Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Amity Blight had known many kinds of fear. The fear of disappointing her family, the fear of not living up to her own impossibly high standards, the fear of opening her heart just enough to let someone in and risk that someone breaking it. But this... this was different.

It had started as a quiet evening in her room. The dim glow of abomination crystals flickered along the shelves, casting long shadows that danced and writhed against the pale lavender walls. Amity was bent over her desk, scribbling into a notebook. Her pen moved in neat, practiced strokes, tracing familiar glyphs and jotting down the occasional doodle of a...well, if anyone asked, it was definitely not a certain human girl with bright eyes and a smile that could melt iron.

The silence was peaceful, the kind that wrapped around her shoulders like a well-worn cloak. That is, until she heard it: a distant scratching.

Amity paused, her pen hovering just above the page. Her eyes flicked to the window. The Boiling Isles were always noisy, alive with distant screeches and bubbling tar pits, but this was different. It was closer. Persistent.

Scratch. Scratch.

Her breath hitched. She stood slowly, the wooden legs of her chair creaking in protest as she pushed back. “Hello?” she called out, feeling a bit foolish. But she was a Blight.  She didn’t get scared over nothing. She stepped closer to the window, squinting through the foggy glass. Nothing. Just the usual gnarled trees swaying in the wind.

“Probably just—”

BANG!

Amity flinched back as something smacked against the glass, a splatter of feathers and a long, tubular body stretched across the pane. Two massive eyes blinked at her, unblinking, uncomfortably wide.

“HOOT HOOT! Guess whooooo?”

Amity’s scream caught in her throat as she stumbled back, slamming into her desk. “Hooty?! What are you—how did you—this is my room!” she spluttered, voice cracking between surprise and outrage.

Hooty squished his face against the windowpane, his beak leaving streaks of condensation. “I’m on a MISSION! And that mission involves...YOU!”

Amity blinked rapidly. “Me?!”

“Yes! For LOOOOOVE!” Hooty’s body coiled around the window like a spring, his eyes practically sparkling with enthusiasm. “We’re gonna break down those pesky emotional barriers and get you all smooshy-smooshy with Luz!”

Amity’s face went red, spectacularly, devastatingly red. “Th-That’s none of your business!” she snapped, even as her heart slammed against her ribs. “You can’t just—”

“Correction: I can!” Hooty sang, and before she could protest further, his body shot out, smashing through the window with a cacophony of shattered glass and flailing feathers. His stretchy form looped around her ankles before she could even move. “HOOT HOOT! Destination: Love Therapy!”

“Wait! Stop! I’m—AH!”

Hooty didn’t stop. He yanked her straight through the broken window, the shards somehow bouncing off her skin harmlessly as if by magic (or Hooty’s own bizarre biology). Amity tumbled through the air, shrieking as the world blurred past her. His elongated body contracted and soon started spiraling up the side of the Owl House, wrapping her tighter as they went.

“THIS IS KIDNAPPING!” Amity hollered, regretting that she hadn't had time to call for her Palisman Ghost, not that it would've helped, since her arms were pinned.

“Just a teensy-weensy bit!” Hooty chirped. “But don’t worry! I’m great at emotional breakthroughs! I’ve got...credentials!”

Amity struggled, but the next thing she knew, she was being swallowed, literally swallowed. Hooty’s unhinged jaw yawned open, and the world went dark. Amity’s mind raced, her thoughts spiraling out of control as she slid down a tunnel of what she could only describe as nightmarish warmth and faintly lavender-scented ooze.

“HOOTY! This isn’t funny!” Her voice echoed, but the sound was muffled, distant. Her limbs felt heavy, the world turning syrupy and slow. Her eyes blinked once...twice...and then...

Nothing.

Just pure, endless black.

And then she opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was red. Bright, vivid crimson stretching across the sky, jagged buildings spiraling up toward the horizon like broken teeth. Fires burned in the distance, casting eerie shadows that danced across the cobblestone streets. She was lying on her back, sprawled out in the middle of some kind of plaza. Above her, a neon sign flickered and buzzed: Hazbin Hotel – All Sinners Welcome!

Amity pushed herself up, her hands brushing against the cracked pavement. She gasped for breath, but the air felt thick and heavy, laced with smoke and something sweetly sickening. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, and she scrambled to her feet, glancing around wildly. “Where...where am I?”

A voice called out, cheerful and bright despite the backdrop of chaos. “Oh! A fresh face! Welcome to Hell, sweetie!”

Amity turned sharply. Standing a few feet away, wearing a smile so bright it practically sparkled, was a tall blonde demon with wavy hair, red eyes shaped like hearts, and a crisp red business suit complete with a white dress shirt and black bowtie. Her long legs and cheerful stance gave her the appearance of someone who belonged on a stage. Beside her stood a slightly shorter gray-skinned woman with long, stark white hair, a crimson "X" marking her eye, and a sharp red-and-black outfit accented with a large red bow. Her arms were crossed, her magenta eye narrowed with suspicion.

“Hell?” Amity whispered, disbelief freezing her in place. “I...I’m in Hell?”

The blonde woman clasped her hands together, her smile never faltering. “Not just Hell, sweetie.  The Hazbin Hotel! I’m Charlie, and this is my girlfriend Vaggie. And it looks like you could use some help.”

Amity stared at them, her pulse racing. Hooty had...had he just killed her?!

Vaggie leaned in, her eyes sharp and skeptical. “You don’t look like you belong here. What’s your story, kid?”

Amity swallowed hard, glancing around once more before looking back at the two. She straightened up, putting on her best Blight face. “My name is Amity Blight...and I think I just died.” I died, without ever telling Luz the truth....

Charlie’s expression softened, and she reached out, placing a gentle hand on Amity’s shoulder. “Oh, sweetie... you don’t seem like the usual sort we get down here. The Hazbin Hotel is a place for redemption, for second chances! Though... you seem a little young to be here.”

Amity stiffened at the touch, but Charlie’s warmth was...oddly calming. The 14-year-old still didn’t understand how she had ended up here. Hooty had swallowed her, there was darkness, and now...Hell? Her palms itched for her staff, for something familiar, but it wasn’t there. Her eyes flicked back to Vaggie, who hadn’t stopped glaring.

The silver-haired demon crossed her arms tighter, her gaze unwavering. “You don’t seem dead.”

Amity blinked. “Excuse me?”

Vaggie took a step forward, eyes narrowing. “Look, kid, I know a dead soul when I see one. You’re not like the others that show up here.”

Amity’s heart pounded. “But...I got swallowed by Hooty. It was dark, and then...I woke up here.” She swallowed thickly, glancing around. The streets looked endless and crooked, stretching far into the distance with signs in languages she couldn’t understand and symbols that writhed as if alive. “This is Hell, right?”

Charlie gave an enthusiastic nod. “Yup! And this is Hazbin Hotel! It’s where we try to help souls become better versions of themselves!” She clapped her hands together, the sound almost musical. “But Vaggie’s right. You don’t have that...uh...‘tormented aura’ most people come with.  In fact,” she took a quick look at the purple-haired girl's ears.  "you don't seem to be human to begin with...."

Amity raised an eyebrow. “Tormented aura?”

“You know,” Charlie continued, wiggling her fingers as if mimicking ghostly spirits. “Guilt, unresolved trauma, decades of sin.  Fun stuff like that!” She giggled, as if she’d just told the world’s most harmless joke.

Vaggie rolled her eye. “Yeah, hilarious.” She focused back on Amity. “So, how’d you die?”

Amity opened her mouth to answer, then hesitated. She didn’t feel dead. She felt...confused. The last thing she remembered was Hooty dragging her up the Owl House before swallowing her whole in that disgusting tunnel of feathers and goo. “I-I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice cracking slightly. “One minute I was at my house...then Hooty happened.”

Both demons exchanged glances. Charlie blinked in surprise. “Did you say...Hooty?”

Amity nodded, rubbing her arm nervously. “Yeah. Big...owl tube thing. Loud. Annoying. Lives at the Owl House.”

Charlie’s eyes lit up. “A talking owl tube? That sounds so cute!”

Vaggie groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Focus, hon.” She looked back at Amity. “So, you don’t know how you died, you don’t remember anything fatal, and you just...woke up here?”

“Pretty much.” Amity bit her lip. “I mean, it’s not like I’m a...sinner or something.”

Vaggie smirked. “Hey, everybody’s a sinner down here. Some just don’t admit it.”

Amity was about to protest when Charlie stepped between them, waving her hands. “Okay! Maybe we can figure this out. How about you come inside, take a load off, and we’ll talk it through? Maybe there’s a way to get you back to where you belong.”

Amity hesitated, her gaze flitting back to the strange neon-lit world around her. The towering buildings loomed, crooked and spindly, with shadows that seemed to reach for her if she stared too long. The idea of wandering out there alone made her skin crawl. “Okay...fine.”

Charlie clasped her hands together, beaming. “Perfect! Follow me!”

Amity moved to follow, her hands tucked tightly against her chest as she stepped forward. Vaggie trailed behind, her eye never leaving Amity’s back. Charlie swung open the grand entrance to the hotel, which creaked and groaned like it was on the verge of collapse.

The inside was a startling contrast to the nightmare outside. Polished red carpets stretched out across a grand lobby, chandeliers hung from the ceiling with an eerie but elegant glow, and jazz music hummed from a distant gramophone. The place looked almost...normal.

Charlie swept an arm out proudly. “Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel! A place for second chances and redemption! And I guess...uh...temporary weird owl-related mishaps!”

Amity looked around, her eyes wide. “This is...kinda nice.”

“Right?!” Charlie beamed, practically vibrating with excitement. “We don’t get visitors that often who aren’t...well, y’know...serial killers or evil overlords. You’re a nice change of pace!”

Vaggie leaned against the doorframe, arms still crossed. “Yeah, real refreshing. A kid who thinks she died by owl. I’m sure the Exorcists are gonna eat that up.”

Amity turned sharply. “I’m not a kid.”

Vaggie raised an eyebrow. “Could’ve fooled me. Besides, you look like you're only 13 or 14.”

Charlie clapped her hands before Amity could snap back. “Okay! Let’s not start a fight on our new guest’s first visit!” She waved Amity over to a sitting area with plush red chairs. “Come on, sit! Tell us about this...Hooty.”

Amity reluctantly followed, lowering herself into one of the chairs. It was unexpectedly soft.  Softer than anything she had back in her room. She sank into it, a small part of her relaxing despite the surrealness of the situation.

Charlie sat across from her, still smiling like she had all the time in the world. Vaggie leaned against the wall nearby, arms crossed, eyes sharp.

“So,” Charlie began, leaning forward eagerly. “Tell us about this Luz you were mumbling about earlier.”

Amity froze, her cheeks flushing crimson. “I-I wasn’t mumbling anything!”

Vaggie snorted. “Sure you weren’t.”

Charlie’s eyes glittered with curiosity. “C’mon! Maybe we can help! I know a lot about...crushes.” She leaned back and nudged Vaggie, who rolled her eye.

Amity swallowed, her hands knotting together in her lap. “I...I don’t think you can help with this.”

Vaggie raised an eyebrow. “Try us.”

Amity hesitated, but the look in Charlie’s eyes was genuine, eager, even. And Vaggie...well, she looked more like she was ready to call out any lie Amity tried to spin.  The purple-haired 14-year-old took a breath and started to talk.  Amity’s hands twisted together in her lap, her knuckles turning white. She glanced up at Charlie’s expectant face, then at Vaggie’s skeptical expression, and back down at her own hands. This was Hell, right? It’s not like she owed these demons any of her secrets.

But something about Charlie’s open grin and Vaggie’s unyielding stare made it clear that they weren’t going to let this drop. Not until she started talking.

Amity sighed. “Fine...Luz is this...this human,” she began, her voice wavering slightly. “She came to the Boiling Isles a while back. She’s...strange. A lot of trouble. Kind of a weirdo.”

Charlie’s eyes sparkled. “Ooooh, sounds like someone’s smitten!”

Vaggie snorted. “Weirdo troublemaker? Sounds like someone I know,” she muttered, glancing sideways at Charlie, who giggled unapologetically.

Amity’s cheeks flushed pink. “That’s not—I mean...maybe.” Her fingers curled tighter. “She’s...different. Not just because she’s a human. She’s...good. She’s so good it’s annoying sometimes.”

Charlie leaned in, resting her elbows on her knees, her chin cupped in her hands. “Good how?”

Amity glanced away. “She helps people. Even when it’s dangerous...or when she probably shouldn’t.  She also can be stupid.” She paused, her hands falling still. “She helped me. Even after I was...awful to her.  I even tried to crush her once with an abomination.”

"What do you mean by that?"  Asked Vaggie with a raised eyebrow.

"Where I come from, abominations are these purple slimey beings that people like me can summon at will."  The 14-year-old explained.

Charlie’s expression softened, her smile turning gentle. “Sometimes good people do that, y’know? Help even when it’s not deserved.”

Amity swallowed hard, her eyes stinging. “I know. That’s what makes it...hard. I don’t get it. She shouldn’t have forgiven me, but she did. And now we’re...friends.”

“Friends.” Vaggie’s voice was dry, skeptical. “Uh-huh.”

Amity shot her a glare. “We are! Mostly...” Her voice softened. “I don’t want to mess that up.”

Charlie tilted her head, her eyes searching Amity’s face. “But...you want more than just friends, don’t you?”

Amity flinched, her fingers digging into the plush armrest. Her mind flashed back to the countless times she’d caught herself staring a little too long at Luz’s bright smile, or the way her eyes lit up when she was learning something new. The way her hand felt when it grabbed Amity’s, dragging her along on whatever wild idea she’d cooked up.

“I—I don’t know.” Amity’s voice cracked, and she hated how vulnerable she sounded. “I think about her...a lot.”

Charlie’s grin widened, her hands clapping together. “Oh, sweetie, you so know!” She leaned back with a triumphant smile, practically vibrating with excitement. “That is classic crush behavior! Textbook!”

Vaggie rolled her eye. “You’ve been reading way too many rom-coms, hon.”

Charlie gasped. “And you haven’t been reading enough!” She turned back to Amity. “So what’s stopping you?”

Amity’s eyes went wide. “What do you mean, what’s stopping me?! I—there’s...so many reasons!” She started counting on her fingers. “My parents, her being human, the fact that I already made things awkward once—I’m lucky we’re even friends now!”

Charlie shrugged, a mischievous smile on her lips. “And yet, you’re still thinking about her. Even now. Even here.”

Vaggie uncrossed her arms, pushing off from the wall. “I get the whole ‘risking friendship’ thing,” she admitted, her tone softer, almost grudgingly. “But if you’re stuck here for however long, maybe you ought to figure out what you really want.”

Amity frowned. “But...what if I ruin it? What if I tell her and she hates me?” Her voice dropped, barely a whisper. “I’d lose her. I don’t want to lose her.”

Charlie leaned forward, her expression sincere. “Sometimes...you’ve gotta take the risk. Better to know than to keep wondering, right?”

Amity stared down at her hands, her mind racing. The idea of confessing was terrifying. But the idea of never knowing if Luz felt the same way...that felt worse.

Charlie smiled warmly. “And hey, worst case? You can always come back here, and we’ll figure it out together.”

Vaggie groaned, nudging Charlie. “That’s not exactly encouraging, hon.”

Charlie giggled, unabashed. “Well, I’m just saying! We’re all about redemption and growth here, right?”

Amity blinked up at her, the words sinking in. Growth. Change. Being brave enough to take a risk. Luz had done that. Over and over. She’d leapt into the unknown without hesitation. Why couldn’t Amity?

A small smile tugged at Amity’s lips. “Maybe...maybe I could tell her. Someday.”

Charlie clapped her hands. “That’s the spirit!”

Vaggie raised an eyebrow. “Well, it’s not like you’re short on time right now.” She paused, glancing at Amity. “We still gotta figure out how you even got here. Hooty, right? Giant owl thing?”

Amity nodded. “Yeah. He just...swallowed me. Next thing I knew, I was here.”

Vaggie rubbed her chin. “Weird. Even for Hell.”

Charlie jumped up suddenly. “I know! How about I make you a room? If you’re gonna be here for a bit, you might as well be comfortable.”

Amity blinked. “You can just...do that?”

Charlie beamed. “Of course! I run the place!”

Before Amity could respond, Charlie grabbed her by the hand and practically dragged her up the winding staircase, leaving Vaggie to follow behind, shaking her head. “You really think she’s dead?” Vaggie asked, her voice low.

Charlie glanced back, her eyes shining. “I think she’s something...different. But we’ll figure it out.”

Vaggie crossed her arms. “We’d better. I’m not running a daycare.”

Charlie just laughed, pulling Amity around a corner and down a long hallway filled with mismatched doors. “Okay! Now, what color do you like? Purple? Green? Something spooky? Ooh, maybe we can even get some of those abomination things you were talking about!”

Amity blinked, a bit overwhelmed. “Uh...purple’s fine.”

Charlie grinned and flung open one of the doors. “Ta-da! Home sweet home...for now!”

Amity stepped inside, and despite everything—the chaos, the confusion, the fact that she was apparently in Hell—she couldn’t help but smile. The room was perfect.

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

Amity awoke with a jolt.

Her hands were pressed against something hard and crumbly.....concrete? Her eyes flickered open, and she found herself back in the Hazbin Hotel’s hallway, the dim lights flickering above her. She blinked, trying to clear the haze from her vision. How long had she been out?

“Ugh...what happened?” she murmured, sitting up and rubbing her temples. Charlie and Vaggie were nowhere in sight. Had she blacked out? Everything felt...wobbly, as if she were caught in the middle of a dream just on the edge of waking.

She staggered to her feet, leaning against the wall for support. The neon lights of the Hazbin Hotel flickered and buzzed, their hum growing louder, almost like...like whispers.

“Get ready, kid,” came Vaggie’s voice from somewhere far away, echoing in her head. “You’re not staying here forever.”

Amity's heart skipped. “What? What does that mean?” she shouted back, but her voice sounded hollow, bouncing back at her with no response. Her eyes darted around the hall, but it seemed to stretch infinitely, fading into darkness.

She stumbled forward, each step feeling heavier than the last. It was like walking through syrup, her limbs sluggish and unresponsive. The lights above grew brighter and brighter, the buzzing louder and louder. She winced, covering her ears. “What’s happening? Charlie? Vaggie?!”

And then—

Snap.

Amity gasped, her eyes flying open to bright light. The scent of dust and old wood filled her nose, and she was on her back, sprawled out on the cold stone of a basement floor. She blinked rapidly, struggling to understand where she was.  The purple haired 14-year-old realized she was trapped in a mixture of feathers and offal that entombed her as if she were in a cocoon.

Before she could even attempt to sit up, she heard footsteps that were light, quick, and unmistakably familiar. A ball of light bobbed through the shadows, casting long streaks of brightness against the walls that seemed to partly penetrate whatever had imprisoned her.

“Amity?”

Amity’s heart lurched. That voice is Luz.  She thought.

The Dominican girl approached with a glowing ball of light, squinting at a shadow she thought resembled Amity. Upon closer inspection, it was just a lamp. Her eyes drifted down to the floor, to a large, dust-covered owl pellet sitting in front of it.

Luz chuckled nervously, brushing her hair back. “Oh yeah, that’s silly. Why would Amity be in our—”

The pellet twitched. A muffled noise came from within, the layers of compacted feathers and bone cracking and crumbling. Luz’s eyes went wide. “Uh...what?”

The pellet burst open with a loud pop, and Amity collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air. Her hair was tousled, and her clothes were dusted with chalky remnants of feathers and half-digested remains.

“Amity!” Luz shouted, her face a portrait of shock and horror. She rushed over, dropping to her knees. “Are you okay?! What—how—”

Amity, still catching her breath, looked up at her with wide eyes. “Luz? Where are we?” She rubbed her head, wincing. “I...I think Hooty brought me here?” Her mind was a mess.  Hazbin Hotel, Hell, Charlie, Vaggie...had she just imagined all that? But it felt so real.

Luz helped her up, blushing and with eyes still wild with disbelief. “Uh, well, this is our basement. I am so sorry about this.” She brushed off Amity’s shoulders. “Hooty's been acting weird all day.”

“Yeah, heh...house demons get like that after a couple thousand years.” Amity tried to laugh it off, brushing some feathers off her jacket. But her eyes lingered on Luz’s face, her hand still warm from the touch. The words that Charlie had said echoed in her mind. Sometimes...you’ve gotta take the risk.

A blush crept up Amity’s cheeks. “Listen...about what happened at my place. I kinda...if we could just forget about the whole thing? Maybe? I...I don’t want things to be weird.”

Luz gave her a smile, so genuine, so earnest. “Hey! All I care about is getting you out of our dirty weird basement.”

Amity’s heart leapt. She smiled back, and for the first time, it didn’t feel forced. Maybe...maybe she’d tell her. Someday.

But right now? Right now, she was just happy to be alive.

Chapter Text

Luz Noceda lay sprawled on her sleeping bag, tangled in a mess of blankets that were now more sweat-soaked than comforting. Her head throbbed with fever, and tiny mushrooms had started to sprout from her hairline, popping off and tumbling onto her pillow every time she shifted. Her breathing was labored, rattling with each exhale, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Everything felt heavy, like she was sinking into the mattress.

The world swam in and out of focus, her eyes occasionally catching on the flickering shadows that danced along her walls. King had stacked stuffed animals around her bed, their button eyes staring blankly ahead. She tried to giggle at the ridiculousness of it, but it came out as a groan.

"Ugh...I feel like I got trampled by a hundred abominations," she muttered, barely able to hear her own voice.

There was a muffled sound of laughter downstairs; Hooty, Gus, and Willow experimenting with the "human realm music" they had found: train whistles in a thunderstorm and opera screaming. The music thumped up through the floorboards, distorted and warbling, like it was underwater. Luz turned her head, squinting at her door. She thought she saw it move, even if just a crack.

“Amity?” she called out, her voice barely a whisper. No response.

Her eyes drifted shut, then popped back open. The light in her room seemed to pulse, growing brighter and darker in time with her heartbeat. She reached up and brushed her forehead, fingers brushing against a few stubborn bits of fungal growth. “Gross…” she mumbled, swiping them away.

But they came back. Every time she blinked, there seemed to be more mushrooms of all kinds, sprouting from her head, the walls, even the ceiling. She tried to sit up, but the weight of her body pressed her down.

"Okay...that’s new," she mumbled, her eyes half-lidded. Her breathing slowed, her body sinking deeper into the mattress. The room began to fade, the colors bleeding into one another. Her eyes fluttered, just for a moment...

And she slipped away.

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

The first thing she noticed was the heat. Thick, heavy, like she was trapped inside a furnace. Luz’s eyes snapped open, and she staggered back, nearly tripping over the uneven cobblestone beneath her feet. She spun around, blinking wildly as the world came into focus.

It was…red. Everything was red. The sky crackled with dark clouds that flickered with crimson lightning, stretching far and wide over jagged buildings that jutted from the ground like broken shards of glass. Fire danced along the tops of windowsills and spluttered from cracks in the street. Neon signs flashed words she couldn’t recognize as most of them looked like tangled, twisted symbols, with only the occasional word in legible script: Hazbin Hotel – All Sinners Welcome!

“W-What?” Luz stammered, her hand going to her head, half-expecting to feel more mushrooms. But her hair was clear: no fungus, no mold, nothing. She blinked rapidly, rubbing her eyes. “Okay...I’ve definitely hit a new level of fever dream.”

There was a giggle behind her, high-pitched and oddly cheery. Luz whipped around, nearly losing her balance on the slick stone. A figure stood just a few feet away, tall and elegant with blonde waves that framed her face. She wore a red business suit, complete with a black bowtie and shoes that looked too clean for this place. Her eyes glowed a bright red, shaped like little hearts that almost seemed to shimmer.

“Hi there!” the woman chirped, giving her a little wave. “Welcome to Hell!”

Luz blinked, mouth opening and closing like a fish. “I...what?”

“Oh, you must be new!” The woman practically bounced forward, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement. “I’m Charlie! And you are?”

Luz stared at her, the name slowly filtering through her haze of confusion. Charlie...Hell...the red sky... She looked around again, eyes wide. “Is this...like...actual Hell?”

Charlie clasped her hands together, nodding enthusiastically. “Yup! The one and only! And you’ve arrived at the Hazbin Hotel! We try to give souls a second chance!”

“A second...?” Luz’s stomach dropped. “Wait. No, I’m not—this isn’t—I didn’t die! I was just...I was just sick!” She waved her hands in front of her, as if swatting away the very idea. “This is just...a weird hallucination from the mold! I’m probably just drooling on King’s stuffed animals right now. This isn’t real!”

Charlie tilted her head, blinking curiously. “You...don’t think you’re dead?”

“Nope!” Luz declared, a little too loudly, her voice echoing off the jagged buildings. “Definitely not dead. Just...having a mold-induced fever dream. You’re not real, this place isn’t real, I’m just gonna...wake up any second now.” She pinched her arm. Hard. “Ouch!”

Charlie giggled, her eyes sparkling. “That’s adorable! You’ve got spunk! Most people don’t come in with that much enthusiasm!”

Luz flinched, rubbing her arm. “Well...thanks?” Her eyes darted around. “Okay, let’s think logically. If this is Hell, that means I...uh...accidentally died? Maybe? But I don’t remember any of that.”

“That’s not unheard of!” Charlie said brightly. “Some people end up here in...unique ways.” She paused, her eyes scanning Luz curiously. “You definitely don’t look like the usual sort. Not many come in with that much...sunshine.”

Luz blinked. “Sunshine?”

Charlie nodded. “Yeah! You’re, like...brimming with it! Positivity! Hope! Kind of a weird vibe for Hell, but I dig it!” She gestured grandly to the neon-lit streets. “And hey! Welcome anyway! Want a tour? I promise we won’t bite.”

Luz hesitated, her eyes scanning the fiery skyline. “I mean...a tour couldn’t hurt, right?” Her mind was still racing. Where's King? What about Eda? Or Amity?  Were they even aware that she died? Was she dreaming or...or something else?

But a part of her, the curious part, the part that dragged her into portals and magic worlds and dangerous adventures, was already inching forward.

Charlie clapped her hands together, beaming. “Perfect! Come on! I’ll introduce you to Vaggie. She’ll be thrilled!”

The Dominican girl tried to match her pace, nearly tripping over her own feet as Charlie grabbed her hand and pulled her along. “Vaggie?”

“My girlfriend! And manager of the hotel!” Charlie chimed. “She’s gonna love you!”

Luz barely had time to process that before she was being pulled through the massive iron gates of the Hazbin Hotel, its neon lights buzzing and crackling above her.

The last thought she had before stepping inside was: I really hope I’m just dreaming.

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

The 14-year-old's eyes went wide as the interior of the Hazbin Hotel unfolded before her. If the outside had been jagged and chaotic, the inside was...surprisingly elegant. Polished red carpets stretched out beneath her feet, lined with gold embroidery that shimmered faintly, as if the thread was enchanted. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, each one glittering with black and crimson crystals that refracted light in strange, almost hypnotic patterns.

Charlie skipped ahead of her, heels clicking against the polished floor. She spread her arms wide, twirling around with the grace of someone who had done it a thousand times before. “Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel! We pride ourselves on second chances and...well, a little fun!”

Luz rubbed her eyes, still half-expecting to blink and find herself back in the Owl House with King snoring on her chest and Eda snarking about her moldy hair and Amity by her side. But the hotel remained stubbornly real. “So, you really run this place?” she asked, jogging to catch up.

Charlie turned on her heel, hands on her hips. “Sure do! I’m the owner! And Vaggie helps me manage it. She’s kind of the practical one.” Charlie leaned in conspiratorially, whispering behind her hand. “Which is code for ‘she tries to make sure I don't mess up.’”

Luz couldn’t help but chuckle. “I get it. I’ve got my own...uh, practical friend too.” Her mind drifted briefly to Amity, and her smile softened. She shook her head quickly, shoving the thought aside. Focus, Luz. You’re...in Hell, apparently.

“Speaking of Vaggie!” Charlie chirped, spinning back around and waving excitedly. “Vaggie! Come meet our new guest!”

Luz followed her gaze and spotted a figure near the end of the lobby, leaning against a grand marble column. She was shorter than Charlie, with long white hair and a jagged red "X" over one eye. Her outfit was sharp—red and black with a touch of formality—and her expression was the complete opposite of Charlie’s: skeptical and slightly irritated.

Vaggie’s arms were crossed, and she raised an eyebrow as Luz approached. “Another one? That’s two this week. What’s going on, hon?”

Charlie giggled nervously. “Oh, I’m sure it’s just a coincidence! Besides, look at her!” She gestured dramatically to Luz. “She’s practically glowing! Isn’t she cute?”

Vaggie’s eyebrow only rose higher. “Cute? This isn’t a daycare, hon.” She turned her gaze to Luz, her expression unchanging. “Name?”

Luz straightened up, sticking out her hand. “Luz Noceda! I, uh...I’m kind of new here. I think.”

Vaggie glanced at the outstretched hand, then back at Luz’s face, and after a painfully long pause, she reached out and shook it. Her grip was firm, surprisingly strong for her size. “Vaggie.” She released her hand, stepping back. “And you...don’t look dead.”

Luz huffed, throwing her hands in the air. “That’s what I keep saying! I’m just...really, really sick! Like, mold-on-my-head sick.” She pointed to her hair for emphasis.

Vaggie’s gaze lingered there, and she snorted. “Hell mold? Cute.”

Luz blinked. “Hell mold? No, I got it from the Boiling Isles. It’s a place with...uh...witches and demons and stuff.”

Charlie’s eyes lit up. “Witches and demons? I love witches!” She practically bounced on her heels. “Are you one? A witch, I mean?”

Luz scratched her head sheepishly. “Kind of? I’m learning. But I’m human, so it’s more like...glyphs and stuff. I just kinda...make it up as I go.”

Charlie clasped her hands together. “That’s so cool!” She grabbed Luz’s hands suddenly, her eyes sparkling. “You have to show me sometime! I bet Vaggie would love it!”

Vaggie rolled her eye. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, hon. We don’t even know how she got here yet.” She fixed Luz with a steady stare. “So, you said you were just...sick? Nothing else?”

Luz hesitated, her eyes drifting to the floor. “Well...I remember lying down. I wasn’t feeling good. And then I saw mushrooms. Like...a lot of mushrooms.” She shivered, running her hands through her hair as if expecting to feel spores there. “And now I’m...here?”

Vaggie tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Weird. But not the weirdest thing we’ve seen.” She turned back to Charlie. “You want to give her the tour or just...get her settled in?”

Charlie gasped. “Tour, of course! C’mon, Luz! You’ve gotta see the ballroom, it’s haunted! In the fun way!”

Luz blinked. “Haunted? That’s...uh, normal here?”

Charlie just giggled. “You’d be surprised! C’mon!” She hooked her arm through Luz’s and started marching her down the hallway, leaving Vaggie shaking her head behind them.

As they walked, Luz couldn’t help but marvel at the decor. The walls were lined with portraits, some of which moved, their eyes flickering to follow her as she passed. Grand staircases twisted up to unseen floors, and chandeliers swung gently despite there being no breeze.  There was also a lingering sense of someone or something watching the pair, and a sound of static going off irritated the Dominican girl's ear, as if it were coming from a malfunctioning radio.

“Does it...always look like this?” Luz asked, her eyes catching on a painting of what looked like a skeleton sipping tea. It waved.

Charlie nodded proudly. “Yup! I designed it myself! Vaggie added some safety precautions, but we like to keep things...interesting.”

Luz smirked. “Yeah, I get that. My place is...kinda the same.” Her expression softened a bit, her mind drifting back to the Owl House. King. Eda. Amity. Hooty... Her heart ached. Were they looking for her? Did they know?

Charlie noticed the shift in her expression and gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “Hey...we’re gonna figure this out, okay? If you’re not meant to be here, we’ll get you back.”

Luz looked up, surprised at the sincerity in Charlie’s eyes. “You’d do that?”

Charlie beamed. “Of course! Helping people is kinda my thing!”

Luz felt a warmth spread through her chest. “Thanks, Charlie.”

Charlie’s smile grew impossibly wider. “Anytime! Now come on...you’ve gotta meet Niffty. She’ll want to clean your soul or something.”

Luz blinked. “What?”

Charlie just giggled, leading her further down a winding hallway, her heels clicking rhythmically against the polished floor. They passed by what seemed to be an old-fashioned dining hall where a tiny, manic, cycloptian demon in a maid's outfit was zipping around, scrubbing windows at breakneck speed. "That's Niffty! She’s...well, you don’t want to leave crumbs lying around. She’ll find them."

Luz blinked as the cockroach demon zipped by, muttering something about “dirty souls” and “grime everywhere!” before vanishing down another corridor. “Uh...noted,” she replied, watching the streak of dust left in the demon's wake.

Charlie just giggled. “She’s harmless! Mostly.” She led Luz around a corner and pushed open a set of double doors with a flourish. “And here we are! The common room!”

The space was massive, stretching out with plush red couches, towering bookshelves filled with dusty tomes, and a fireplace that crackled with violet flames. Luz took a cautious step forward, eyes wide. “Whoa...this is kinda nice,” she admitted.

“Right?” Charlie beamed. “We try to make it feel...comfortable.”

Vaggie was already inside, sitting on one of the couches with her arms crossed. She raised an eyebrow as they entered. “I see she survived the tour.”

Luz chuckled. “Barely. I heard weird sounds, like from an old timey radio.”

Charlie waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, that’s just Alastor! He’s harmless too. A real gentleman.”

Vaggie patted the seat next to her. “Sit. You look like you’ve got questions.”

Luz hesitated, then made her way over, plopping down beside Vaggie, who seemed far less intimidating when she wasn’t glaring daggers. “So...this is just a regular thing for you guys? Helping...souls?”

Charlie nodded, hopping onto the armrest beside Vaggie. “Yup! It’s kind of our mission. Helping people find redemption, even if it’s a little...messy sometimes.”

Vaggie smirked. “Usually a lot messy.”

Luz leaned back, sinking into the plush cushions. Her eyes drifted to the violet flames, watching the way they crackled and twisted. “That’s...kinda cool.” Her voice grew softer. “I didn’t know Hell had second chances.”

Vaggie’s gaze softened just a bit. “It didn’t. Not until Charlie.”

Luz looked up at Charlie, her expression curious. “You just...decided to make it happen?”

Charlie clasped her hands together, eyes shimmering. “Well, someone had to try, right? Just because you end up here doesn’t mean you can’t change. Doesn’t mean you’re...doomed.” Her voice wavered, but she pushed through it. “Sometimes people just need a little help.”

Luz stared at her for a moment, processing that. A place like Hell...with redemption? It seemed impossible. But then again, she never thought she’d be learning magic in another realm either.

Vaggie’s voice cut through her thoughts. “So, Luz.”

Luz snapped to attention. “Yeah?”

“What were you doing before you ended up here? I mean, you’re just a kid, right?”

Luz scratched her cheek. “I’m 14. But...yeah, I guess I am.” She leaned back, her fingers knotting together. “I was just...sick. It’s this thing called ‘Common Mold.’ I got it from the Boiling Isles. It’s basically a magic cold, but with mushrooms.”

Charlie gasped. “Mushrooms? On you?”

Luz grimaced. “Yup. Sprouting out of my hair and everything. It was...pretty gross.”

Vaggie raised an eyebrow. “So you...died from a fungus?”

Luz hesitated. “I...don’t think so? I didn’t even know I died. I just...I was lying down, and then I was here.” Her eyes dropped to the floor. “It’s weird.”

Charlie tilted her head. “Do you remember anything? Like...any last thoughts?”

Luz bit her lip. Her fingers clenched and unclenched. “Well...I was thinking about...someone.” Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away.

Vaggie’s eyebrow arched higher. “Someone, huh?”

Charlie gasped, clapping her hands. “Ohhhh! It’s a crush, isn’t it?”

Luz flailed her hands defensively. “What?! No! I mean...yes...I mean...ugh.” She buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled. “Maybe...”

Vaggie chuckled, a rare, genuine sound. “I knew it. So, who’s the lucky someone?”

Luz peeked out from behind her hands, cheeks still crimson. “Her name’s Amity.” Her voice softened, almost reverent. “She’s...kinda amazing. Smart, strong, a little scary sometimes...but in a cool way.” She smiled shyly. “She’s my girlfriend.”

Charlie let out a squeal that could’ve shattered glass. “That’s adorable!”

Vaggie’s smirk grew wider. “I knew you had it in you, kid.”

Luz blinked. “Wait...what do you mean?”

Vaggie's eye widened but she leaned back, her arms stretching across the back of the couch. “I could tell from the moment you walked in. You’ve got that...fire. That determination. I see it all the time in Charlie. You fight for what you want.”  Shouldn't let her know that purple haired girl was also here.

Luz’s eyes widened, a flicker of pride sparking in her chest. “You think so?”

Vaggie shrugged. “Hell, you ended up here and you’re not even scared. That’s...kinda nuts.”

Charlie beamed, leaning forward. “So...Amity, huh? Tell us about her!”

Luz smiled shyly, her hands resting on her lap. “She’s...incredible. Like...way out of my league incredible.” She laughed, a little embarrassed. “But somehow, she likes me. I don’t know how I got so lucky.”

Vaggie’s expression softened. “Sometimes it’s not about luck. Sometimes it’s just...right.”

Luz glanced over at her, a little surprised by the sincerity. “You...sound like you know.”

Vaggie’s gaze flickered to Charlie, who was too busy grinning like she’d just won the lottery. “Yeah...I guess I do.”

Luz opened her mouth to ask more, but before she could, Charlie jumped up. “Alright! Enough of the sappy stuff! How about I get you some tea?” She waggled her eyebrows. “Promise it’s only a little cursed.”

Luz laughed. “Sure, why not?”

Charlie bounced away, leaving Vaggie and Luz alone on the couch. For a moment, the only sound was the crackling of violet flames. Then Vaggie spoke.

“Dominican, right?”

Luz blinked, turning to her. “Uh...yeah! How’d you know?”

Vaggie smirked, tapping her temple. “I’ve got an eye for these things.” She leaned back. “Salvadoreña, myself.”

Luz’s eyes widened. “No way!”

Vaggie chuckled. “Small realms, huh?”

Luz grinned. For the first time since she’d arrived, the place didn’t seem quite as scary.

~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~0~

Luz leaned back on the plush, overstuffed couch, a steaming cup of tea cradled in her hands. The faintest trace of smoke curled from its surface, glittering with flecks of what she hoped wasn’t brimstone. Charlie had insisted it was just “a little enchanted,” and after watching it shimmer and flicker, Luz wasn’t entirely sure that was comforting.

Vaggie sat across from her, legs crossed and eyes sharp, but there was a softness there now—a glimmer of understanding that hadn’t been there before. “So, you think you just...fainted? Or something?”

Luz rubbed the back of her neck. “I mean...I guess? One minute I was in bed feeling like I got trampled by a grudgby team, and now I’m...here.”

Charlie popped up from behind the couch, her eyes sparkling. “But maybe it wasn’t a faint! Maybe it was like...a magical slip! A cosmic ‘whoopsie-daisy’!” She mimed falling, flapping her arms dramatically.

Luz chuckled. “A ‘whoopsie-daisy’? Is that...normal here?”

Vaggie snorted. “Define ‘normal.’”

Luz took a sip of the tea, warmth spreading through her chest. “Still...it’s kind of nice. You know, for Hell.” Her voice grew softer, her eyes drifting down to her cup. “I didn’t think...I mean, I was just lying there and I thought...I thought I might not wake up.”

Charlie’s smile softened. She settled onto the arm of the chair, patting Luz gently on the back. “But you did! You’re here!”

Luz looked up, her eyes glimmering with emotion. “Yeah. I am.”

The violet flames in the fireplace flickered wildly, casting long, twisting shadows across the walls. Vaggie’s eyes narrowed. “Charlie...you feel that?”

Charlie’s smile slipped. “Yeah. I do.” She turned back to Luz, her eyes bright but gentle. “I think...your time here is about to run out, Luz.”

Luz blinked. “Wait, what? But I didn’t even get to say goodbye! Or...or figure out what’s going on!”

Vaggie shrugged. “Hey, you’re probably just waking up. If you’re not dead, you’ve got a body to get back to.”

Charlie leaned forward, taking Luz’s hands in hers. “When you wake up...don’t forget what we talked about, okay? You have so much light in you, Luz. Don’t waste it.”

Luz swallowed hard, squeezing Charlie’s hands back. “I...I won’t.”

The walls began to blur, the colors running together like wet paint on a canvas. Vaggie gave her a nod, something almost like respect in her eyes. “Tell that girlfriend of yours how you feel. Life’s too short, even for witches.”

Luz managed a smile, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. “I will.”

Charlie beamed. “And come visit if you...uh...accidentally die again?”

Luz laughed, the sound echoing strangely in her ears. Her vision was going white, the room dissolving. “I’ll try not to!”

Charlie’s voice was the last thing she heard, echoing warmly in her mind. “Be brave, Luz!”

And then....

Snap.

Luz snorted loudly, jerking awake. She sat up, a pillow tumbling off her head, revealing several mushrooms still clinging stubbornly to her hair. She blinked, touching her face. “I feel great!” she said, her voice full of disbelief. She patted her cheeks, laughing. “I...I’m back!”

Her fingers ran over the mushrooms, still bobbing slightly as if they were just happy to be there. “I wonder if this is permanent...” She giggled, shaking her head. “I gotta find everyone!”

Luz charged out of her room, mushrooms scattering with each hurried step. She barreled down the hallway, nearly crashing into Willow, who was balancing a bowl of soup. Willow gasped, the bowl flying from her hands.

Hooty stretched out from the ceiling, catching it neatly. “Safe!”  Though the soup burned his body. Steam wafted up from him, and Gus cringed. Luz stopped short, looking around. “Have the others returned?”

They ran to the living room, where King and Amity were struggling to pull Eda—now fully in harpy mode—through the front door. Owlbert was perched on Ghost’s head, who strutted around like it was the most normal thing in the world.

“Ow, ow, ow! Just get an elixir. I got into harpy mode and now I can’t get out,” Eda grumbled, her wings flapping irritably.

King, still tugging on Eda’s leg, glanced back at the kids. “She also ate, like, nine voles on the way home.”

Eda snorted. “Hey, I had to keep up my end of the bargain.”

Luz couldn’t help but laugh. She rushed forward, ignoring the scattered mushrooms still clinging to her hair. They finally pulled Eda inside with a grunt, collapsing in a heap on the floor.

“Oof!” King squeaked.

Amity rubbed her head, groaning. “Ugh...”

Luz’s eyes lit up. “Amity!” She didn’t even hesitate. She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend, pulling her into a tight hug. “I’m so glad my awesome girlfriend is okay.”

Amity blinked in surprise, her cheeks flushing bright pink. “Y-Yeah...me too.” But her arms wrapped around Luz just as tightly.

Luz buried her face in Amity’s shoulder, her mind buzzing with warmth and clarity. She thought of Charlie’s smile, Vaggie’s blunt honesty, the feeling of knowing she had a second chance. Be brave, Charlie had said.

Maybe...maybe she would.