The figure stops in her tracks. There is a pregnant pause. You can hear the clinking of metal armor as the guards posted around the room shift awkwardly. Your heart races as you worry that you have fucked up somehow.
Suddenly, the figure laughs.
"An astute observation," she cackles, throwing her head back in laughter.
You aren't sure how to react. You stand there, wondering where in life you went wrong.
The woman wipes the corners of her eyes, "Yes, I am human. Is that really so strange to you? What were you expecting?"
"Well, I dunno, some sort of demon I guess?"
The woman sighs, "Are not humans truly the most depraved, evil and sadistic of all creatures in this world, or the previous?"
You aren't sure what to say. You have a feeling she has a point, but at the same time her line reads like something she took from a cheesy poem somewhere. You decide to stay silent, since it was a rhetorical question.
"Anyway," she continues, "I guess I should formally introduce myself. As you already figured out, my name is Lucille Baal. I'm the Lord Satan of Hell, the ruler around here."
You aren't sure if you're supposed to bow or kneel or whatever. So you just extend your hand towards her.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Anon…of House Roivas." You suddenly feel self conscious about extending your hand. You hope you haven't committed some sort of faux peas.
The Satan smiles and clasps both her hands around yours. She doesn't shake it, but instead grips it firmly. You feel the warm of her hands seep into you as she smiles, instantly putting you at ease.
"Well met, Anon. Thank you for answering my summons. I'm sure you're wondering why I called you here. I know all of this must be very strange for you. You haven't been here very long. Let me start off by asking, how have you my gifts served you?"
She points to the amulet on your chest.
"Gifts? This was from you?"
She smiles and nods, "Absolutely. The notebook as well. I figured you would need them. And I have a few more questions for you. Have you figured out what the amulet means by 'corruption level'?"
You raise your eyebrow, it seems like a simple question, "It means how much have I come to accept the pleasure and excess present here, compared to my old life? It represents how much of my humanity I've lost?"
She smiles again, "You're very close. True, almost every human that comes here eventually succumbs to the pleasures to be found here. They lose themselves and throw away their humanity in the process. They don't all have fancy amulets like you, however."
She begins to pace around you, getting closer than you would normally be comfortable with. She is wearing black dress with a slit up the side. She is quite attractive, but in a "cool beauty" sort of way. Her blue eyes pierce you as she paces around, judging your every move. She appears docile and sweet, but there is cold, calculating intelligence behind those eyes.
"Let me ask you this," she says, "Have you ever wondered why this place is so small?"
"Huh?"
"This place, Hell, I mean. If it's really the afterlife you've always heard of, why isn't this place packed with billions of people?"
You stay silent. You figure this woman really likes her rhetorical questions.
"There's another reason humans are so prized in this society, and it isn't just because of their energy recycling capabilities. "
"What do you mean?" you ask.
She puts one hand on her hips, smiling at you as she wags her finger.