The Devil’s Intern Part 2

Internship Week began!

All the adults from various businesses all across Brimstone met and interviewed with their assigned students. They talked and shook hands. Some students were ecstatic to work with their representatives while others were only interested in getting a grade for their assignments. 

Among the students and adults were Rosemary, Joshua, and their friends all gathered around Mrs. Gravely and Mr. Marlow. Both Mrs. Gravely and Mr. Marlow were dressed in their talk show attire. Following them around was their trusted cameraman from the studio they worked at. Some of the kids gathered around them briefly to get their five seconds of fame, without the two adults noticing them.

"I'm Marcus Marlow!" Marcus spoke to the camera.

"I'm Carmen Gravely!" Carmen also said.

"I'm Krystal Lotsadeux!" Krystal joined in.

"Ooh, good opening," Mr. Marlow commented, "And it's time to see What's Hot in Brimstone." 

"We're here at Brimstone Elementary for a very special week," Mrs. Gravely told the viewers. "This is an event called Internship Week where the fifth graders are tasked with well established business here in our town, to learn more about them and to maybe one day become successful in their future careers when they're older."

"That's right Carmen," Mr. Marlow agreed, "Our special intern for the week is Krystal Lotsadeux, heiress to the Lotsadeux estate, and she'll be learning from us on how to look good on camera."

"Good thing I already do." Krystal commented. The two adults laughed.

Mr. Marlow then told the viewers. "Come join us later after the commercial break as we show dear Krystal around the studio as our special guest star."

The camera man shouted cut. A thumbs up from him was a clear sign that he got what he needed.

"Oh this is gonna be exciting." Carmen Gravely said. "You kids are taking your first big step to adulthood."

"It's a big honor and responsibility," Marcus Marlow added, "You all ought to feel proud."

Mrs. Gravely then focused her attention towards Joshua, "So Joshua, Rosie tells me that you'll be interning with Lu for the week."

"Uh, yeah," a nervous Joshua said, "It should be... well... I'm not entirely sure there's a word to describe this."

"I know that Lu can be... over enthusiastic. But he generally has a good heart deep down. Very, very deep down. And don't worry, he promised not to do anything too hectic or showboating."

The fire alarm suddenly rang inside the gymnasium. The students and adults moved away from a corner where a massive fire erupted. The fire then shot up and formed a rectangular archway. At its core it birthed a swirling portal. The spectators watched fearfully as odd shadows encroached the haunting doorway.

Out of the fire portal were a clan of heavily armored soldiers. Eight of them marching out of the open mouth. The portal's flames reflected off their polished black armor. Their horned helmets masked their faces but their visors were focused straight ahead. Their arms hauled large machine guns unlike anything manufactured on earth and their backs were sheathed swords. The rhythmic stomps from their metal-clad boots sent tremors throughout the gymnasium.

The soldiers finally came to a halt. They turned and faced each other, weapons at their shoulders. Then out of the same portal was another large figure. It was a large throne made of black gold. Sitting upon his throne was the devil himself, giving his most sinister of smiles to the crowd. His scarlet eyes, his well-dressed red suit, his black hair moussed back that it resembled a pair of horns, and his small goatee below his lips. The towering throne was hauled by dozens of people below it. They were very frail, their dirty, grey skin was close to the bone. They were also hairless and dressed in tattered rags. The servants all looked similar to each other which made it difficult to determine their gender, but they also looked to close to being human. 

The throne came to the stop. A couple of the souls ran in front of the throne and made themselves into a human stairway. Lu waltzed his way down their back, some of the servants groaned as he walked down.

"Well at least it's not too hectic," Carmen said.

"Where is he?" Lu called out with enthusiasm. His smile grew ever so wicked. "Where's my intern at?"

The crowd then pointed at Joshua. "Um, right here, sir." The boy gulped.

"Josh, Joshie, good to seeing you, lad!" Lu rushed forward to the young Wordsworth. His cold hand snatched up the boy's and he wildly shook it all about.

"Always a pleasure to see you, sir,"

"Sir? Whoa now, you don't have to call me sir. Every time I hear that I have to check over my shoulder to make sure my Father's not there. Call me Lu! Or call me Lucifer, Satan, The Big S. Call me whatever you'd like, just don't call me late for dinner."

The devil turned to his throne. "CARD!" he angrily demanded. One of the souls hurried over from the throne to the devil's side. The soul's weak arm, which shook like a dead twig in a wind storm, held up a small business card. 

The devil swiped it away from the soul and growled. "Now go be useless elsewhere!"

One of the guards grabbed the soul by its throat and heaved it back to the fiery portal. The other guards forced the slaves to carry the heavy throne back to their realm as the doorway closed permanently behind once they entered back through. Now only Lu was the sole remaining demon among the human world. 

Lu's attitude changed back to his chipper state. "For you, little Wordsworth."

"Thanks but I already have your card." Josh kindly said.

"Not mine. Yours." the devil corrected. "I just had these crafted overnight."

Joshua then took the card. A small smile formed on his face as he read his name off the card, and it mentioned him being a trainee. It was his very own business card.

The gymnasium doors then burst wide open. "Joshua Wordsworth!" Everyone jumped when they heard Principal Wordsworth holler at his son. "You are not going anywhere, young man!"

Both Joshua and Lu stared at the madden lady. Sweat dripped off their foreheads and their hearts raced faster than ever. 

Mrs. Wordsworth calmed herself and held up a lunchbox. "You forgot your lunch in the car." The principal walked to her son and gave him his lunch. Joshua smiled and thanked his loving parent. 

Mrs. Wordsworth's smile morphed into a scowl as she looked at Lu. "I want my son to come back in one piece. You hear?! Or so help me God-"

"I can give you two guarantees, ma'am," Lu interrupted. "One: Pops won't help ya. Two: he'll be fine. Now excuse me for I think some pastries call for my attention."

Lu walked away from the group and towards where the bakers were at, gobbling up as many free samples he could fit. 

"Alright Joshua," Gloria Wordsworth added, handing her son his backpack, "I've packed your books, your pencils, your bible, a few bottles of holy water to protect yourself from Satan and his followers' possession. Do you still have your cross?"

Joshua pulled out his cross out of his shirt to help assure her confidence. Small, silver, and hung onto a thin chain, but it made him feel safe wherever he went. "Right here." he muttered.

"Good. Be safe, my son. You are my greatest gift from God."

She hugged and kissed her son goodbye just as Lu returned. The crowd and students went on with the fair. Lu kissed his wife and stepdaughter a farewell and led Joshua outside. There in the middle of the street was the crooked elevator that always appeared inside the Gravely home. Joshua always saw it whenever he was over but never set foot inside it, fearing its demonic power.

"I thought that was part of Rosemary's house?" he asked.

"Oh no," Lu assured his young intern. "This isn't just an elevator. This contraption allows us to travel from your world to mine, crossing through different dimensions in any direction I so choose. What? Did you really think that my world was directly below yours? My boy, you've got a lot to learn, and I'm just the teacher to show you."