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“You want to get out?”
“With you?”
“Yes. Right now.”
She twists the dirty dishrag in her hands. Her face and arms are bruised, but her hair is still the same shade of green it was when she was alive.
She whispers, “I’ll get in trouble.”
“You’re in Hell. How much worse can it get?”
“Lots. You haven’t seen what I’ve seen.”
I walk over and take the rag from her hand. Set it on the counter.
“I’ve seen what you’ve seen and lived what you’ve lived and I got away. I’m here to help you do the same.”
“The last time I saw you I died.”
“And I feel bad about that and I’m here to fix it.”
“Why? You don’t even know me.”
“So what? I should have been able to help you before, but I didn’t. Now I can. Come with me.”
“Where?”
“To a friend’s place. He’s a hard old son of a bitch, but he’ll take care of you.”
Her eyes dart around the shop. She’s confused. In panic mode.
I say, “Here’s the deal. The whole universe might be ending soon. Do you want to spend the last few minutes of your existence here or do you want to take a chance on something better?”
“You came all the way to Hell to help me?”
“No. I was window-shopping for the holidays.”
“Asshole,” she says.
“Come with me and you can call me all the names you want.”
It takes her a minute, but she unties her apron and tosses it on the counter. She starts around to my side, but I stop her.
“Before we leave, can I have one of those hats over the display case?”
She hands me one and comes around to my side. She looks out at the rain.
“I don’t have a coat.”
I take off mine and drape it around her shoulders. I’m already half soaked, why not finish the job?
“You ready?”
She’s scared, but the first faint hint of a smile plays around her lips.
“Sure. Why not?”
It’s too bright in Donut Inferno. I lead her out into the rain and find a shadow around the corner.
