 7.45 suicide bomber on a bus in Nazareth. `

 `8.30 Gunship attack in Nablus. `

`Mmm what a rush. `

`9.30 A smidgen of African famine, and the evening is rounded off with, a fucking SUICIDE.`

`I really must speak with Astaroth about writing up the diary.`

 `How many times must he be told to give the trivial tasks to Amon, Heaven knows he has enough time on his hands.`

`Come to think of it where has the sick little flea bitten wolf been hiding lately? `

`Not seen him in quite a while. `

`I bet he’s fucking around in the Seventh Circle shoving hot pokers up Alighieri’s arse. `

`One just can’t get the staff. `

`I really must take it easier, I am spreading myself far too thin these days. `

`Well to hell with it then, oops no pun intended. `

`Tonight Ruth Lilith Journalist, widow and hopelessly lost cause.

`This is your, ahem, life. `

`O my God, oops sorry governor, late again. `

`Why did he assign me this task? `

`I haven’t spread me wings for months now. `

`Stuck in this bleeding cab, patrolling the West End, looking for possible salvations, I mean I know it’s me job but why this guise why ere?`

`London’s like a scene from Bosch these days, more flipping sinners ere than down there, and that’s bleeding saying something. `

`I’m getting serious cramp in me plates of meat, stuck behind this wheel all flipping night. `

` I mean it wouldn’t be half as bad if there were some worth saving but lately it’s been absolutely pathetic.`

`It would appear Louis has been a very busy boy. `

I’m not normally one to complain but, Gabriel’s dossing around New York putting the bite on UN officials. `

`Raphael’s got free reign in the Middle East`.

`Uriel’s sitting in Brussels influencing the EU, and I’m stuck ere sitting in a black Hackney within a city that’s, well, let’s just say is beyond saving. ` 

`And the food around ere please, don’t get me started on that, I can tell you something, Manna it ain’t. `

`O well nothing else for it I might as well have a slow drive round this bleeding den of inequity.`

`I must admit the governor does have a warped sense of humour; it always cracks me up when I click on the meter, SAVE, DON’T SAVE. `

`Well I’m free at the bleeding moment so SAVE it is. `

`Hell on earth to Paradise One do you read me Paradise One, over? `

 `We read you Michael loud and clear any luck so far? `

` No mate just came on, I’m off for a spin around Soho you are always certain of a few misguided souls there. `

`Roger Michael we will send the Seraphim if required`, Paradise One out. `

`Bloody Seraphim never in my eternal existence have I came across such a bunch of bleeding arse lickers. `

`Well well well, look who it is, me old mucker Louis bleeding Cipher. `

`Wonder what he’s up to? `

`He’s talking to some gooseberry pudding, better go take a butcher’s hook, he doesn’t turn up for nothing. `

`Hey sweetheart you need a lift? `