-Mike-

“Finally.” Mike said, now having full control over the body. “Hey, kid. You in there?”

No longer being in control, Michael felt a similar sensation to wearing a virtual reality headset. He was looking through the eyes of the body he shared with Mike, yet it felt as if he were merely looking through a screen. Meanwhile, as if he had a separate physical form from the one Mike was controlling, Michael felt as if he were in a constant state of floating in a cold void.

I think so… This is freaky. It feels like I’m floating swimming pool but at the same time, I can still feel what our body feels.

“Hmph. Well now that your useless ass isn’t the one in the driver’s seat, I’m going to get us out of here.” Mike gritted his teeth and began prying himself off of the cross. Those flaming veins of his began to bulge as the nails that were lodged in his hands were being forcibly removed.

Ow!

Despite having no control over their body, Michael could still feel every single bit of pain.

“Shut. Up. You sound like a little girl.” Mike was trying his hardest to ignore Michael’s bitching, but the bitching was louder than Mike’s own thoughts.

OW! STOP THAT! OW!

-Michael-

Michael regained control of the body and leaned backward into the cross before letting out a sigh of relief. However, the calmness quickly subsided once Michael started yelling at his bodymate. “Are you crazy!?” Michael asked.

Are you… an idiot? I’m trying to get us OFF of this damn thing!

“Yeah, well, it hurts. Badly. I don’t do pain.”

There was a brief silence between the two of them. ‘Is this dolt SERIOUS!?’ Mike thought to himself. ‘I share the same name and body with the biggest wimp that’s ever lived.’ Mike held his tongue, knowing that he had to be the mature one out of the two if they wanted to get out of this mess.

This lasted for three seconds.

AND I DON’T DO BEING TRAPPED ON A GODDAMN CROSS! NOW GIVE ME THE BODY!

“Hell no! That hurt WAY too much!” Michael looked over at his right hand. He could see blood oozing from where the nail was impaling him; however, the blood was orange in color and thick like slime. Michael moved his hand slightly, “AH!” he yelled before accidentally giving Mike control of the body once more.

Having full control, Mike began barking orders. “Shut the fuck up, kid! If you want out, then this is the only way!” Mike pulled his right hand forward once again, causing orange ooze to splatter outward. Before Mike could even begin making any meaningful progress, Michael retook control of the body.

“Stop hurting us then!”

You're the only one who can't take a little bit of pain, you little punk. And stop taking the body back! If you would’ve let me do what I was trying to do, we’d be out of this mess already!

“I don’t care. If we’re in Hell, then getting out of this is pointless anyway!”

And hanging here for all eternity is even more pointless! Give me the body!

“No, fuck you!”

Stop being a little punk!

“No!”

Give me the body you little shit!

“N. O. NO!” As Michael screamed, he leaned his body forward once more, and blood spewed from his hand. Mike suddenly gained control of their body once more. This time, however, he decided to take a more sympathetic approach before making any sudden movements.

-Mike-

“Alright, Michael. Listen to me. You said you believed in the Christian form of God, right?”

Yes…

“Well, last time I checked, that religion doesn’t describe Hell as living in a prison cell. So that means everything you know about the afterlife as a concept is wrong. Therefore, this could all be some sort of test to see if we have the fortitude to get off of this cross and get out of that door. I mean, look at it. It’s locked from the INSIDE. We’re meant to open it.”

So what?

“So… I need your help. I’m going to start pulling. When you gain control of the body, I need you to pull too, alright? We’re gonna get out of this if we work together. I just need you to be a man!”

But it hurts!

Mike exhaled before changing the manner in which he spoke closer to that of a father. “I know it does. But if we want out, we have to endure the pain. Remember what I said? This could all be a test. What if the pearly white gates are right beyond that door?”

Yeah? For the mass murderer who killed eleven people?

“You said God is forgiving right? Besides, it's not like I killed 'em 'cause it's fun. They deserved worse.”

Fine. I’ll do it.

“Alright. If we switch, keep pulling. Ready? One. Two. Three!” Mike started to pull his right arm free from the cross. The sound of flesh tearing was muted by the sounds of him grunting in agony. Every once in a while, Michael would regain control and those grunts would turn into girlish screams as he made progress in their effort.

-Michael-

Eventually, they were able to push through the pain, and their right arm was freed, however, the nail was still stuck inside. “OWOWOWOWOW!” Michael whined, looking down at his trembling black hand that was oozing orange blood.

It’s not over yet. Pull the nail out from our left hand now.

“Isn’t that gonna hurt WORSE!?” Michael whimpered.

Just do it!

Reluctantly, Michael began pulling on the head of the nail with his right hand. Again, the sounds of flesh being torn would have been heard if it wasn’t for Michael screaming like a wimp. Just like before, as they pushed through the excruciating pain, the one in control of the body would shift every second. Before long, the nail was successfully pried from their palm and their body slammed on the ground.

“We did it…” Michael whispered, breathing heavily on his hands and knees.

We? I did most of the work while you screamed like a little bitch.

“Seriously, man? Not even a ‘good job’ or a pat on the back?”

Even if I could pat you on the back, I wouldn’t. Now get off your ass and open up that door.

“Fiiiine. Christ, you sound like my old man.”

Maybe we’re related.

Michael rose to his feet and approached the cell door. It was locked by a wooden bar but from the inside, just as Mike said it was. Michael lifted the bar before pushing the door outward. Immediately, he was hit by a blast of cold wind that nearly blew him back inside of his cell. When he stepped outside, he looked to his left and right, only to find that there were an infinite amount of cells, just like his, that spanned further than the eye could see.

Directly in front of him was a tower, one so high that he couldn’t even see the top of it. Though he could only make out its silhouette, It looked unlike any sort of structure he’d ever seen before. It was abstract, seemingly defying gravity as some parts that protruded outward should have disrupted the center of balance, yet the building stood tall and straight.

“I guess we head for the tower then.” Michael uttered.

Looks like that’s our only option, now move it.

“You know, you can try being a little nicer? Maybe try saying ‘move it, please’. You sound like a drill sergeant.”

No.

Michael sighed. “Alright, then.”

Michael piloted their body forward, through the blizzard, and toward the gargantuan tower that was practically calling their names in front of them. Unbeknownst to the two of them, this was but the start of their long journey, one where the two of them would have to learn to get along if they wanted to survive.