Spike stood there, nervously, he’d never been particularly religious but to learn that it was real… it’s a shame he found out this way…

“Alright, I will aid you in some ways to make sure this goes off without a hitch,” Verak said.

“You will?” Spike asked.

“Don’t mistake anything, I expect you to die quickly, so I simply want to see how far you can get with extra tries and various abilities, watching this will be the most fun I’ve had in eons,” Verak chuckled before lighting a cigar in preparation for the coming events.

“Why am I not surprised,” Spike sighed knowing there was no kindness in this man/demon.

“Now look, you’ll be given the power to teleport out of various situations in which you're about to die, but not every time,” He said.

“Why not every time!?” Spike asked.

“Where is the motivation without a little danger?” Verak chuckled “And if you die in the process it's no skin off my nose, I’ll just pick up where you left off, I’ll call this situation a mini vacation, the first one I’ve had in ages,” He snorted.

“...Ok,” Spike sighed knowing he risks lowering his chances by picking a fight with this guy.

“One more thing, don’t expect them to just hand it over, they will undoubtedly try to kill you to buy themselves more time, if they don’t hand it over then take it by force, how you do it, I don’t care, just collect soul shards until its location reveals itself,” Verak said.

“Soul-”

“Fragmented human souls, I won’t give anymore explanation, the time is ticking as we speak,” Verak said.

“Ok, ok, where do I go first?” Spike asked.

“Out the door, I have a portal set up to send you to the first location, a place called the Smiling Burger, a quaint restaurant in the circle of gluttony,” Verak said.

“Hell has restaurants?” Spike asked.

“The things you don’t know about hell could fill several oceans, go,” Verak waved him off.

“Ok,” Spike said as he entered the portal.

“Heheheh… he’s gonna be torn to shreds, I better put on popcorn,” Verak laughed.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Nice to eat you

--------------------------------------------------------------

Spike exited and found himself in a small hallway that led towards an area full of chairs and tables and a counter with a figure working on something, he couldn’t quite see what he looked like.

“Uuuuhh…” Spike was too scared to move, not knowing where he was.

“Move along mortal,” Verak’s voice said in his head.

“HUH?!” Spike looked around.

“Don’t look so surprised, I’m watching you,” Verak said.

“O-ok,” Spike said knowing he had to get moving or the two days would be up, so he made his way up to a greeter counter where another figure hidden by a wall was working on something.

“H-hello?” Spike asked hesitantly.

“Hm?...” The being paused and turned to see Spike.

And Spike screamed…

This thing wasn’t human at all!

It had skin as yellow as a lemon, a giant head, arms longer than normal, a hairless head, bloodshot eyes, and a huge perpetual grin.

A grin that somehow got wider as it looked at him.

“Hello! Nice to see a human here, how may we serve you?” He said joyfully as he wiped a little drool off his mouth.

“U-uh…” Spike didn’t know what to say.

“Ugh, you humans always freeze up when you see a demon, they are called Chipper Rippers, be careful, they possess the souls of cannibals,” Verak said sounding annoyed.

“Thanks for the encouragement,” Spike said quietly before returning to the creature.

“I-I want to speak to a manager, I… have a message from a certain somebody,” Spike meekly asked.

“Sure thing! Follow me,” He said as he turned and walked away and Spike hesitantly followed.

As he walked he found the interior of the building was bigger than a normal fast food place.

He felt eyes on him everywhere… he looked around and saw multiple Chipper Rippers cleaning off tables now staring at him… one even licked his lips.

“Ulp…” Spike said.

“Hey, Phil! We got fresh meat- ah I mean a fresh face,” The ripper said to the figure, as the figure turned Spike took a step back, he was taller than the other Chipper Rippers, and bigger too, he was quite fat.

“Huh? A human? Goodie, what can we get ya?” Phil asked with a narrowing of his eyes.

“I-I came here on the behalf of Verak, and-” Spike didn’t get any further as the being slammed his hand down on the counter.

“For the love of hellfire, I’ll get that contract to him when I get it to him!” Phil growled.

“L-look, I’m just the messenger, but Verak said it's time,” Spike said.

“Well, screw him, I run a successful burger joint, and I don’t want to lose it just because a level four demon got greedy,” Phil spat.

“Heheh, he has no idea how outmatched he is,” Varek said in Spike's head.

“Varek insists,” Spike nervously said not hearing footsteps behind him.

“I said no! What are you going to do about it human?” Phil asked.

“I-I-I…” Spike gulped again but he said “I’ll have to take it then,” Spike said.

“HAHAHAHAHAHA!” Phil laughed with the other Chipper Rippers and leaned in closely.

“You're not doing anything…. Besides dying,” Phil said.

“W-what?” Spike said.

“First rule of the Smiling Burger, we don’t get to eat… unless our food comes to us…” Phil said.

Spike suddenly felt surrounded and turned to see a Ripper with a butcher knife raised behind him.

“AAAH!” Spike dodged the swing and ran.

“GET HIM!” A Chipper Ripper yelled as he tried to tackle Spike who vaulted over a table and avoided him.

“WE’RE EATIN TONIGHT BOYS!” Phil yelled.

“He’s pretty skinny, we outta fatten him up first!” Another Ripper laughed maniacally.

“I call the eyes!” Another said as they pursued Spike around the tables.

“Where do I go!?” Spike asked struggling to avoid them.

“There’s doors to the rest of the restaurant you idiot,” Verak said and Spike saw the doors next to the counters and ran for them.

“Stop him!” Phil yelled as he came out from behind the counter and tried to grab Spike but he avoided and ran through the back door.

After getting through he barricaded it with a mop.

Spike was panting heavily and turned to see the rest of the restaurant, it was bigger than any restaurant he knew, and built like a maze!

“Better move, that’s not going to hold them forever,” Varek said while audibly eating popcorn.

“Ok ok!” Spike ran through the dining area and he looked around, he saw purple crystals floating around.

“Are those-” Spike paused when he heard crashing noises and he turned a corner and saw the Rippers pouring in.

“Yes, better start collecting before you’re eaten,” Verak said.

Suddenly an intercom beeped and Spike looked up at one.

“Attention all Rippers, the one who catches him get’s first bite! If I see more than one you all get a beating! So get to it!” Phil ordered and the Chipper Rippers started swarming the area.

“Crap crap crap!” Spike said as he ran further in and started collecting shards.

As he ran around several tables and down a pathway deeper in a Ripper turned a corner and began chasing him.

“NO!” Spike turned and ran.

“GET BACK HERE YOU DELICIOUS MORSEL!” He yelled as he threw his knife at him and Spike ducked it.

“Not a chance!” Spike rounded the corner and collected more shards before spotting another one standing in his way.

Spike managed to skid to a stop and he ran down another path to his right as that one swung its knife at him.

Spike pulled a few chairs down and they tripped up on them.

Spike turned a corner and collected more shards before another Ripper suddenly tackled him down from around a corner.

Spike looked up in terror as he opened his mouth widely and chomped him.

3 lives left “At least you died delicious, hahaha!” Varek taunted

“I’m dead… I’m dead…. I’m… huh?” Spike looked around and saw he was back at the beginning “How did-”

“I saved you, you're welcome, now continue on, it’s too early for you to die, my vacation just started,” Varek said sounding annoyed.

“Gee thanks,” Spike sighed as he got up and resumed running into the restaurant.

He ran around the tables and saw blood on some.

“Their last meals no doubt,” Varek said.

“I have to hurry!” Spike said before a Chipper Ripper threw a knife at Spike and it clipped his cheek.

“Agh!” Spike grunted and he looked to see the Ripper.

“Dang I missed!” He growled.

“The sight of blood just makes me hungrier!” Spike turned and saw a Ripper blindside him with a chair sending him into a wall and he cast the chair aside and brandished his butcher knife before swinging it at him, Spike twisted his body avoiding the swing which was planted in the wall.

Spike ran but the creature grabbed him with his longer arm and threw him and Spike tumbled through a table and onto the ground.

Spike saw a Ripper leap at him but he picked up a chair and held it in front of him preventing the Ripper from biting him.

He snapped his jaws like a wild animal and grabbed at Spike while the other was rounding the corner.

“GET. OFF!” Spike shouted as he kicked the Ripper's leg and he fell over and Spike got up and ran into the restaurant as the other threw a chair at him but missed.

“DANG IT!” The Ripper growled and he chased Spike but Spike lost him quickly.

“These things are crazy!” Spike said.

“Well they are cannibals, they lived their lives feasting and torturing their own kind, and now, they are starved slaves to a business,” Verak said.

“Great to know!” Spike said as he heard more shouts behind him and saw several Rippers behind him, swishing their butcher knives at him.

“AAAAHH!” Spike ran around the edge of the restaurant and dove over a table avoiding several thrown knives.

He got up and hid as the Rippers ran past his spot, he was shaking in fear the whole time.

As he peeked around the corner to see if there were any more… before a slash from a knife got him in the eye.

“AAAH!” Spike cried as the slash blinded him in one eye.

“Gotcha!” A Chipper Ripper laughed before he lunged forward and swung his knife, Spike reacted fast enough to pull a table over and the creature tripped and landed neck first on his own knife.

Spike looked shocked that he had just unintentionally killed one… but no, he had no choice…

He turned to leave the Ripper on the floor, bleeding, when suddenly he was grabbed and turned around.

“Did I say you could leave mortal?” The Same Chipper Ripper asked with an evil smile as his neck regenerated before he raised his knife and swung down into Spike’s face.

2 Lives left “Dining in are we? Maybe they’ll at least season you first,” Varek said boredly.

Spike got up in shock at the entrance and looked around, in shock he felt his eye and inexplicably found it healed.

“You gotta stop getting caught, or do you not want me to spare your kids after all?” Varek asked.

“NO! I-I just need time,” Spike said as he got up “How did he survive?” Spike asked.

“Demons can't die in hell by a mortals hand, it's a fact, and not just because humans are weak, but because you literally can’t kill them, now move!” Varek ordered.

“Ok ok!” Spike said as he ran into the dining area again.

He ran through the dining area and found more shards on the side that he hadn’t visited yet, as he made his way through the winding corridors he rounded a corner and a knife narrowly missed him and he turned to see three Rippers.

“There he is!” One said.

“Get back I saw him first!” Another said.

“Mine mine mine!” Another said as they all approached him, with knives in hand and the other reaching out for him.

Spike was about to run the other way but saw another two and he saw he was surrounded.

“I want first bite!” One said.

“No, me!” Another said.

“Don’t make me bite you!” Another one threatened.

…Ding!

“Alright, you got me,” Spike said raising his hands.

“What?” Varek said.

“Huh?” The Rippers said.

“But why do you have to wait until Phil says so, why doesn’t at least one of you get to enjoy yourselves?” Spike said praying this works.

“Whaddya mean?” The Ripper up front asked.

“He said first come first serve right? Whose gonna be the one?” Spike asked.

“....” They glanced at eachother.

“I say you all get to enjoy yourselves… after you figure out who gets to eat me first, you're all hungry aren’t you?” Spike asked.

“You sly dog,” Varek chuckled.

“....MINE!” One Ripper lunged but another pulled him back and tried to lunge, another tackled him down.

“HE’S MINE!” He said.

“Eff off!” Another said but a Ripper punched him and tried to grab Spike and pretty soon they were all fighting over who got Spike.

“Alright, good luck,” Spike said as he stepped away from their scuffle.

Spike managed to sneak away and fled into the evil restaurant and he collected more shards.

Hearing shouts in the distance Spike knew they’d figured out they’d been tricked and he hurried along.

Spike made his way around a corner and into an area with drink fountains and two Rippers leaped over a windowless hole in the wall and swung at him.

Spike was adapting, however, and he slid on the ground under the swing and between them.

As he got up he collected more shards while avoiding his pursuers and he ran into a kitchen area containing more shards, the two Rippers blocked him on either side.

“I’m so hungry!” One said.

“I want to eat!” the other said and they climbed onto the counters and jumped at him, Spike ducked and rolled as the two tumbled over eachother.

“You're getting better at this, I may have more fun watching this than expected,” Verak laughed.

“Yeah yeah,” Spike sighed as he ran out of the kitchen and into another dining area where the last shards are.

“Is there anymore?” Spike asked as he collected.

“No, but that’s probably the least of your worries in a minute,” Verak said.

“What? What do you-”

Shard count 0

Screams filled the restaurant before suddenly everything went silent.

“Huh?” Spike became worried.

“Heeheehee… eat… must… eeeeaaat…” A warped voice said as a Ripper came out, only he was darkened in color and his eyes were glowing red.

He was salivating rivers out of his mouth and he looked completely deranged.

“Wh-What the heck?” Spike said.

“Frenzy mode, when demons are really mad they enter this state and become even more dangerous, you should run,” Varek casually said.

“SKRREEEEE!” The Ripper roared as he ran at Spike chomping at the air like a starved animal.

“AAAHH!” Spike ran around the other side and made it back into the main dining area, as he looked around he saw more Chipper Rippers gathering, looking much the same.

“SKREEEE!” They all shrieked as Spike bolted to his left.

“WHERE IS THE WAY OUT!?” Spike screamed.

“First the contract is located in a safe near the exit to the dining area,” Varek said.

“Ok!” Spike said as he ran frantically through the area as a dozen Rippers tore through the area, knocking tables and chairs down and even jumping up on the countertops and chasing him.

“GIVE US YOUR FLESH!” They howled.

“NOT A CHANCE!” Spike cried as he made it to the exit, but before he could make it to the door a Ripper jumped out and took a swing, Spike ducked it and ran to the right where he saw the safe.

“What’s the combination?!” Spike frantically asked.

“Allow me,” Suddenly the safe glowed and was ripped open.

“You could’ve done that sooner!?” Spike cried.

“Shut up, I didn’t know where it was until the soul shards powering its barrier were collected,” Varek said.

“Ok!” Spike turned and saw the Rippers rounding the corner and they glowered at him.

Spike ran forward and grabbed the contract before trying to make a break for the other doors when he ran full-on into a big sturdy figure and fell down.

Phil…

“You’ve caused enough problems at my restaurant! Forget eating you, I just want you dead!” Phil said brandishing two butcher knives.

Spike got up and backed away, turning he saw the other Chipper Rippers were afraid as well.

“Heheheheheh, got you all to myself now,” Phil said before he jumped forward with surprising speed and swung both knives down.

Spike yelped and dodged around the swings before running around him, only to find two Rippers blocking the exit.

“No fair!” Spike turned and ran back into the dining area and Phil was in close pursuit.

Spike ran into an area full of chairs, expecting the lead Ripper would trip but to Spike’s horror he just plowed through them and swung for his head.

Spike ducked and fled down the pathway back towards the doors.

“GET BACK HERE!” Phil yelled as he was gaining on Spike.

“I gotta lose him!” Spike cried.

“Figure it out,” Varek said.

“Hmm,” Spike looked ahead and saw the Rippers blocking the exit… let’s hope this works, he stopped and turned.

Phil closed in.

“YOU'RE MINE!” Phile lunged.

Spike dodged to the side and he wound up plowing right into the Chipper Ripper guarding the door.

“OOOOFFFF!” They both crashed through the door and onto the ground.

“See ya!” Spike jumped over them and ran away.

“STOP HIM!” Phil cried and Spike made his way back out into the entrance area.

Five Rippers were guarding the exit, and with Phil getting up in the back, Spike had to get moving.

So he ran forward and dodged the first one's stab.

He avoids the next two swings.

One leaped at him but Spike managed to stop in time and the Ripper wound up crashing over a table.

And the last one threw his knife at Spike who ducked and the knife sailed overhead and hit Phil in the face.

“OUCH!” Phil cried as he fell over.

“Crap!” The Chipper Ripper exclaimed and he ran at Spike who dodged around a table and the Chipper Ripper foolishly chased him around it instead of standing in front of the path to the portal.

And Spike ran towards the portal.

“NOOOOOO!” Phil screamed as Spike vanished into the portal.

YOU ESCAPED!

Spike stumbled through the portal and crashed into thin air.

“Ooof!” Spike grunted as he fell down.

“Good thing I put up that barrier, or you would have damaged my desk,” Verak chuckled.

“I… I did it!” Spike breathed a sigh of relief.

“Yes you did, I will admit, I figured you’d have been torn limb for limb by now, maybe there’s more to you than meets the eye,” Varek said.

“Alright, I got your contract,” Spike said as he handed it over.

“Good,” He said.

“Can I leave now?” Spike asked and Varek just laughed.

“Did you seriously think that was the only one boy? We just started,” Varek said.

“...What?” Spike said looking upset to hear that.

“There are eleven more to go, and things may only get tougher as you go,” Varek said.

“....No way… I barely made it out of there alive!” Spike exclaimed.

“If you are so intimidated by it, just give me your children,” Varek said.

“....Ok fine, what’s next?...” Spike curses the fact that he is using his children as bargaining chips.

“Heheh, how are you on the concept of the occult?” Varek asked.

“Huh?” Spike said.

Next time: Amidst a red background a shadowy hooded figure with what looks like a fin sticking out of their back is heard muttering something, and echoes of wet footsteps can be heard.

Coming soon.

Author's Note

I understand you may have questions, feel free to ask them, I'll answer some possible ones here.

1. Will there be angels since there are demons? [you'll see, not to sound like Vince]

2. Were the Chipper Rippers named after the Ripper Jacks? [No, it's coincidental]

3. Was there anything about their appearance that symbolized something negative? [no I swear they aren't]

4. Will Spike get powers next chapter? [Yes he will ]

5. Why isn't there alliteration in the level title? [I'll tell you why, it's a little hard to think of one that works, however if you guys have suggestions I'll take it and use it.]

6. Why no swears [I'm uncomfortable with swearing tbh sorry]

7. [And no the fact they have knives isn't a Murder Monkey reference]