An Imp in Heaven

Imp couldn't believe his luck. Finally, things were going his way. He didn't know how he had escaped from the prison in Heaven. But he didn't question his good fortune. He was desperate for any chance and would take it even if he didn't know how it would turn out.

Simply being in Heaven was painful. The very atmosphere itself caused him physical pain creating painful blisters and sores on his skin. He wouldn't last long here, even if they didn't torture him. And if you thought Angels didn't imprison and torture Demons, you obviously never read the Old Testament of the Bible.

Humans had long ago convinced themselves that Angels were beautiful and kind creatures who spent their days strumming harps, praising God, and rescuing the faithful from accidents.

They were portrayed as benign and compassionate messengers of God's Will and the first words they spoke to any human was always "be not afraid" or "do not fear." They were always smiling benevolently and offering peace to those who believed in them.

To be fair, there were classes of Angels that did just that. Just as there were those that comforted grieving believers whenever tragedies struck. Although, as most Demons will tell you, Angels comforted you when tragedy struck, but never tried to prevent the tragedies from happening. Yet humans always thanked them and praised God when that happened. This was something that no Demon could ever understand.

What Demons did know and understand, however, was that there were other classes of Angels who were warriors and judges. Gabriel, Rafael, Uriel, and Michael. Their very names evoked terror in most Demons.

All but the most powerful Demons, the Archdemons, spoke of them in hushed tones terrified that they'd draw their attention. To attract the attention of these Angels was not only to draw their ire, but to court obliteration.

Demons did not die the way humans did. When they were destroyed, their very essence was dissipated into the ether, and they ceased to exist in any form. It was complete and total annihilation as if they had never even existed.

Imp had no intention of disappearing completely. He was desperate for a way to escape. And so, he simply seized the opportunity that presented itself. He didn't even stop to think about it. He just hightailed it through the open cell door and jumped into the first portal he saw.

Traveling through portals was always a bit disorienting, particularly when you didn't get to do it often. And he had no idea where this one would take him. it could simply spit him out in another realm within Heaven or to a lower circle of Hell. Neither were preferable, but it was still better than being in the prison he was currently in.

Traveling through the portal was nausea-inducing for Imp. And very disorienting with a cacophony of sounds that assaulted his sensitive ears and bright lights that blinked in a strobe effect making him dizzy and momentarily blinding him.

He seemed to be free-falling with his speed increasing exponentially and no end in sight. He briefly feared he'd splatter into a gooey mess when he exited the portal. Well, there was no stopping now. Whatever happened, happened. And, at least, he was no longer imprisoned in Heaven.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Imps didn't normally travel to the mortal realm via portal or otherwise. They were, however, able to make their voices heard. They were the whispers that urged people to commit acts of evil and perversion. The word 'impulse' was derived from them.

They urge mortals to do exactly the wrong thing in any given situation simply because it is possible for wrong to be done. The desire to step off a ledge, to run into traffic, to push someone in front of a train, those thoughts are inspired by Imps.

They are not powerful enough to force an individual to commit such acts. However, once the impulse has been recognized, however briefly, it becomes more difficult to resist as time goes on. The more it is repeated, the more one begins to deliberate it is their own belief. Once that happens, they accept the idea as almost inevitable. Those who have obsessive-compulsive disorder are particularly susceptible to the influence of an Imp.

Humans often failed to recognize that these urges did not come from within themselves, but were ideas planted in them by outside forces of evil.

However, Imps are also the lowest level of Demons. As such, they are often the target of bullying and torture by bored higher-level Demons. So, they tried to remain as hidden as possible. But this Imp was different. He was determined to grow stronger and become something more than just an impulse to commit bad deeds.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Imp fell out of the portal onto a busy rain-soaked street. He managed to roll out of the way of an oncoming vehicle that didn't even bother to slow down but simply blared its annoying horn. As it passed him, the driver yelled some profanities and shook his raised middle finger at him for good measure.

Imp smiled. "I'm going to like it here."

Another car zoomed past him splashing him with water and mud. He shook himself somewhat dry and darted into an alley between high-rises.

There was something somehow comforting and familiar about this place although he didn't understand why. He could figure that out later, however. What he needed to do right now was come up with a good plan.

First, he needed a good disguise. A creature of small stature with furry cloven-hooved legs and arms disproportionately long for his body ending in talons, he would definitely be out of place in this realm.

Second, he needed a place to stay. Of course, that would be dependent upon the disguise he chose.

Then he needed to figure out where the System went and how to get it back.