Warning: This chapter includes mature theme (violence). 

***

"What are you going to do with me?" Declan asked, trying to figure out how to escape the seven deadly figures that were with him in the basement. "What are you?" He believed they were ghosts, but ghosts shouldn't be so material and real. These ones looked like humans.

"Demons," explained Envy, while opening a cupboard. She took out red and black candles and handed them to other demons.

"We've decided to give you a chance to live," stated Gluttony.

It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't a truth either. He had a chance, but from demons' experience this chance was so small that it almost didn't exist. They knew the ending of this night, but Declan could pray for salvation.

Neither of them could kill him, so they've decided to achieve their blood desire otherwise.

"W-What?" Declan was trembling from fear, regretting that he didn't believe Jayson, when he told him that this house is haunted. Everybody kept telling him that and he should've known better after Debra's suicide. This house was evil and now he knew why.

"One of the hellish trials." Pride spilled out a dark powder on the floor, creating a shape of a rectangle.

Declan understood that he had to try and do something. He ran to the other side of the wall, trying to reach his machete, but Wrath was faster. The demon took it and he threatened with the blade to this foolish boy. Declan raised his hands in the air as an act of surrender.

"We're trying to give you a chance and that's how you answer?" Greed shook her head in disappointment.

"Please!" His voice was tremulous, like he was at the edge of bursting into tears.

"We'll let others decide whether you should die or not." Lust loved this trial and it was ages since they've last used it. They were demons so they couldn't kill humans, but something different, something called from Hell, could. It just had to decide that Declan deserved to be ripped apart and put in the endless loop of misery, created in Hell.

With a single movement of a hand, Envy lit all the candles. Sloth looked at his, still sitting on the chair, like he was bored. Or at least he wanted to look like he was bored. While others concentrated on Declan's feelings, Greed understood that Sloth was awaiting for the gates of Hell to open. Maybe she noticed it, because she also was waiting for it. Then again, both of them felt uneasy about it.

Pride took a gasp of air and started chanting the words, letting others to join almost right away.

Hear my voice

Hear my spell

For it is time

To open Hell

The dark powder on the floor burst into flames, making it look like a fiery door. The line between Earth and Hell started disappearing, creating an entrance from one world to another.

See this sinner

See his inner part

Make your judgment

Shall he be ripped apart

The floor started shaking as the flames became darker. They've began to crawl on the floor, making the rectangle look like a pool of fire. There was growling coming from the inside, sounding as if something tried to break free. Demons were holding candles, which started to melt in their hands.

Smell all the sins

Smell cruel intentions within

We call upon you

To decide on this sinner's fate

The growling began to be louder as the flames disappeared, creating a black hole in the floor. Declan wanted to escape, but he was too afraid to make a move. Deep inside, he already knew that running wouldn't help him. There was only hope left. Hope that whatever comes from the black hole, will let him live.

We call you Hellhounds

The Hell's keepers

Answer our summoning

For there must be soul judgment

Come, come, come!

All the candles went out as the line between words was no longer existing. The lights flickered and while at one moment there was a huge, black hole in the floor, the second later there were three dog-like creatures standing in the middle. They looked ferocious, with a black fur and eyes that were burning in the darkness. They were much bigger than normal dogs and their looks could easily scare a human to their death. Under the scary figure there was an intelligent mind and voracious desire for the souls of the sinners. Once a hound has a scent of its target, the only possibility for a human to live is a positive judgment. There was no way to trick him or distract him. One could run, but there was no place in which he could hide from the hounds.

Declan started shaking with tears running down his face. He got on his knees and put the hands together, silently pleading for mercy. The hounds ignored demons and carefully walked to the boy, surrounding him from all sides. He could see them, but he refused to by closing his eyes and trying to ignore everything that was happening. He was praying for this all to turn out to be just a horrible nightmare. Those things weren't real. Maybe he got the box of cigarettes mistaken and he burned the one with little extra something in.

Hounds raised their hands and sniffed Declan. One of them nudged him with his muzzle, making him cry silently. He wanted to say something but was too afraid to make any sound at all.

At first the hounds were tranquil, while inspecting Declan. It took them only a moment and they've bared the fangs, scratching the floor with sharp claws. They've become restless, ready to attack, but the victim didn't show any signs of attempting escape. The hounds didn't know the mercy. If someone was found guilty by them, the apology and cries couldn't help. It was already too late. Nothing else would satisfy them but his soul.

Pride was used to cruelty and blood, but she turned her head away in the moment that hounds pounced on Declan with razor-edged claws. They've torn him apart, ripping up his chest into bloody pieces of skin and flesh. Declan's screams filled the whole house as he was dying in cruel torments, but the death came quickly due to the loss of blood and disruption of vital organs. The hounds pulled his insides on the outside, gutting him completely. Hounds were bringing one of the most horrible deaths upon the sinner if they'd decided that his soul belonged to Hell, but with Declan they were quick. Sometimes hounds were feeding on their victim, pulling him or her apart piece by piece and making it a long and painful dying process. With Declan they've ripped him in seconds, making out of a human a puddle of blood, flesh, muscles and bones.

When the hounds were done, they caught what was left of Declan's body and dragged it back to the black hole in the floor. There was a path of blood left, but demons had the experience with getting rid of any traces. The hounds didn't even look at them, they just left and the gates of Hell closed, restoring the floor to its original look.

"Quite a show." Wrath started clapping his hands, satisfied with the hounds' work.

Envy walked to Pride, asking her the question that most of them were curious about, "How did you know that Hellhounds will decide to take Declan's soul? Cheating and lying are things that wouldn't be enough, so he must've done something way more terrible."

"Sometimes even murder wouldn't be enough" -Pride touched the blood left on the floor- "because it's all about feelings. Regret, guilt, willingness to change for the better. There weren't any feelings like that in Declan. He was regretting his actions, because he was afraid of death. His tears and pleading, it was in order to soften us and free him. He didn't regret cheating on girls and lying in the court, but the thing he didn't regret the most was stealing a car with Jayson and leaving the dying woman from hit and run. He decided to forget about it, to leave it behind, just like he left her on the road. He was laughing about that car, turning it into a joke. Maybe he didn't even check what happened to this lady, although it's obvious." Pride wiped her hand on the blouse she was wearing. "Hailie told me," she explained how she found out about it.

Sloth got up from the chair and stretched out. Greed was watching him carefully. He didn't look tired at all, but he wanted to give such an impression.

"Cool. You can take care of cleaning the basement, while I'll go take a nap." It was so like him that no one questioned it, when he just disappeared.

"Lusty, what about we take care of that?" Envy leaned against his shoulder and smiled.

"Fine." He rolled his eyes.

"Poor food." Gluttony was standing over shattered jars, like it was indeed a catastrophe.

While everybody was occupied with their thoughts and talking, Pride transferred from the basement to the front lawn. She felt someone's presence near the house and she wasn't wrong. There was a girl standing in front of it. Pride knew right away that it was Amy, Declan's ex-girlfriend. She wasn't worried at all that her boyfriend still didn't come out and it didn't look like she was about to come in. There was something cruel glistening in her eyes as she checked her phone.

"Well, I don't think you'll be coming back at all," she said into the air, considering that it had been some time since he last wrote to her. Declan was impatient. He would bombard her with messages if she hasn't come at time.

"No, he won't." Pride decided to reveal her presence. It didn't scare Amy, just as if she knew that they were living in the house.

"So, it's all true. The house is haunted," she said lightly. "And because Hailie's still alive it must mean that you're protecting her. Tell me, whatever thing you are, is Declan dead already? Just as Debra and Jayson's parents."

Pride didn't have words for Amy's disregard and conceit. This girl had no morals at all. She was asking about her ex-boyfriend's death like it was a normal human topic.

Or like she was counting on it.

"You brought him to us," she understood.

That's why Declan was in the house in this stupid costume of a burglar. It must've been some sort of a joke. Amy sent him in there, because she believed the house was haunted.

Because she wanted his death.

"How perceptive of you," she mocked her, having no brakes, while talking with a deadly demon. "Hailie has done quite well."

There was no fright in her. She didn't believe that the girl on the lawn could do any harm.

"You've sent Declan to this house in order for us to kill him, because he cheated on you?" That one must've been mental. She was filled with hatred and anger. Plotting out a revenge on those who hurt her probably was her main goal. "And you're taking such pride in what you've done." Yes, Pride could feel all her emotions. Amy was the type of girl she was preying on. "We have a special place in Hell for people like you."

Amy folded her arms and replied with certainty, "But I'm not going there. At least not yet."

"I wouldn't be so sure about it." They've sent to Hell many people. One stupid, cocky girl shouldn't be a problem.

Amy dared to say, "Come and get me then." She was looking way too calm. "Right now, I'm on Hailie's side, but if you try anything, I might as well play in Jayson's team. While as I see you can protect her in this house, tell me, who's going to look after her in the outside world?"

"Surely not you," Pride laughed it off. She wasn't afraid about Hailie, because Shane was looking out for her.

"You would be surprised." Amy took a few steps back. "I just sent my ex to the death. I wouldn't mind taking care of Jayson too." She smiled, because here and now has just started the new era of her life. "Hailie needs a friend. Other than a ghost." She blew her a kiss. "See you not soon."

Amy walked away straight and proud of herself.

Her revenge just succeeded.

She got what she wanted and she felt no guilt about it.