Chapter Text
1 - 1989
“So where to, mate?” Charles asked, walking with an unusual amount of pep in his step for someone who died scarcely an hour before. Edwin hoped it wasn’t some unusual form of denial. He was ill equipped to deal with any type of person, let alone one who refused to admit to his own death.
“I’m not sure,” Edwin replied, “much has changed since my death.” Seventy years passed in a blink of an eye. Well, not entirely. Time was hard to gauge in Hell beyond the vague feeling of eternity. But Hell was still largely stagnant, reliable only in its familiarity. When Edwin reemerged from the basement he died, St. Hilarion’s had been transformed. The same old wood detailing on the halls and portraits of past headmasters, only now the line had been added to. New appliances and classes and technology. The language used in the halls was unknown to Edwin. St Hilarion’s was an old school, even when Edwin had been attending, yet it was unrecognizable in parts. He can’t imagine how London, with its bustling streets, has changed since then. “I am afraid I am not too familiar with it all.”
Charles whisled, “Right, Hell. What were you in for anyway?”
Edwin bristled because there were a great many things he could have been in Hell for depending on who you asked. He could still faintly hear the jeering taunts of his peers, the disapproving tuts of his teachers, the ashamed sighs of his parents. “A technicality,” Edwin answered stiffly. That’s what Sa’al had said, technically Edwin had to go to Hell. None had the opportunity to pass judgment on his soul, so technically he was not lying to this tentative new friend. Edwin thought he may be a friend at least, he had little knowledge or experience on the matter. But based on Charles’ overt friendliness and insistence on sticking with Edwin, he felt safe assuming they could be classified as friendly acquaintances. Until Charles was ready to move on, of course.
Charles seemed displeased with his response. “A technicality? What- with Hell? Like from the Bible, Hell? With the fires and snakes?”
“Yes, that one. Although in my personal experience there was not much fire.” There had been a lot of snakes in some of the circles and punishments he’d seen. None of the demons that owned Edwin’s soul had an affinity for snakes. Edwin didn’t know if he should be grateful for that. He liked snakes. Fascinating, oddly beautiful creatures. He’s glad their existence wasn’t soured by Hell.
Charles looked gobsmacked, then outraged, “They can’t just do that!”
Edwin blinked at him, unsure of what to say. Goodness, he was really out of practice with conversations. “They can,” Edwin replied, “Evidently.” It’s unfair certainly, but it clearly is part of Hell’s bylaws since they did, in fact, do that.
Charles looked more frustrated, “Well they shouldn’t be able to!” he shouted, waving his arms around.
“Perhaps- although I don’t know what authority would stop them.”
“Is there like, no God or something?” Charles asked, squinting his eyes. “I never really believed anyway- my old man wasn’t a big church guy- but if there’s Hell, I dunno, shouldn’t there be something else?”
Edwin shrugged, “I am not aware of any higher power, beside Death perhaps but I’m not sure She has any authority in that respect. There is a pleasant afterlife certainly, that’s the blue light.”
Edwin only escaped Hell very recently, but some of the local ghosts have been very helpful in explaining the ways of the supernatural. Although they seemed uneasy around him- why, Edwin could not fathom. No one had ever accused Edwin of being intimidating. Unapproachable and unpleasant, perhaps, never intimidating. Most of his peers found him utterly unremarkable and a perfect target for their aggression and vitriol. Charles is the first spirit he’s told about Hell, and he took it remarkably well- should that be cause for alarm?- so he wasn’t sure why the other ghosts were unnerved by him. But nevertheless, the pointers from the other ghosts and his own deductive skills has left him with a workable understanding of “life after death” so to speak.
Charles nodded slowly, “Well, shit.” Edwin made an mhm noise and hoped that was an adequate response. Charles did not yet seem perturbed by Edwin’s presence, unlike the other ghosts he had met. Comforting him on his deathbed probably put Edwin enough in his good graces that Edwin seemed like the good sort of company. Privately, he wonders how long that good favor will last. He hoped long enough for him to learn how to be friends with someone. Otherwise running from Death will be terribly lonely terribly quickly. It’s a selfish thought, so Edwin resolved to not push Charles too much.
Charles started to prattle on as they walked towards the train station that will lead them to London. He seemed eager to “show Edwin the sites” for whatever reason. Edwin did not object, but hoped Charles didn’t plan to drag him through tourist destinations. He did live in London partially as a boy after all.
Edwin found himself unexpectedly enjoying Charles’ incessant chatter and enthusiasm. He had enjoyed their conversations in the attic, of course, but historically Edwin had a very low tolerance for socializing. Yet, Charles seemed to be an exception already. The boy seemed rife with life despite his untimely end this morning. Edwin does not ask how long Charles intends to stay on Earth before moving to his afterlife, no matter how badly he wants to know, lest he ruin Charles’ good mood.
“You alright, mate?” Charles asked suddenly, head cocked to the side.
Edwin startled, “Pardon?” He hadn’t noticed Charles’ attention shift to him. Was that too unacceptable? It was rude to not pay attention when one was speaking to you. Edwin had thought he was paying attention. When did he stop?
“You seem nervous ‘is all. Looking over your shoulder and shit.” Charles took a step closer to Edwin, which was honestly a step closer than Edwin would prefer.
Edwin shifted back as subtly as he could without alerting his companion. “Ah,” he started, scrambling for some valid reasoning for his untoward behavior. The problem was, he had been alert of their surroundings. Even if he did not fully notice the tension in his shoulder muscles and shifting of his eyes. Old habits die hard, so they say. Edwin’s spent the last several decades peeking around corners for the spindling legs of a creature out for bloody. A creature that could be looking for him right now. It didn’t help that Charles insisted on letting his form come in contact with every stray branch, whose snapping sounded a bit too similar to cracking of old, withered bones strung about green lit halls. “I apologize,” Edwin said with as much politeness as he could muster. “I suppose I am… still unused to my new surroundings?” His voice tilted up at the end more than he had meant to, he hoped Charles did not take offense to the half-truths.
Charles looked at him quizzically, then his face darkened. It was an odd expression, one Edwin was not used to on any one. But oddly enough, Charles seemed to… understand his unspoken fears. It was not judgemental, even if it was foolish to treat Earth as Hell even when it was anything but. Charles seemed angry as well, but not at Edwin, it was the same righteous anger from earlier that morning. “Death’s cleared out I’m pretty sure,” Charles said easily. “But if anything else comes knocking, I’ll show ‘em, yeah?” he said, making a swinging motion with his fist. “I should find a cricket backet, I’m aces with those things.”
Edwin couldn’t help the bubbling laughter in his throat. How inane, the image of this boy- who’s physique was not much outworldly different than Edwin’s- fending off The Spider with a sports bat. He did not mention that fighting demons with sporting equipment was likely to be a fruitless endeavor, nor did he mention that similar sentiments got Charles’ killed. He did not want to be discouraging, besides he felt… oddly giddy at Charles’ declaration. It made him feel warm and glowy. No one has ever defended Edwin, or even expressed a desire to. But this boy Edwin’s known for such little time, who is equal parts beautiful and athletic and fun, has declared his intentions to beat off any supernatural threat coming Edwin’s way. At that moment, Edwin considered the notion that he probably would not have died the way he did if Charles had been there.
“Perhaps we should look into it,” Edwin said uncharacteristically cheerfully. “I’ve been told there is a manner of supernatural creatures roaming the Earth.”
Charles screeched to a halt, “Huh? Like vampires and stuff?”
“I have not heard of any yet, but I wouldn’t say it’s impossible. I admit, I am eager to learn more,” Edwin said.
“We could be like… supernatural hunters or something! Tracking down the bad sort and helping people,” Charles said cheerfully.
“Or investigators,” Edwin suggested with reserved enthusiasm. The conversation drifted away from Hell from there. Edwin did quite like the idea of helping other spirits. People like him whose deaths were shunted to the side and forgotten, or people like Charles who deserved better than what they got. They could do some good for the people left out to dry by the universe. Enough good that maybe Edwin could make a case to be released from Hell. His stomach turns immediately at the thought, because those are the kind of thoughts that land you in Hell.
He was not in Hell for a good and just reason. But that did not mean there weren’t good and just reasons to send them there if he’d gone through the system properly. Was it too late to make amends? Repent to a God that may or may not exist?
Edwin walked on with Charles just ahead of him. He did his best to ignore the snapping of tree branches. Charles’ outrage at Edwin’s sentencing was touching, he only hoped Charles did not learn about the more unsavory traits of Edwin’s. At least not so much, so soon that Edwin loses the only companion he’s ever had before he figures out how to be a good one himself.