Chapter 2 – PRIDE

“What did you do to my son you little …” My dad began to yell. He looked at Lucifer who had somehow begun twirling a knife in his hands. My dad gulped and didn’t yell out his slurs.

I knew my dad was always a little backwards in his ways. But I didn’t think he was a raging racist. Maybe I should’ve paid more attention.

“His soul has been cast into Hell to suffer his punishment. Just wait your turn Tobias, we’ll get to you soon enough. Now, Victoria please open your box before my dagger finds a home in your eye.” Lucifer said sickly sweet.

Vicky looked at her box. Simply stared at it. She picked up the box and unwrapped it, pulling off the lid. Written on the edge in beautiful letters was the word, ‘Pride’.

She placed the three items on the table looking from each of us to the other.

A key card, a vial of mysterious liquid and a pair of safety goggles.

She immediately began to tear up and sob. “Please, don’t show them. I’ll tell them,” she begged.

“Proceed then.” Lucifer spit out.

“I made a mistake guys. I swear I’m so sorry! I pray to God that he can forgive me.”

“I’ll stop you right there. My father wouldn’t listen to your pathetic little prayer. Your gross sin disqualified you from my father’s listening list. It brings such joy to my heart to know that you little mortals think no matter your crime, dear old Daddy will forgive you with enough prayers. After enough sins you’re blocked.”

Lucifer began to cackle with laughter. He doubled over laughing so long it became awkward.

When he stopped he beckoned Vicky to continue.

“I accidentally allowed a few subordinates of mine to become disfigured and hurt because of my negligence.”

“No, no, No! Don’t you minimize your actions Ms. Kemp. Lets see the real story play out, shall we?” Lucifer raged.

“NO!” Vicky shrieked and then…

Blink.

I’m looking out from my sister’s body. Staring at a clipboard. Scientific mumbo jumbo. Last I heard she worked at a scientist doing something. I know I should have made an effort to know but that’s an effort I didn’t want to give out.

The clipboard held a checklist that my sister was walking around looking at various things and checking them off. Someone walked up to my sister. It was a woman that looked to be a young intern.

“Ma’am did you finish the safety checklist?” she asked innocently.

My sister nodded, but when she looked down I noticed more than half the list unchecked.

Oh no. Please dont let Victoria be this idiotic.

The intern gave a cautious smile and glanced at the clipboard. “Don’t worry Amanda, I’ve done this for years. I promise it’ll be fine. This isn’t the first time we’ve done this you know. It’s actually kind of insulting to my experience to question me.”

Amanda gave her a small nervous laugh and darted away. I cursed my sister knowing full well she wouldn’t hear it. They began mixing chemicals and such. My sister spouted off words I couldn’t wrap my head around. I was never the smartest so this went over my head.

I did go to college for physical therapy. I wished to avoid all the hardest parts of college. I already went to the gym often to avoid my family’s issues. So why not have an excuse to be there?

My sister kept glancing at the clipboard half empty checklist. She then looked up around the lab. Nobody had their goggles down. I forgot what exactly my sister did at her job, but I knew she was a boss of some types.

I watched my sister work and kept looking for an incident that would bring the devil’s attention. I saw nothing. She was a great boss, her workers loved her and chatted away as if they were childhood friends. It seemed like nothing was wrong until I heard the first scream.

My sister’s head snapped up to look in the direction of the screams. Amanda had the mysterious liquid on her hands. She was screaming. Victoria rushed to her direction and a few of her workers did too. And in that moment of frenzy a worker tripped over another and hit a beaker of chemicals. It exploded and landed on his face.

He began to scream too. It was pandemonium. Victoria just stood there staring at her two employee’s. Her eyes drifted back to the clipboard and she walked towards it and ripped off the paper. She dropped it in a beaker of a red liquid. Victoria turned to walk over to Amanda when…

Blink.

Seated around the table again. Victoria was crying even harder. Apologizing in between sobs.

“I’m so sorry! You have to believe me!” She screamed.

Lucifer leaned forward in his seat. “Then go apologize to them. Maybe if you cry over your mistakes enough you can heal them.”

The rest of my family was in stunned silence. Vicky was my parents favorite and their golden child. We made fun of her when we were younger since she was always so self-righteous. My parents never punished her. She was always touted as the perfect child.

She always got the best gifts for her birthday and for Christmas. For a fact I knew my parents had just bought her a new car. Her old one wasn’t broken or damaged. They just wanted to buy their favorite daughter a car. Compare that to my gift of socks and a Olive garden gift card and tell me they don’t have favorites.

“Vicky please tell me that’s not true.” My mom quietly pleaded.

Vicky buried her face in her hands. The room was silent except for her violent sobs.

“Amanda York and Brian Maverick. They worked under you. They suffered irreversible injuries due to your pride and hubris. Amanda can no longer use her hands, they are now gnarled and crooked. Her bright future in your field was stolen from her in a moment of uncertainty. Brfian face now presents a horrific nightmare-esque visage. Do you think your apologies will heal them? Do you think a few tears will heal them from their pain?”

Victoria fell silent. I think she cried herself out.

“Victoria Kemp, aged 25,” Lucifer sneered. “I condemn you to an eternity of reliving that moment as the lesser. You will watch your superior deliberately disregard the rules knowing full well it will lead to your painful demise. You will feel the pain of Amanda and Brian tenfold. Each day you will repeat this, the pain growing worse each time. For all of your eternity will be nothing but pain and punishment for your hubris.”

Victoria eyes lit up in flames. Her wails didn’t mask Lucifer’s insane laughter or my mothers shrieks. After her eyes burned out, she slumped back into her chair.

“You’re sick! She made a mistake! She didn’t deserve to die for that. She had a bright future!” My brother Quentin shouted. Tears streamed down his face as his eyes radiated pure fury at Lucifer.

The Lord of Flies head snapped over to Quentin. “Isn’t that ironic Quentin? It seems your time is here. So go ahead and open your box.”