Helpless, Ashley watched as Ash nearly fell to his death before fighting his way back into the hole in the sky. The display still infuriatingly swiveled as the soldiers prepared to fire again.

There was a thud and the tank shook. Everyone looked up. Black, bloody claws pierced the thick metal, ripping holes just above their heads. Another set of claws rammed into the side of the tank as the vehicle was shoved a few feet to the side. This was followed by a loud crackle, then a crunch.

"Oh…" one of the sitting soldiers said quietly. Ashley and Jared glanced at his monitor to see a twisted, torn tube of metal protruding from the bottom of the screen.

"Let me guess," Jared said, "That was the cannon."

"It's called the main gun," the soldier corrected him. "And yeah."

"Awesome," Jared nodded as more talons ripped into the tank from every direction, prying panels away.

A long tentacle, covered in spikes, experimentally approached Linda, before Ash landed heavily on his shoulder. The shotgun clattered away as Ash ungracefully rolled a few feet away. The tentacles shot back in surprise.

Ash leapt to his feet, facing the demon. "Come on!" he screamed, brandishing the chainsaw, returning the demon's roar with the power tool's whine.

The demon turned its attention from Linda to Ash. He hoped it was because it considered him a threat, although something told him it was because he offered a more enticing, moving target. Another tentacle shot out, and Ash lashed at it with the chainsaw, delivering a brutal gash that nearly severed the appendage. It flailed, throwing black ichor in Ash's face.

The ooze from the demon stinging his eyes, Ash drew he sleeve across his face, mopping the gore from his skin. While his view was obscured, another tentacle whipped forward, wrapping around Ash's body and upper legs. He tried to step out of it, but his tangled legs brought him to the ground. The sharp spines on the tentacles bit into his skin, and dark blood seeped into his clothes around the tendril.

Kicking and struggling, he brought up the chainsaw to slice through the tentacle. This time the demon saw it coming, and the other tentacle shot out, immobilizing the weapon. Still fighting, Ash was dragged slowly towards the demon's gaping maw.

His eyes wide, Ash scanned the area around him for anything that could help. The tower appeared deserted; everyone except he and Linda had escaped. As he slid another foot, his gaze fell upon the shotgun a short distance away. Groaning in pain, he flung his free arm out towards the weapon.

He came a hair short.

Ash dug his fingers into the stonework, trying desperately to pull against the demon. His fingernails screamed as they were nearly yanked from his cuticles. His fingertip had just touched the butt of the shotgun when he was dragged another foot back.

Gritting his teeth in anger and frustration, Ash kept reaching. He brought his foot up as high as he could, driving the spikes on the tentacle deeper into his thigh, before kicking down, bringing his heel into the base of the tentacle. Swallowing his pain, he kicked again, jabbing his foot into the tentacles as hard as he could. Its grip loosened only slightly, but it was enough for Ash to pull himself towards the shotgun and grab it.

He quickly aimed, looking down the barrel at the demon's throat. His eyes picked out each of the individual wounds, by now nothing more than small scabs, he'd inflicted on the beast's mouth, the result of one of his two shots.

Deciding the shotgun could do little else to the demon, Ash aimed lower, pointing the gun at the tentacle. A direct shot from the weapon would ravage the tendril nearly as much as the chainsaw, and might make it let go, freeing him.

He shifted, trying to get the best shot he could, and every place on his body gripped by the tentacle screamed in protest. More blood gushed out of him as the spines dug through muscles and scraped bones. Ash wasn't sure he'd be able to stand once the tentacle freed him, or even if he'd survive for more than a few minutes.

Finally, Ash sighed in defeat, remembering Knowby's words. One human sacrifice, he thought, slipping his thumb into the trigger guard and adjusting the shotgun so that its muzzle rested just under his chin, Coming right up.

Ash squeezed the trigger.

The metal shrieked as it was torn apart, and a huge chunk, several inches thick, was ripped away. A blast of cool pre-dawn air flooded the humid inside of the tank. If it weren't for the twisted, scaly creature tearing at the metal, the relief from the heat might have been welcome.

Seconds later, another panel on the other side of the vehicle was pried off, while a long gash was sliced through the front. As Ashley, Jared and the soldiers backed into a tight cluster, the exterior of the tank was quickly destroyed, soon resembling a moth-eaten piece of clothing more than a durable war machine.

All around the tank, more of the demons were swooping in, alighting on Jeeps and the street. Most of the Jeeps were now shells, like the tank, but empty of people. Besides the demons slowly accumulating like sinister birds perching on every branch of a tree, there was no movement, and the pavement was streaked with blood.

Gangly and awkward on land, but leaving nowhere to run, the creatures began to close in, their fang-lined beaks stretching to either side in obscene grins. The soldier who had disarmed Ashley stepped forward, letting out a blood-curdling war cry, before spraying the demons immediately in front of him with bullets.

Two of the demons were hit before they had time to react. The rest quickly took off, bursting out in every direction as if they'd been hit by a grenade rather than bullets. They flew a few yards up before veering back down to earth and converging on the soldier, his gun still raised. Their long, sharp claws sunk into him with no resistance, and his flesh was pulled apart as easily as clay.

Still holding his assault rifle, Jared grasped Ashley's wrist and bolted past the red pile of tissue and bone, through the opening in the circle left by the demons' attack. One of the demons on the periphery of the circle cawed like an enraged crow as they passed, alerting the rest to their getaway. As if it were nothing more than an irritating chore, the demons fell on the two remaining soldiers, quickly tearing them to pieces, before they gave chase.

Within moments the air behind Ashley and Jared was a black vortex of swooping, screeching creatures, like an unholy cyclone of claws and bat-like wings. Still keeping his eyes ahead as he sprinted, Jared held the rifle above his shoulder, pointing behind him as he fired. He screamed as the sound of gunfire deafened him.

The bullets sliced through the first few demons in the whirling cloud, their bodies falling back through the swarm, knocking some off course. Ashley and Jared's pursuers were slowed, but only slightly, and they were still catching up. The demons ducked and weaved, their flight patterns overlapping, as Ashley and Jared picked their way down the street, sometimes between cars, sometimes through the burnt out hulls of the vehicles.

They raced forward, heading for the bank, the one building that looked stable and secure. The shrieking behind them grew louder with every step. Soon the sounds of snapping jaws also filled their ears, although they were still a block away from their destination. Ashley glanced quickly at Jared, catching his eye, and knowing he was thinking the same thing: there was no way they could make it.

Suddenly, the sound of hoof beats, as loud as thunder, came from the distance, growing until it overwhelmed the screeching demons. A roar both Ashley and Jared recognized as a chainsaw, although louder and deeper than they had ever heard, ripped through the air. Ashley looked over her shoulder to see a knight, clad in black armor and riding a black horse, between them and the demons. The knight's arm swung through the air, bisecting several of the demons without a second thought. The shining metal at the end of the knight's arm whirled, spraying flecks of dark blood everywhere. She stopped and turned, staring.

"Ash?" she asked quietly.

Jared skidded to a stop behind her. "Come on! We have to get out of here!" he urged.

"I think that's Ash," Ashley repeated, just loud enough for Jared to hear. He looked where she was pointing to see the knight dispatching the rest of the demons as if it were the simplest task in the world.

When nothing was left but piles of twitching body parts, the knight's helmet turned a few degrees, just enough to see them and nod once. His horse reared up and galloped, its lower legs looking like black fog as it cantered into the air at a steep angle before disappearing into the portal, which collapsed and popped out of existence.

As Ash descended, he saw Linda where he'd left her, sitting on the black stonework and leaning against the obelisk, holding her head as she recovered. The only difference was the form next to her. Ash urged the horse – which had inexplicably appeared next to him at the same time as the armor – down to Linda's side, racing between her and whoever – or more likely whatever, given that this was Hell – was talking to her.

He glared down for a second before recognizing Professor Knowby. "You're still here?" he asked in surprise. "I figured you'd've jumped ship when you had your chance."

"Academic curiosity, I suppose," Knowby shrugged with a sheepish grin. "I studied legends for my entire life, and when they turned out to be true…" He shrugged again. "Seeing how it all played out was a little irresistible."

"If you say so," Ash rolled his eyes. "So, human sacrifice, huh?"

"I did warn you that I didn't know what it would do."

"I'm still not sure what it did," Ash replied.

"To be honest, neither am I," Knowby confessed.

"You're supposed to be the expert!" Ash groaned.

"Yes, in folklore and mythology," Knowby emphasized. "If you want an educated guess though, I think you're now in charge of the gateway to Hell."

"Uh huh, and to get out of this gig…" Ash prompted.

"No idea." At Ash's expression, a mix of equal parts irritation and fear, Knowby continued, "I half-remember a line of text about setting foot on Earth, but that may kill you or release you."

"Great."

From the ground, Linda moaned and stood. "Does that mean you're stuck here?" she asked.

"Unless you're willing to take the risk and find out what happens," Knowby suggested.

"Hey, Knowby," Ash interrupted, "Wanna give us some privacy?" With a thought, Ash opened the portal above.

"Ah," Knowby said, looking up, "I see." With effort, he began scaling the obelisk, heading for the light.

"I'm staying here with you," Linda stated as he disappeared.

"Baby," Ash started softly, "You can't. Who knows what'll happen. Maybe now that I'm in charge some of the things down here'll start gunning for me." He sighed. "I want you to be safe."

"But you could be here forever," Linda pleaded. "Literally. That guy said you might not even be able to leave."

"I know, but I'll try," Ash answered. "I'll try to find you. Eventually."

"Then why stay here for now?"

"You were here," Ash replied. "You don't deserve to be in Hell. I don't think anyone does. There's gotta still be innocent people here. I'll see if I can figure a way out, and I'll let out everyone I can in the meantime. I have to."

Linda looked deep into Ash's eyes, searching. Finally, she said, "Alright. I guess there's no other way."

"Not until I know a way out."

She nodded. "Promise you'll find me," she said. "Promise me."

"I'll find you." Ash reached down, wrapping his arm around Linda's waist before easily picking her up and setting her in front of him. She put her arms around his shoulders to hang on, and he urged the horse onward, carrying her up to the portal.

"I notice you made Knowby climb up here," Linda giggled.

"That asshole?" Ash asked. "Of course I did, this is all his fault." Ash embraced Linda before lifting her towards the gate. "Oh yeah, and if you happen to meet this chick named Sheila," Ash continued, "I was out of my mind with grief over you at the time."

"Wait, what?" Linda asked before disappearing. Ash closed the portal behind her.

Ashley leaned into Jared as he put his arm around her shoulder. They sat on the steps of the bank, which, only minutes ago, had seemed like their only refuge. Over the tops of caved in roofs and collapsed houses, the sky was turning pink. Along the edge of the horizon was a line of deep red light.

Any other day, Ashley would have thought it was a beautiful colour, but now it reminded her of blood and severed, twitching limbs. She looked away as the sun, a bright blob of red, peeked over the horizon. A tear slipped from her eye onto Jared's shirt.

"What do we even do now?" she asked, almost to herself.

"We live," Jared answered. "For everyone else."

Ash looked out over the red and black landscape. For what felt like the thousandth time he considered riding down from the tower and slaughtering every demon he came across. I shouldn't have told Linda it was too dangerous, he reflected. The only danger is that I'll die of boredom.

There was a shuffling behind him, and Ash wondered if it was a challenger, or another condemned soul who had heard Hell was now granting full pardons. He turned to see a human finish scaling the hundreds of steps before doubling over, gasping for breath.

"I gotta stop smoking," the soul panted. After a few more gasps he pulled himself up, shaking the mop of shaggy blonde hair out of his eyes. His eyes widened as he recognized Ash. "Seriously?" Dylan demanded. "I gotta get you to let me outta Hell?"

"Yeah," Ash replied, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "What's it worth to you?"

THE END

Author's note: there's definitely a clunky infodump there, and it feels a little out of character for Ash to stick around freeing people, but he seems to do the right thing in the end usually…

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this half as much as I enjoyed writing it, cuz I enjoyed the hell out of writing this (heh, no pun intended). If you liked it, or if you hated it, or really if you had any opinion, feel free to leave a review or message me or whatever. I wanna know what I'm doing right and (especially) what I'm doing wrong.

If you really enjoyed it, you can check out my other fics, or you can check out my story that I actually convinced someone to pay me for at www dot tinyurl dot com slash ApproachingOne, or check out my piece on Bioshock Infinite on OverThinkingIt dot com, which just got published today (or at least the same day this chapter was posted). If you really, really enjoyed it, you can also follow me on twitter by looking for SeaLenz. Yeah, I know, I'm shameless. What can I say, I'm kinda sorta trying to build a writing career over here :P