Loona the Caretaker

Getting to Know the Kid

Cody was getting a little acquainted to this nice house in Hell, especially the nice hellhound that saved him from the fire. Deep down, the now-orphan child still wished this was all some fucked up dream that is very difficult to wake up from. He kept on blinking his eyes over and over again after keeping them closed repeatedly for more than five seconds. Alas, it was no use. This was, indeed, real and not a bad dream that he was having at all. He felt like crying in despair and deep agony again, but he ran out of tears to sob from his own eyeballs.

Looking out the window, Cody noticed how a little scary hell is. Yet again, he didn't see any tormented souls burning in the lake of fire for the rest of eternity. It was a good thing, for Cody Laurent would probably been traumatized if he saw something like that in real life. Although he was already facing trauma after losing his parents.

It was just then Loona came in the room and had a glass of what appeared to be some kind of soda. "Here you go, Cody." she said, "A glass of iced root beer served up cold for you." she gently gave the child the glass and he slowly drank it down his throat, loving the taste of the beverage. "I can get you more of this stuff if you want."

The grateful Cody smiled with complete and utter gratitude. "Thank you, Loona."

"Ah, don't mention it. And please, put on these clothes I found."

The boy set his drink down and slowly put on his Black Label shirt and torn jeans. "I look cool in these clothes." he admitted

"Yeah. Look at you. Ready to rock and roll with those clothes. And I'm sure Blitz wouldn't mind if I gave his clothes to you."

"What if he is not ok with it?" Cody asked

"Then he'll just have to live with it." she sat next to him and said: "So Cody, I am very sorry about what happened. I know how you feel right now."

"What happened to your parents?" asked the human boy.

Poor Loona slightly looked down away from the child, and she had a face of sadness, sentimentality or melancholy. She did feel Cody's pain in a way. "Well," she said at last: "I... don't know. I haven't seen them since I was a puppy, and honestly... I can't remember what they even look like. But still, Blitzo is my adopted father, and he can be... weird and creepy at times."

Cody gave her a sympathetic look and said: "I'm sorry you lost your parents, Loona. I guess we both know how it feels. I mean, I don't want to make you sad."

"No, it's okay." Loona reassured him. "They could have just bee a- I mean, dirt-bags who never thought enough of me, like deadbeat parents. I wish I can bring your parents back."

"No, don't worry. I know you don't have cool superpowers to get them back to life. Besides, they said that they will always be with me in my heart." Cody smiled, looking at his chest. "They said that no matter what will happen to them, they will always watch over me, even if they are not alive anymore."

Loona smiled. "Good. So you want to meet Blitzo and my coworkers?"

"Sure. What job do you have?"

"I.M.P," the hellhound admitted, "Short for Immediate Murder Professionals. But don't let that scare you."

"Murder? You like to kill people?"

"No. No. Only the bad, evil ones that deserve to be down here. It's a company that takes out any evil humans that are causing mayhem or destruction on Earth, and doing it for money. But think of it as like a superhero thing."

"Ohhhhh. OK." Cody sounded a little relieved. "I'm glad you're not evil. But... why did you save me?"

"Well, you're a kid and I heard you screaming in your burning house. Kids are still innocent, and I knew it wouldn't... feel right of me to leave you to be burnt alive. But I don't wanna talk about it. I prefer to keep these things to myself."

Cody looked a little sheepish and shy. "OK. Sorry, I won't ask you that again."

"Thank you. So, how did your house get on fire?"

"I don't know, I was playing on the swings in my backyard and the house just caught on fire for no reason. Was my daddy lighting a cake or was mom smoking in the house?"

"Good questions, Cody." Loona smirked. "But hey, you're safe now."

She felt the human boy hug her as if she was his new mother. "Thank you for saving me, Loona." he said while still hugging. If there was one thing that Loona was not, it would be a hugger. If any random person or demon hugged her, she would probably maul them into minced meat or rip their throats out with her canines. Alas, Cody was a very sad and lonely boy now, and what happened to him was beyond traumatizing for his age. "Okay, okay." Loona smirked. "That's enough hugging."

"Sorry."

"Well, what do you like, kid? Any music you like or video games or movies, anything?"

"I like Motley Crue, Motorhead, Metallica, Overkill, Helloween, Guns N' roses, AC/DC, and those bands. My dad showed them to me, and I really like them."

"Wow. Really? Kid, I like your taste in music. Sounds like your parents raised you well."

"Thanks. They were the best parents anyone can have. I just wish my friends at school like those kind of music like I do, instead of that pop poop trash."

Loona made a small and cute laugh before saying: "I agree. Today's music is total trash and excrement. How can many people stand to listen to those so-called bands or artists? It's a disgrace to music everywhere. Any other music you hate?"

"Barney." Cody admitted. "I really hate Barney!"

Loona laughed again and it sounded more cute. "Yeah, who even created that purple demon they call a dinosaur?"

"And I h ate his singing." Cody admitted, sounded irritated

"Same! Same with me, Cody. Every time I hear Barney or his Music, it makes me want to cut my own ears off with garden shears so I never have to listen to him again."

"He's awful!" Cody said with a look of disapproval.

"So awful, so flowery, so gay."