Hell's Pawn Read Free Page A

read intention. I t’s not like you meant to stop the robber.”
    J ohn held up his hands defensively. “Don’t blame me. I don’t even know why I would need points. You can have mine if they mean so much to you.”
    “I t isn’t worth the paperwork.” Dante stalked to the end of the alley and held up the money bag. “This one is all mine, got it? Sayonara!”
    “Wait! I don’t know where I’m supposed to go or what I’m doing here.”
    “Read your file!” Dante shouted as he disappeared around the corner.
    “But I don’t have it anymore!” John yelled after him. Silence was the only response.
    “Reset complete. Returning for reassignment.”
    The P rop righted itself, rising from the ground like a puppet on invisible strings. I t oriented by spinning in a slow circle before zooming away and leaving J ohn alone in a barren alley somewhere in the afterlife.

Chapter Two
    S trolling the city streets, this time without being spurred on by panic, J ohn noticed a number of details that he hadn’t before. The sky, for instance. Not a cloud was in it, nor any sign of sun or gradation of light. The heavens were a uniform gray from horizon to horizon. As for the ground, no plants, trees, or even a single weed were to be found.
    Perhaps vegetation didn’t have a soul and thus couldn’t be here.
    W hat cities lacked in natural beauty was often balanced out with unique architecture, but the buildings here were as drab as cardboard boxes. J ohn saw no parks, fountains, sculpture or other forms of art. J ust square tomb-shaped buildings and the streets that separated them.
    The inhabitants of the city were a stark contrast to their monotone surroundings.
    Walking the streets were people of all colors, wearing every conceivable style of dress.
    The differing fashions between nationalities provided enough variety, but wasn’t the limit. O n the busy sidewalk E dwardian frock coats brushed against primitive pelts, delicate kimonos stepped out of the way of suits of armor, while grungy jeans and T-shirts walked next to regal Parisian dresses.
    M ore than once J ohn stopped to stare at the unintended costume party on parade.
    He suspected that people weren’t wearing what they had died in, but what had been fashionable at the time. M ost people died in bed, after all, and not while fully dressed.
    He didn’t see anyone in underwear, pajamas, or the buff, which implied a change of clothes was possible after death. As an experiment, J ohn took off his suit jacket and tossed it over one shoulder for a bit before putting it back on again. That he could do so proved it wasn’t part of his soul, but left him clueless as to what it was made of.
    I f there was a place to buy new clothing, J ohn hadn’t discovered it. The shops were only for show. They had display windows, prices, and even store names, but never an actual door. Almost every building on the street seemed to have been built that way, apartments included. M uch like a Hollywood set, nothing was behind the decorative facades. The city was a hollow shell.
    R estaurants and cafes were the exception, seating and serving customers, but most diners didn’t seem the least bit interested in their food. Dead or not, J ohn had always appreciated a good meal. E ven if sustenance wasn’t required anymore, he still desired the pleasure of a rich cake or a good fat steak. His senses, from what he could tell so far, hadn’t been affected by being bodiless. J ohn considered stopping to eat, but didn’t have any currency.
    The financial question was just one among many. O nly so much could be learned from wandering aimlessly. J ohn was forced to admit that he would probably have all the answers he needed if he hadn’t broken away from his group. W hat had Dante said? S omething about acclimatization dorms? He had also said that his file could help him understand what to do. To get his file, J ohn would have to return to where he had last seen it, which would mean turning