I always thought I'd die young. I mean, what'd I expect as a 17 year old reformed addict? You push your luck, burn bridges, and live every day like it's your last. But I didn't exactly plan for it to happen the way it did.
I was crossing the street, lost in thought, trying to remember the last time I'd made a good decision in my life, when everything went black, my consciousness fading soon after.
Except it wasn't. when I woke up... well, I was in Hell. Clearly.
Not the metaphorical kind, either. Actual Hell. Hot, fiery, twisted, and full of all kinds of… creatures.
If it weren't for the fact that I was in someone else's body, I'd probably be freaking out right now. But honestly, it was hard to freak out when your body felt like it was in a constant state of being punched in the gut due to alcohol poisoning.
I wasn't in my own body. I was in Blitzo's body.
For those who don't know (which, let's face it, 90% of you do), Blitzo yes, spelled with a "Z" for some reason is the leader of I.M.P., a demon assassination business in Hell. He's a impulsive hard head and the kind of boss who gets way too drunk at the office Christmas party and then punches the CEO in the face.
At least that's what I'd seen from the show I vaguely remembered before.. well, this.
But now I was him. Or, more accurately, I was in his body, with all the memories and quirks that came with it. I had no clue how it happened or why, but I was stuck with it.
Luckily, It didn't even feel that bad. Sure, Blitzo's body was a mess—skin stretched tight over muscles, a general air of dishevelment and, well, chaos that radiated from my own thoughts but I could still feel everything, feel it was still me. Along with the hunger, the itch for excitement. And, weirdly enough, a strange sense of power.
I had no time to adjust, though. It wasn't long before my "new" co-workers found me.
Moxxie was the first one to show up, his face twitching in that familiar, mildly annoyed way. He's Blitzo's partner in crime—or, well, the one who seems to get dragged into every crazy situation Blitzo comes up with. He's a demon with pale red skin and a penchant for doing things by the book. From what I could remember, he's the type to keep trying to fix things that can't be fixed. Idealistic? Maybe. Annoying? yes.
but necessary for a business. definitely.
"Blitz," he said, crossing his arms with that disapproving scowl. "Where were you last night? I swear, every time we try to run a decent business, you..."
I tuned him out almost to naturally as my eyes scanned the room, landing on the next person in the team.
Millie. She's... well, she's a powerhouse. A demon with curly black hair, a love for her husband, and a terrifyingly high body count. She's the one who handles the tough muscle during operation. remember how she and Blitz met felt surreal. Watching her in action was like watching a tornado with a smile. Fierce, loyal, and probably the most grounded one here besides her husband—when it comes to her love life, anyway.
"You're late again," Millie chimed in, her voice sweet but with a clear warning edge. "We got a job lined up, Blitz. Don't make me drag you outta bed next time."
I nodded in acknowledgment. Not that it would matter. I had no clue what she was talking about even with Blitz memories.
Finally, there was Loona. The one who, if we're being real, probably didn't care about the business as much as she cared about ignoring everyone. A teenaged, sarcastic demon girl who did receptionist/ tech work for I.M.P. She looked at me with a deadpan expression, clearly unimpressed.
"Yeah, yeah," Loona muttered, swiping her phone. "You wanna actually do some work today, or are we just gonna pretend we don't run a business for the umpteenth time?"
I couldn't help but crack a smile. Despite how ridiculous all this felt, there was something oddly comforting about how familiar these interactions were. I might have been a stranger in Blitzo's body, but his life? it felt as though I had a genuine connection with these people. I knew these people, their personalities, their roles. ' It couldn't be from just watch the show' I thought.
I knew blitz's past the show never delved into the level of detail I was feeling in that moment.
They were my new team. And I... I was their boss. Or at least, I would be. I didn't know how to explain it, but I could feel it in my gut.
A sense of reform.
Although I.M.P is filled with incompetence in most places in the business, it didn't have to be.
It could be something more. A legitimate business that ran on ambition.
Hell, maybe we could even rebuild my own reputation in Hell that didn't involve getting banned from every demon bar or making a fool of the law at every turn.
I could fix it, I thought. I could make this business something real.
But reforming I.M.P. wasn't going to be easy. Hell, it wasn't even going to be possible if I kept slipping into old habits. Blitzo's body might be eager for trouble, for the next insane stunt or drunken escapade, but I needed to hold the reins. I needed to make smart choices, even if it meant not punching the CEO in the face for once.