Tales from the Devil's Cafe

Why do we exist if only to be shown one way at the end of it?

Death is inevitable and so is life. When measured upon the scale of fairness which does you think weigh more? Which will you choose? The void darkness of death or the vibrant breath of life…

"Neither. I'm not dead yet as I am still living an excruciating pain and yet I'm not alive as I am close to death's grip. What does that make me?"

A pathetic human that can't make up one's mind,

"Ah…neither Heaven nor Hell will have me,"

For nothingness is what you believe at the next stage.

"There is nothing after one's dead, a universal of void. But your very presence here makes it illogical. Why have you come?"

You called out to me.

"I did not."

In your mind, subconsciously you did.

"And so what then…you'll have my soul and leave me be. If that is what you have come for, then do it."

As much as I loved to, I cannot take an innocent soul voluntarily.

"Innocent! My soul is? Why? Have you got an unsaid rule with Him not to claim souls as you like?"

Not entirely, it's my rule instead. You see having a human give up so easily spoiled the fun. The very idea of taking a soul is to nourish it with fear born out of darkness, the very depth of evilness in a human's heart. The look on their faces when they have lost or breached a contract, tell me everything that I need to know of their misery, anxiety, regret and anything which is related to the sins they have committed. The cries and screams of agony, how intoxicating that it brought back reminiscence of the torture they have to go through.

So human, what will it be? To go against me or to cooperate with me, it is your pick.

"Does it matter? Either way you will have my soul. Winning is not an option for me, it is a set outcome for you. The Devil never loses."

I'm flattered. But that is not always the case I'm afraid. You did be surprised to learn that there were those who managed to…escape me with unforeseen circumstances. I believe our little chat has dragged on for quite awhile.

"So this is the end,"

Not so, you see I have decided to be generous today by granting you a wish…but under the condition of a signed contract with me.

"Hmm, as calculative as usual, if you insist…"

Oh I never insist. The choice is yours to accept or to decline. Mind I remind you that the clock is ticking and your breath is running shallow. Human, don't test my patience…

"You could've walked away, you know. Oh well, such a rare opportunity to present at my last remaining moment. I'd be a fool to turn it down and yet, am one to take it. Yes, I have a wish."

Let's hear it then.

"Let me be with you until the time has come for you to take what is yours in return. So, do we have an agreement?"

Yes.

And so the Devil devoured the maiden, drank her blood as it poured down her pale neck. Covered her in its entirety of phantom darkness and void, the being was everywhere and yet nowhere in sight.

She felt an immense pain on her right eye as something ghosted past it and pierced straight into the organ like a razor-sharp blade a thousand times over. Before she could cry out in agony the torment subsided and a lone tear escaped past her right eye, it left a trail of ruby red down her cheek. A menacing laughter she heard, hollow and deep but amused. And before she knew it, the Devil licked the trail of blood from her cheek and whispered to her in a cold steeling voice, "Welcome to my world."