Pain for the Past

Another jolt of electricity coursed through Leo's body like a thousand fiery blades cutting him at once. It hurt, which was a surprise for the lightning wielder. The slug guy had explained somewhere along the line that it was in fact a different kind of hellfire. Despite the hurt, it was in fact what they used to distract from the other painful thing–some sort of acidic liquid being siphoned into Leo's left arm.

Leo's eyes swept across the room, trying to find Harvey so he could shoot him another betrayed look. The man was gone, meaning Leo was alone for the moment. Cords of different kinds lined the tiny room he was trapped in, liquids pumping through all of them. A giant silver needle was what stabbed his arm, the cord whipping about as it pumped fluid like it was alive. Everything moved, everything pulsed. He felt like he'd been turned into some new organism already, complete with lab cords to whip at people or something. The colours and sounds almost felt like an orchestrated chorus of entertaining elements. If only they weren't all there to bring Hell itself to Leo's body.

A machine spun and whirred nearby, but Leo's fading consciousness couldn't focus on it. Pain struck him once more from the panel beneath him, sparking with red lightning. Leo tried to fight it with his own power, but couldn't even call on a spark. He cried out instead, and heard a coarse wail escape his lungs. It only then hit him that this was possibly the worst thing that had ever happened to him. This, right here and now, was the most terrible event in his entire eternal life.

Mind wandering through other thoughts, he suddenly conjured an image of Hazel. The cries escaping him grew more intense. This wasn't supposed to be happening. He needed to focus on winning and getting her back, not being tortured in a lab. As memories of her flooded his mind, his gaze doubled over and darkened.

'Leo… Leo… Leo!' A soft voice cried. Leo sat upright at his desk. Before all of his adventures and time wasting away in Heaven, Leo lived a simple life with his wife. He looked to a screen with a green wire model on it resembling a small cat. He was a graphic designer for a big video game company determined to create compelling story-based games. He paused the tv drama playing on a separate monitor, just before the latest character stormed out of the scene melodramatically for what was probably the twentieth time this season. Honestly, he was just watching it to have a show in common with Hazel, but it was the biggest drag.

'Yes?' Leo swivelled on his reclining office chair, looking across his room at a woman who was a sight to behold. Her long black hair was curled, in contrast to its usual flat nature. The ringlets fell across her shoulders, gently bringing together the long red dress and black coat over the top. The woman's ivory skin was somehow spotless without any makeup to cover it. The same couldn't be said for Leo and his latest pimple hiding amongst his unshaven scruff. She turned on the spot, causing the red dress to flutter outwards and revealed the black slippers underneath. Finishing the turn with a smile, her aptly hazel-coloured eyes regarded Leo with a certain question that he already knew the answer to.

'Hazel, you look stunning.' He forced himself to stand, which felt like the first time in centuries. Leo grabbed his cane to walk to her. That's right, he'd forgotten about the small detail of a damaged spine. How could he have forgotten?

'Thank you, darling.' She bowed slightly as he took her hand. Leo led her to spin again, and marvelled at the absolute ten of a human being he'd managed to wed. Life was good, and it was about to become a whole lot better as he habitually glanced at her stomach.

'Leo, you won't see anything for months,' said Hazel with a laugh on her lips. What a beautiful laugh.

'I don't care,' he said with a pout. 'I'll notice the change the second you do, if I keep an eye on it.'

'Alright, then,' she tittered. 'Anyway, the car is here for me, so I thought you might want to see me out.'

Leo's heart suddenly sank, and all the annoyed thoughts flooded his mind like burning poison. Tonight was the celebration of one of the biggest achievements Hazel would probably ever know.

'It's a shame I can't watch you.' Leo ran his thumb along his cane, catching the familiar bump before the end of its handle. 'But I'm so proud of you.' He gave her a kiss, then started leading her to the front door of their little apartment.

'The World Bureau of Science is so stuck up,' began Hazel. 'First they say only engineers and scientists from my department can come to the presentation with no extras, then suddenly some rich supporter demands he bring his entire extended family and gets it.'

'Hazel, don't let them get to you,' Leo said as he waltzed out the front door with as much gusto as he could summon. He led her down a set of stairs and to the roadside. 'We'll get our own celebration afterwards.' He pumped a fist. 'The party never stops with the Cadmuses! Woo!' The two of them shared a laugh before he gestured to the black limousine waiting for her. 'Now, go get 'em, inventor of the first artificial black hole.'

Hazel spun around and put a hand on her hip and said, 'actually it's technically just a tiny stabilized vaccuu–'

'I know, it's cool so just go already!' Leo laughed and waved his wife away.

As the car hummed into the distance, Leo made for the apartment again. He decided it was time to order pizza and put on a show that he would actually pay attention to.

Then, a loud screech called from above him. He looked up to a raven that watched him with a whole flock behind it.

Until that point, Leo didn't know why he was suddenly recalling this memory. Now he realised it was because of a very obvious reason. It was the last time he felt as much pain as he felt in that damned demon's lab. It was the day he died.