Young Writers Society

A Puzzling Victim: Prologue

I raised my glance to the heavenly light that I couldn’t help but figure was a bit mocking while it hung above numerous others and myself. Flames surrounded the ground surface of which my bare feet stood upon, and every breath seemed continuously to remind me of the first time I had ever experienced the harsh addiction of smoking. Ah yes, I remember the horrific coughing and lightheaded surge that was expressed shortly after I breathed in the toxic drug. I had gasped and coughed for a minute or two. Well, I make the comparison lightly. Hell was far beyond the after effects of a simple drag of cigarette smoke. Unlike the nicotine counterpart, the fires of hell were never-ending, non-escaping and unforgiving. Every gasp felt as if it were filled with poisonous fumes. Your environment was composed of fire that surrounded and burnt your flesh, yet you did not die. Constant torment. This truly was a horrid place that I wouldn’t even wish upon those I absolutely despised in my human life. The cruel part about it was that I couldn’t do anything to change it. No matter how terribly I wanted it to. My fate had been decided. I had been damned to an inescapable darkness. The only things heard in this place were pleasant screams of torture and the bursting sounds of fire that arose from the coal black ground underneath my, and all the other billions of inhabitant’s feet.

A small smirk rose across my cheeks. Yes. I was living it large. If the afterlife counts as living that is. However, now that I think back on my human life, I always did lean more towards loud places and warm weather. Although, normally it was loud music and tolerable heat, here, it was a bit worse. No, terribly worse. I found it rather humorous how similar the afterlife was compared to my own sweet human lifespan, which, living hell seemed to represent both rather admirably.

I chuckled quietly and shook my head. I could strictly remember uttering to myself while I was alive that it couldn’t possibly get any worse. I was terribly wrong. I truly lived a pathetic life, and my afterlife wasn’t living up too much either. I was in constant agony and torment. However, as horribly unlucky my pathetic life and soul was and is, there did seem to be a small light at the end of the tunnel. Well, in a certain tense of course. I’d already passed through that tunnel quite some time ago.

Still, among the yelling and screaming and writhing cries of agony, there was a way out. Not forever, of course. Just for a short while. Turns out that throughout all the different billions of lucky people that managed to arrive in this oven paradise, Satan, the living hell himself, gives a select few the opportunity of returning to the surface, allowing them to leave this fiery furnace. And coincidentally, I had been chosen. Humans refer to us as demons, the workers of Satan that wreak havoc amongst all mankind. To be honest, none of us knew why we were selected. We never questioned the matter. All we knew was that it gave us the ability to leave. Sure, we’d have to cause a few humans to suffer. Yet, I was hoping one might get used to the idea overtime. We weren’t particularly worried about their fate. The humans. At least they still had a fighting chance of escaping this eternal death. Ours, on the other hand, had already been decided. So, why not take the opportunity of getting some fresh air every once in a while? While we still can, I suppose.

I let out a small sigh before I finally turned away from the light that I would never be able to meet. My rugged black wings protruded through the skin on my bare back and spread open wide. That was the difference between the non-selected and I. A few others and myself had been gifted with fowl wings that allowed us to leave willingly. And each and every one of us took them for granted.

A soft and distinct hiss unexpectedly came across my ear as I prepared to ascend: dark, menacing, and leaking with poison.

“Perish…”

I almost instantly recognized this voice. After all, how could one forget the sound of the devil himself?

“I’m afraid…” he paused for a short moment.

“I have something else for you to do this time. “

The words were spoken in a soft whisper as if I were being foolishly tempted to eat the forbidden fruit, a voice that could only lead me towards a path of destruction.

“…..”

I kept silent before I lowered my head to avoid the sight of the slithering monster, my eyes hidden by the bleach blonde hair that drooped over my own forehead. My body tensed and my fists clenched. I’d have to grow use to this. Although, I wasn’t entirely sure I ever could.

“Shall I show you?”

The hissing of the snake dragged out the words as he spoke them, knowing that he was about to get exactly what he wanted.

I nodded in silent approval. As if I truly had a choice.

The feeling of a snake traveled over my shoulders before its tail curled and twisted around my forearm. The body of the slithering demon wrapped around my own self as its tongue hissed in my ear. My mind overflowed with instructions, images, and immediately I understood and agreed.

I heard a sound of amusement and before I could realize that I’d left, my eyes opened, immediately grasping that my body was no longer weighed down by a haunting figure. I found a recognizable light hitting my eyes. They squinted as the moon shone brightly and once again reminded me of where I was. My arms and legs used what little muscle they had left to force my body up and onto my feet before lifting my head and gazing around the dark wooded clearing I’d landed in. My mind was brought back to the task that had been placed upon my shoulders. I remembered the single and most mesmerizing soul I’d have to take. Yet, something was rather suddenly brought to my attention.

“How irritating.” I mumbled before letting out a large groan and running my fingers through my coarse blonde hair.

Despite my instruction, there already seemed to be a troubling matter only a few minutes in. I have no idea where I’ve landed…

I couldn’t help but notice that the scenery was strange and even unclear at times. It appeared to be out of focus, and I was struggling to make out anything at all really. This wasn’t where I thought it was. As far as I could tell, I had not been returned to the surface. Bare trees surrounded me, and the dry grass underneath my feet dug into my skin.

What is this place? I wondered, a bit confused as to what was truly going on. My eyes narrowed a bit as I searched for answers based on the instructions given to me. Yet, a cautious female voice that suddenly echoed from the darkness of the forest interrupted my disordered thoughts. My head turned quickly in surprise and my pale, sky blue eyes landed on a girl that had to be no older than 17. And, despite the sceneries distortion, she was perfectly clear.

“How did you get in here?”

She appeared to be staring at me rather uncertainly and my attention became fully focused on the person standing not to far away. I glanced over her and at that exact moment, I knew. I still had no idea where I was. However, I was placed here for a definite reason. My eyes narrowed and my lips twisted upward as a devilish smirk came across my face.

It was her.

The one soul I was sent to take was standing right in front of me. I recognized her from the images that had been placed in my mind a short time ago. She had long brunette hair that flowed down along her shoulders, and a crown of woven leaves that pinned back any pieces of hair that might have covered her face. She wore a pure white dress, and she had piercing green orbs that continued to stare at me in question.

My devilish grin grew bigger, and I chuckled.

Could it be this easy? I thought to myself.

Here she stood before me, as if she were offering me an invitation. Her soul was within my very grasp already. It was almost disappointing. Boring would be the proper word to describe it.

I drew a few steps forward as I glanced at her once more.

If you’re so ready to d—

My eyes widened as I noticed something I hadn’t before. Something was wrong. I couldn’t see it. Her soul. I couldn’t see a soul laced around her beating heart.

Where was it?! I grew a bit frustrated as I desperately tried to search again and again. I wasn’t deluding myself. No. No matter how many times I looked, it was empty. She was empty.

I tensed as my sapphire gaze glared a bit towards the girl.

“Is something wrong, Perish?” She uttered eerily and my surprised façade left almost instantly. A large and fascinated grin spread across my cheeks as I took in the situation.

Interesting…