I stared out the grimy window, the leaden sky mirroring my mood. Another miserable day in a string of hopeless ones. The weight of my depression and loneliness was suffocating, crushing any spark of joy from my existence. I felt utterly lost, drowning in a sea of despair with no lifeline in sight.

Suddenly, anger simmered in my chest, a HOT, blinding fury at the cruel world that seemed to delight in my misery. "Fuck this!" I snarled, throwing open the window and standing there, arms akimbo, as the cold wind buffeted me.

It was then that I glimpsed it - a swirling, iridescent portal where there should be nothing but empty space. A chill ran down my spine as I recognised it for what it was: the gateway to hell.

Loona, the fearsome Hellhound, stood before the portal, her emerald eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. Imps flitted about her in a whirl of mischief, their cackles echoing through the night.

Without a second thought, I launched myself at the portal, plummeting through its shimmering veil as if drawn by a magnet. The plunge was dizzying, my stomach lurching as if I were free-falling from a great height.

Yet, as I tumbled through the void, a strange thought occurred to me – why die when I could skip it altogether? If I ended up in hell, at least I'd be out of the living nightmare that was my life. And who knew? Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

The descent finally ended with a thud that jarred my bones, leaving me disoriented and dazed. As my vision cleared, I found myself in a desolate plain, surrounded by jagged rocks and twisted, gnarled trees that seemed to writhe in agony.

"Ugh, great. Hell," I muttered, rubbing my sore head.

Just then, a sleek, crimson-coated figure emerged from the shadows, her eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my blood run cold. Loona, the Hellhound Queen herself, had finally noticed me.

She padded closer, her tail swishing ominously, before suddenly dropping to her haunches and extending a clawed hand, as if inviting me to pet her. "Well, well, well..." she purred, her voice like velvet wrapped around steel. "What do we have here?"

I stared at her in confusion, unsure what to make of this bizarre behaviour. But as I tentatively reached out to stroke her soft fur, something strange happened. A warmth began to spread through me, chasing away the icy chill of my despair. For the first time in ages, I felt a flicker of...not joy exactly, but a tentative sense of connection, of belonging. As if, in this forsaken place, I'd found a companion, a friend – perhaps even a lover. The thought sent a blush creeping up my cheeks, and I hastily withdrew my hand, not wanting Loona to see the vulnerability I'd let slip. "Uh, thanks. I guess," I said gruffly, trying to play it cool. To my surprise, Loona merely chuckled, a deep, throaty sound, and nuzzled my hand with her snout, seeking more affection. "You're quite the unusual visitor, human," she observed, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Most souls arrive...less calm, shall we say." I shrugged, still trying to process this peculiar turn of events. "Guess I'm not your average Joe," I replied, a small, valiant attempt at humour. Loona's expression softened, and she settled her massive form beside me, her warmth enveloping me like a living blanket. As I sat there, awkwardly stroking her velvety fur, a revelation slowly dawned on me – this fierce, otherworldly creature had rescued me from the brink of suicide. In that moment, I felt a surge of gratitude and...something more. A tenderness, a longing, a desire for connection that had lain dormant for so long. The sudden realisation hit me like a blow: I was falling for Loona, the Hellhound Queen. The knowledge left me stumbling, unsure how to proceed, how to acknowledge these strange new feelings. As I sat there, lost in thought, Loona nuzzled closer, her breath hot against my skin, and I knew I had to speak, to confess my growing sentiments before I lost my nerve. I cupped her chin in both hands, marvelling at the softness of her fur, then we curled and we fell asleep in each other's arms