Deal with the Devil

Benoit Facilier ran. He ran through the streets of New Orleans  until they gave way to the swamps of the Bayou. He kept going. The young boy kept running until he thought his chest was going to explode. 

He had never run that fast or far before. He was used to running, but today seemed like it was a thousand times worse. Just like almost every night, his father had stumbled in drunk  and proceeded to yell and throw things. Most nights Benoit just hid under his bed, but tonight had been different. Tonight his father had come home with his uncle. 

It was this uncle that had proceeded to drag him out from his hiding spot and begin beating him. His father was quick to join in.

He tried to fight back, but the two men were simply to strong for him, so he ran. 

He ran and they chased him. He ran until his legs were about to give out. He ran until he stumbled into the lair of a demon.

The demon watched the boy with curiosity. Not many wandered this far into the swamp, and none so small as this one.

He was certainly small and weak, but most importantly, he was afraid. Not just scared, but terrified.

The demon liked that. Things were so much easier when they were scared.

He crept down from his dead tree, little more than a shadow. Clawed hands formed from what seemed to be the thinnest wisps of smoke.

"Why have you come here, boy?" He said into his ear, his voice soft and velveted. "Not many come this far into the swamp."

The boy flinched at the sudden voice in his ear, but he did not flee.

"I'm running."

"From what?"

"Monsters."

"There are many who would call me a monster."

"The bad monsters are the ones that wear human faces. You are nothing compared to them."

The demon grinned, his eyes burning brighter with excitement. This was just to easy.

He put his arms around the boy in mock sympathy.

"I could help you," he crooned in the boy's ear. "I can do many things."

"Who are you?"

The demon drew himself up until he was as tall as the trees. His body billowed and writhed like smoke. His eyes were like two furnaces, hot and bright, spewing flame and embers, his voice now roaring with strength and power.

"I am the owner of these swamps! Here I am lord and sovereign ruler! I am the lord of shadows, sent here from the other side!" He paused his speech and shrank back down to the boy's size. "And all I want is to be your friend, to help you."

"You can get rid of my pa and uncle?"

"I can do something better. I can give you the power to get rid of them, if that's what you want."

"It is!"

"Good!" The demon roared. "Now there's just the matter of payment."

"Oh... I don't have any money..."

"Not money boy. I require something more."

"What?"

"Your soul."

"My soul?"

From out in the swamp, the cries of his father and uncle could be heard.

"It's just a small fee," the demon assured him. "You won't even miss it."

"I don't know."

The cries grew louder. They were getting closer.

"You had  better hurry and decide."

The boy looked out at the swamp, listening to the monsters grow closer.

"Deal."

The demon smiled. All to easy.

"Then it's done," he said. "I've given you access to my power."

Out in the swamp the two men came into view. Seeing the boy, they headed straight for him.

Looking down at his shadow, Facilier saw, with amazement, that it moved of it's own accord.

It stretched itself out across the water towards the men and grabbed onto his uncle's shadow. 

The man reacted as if he had been grabbed himself. He plunged into the water as the shadow dragged him under, his frantic splashes quickly silenced.

The father stood there, flabbergasted by what he had just seen. Then he ran, but the shadow was to quick for him. In a flash, all that remained of the two men were the ripples they left in the water.

Benoit Facilier was dumbfounded by what he had just seen, and more than a little scared. What had he done?

Behind him, the demon spoke, this time however, his voice wasn't soft and welcoming. It was rough and full of malice and hate.

"Remember boy, sooner or later, your bill will come due."

And with that, the boy was alone.