WELCOME TO HELL

“Welcome to hell Kang Yerim.”

“Huh? I'm in hell?”

“Wait– am I dead?!”

 "Maybe I'm just dreaming..."

Yet the beautiful woman continued to gaze at her, as if waiting for her.

“This is just a dream,” Yerim continues to mutter in her head.

Yerim looked at the beautiful woman again who exuded an otherworldly grace, her flowing gown sparkling like stardust. She wore a serene smile that seemed to radiate warmth and kindness.

“Is this really hell? But she looks more like an angel than a devil, doesn't she?” Yerim asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

Confused and disoriented, Yerim struggled to find her voice. Finally, she whispered, “W–who are you, b–beautiful Miss?”

As Yerim's mind raced with many questions, a stray thought crossed her mind; “I wonder if this beautiful woman is single. Is she into girls too?”

The angelic-looking woman chuckled softly, as if reading her thoughts, her voice as melodious as a gentle breeze.

“Once again, I'm welcoming you to hell, Kang Yerim. I'm Son Seungwan, but you can just call me Wendy. I'll be your personal tour guide here in hell,” she replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

A jolt of disbelief shot through her. How could this heavenly creature claim that she had arrived in hell? This paradise before her contradicted everything she had ever imagined about the underworld.

“But – but this can't be hell. I always imagined they torment souls in here.” she stammered, her voice tinged with disbelief. 

“But this place is beautiful, peaceful... almost like a dream.”

Wendy's smile widened, and she nodded knowingly. “My dear, welcome to Hell's Paradise,” she explained. “This is where souls come to find solace after their journey ends. Well, about the torment part, I'll explain to you later,” Wendy continued, her voice soothing and reassuring.

“So I'm really dead now..” Yerim said in disbelief, her mind reeling with the sudden realization. She instinctively reached for her body, but to her surprise, everything felt normal.

“Yes, dear. You died in a car crash at exactly 2 AM in Earth time.” Wendy confirmed gently, her expression filled with empathy.

As Yerim processed the information, memories of the accident flooded her mind. She remembered the screeching tires, the blinding headlights, and the sickening crunch of metal. It all seemed like a distant nightmare now, as if she were watching someone else's life unfold before her eyes.

Then she remembered something, her dear companion who shared her last moments. 

Seulgi unnie!

She looked around frantically, searching for her unnie, but she couldn't see her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she cried out for her unnie, feeling a sudden wave of fear engulf her.

“Where is my unnie? Is she okay?” Yerim cried, her voice trembling with worry.

Yerim couldn't shake the thought; Is her unnie alive or dead too? And if she's here, has she found herself in this supposed paradise like her?

Wendy looked at the young girl with sympathy, gently wiping the tears from Yerim's face. 

“Do you want to come with me first, Yerim?” she asked softly. Yerim nodded, her demeanor resembling that of a little girl.

“C'mon, hold my hand,” Wendy said, extending her hand. As Yerim took it, she felt something warm in her heart.

“Are you really sure you are a devil, Wendy? You don't seem to belong in hell.” Yerim remarked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

Wendy just chuckled at the statement, her laughter melodic yet tinged with enigma.

—————

Together, Yerim and Wendy ventured deeper into Hell's Paradise, each step revealing more breathtaking wonders. What she discovered left Yerim breathless. Green meadows stretched for miles, adorned with vibrant flowers in hues she had never seen before. 

Each blossom seemed to pulsate with a mesmerizing energy, casting a spell of tranquility over the landscape. Glittering lakes mirrored the cloudless sky, reflecting perfection in its purest form. 

As Yerim gazed upon the serene waters, she felt a sense of peace wash over her, a stark contrast to the fiery chaos she had expected from hell.

Hell's paradise resembled scenes from a fantastical movie or an anime, it's beauty surreal yet undeniable. It was hard to believe that this was hell and not heaven. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of exotic flowers, and a gentle breeze carried the melodious chirping of unseen birds.

Amidst this idyllic setting, people roamed around the place, their appearance strikingly ordinary. They looked like normal people to Yerim, with no sign of demonic features or infernal aura. Unlike Wendy, who could pull you in with her striking beauty and captivating aura, these individuals seemed to blend seamlessly into their surroundings, adding to the illusion of paradise within hell.

As Yerim observed the peaceful interactions and joyful laughter of the people around her, she couldn't help but wonder about their stories and the journeys that had brought them to this unexpected haven in the depths of hell. 

And then she stopped in her tracks, there she was: her Seulgi Unnie, standing beneath a blossoming tree, tears streaming down her face as Seulgi looked at her. Relief washed over Yerim, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Seulgi unnie!” Yerim shouted and without hesitation, she hurried toward her, enveloping her in a tight embrace.

“I can't believe they got you too.” Yerim exclaimed, her voice a mixture of joy and disbelief. “Is this really hell? We're both in hell now Unnie!”

Seulgi smiled, wiping away a tear of her own, and suddenly, her expression shifted. She glanced around, then leaned in close, whispering conspiratorially, “Well, if this is hell, at least we can say we've upgraded from our last vacation spot!”

The absurdity of their situation h