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Irena Spalović
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Novels by Irena Spalović

Helltown

Helltown

Two weapons clanged. A sturdy long stick with a large mace on top was swayed aside by a strong female warrior. With her short reddish hair and a menacing yell, she trusted her chain mace towards a tall girl with a long pointy tail and protruding fangs. She barely dodged her attack, throwing her body to the ground of the arena. The audience behind the flimsy fence roared and cheered in a frenzy. They were packed tight around the rocky walls, thirsting for blood. The fallen girl heaved, holding her weapon tight. Standing up, she narrated, "Someone once joked 'Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company'. Only fools can believe this to be true." Her opponent cackled with a smirk, ready for another attack. "Do you want to know what it's like down here? Well, let me tell you.” The woman in question entered this world as a very old and very ill woman. Surrounded by her loved ones, she closed her eyes and entered a hell-like dimension. It resembled a large city floating on a lake of lava, called Helltown. With very little resources, she had to find a way to survive. Luckily, there was hope. The woman used a spell to become a beautiful young woman with super strength. Disguised, she fought demons, escaped the slums, ended up in a brothel and then as a gladiator in an arena. With many enemies and shifty allies, she finally managed to catch a break and get to the top floors, where the intrigues truly start. Along the way, we learn more about her life on Earth and the possible reasons for her being there. Can she stay sane among such evil? What is Helltown, and does it affect the life on Earth? A lot, actually.
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Chapter: Spark of joy
Deep underground, magma swished and splashed in the place where Helltown used to be.The tower, so high and menacing, was now nothing but floating rocks. Cassandra's apartment complex was already under the magma. With all the others trying to find footing after their great fall, only Stalin was left there. He watched the lava levels rise, making the kitchen sizzle and burn. "Finally some peace," he thought as the heat reached his cut head, letting out a breath before being engulfed by a hot wave.Further away, a number of carcasses were being carried by the current. One of them, a damned soul with longer hair and one horn, heard a sweat voice call out his name."Bernard, are you there?" the female voice said softly.The carcass twitched. "Margaret, is that you?" he uttered, not sure if the voice was coming from inside his head or was it a hallucination of his damaged mind."Bernard, what have you done to yourself?" the voice said sad."Please, tell me you are real," The burnt individua
Last Updated: 2023-11-26
Chapter: Drop of hope
The distraught woman was covered in construction material. Hurting all over, still scratching at her eye, she awaited the lava to engulf her while screaming in pain. It burnt her skull and brain, filling her nose with the disgusting smell of burned flesh. Digging in her claw into the socket, she yanked it out. Her eye, was not soft and squishy as expected. It was rock hard.Cassandra was stunned. She did not remember replacing it. It was her eye color and she could see through it, but it was made of glass. Overcome with vanquish, she hit the eye on the stone slab and...It broke. Just a little. And through the crack, a drop of water fell. The purest, shiniest drop she had ever seen. Touching the dark surface, it made it radiate warm bluish light. The liquid grew, spreading quickly into streams. Tiny bluish lines formed an ocean, covering every surface. She watched amazed. There was no more pain. Only peace.The hellish creatures stopped mid-flight. All looked up towards the portal in
Last Updated: 2023-11-26
Chapter: The fault of one
Managing to reach the city. Everything was eerily quiet. Filled with newfound hope, she rushed to the tower and into the elevator, hitting the button for the hospital floor. "I'm sorry, Teo. But I don't see any other way out of this," she muttered to herself, slowly creeping into the dim hallways. "You would understand if you were in my position." "Stop your yapping and get on with it already!" Jane said impatient. "There is no better time to get rid of him than now." She was right. With everyone gone, everything was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Even Lavinia was brought to the stands to witness the colossal event. Cass cautiously popped her head, glancing into the patient's ward. There was no one there. "They must have moved him," she stuttered. "Don't worry. We'll find him," Jane said. Cass moved from room to room, opening every door. He was nowhere to be seen. "Can it be that he had recovered?" went through her panic-stricken mind. "Don't be ridiculous. Not even demons
Last Updated: 2023-11-26
Chapter: Time to confess
The woman in her 50s entered the door of a pristine hospital. Calm and proud, she walked down the familiar hallways. Leaving her home made her increasingly queasy and weak, and the doctors were clueless of why. She had her suspicious, though.Her determined gate took her into the hospital room. Her dearest friend was there, on the verge of death, like all those years ago. Sadly, there was no saving her this time. Regina was frail, reduced to a mere skeleton with skin that clung like a loose suit. Seeing Tiffany, her lips curled up. Her son was the first to greet the newcomer."Thank you for coming, aunt Tiff," he said sniffing and shaking the woman's hand."You look terrible, dear. When was the last time you got a good night sleep?" she told Josh softly."I can't remember," he said, turning to his exhausted father.Tiff sighed. "Why don't you two go and have some rest? I'll take care of her now."The men agreed, and left the two women alone.Regina coughed, as her friend sat beside her
Last Updated: 2023-11-25
Chapter: Nice/bad
Basil entered the elevator deep in thought. "Nice guy," he exhaled, lowering his head. Starting to chuckle, he repeated the words, breaking into a crazy laugh as the elevator went down.He remembered a row of women and children coward as they were ushered by soldiers to a train. Thick snow covered the field, as their weak bodies shook under an insufficient amount of clothing. Alive and in his 30s, he counted bags placed on a folding table, neatly writing down all the valuable items in them. "Alright, if that is all, I will be on my way," he told the guards who escorted him to the gate. Once outside, he took a deep breath and looked at the gray sky. A small hand emerged from the snow, grabbing his hand. Startled, he looked down only to see a small boy in tatters. He was around ten, with large brown eyes, and small frozen fingers that protruded from his ripped gloves."Please, Sir. Take me with you," he begged, with his teeth chattering from the frost.The man tried to push the boy awa
Last Updated: 2023-11-25
Chapter: The patient
As soon as the elevator door opened, Basil and Cassandra rushed out. There was already a crowd in front of the patients room. His curious friends gathered devastated by the sight. Teo's face was completely dissolved, with only his fangs protruding. Her limbs were slowly growing back and many could see his torso moving, which meant his lungs were still functioning. The doctor mumbled at the crowd, explaining his condition with every new visitor."As I mentioned previously. His body is regenerating. With enough rest, his muscles will grow back! But it is crucial that he has peace and quiet," he yelled to another one of Teo's minions.Seeing the couple, Dr Mengele sighed, begrudgingly letting them through.Basil was genuinely happy to see his old friend, sitting next to his bed and held his charcoal hand stump. Cassandra faked it as best as she could, with Jane’s mockery driving her crazy. "Wow. You really did him dirty. Do you think his brain got fried in the process?" her annoying brai
Last Updated: 2023-11-24
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