Oroshika Prison smelled like damp concrete and regret.
It was a Monday morning, five days since Renayo Ezraphor had been caught in Officer Daniel's apartment out of nowhere. The story had already made the rounds in demon media. The Only Ezraphor Arrested After Being Found in a Cop's House! and was now the joke of the week.
Only President Yurokane's intervention had pulled the strings to get him out. Kev had personally requested the job of picking him up, because of course he had.
Kev lounged in the police station's reception like he owned the place, legs stretched, chewing gum. When Renny finally walked out, signing the last of the release papers, Kev's face lit up in pure mockery.
"Yo!" Kev burst out laughing. "How the fuck you get arrested on your first day on the job, homie?"
Renny looked like trash, bruises across his face, shirt wrinkled, hair a mess.
Kev squinted at him. "Damn, the officers do that to you?"
"I wish," Renny said dryly, picking up his torn suit jacket. "They couldn't make a dent in me if they tried. This," he gestured to his face, "wasn't them."
They stepped outside into the humid morning. Kev's taxi was waiting. As they slid into the backseat, Kev asked, "So who the hell did that to you?"
Renny's jaw tightened. "The soul guardian."
Kev's eyes went wide. "Hold up… you fought a guardian?"
"Fought?" Renny gave him a look. "Kev, do I look like I fought? I was manhandled. No, scratch that, divinely handled. I'd have lost my demon life just like that." He snapped his fingers, visibly frustrated.
Kev tried to hold it in, but the corner of his mouth twitched. Then he broke into uncontrollable laughter. "Nahhh, I'm sorry, man, but this whole thing is too funny. From being a helpless good guy on Earth to landing in prison in Hell? Even the angels couldn't write a better script."
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Renny muttered. "You must be used to going to jail all your life."
Kev froze. "Woah, woah, slow down there, homie. That's a bit racist."
Renny threw his hands up. "You're a demon now, Kev! What race?"
Kev turned to the window, shaking his head. "Still, low blow, man."
The silence that followed was thick, broken only by the city's noise outside. Finally, Renny exhaled. "Sorry, man. It's just… this whole thing's frustrating. You should've seen that guardian. I swear I thought I was dead for the second time."
Kev glanced back. "So what the hell were you thinking, going up against a soul guardian?"
"I wasn't thinking, that's the problem. I didn't have a weapon, didn't have any technique, heck, I wasn't even planning a fight. I just wanted to see the guy's home life, get some first-hand info. But…" He paused, jaw tight. "I did make one dumb move."
Kev smirked. "Here we go…"
"I tried to grab the soul key while he was asleep."
Kev's head snapped toward him. "What?! Why the hell would you..."
"It was a clear shot," Renny cut in. "No guardian in sight. I didn't even know where that thing came from, one second I'm reaching, the next my arm's in a death grip."
From the driver's seat, the taxi driver spoke. "Ahh, that is because the guardian was a watcher, sir."
Both Renny and Kev turned. "A what?"
"Watcher, sir… very special kind of soul guardian, you see. They will never act without reason, haan. They stay hidden, just watching the soul quietly, and only when someone actually tries to harm it, then they strike. Very dangerous type, sir."
"Ohhh," Renny said slowly, the pieces clicking.
Kev chuckled. "Well, thank God it happened to you first, or maybe I'd have made the same dumb move."
"I don't doubt that," Renny said, smirking.
They shared a laugh, and Kev asked the driver, "Yo, how you even know about that?"
The driver gave a small shrug. "I am a driver in Hell, sir. I have driven many demons after they… ehh… made bad decisions."
Kev and Renny both laughed. "Yeah, you're right," Kev said.
After a pause, Kev asked, "So what now, homie?"
Renny leaned back, staring out at the bustling streets. "First thing...get myself a weapon. And more abilities. Haven't had my phone for five days, just got it back, so when I get home… shopping spree. And then…" He trailed off, eyes narrowing. "Reconsider everything."
The taxi pulled up to Renny's apartment building. He was about to step out when Kev suddenly said, "Oh yeah...stay off social media for a while."
Renny frowned. "Why?"
Kev grinned. "They been roasting your ass non-stop since you got locked up. Now that you out? Man, it's only gon' get worse. Let it cool off first, trust me."
Renny exhaled. "Good looking out, buddy. And… my apologies again for the earlier comment."
"Don't sweat it, homie." Kev clasped his hand, pulling him in. "Lock in, bruh. This is Hell."
Renny smirked faintly. "No doubt."
They traded a solid handshake before Renny turned and strode into the building, the door swallowing him into shadow.