“Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
They strung up a man
They say who murdered three.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.”

I sang softly to myself as I walked down a trail on Jack’s property.

“Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where the dead man called out
For his love to flee.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Where I told you to run,
So we'd both be free.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.

Are you, are you
Coming to the tree
Wear a necklace of hope,
Side by side with me.
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it be
If we met at midnight
In the hanging tree.”

We used to sing that song at the camp to give ourselves courage. Usually it was after a young child had died.

The hair on my neck raised, something didn’t feel right. I heard a twig snap to the left. I whipped around to look but nothing was there and that’s what scared me the most.

Nothing was there.

I took a second to appreciate the sheer clicheness of this moment as I slowly backed up. It felt like someone was right behind me, ready to grab me. I spun around but the space was empty. I spun around again but nothing was there…Or should I say nothing was visible. I had the deep feeling as if the one from the corner was very close. I wanted to run but I could only back away slowly. I felt like a deer being stalked by the wolf. So you’d better believe that when I found the nerve to run, I ran like a deer. I bolted up the path, I don’t think I’ve ever moved so fast in my life. I thought I’d feel better once out of the woods but instead I just felt even more exposed without the cover of the trees. I felt something hot grab my ankle and drag me back.
“JACK!” I screamed, writhing trying to get away from the invisible thing. I could taste the fear on my tongue as a force prevented me from getting up.
“OH NO YOU DON’T!” I heard the furious voice of my master as he leapt at the space directly above me. If I hadn’t known better, I’d have thought he was crazy as he looked like he was pinning an invisible person to the ground. Which apparently he was. “How are you here? You shouldn’t be physical.” He snapped. I couldn’t hear anything but the hair on my neck and arms raised, as if my body could feel the voice. “But that means…” He whispered. Then the feeling was gone and he got up looking dazed.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Zack killing my people just became the least of our problems.” He muttered before grabbing my wrist and dragging me up to the house.
“Our problems?” I exclaimed. He spun at me, ebony eyes flashing.
“Yes Alex, our problems. If something happens to me, in the few hours I’m away from Earth, what do you think will happen to you? Do you really think you could just wait for me in the house? No! Every demon who notices I’m gone will come after you.” He spat.
“Why?” I asked, my voice raising.
“Because you’re mine. Because I am the ruler of the Forth Quarter with automatically makes everything in my possession more valuable. You are a gold mine to other demons. They could sell you for an increased price, or they could make you serve them in foul ways just to spite me.” He ranted. “Alex, the second I bought you, I signed your death sentence. From now on, even if you don’t belong to me, you will be treated worse simply because you used to be mine.”
“Why would I be treated worse?” I asked, unable to imagine a more miserable life than I used to have at the camp.
“Demons aren’t born Alex, they’re made. Can you imagine the kind of evil you had to have committed to not only go to hell, but become a demon?” He asked. I was speechless. I always assumed demons just happened naturally, that it wasn’t they’re fault they were so evil, that it was just their nature. But they all used to be people? “Every demon has spent time in hell and believe me when I say, it is Hell. So naturally the rulers of such places would be hated by those who’ve been there.”
“Jack what’s going on? How was it able to touch me like that? How did it do that?” I asked, my head spinning with all this new information. He didn’t answer as he opened the door and dragged me in. I huffed and crossed my arms as I followed him into the kitchen where he pulled out a bowl and a large butcher knife.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I asked.
“Shut up or I’ll rip your tongue out.” He grumbled and walked out of the room. I didn’t follow him, I was too lost in my thoughts.
The four worst demons came together to be the rulers of Hell. It only makes sense that the demon who rules each quarter, was once a soul who went there. Which means…My blood ran cold and the truth hit me like a ton of bricks.

The worst, most evil souls each quarter possessed made the rulers.

And only the most evil, horrible people go to the fourth quarter.

Jack went to the Fourth Quarter.

And he was the worst soul in there.

That...That means that Jack is the most evil soul in existence.

Fear made me freeze when he came up the steps holding the insane girl who was screaming at the top of her lungs and struggling against Jack.

Oh please don’t.

Unfortunately now I had an idea of what he was doing. He dragged her to the counter where the bowl was and when she saw the knife she struggled harder.
“Jack don’t.” I whispered, barely audible. He wouldn’t have been able to here me anyway, never mind the screaming girl
He gripped the back of her head by her hair and brought her head back, exposing her neck. He grabbed the knife and in one quick motion, slit her throat. Blood ran down her front and onto the floor as the sounds of her blood rushing out and her choking filled my ears. He tilted her body forward so the blood ran into the bowl.
“What the fuck?” I cried, my shock temporarily overcoming me fear.
“It was necessary.” He mumbled as the bowl filled to the brim. He let her drop to the floor, a pool of blood surrounding her. I watched him prick his own finger, let three drops of blood drip into the mixture, then stir it three times with the same digit.
“When they get here, no matter what, don’t. Speak. and you stay behind me at all times do you understand?” He growled. I was just stuck, frozen in fear. My body wouldn’t react to anything. Jack’s hand flew across my cheek, snapping me back to reality. I looked up to see him glowering down on me. “Do you understand?” He snarled. I narrowed my eyes and nodded. Suddenly the room got freezing cold and Jack spun around with his back to me. I peeked out behind him and saw Amy, Zack, and another man. I assumed the third man was David, king of the First Quarter.
“What the fuck are you doing?” David snapped.
“You know the strain all of us gathering at the same time puts on Hell!” Amy cried, crossing her arms.
“Hell is already crumbling.” Jack spoke irritatedly. Upon hearing these words their faces looked horror-stricken.
“What?” Zack whispered.
“My shadow is becoming physical.” Jack mumbled.
“How is that possible?” Amy asked.
“Hell is growing unstable, it’s not the numbers in it that’s the problem, it’s just collapsing.”
“What will happen if it completely vanishes?” I found myself asking. Everybody in the room looked at me and I regretted speaking.
“Jack, I see why you like him. But he needs to learn not to talk out of turn.” David remarked.
“Go ahead.” Jack smiled, stepping aside. I glanced at him in horror before a sharp pang hit my chest. Then unimaginable agony overcame me. I felt myself fall to the floor and writhe and scream, trying to get away from the searing pain. It was as if my organs were trying to pull themselves apart while I was being burned alive. Nothing I’d ever felt compared to this. Then another sharp pang hit my chest and then it stopped as fast as it started. I panted on the floor, and opened my eyes. My eyesight was blurry at first but then I blinked myself into clear vision. I tested moving my fingers and it didn’t hurt so I leapt to my feet to be greeted with nothing but exhaustion. I looked up to see the Four Rulers of Hell gawping at me. I glared at them.
And to think
that was only the First Quarter of Hell…

Notes

Title cred: Mama by My chemical Romance

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years and all that jazz!!!

(Take note of how the chapter said, "I looked up to see the Four Rulers of Hell gawping at me."
you might want to rememeber that)