Lucifer and Andy reach the main lobby of the first layer. Once again, the lobby is fairly typical. A main desk, waiting area, multitude of elevators, and glass. Glass everywhere. Glass doors, windows, even the televisions were of the futuristic glass variety. Side note: bulls are banned from the Hell main lobby. 

Lucifer steps out first and Andy follows him rubber banding his head back and forth trying to absorb everything he’s seeing. Demons with wings, horns, other giant bugs, and quite a few humans. Lucifer stops by the front desk and talks to the blond woman with a snake’s lower half. “Hey, Janette! How’re the kids?”

“Hi, Lucifer! They’re fantastic. Little Danny has just started slithering on his own.” Janette is clearly proud of her child. He is cute - if you like half snake people.

“Oh that’s incredible! I’m going to be out for the rest of the day, I’m showing the new guy around, so can you take messages for any calls I may get?” Lucifer seems rather kind.

“Of course, Boss. And is that the new human hire?” Janette points to Andy with intrigue. Andy points at himself in confusion. He wasn’t paying close attention to the conversation. Lucifer turns to Andy and nods him over.

“Yes he is. Janette, I’d like you to meet Andy. Andy, this is Janette. She is one of our fabulous receptionists and also my outstanding assistant.”

Andy smiles and tries to find something to say. “Hi. Nice to meet you. You have wonderful… scales.”

Janette giggles at his desperate attempt to compliment her. “Thank you, Andy. You’re gonna have a great time working here. You two have fun!”

“Thank you, Janette. You’re a sweetheart.” Lucifer smiles and knocks on the front desk twice and walks to the front door. Andy nods to Janette and she smiles and gives him a wave while trying to stifle her laughter. He does the awkward jog-hop-step combo that one does when trying to catch up to someone who they’re falling behind but is only two or three steps away.

As they push through the pristine glass door, Andy finds himself in a brand new world. Stone, glass, concrete, and brick loom over him. Eyeing the buildings, none of them could be less than 30 floors. They make the two men look like ants and the giant ant look like a human. Andy nearly defecated in his pants when he saw the ant. The ant’s name is Stan. Stan has a doctorate in art history.

Lucifer holds out both arms to present the city to Andy. “This is your new home! Here in Hell, demons and humans live and work together in harmony.” 

Andy nods and turns his body away from the man with a spider head. “Can I ask you something, sir?” Lucifer puts his hand out to offer the opportunity to Andy. “You said that everyone lives together in harmony, how do you not have problems with racism? Humans are pretty terrible towards anything that looks different from them.”

Lucifer nods. “Usually humans go through a little sensitivity training to make sure they know what demons are like and that they’re not very different but we had to rush you into the system and figured you’d learn through the job. Plus, most of the obnoxious and overt racists are on the lower levels so we rarely have to deal with them.” Andy is intrigued. It makes sense. “Speaking of which, you have a unique living arrangement as you’ll be in employee housing which means your apartment neighbors will be demons.”

“Huh,” Andy squints in skepticism.

“Don’t worry, you’re gonna love the place. Heck, let’s show you there now. I believe your building is just a few blocks away.” Lucifer leads Andy down several streets past various banks, stores, and one too many of both Starbucks and Subway. “Alright, here we are.” Lucifer stops in front of a glass door between a deli and a Dunkin’ Donuts. “I know it doesn’t look like much from here but get inside and you’re going to flip.”

Lucifer smiles and opens the door. With a grand gesture, he waves Andy in and bows. As Andy walks into the small hallway, it explodes open into a grand lobby akin to a hotel like the Ritz. Andy was dumbfounded. He ran back outside and looked at the door again before running in and spinning around in awe. Lucifer chuckles and walks in to stand beside him. “We treat our employees well but we don’t want to limit the town. So we make these little pocket dimension apartment complexes for our demons.”

“Holy… Crap.” It took a lot for Andy not to cuss. “This is nuts! Do I seriously live here?” Lucifer nods. A slug slides by.

“Hey Mark! Anyways, yes you live here now Andy. It’s your little piece of Heaven in Hell! I came up with that slogan for our real estate team.” Lucifer looks proud of himself.

“Clever.” Andy can’t even look at him, he’s too busy admiring the chandelier bigger than an SUV. “So what floor am I on?” Andy snaps back to the reality of the pocket dimension apartment complex in Hell and looks to Lucifer with a newfound excitement.

“Well follow me.” Lucifer raises his eyebrows with a knowing slyness. He guides Andy to the elevators. When they step inside Lucifer presses floor 28 and they’re there in an instant.

“How did we get up so fast?” Charlie stares out the elevator in shock.

“Benefits of a pocket dimension, this elevator is really just a set of portals to each floor.”

“Huh.”

“Come on. Your apartment is this way.” The two wander the halls to reach 2807. “So here’s something interesting to know, no apartments have keys here! They’re bound to your soul. Only you, your caseworker, and anyone you give permission to can open your door. Here, try it.”

Andy turns the knob and starts to push open the door only to be stopped by a panicked woman’s voice screaming: “No! No no no no no! Wait! Close the door! It’s not ready!” Andy and Lucifer look at each other confused while Andy slowly closes the door.

 A few seconds later, the door cracks open and a mostly human demon slides out of the small opening to make sure neither man can look in. When she turns around, Andy notices her lavender skin and yellow eyes, short horns and white hair that - despite being pulled into a tight ponytail near the top of her head - hangs to the middle of her back. She’s wearing a nice grey pants suit and white button up. 

“Hi! Sorry about that.” Her smile is painfully pure. “I’m Becky! You must be Andy.” Her hand rockets out towards Andy fast enough that he flinches for a moment before realizing it’s a greeting and not an assault.

“Yes, I am. May I ask why you were in my apartment?” Andy points to the door behind her which prompts Becky to do an awkward half-turn back and a mouth dance that shows she’s trying to find the words to justify her actions.

“Oh, well. I’m your manager! I was just setting up your apartment and I didn’t want you to see it until it’s ready though. I wanted this one to be really special though cause you’re the first human to work in our department! I promise it’ll be ready by tonight.”

“Thank you,” Andy is happy but isn’t quite sure why. “But what do you mean by setting it up? Isn’t it just an apartment?”

Becky looks surprised and turns to Lucifer while still pointing to the confused human. “Did he not get the orientation?”

“No, he did not.” Lucifer looks embarrassed that this has come up so many times. “Andy, one of the jobs of a case manager is to copy the recently deceased belongings into their new home and set things up, decorate, etc.”

“Wait, all of their personal belongings?” Andy is clearly panicked but is trying, and failing, to seem calm.

Becky laughs. “Trust me, Andy. I’ve seen much much worse. Though it was interesting to learn that you’re into that thing.” Her emphasis on the word ‘that’ made Andy turn a shade of red darker than an offensive painting of the devil. Becky starts laughing harder. “I’m just messing with you.” She winks at him so now he’s not sure if she is messing with him or not.

Lucifer offers a saving grace to his new employee. “Becky, are you sure Andy can’t just get a peek? He’ll be living here for eternity after all.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I really want to make sure this one is perfect. How about this? Andy, give me your phone number and I’ll send you some pictures of the place.” Becky pulls out her phone and waits for Andy to start listing numbers.

Andy looks between the two demons in the hallway. “I-I’m pretty sure I lost my phone when I died.”

“Oh!” Lucifer does a remembering snap and reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a phone that somehow looks fancier than any smartphone on Earth.  “This is your company issued cell phone! The number is on the back there.”  Lucifer hands the phone to Andy and points to the label across the back.

“Thank you. I have no clue how this works but my number is,” we’ve omitted his number here to prevent readers from racking up interdimensional long-distance charges by trying to prank call him.

“Awesome!” Becky finishes adding his number and makes an exaggerated tap on her screen. “And I sent you a text so you have my number!” The text said ‘Hi there!’ with a winking-tongue-out emoji.

“Got it. Thanks, Becky. As soon as I figure out how to unlock the phone I’ll make sure you’re the first person I add to my contacts.” As he says this, Andy taps and struggles with the device in his hand before just sliding it in his pocket and smiling.

Lucifer holds up a finger to stop him. “Actually the company number, my number, and the numbers of my three favorite take-out restaurants are already pre-loaded onto the phone.”

“Then I’ll make sure you’re the sixth person I add to my contacts.” Andy nods in awkwardness.

Becky smiles wide. “OK, great! I’m gonna get back to work on your apartment. Get excited for those pictures!” Andy thought that sounded dirty. Lucifer didn’t, however. Becky slides back into the apartment, making sure that neither guy can see in.

Andy turns to Lucifer. “So how do I unlock this phone?”

“I’ll tell you in the elevator.” Lucifer heads back down the hallway.