Dishonor From Nightmares

Chapter 36

The night was frigid, and a heavy mist hung as Artur Besnik stood at the crossroads deep in the forest's heart. The eerie silence was broken only by the distant hoot of an owl and the rustle of leaves in the wind. Artur's heart pounded in his chest, and his breath came out in visible puffs as he clutched a small, worn, leather-bound book in his trembling hands. It was an old family heirloom, filled with cryptic incantations and rituals passed down through generations.

Artur's girlfriend, Elena, lay in a hospital bed miles away, her body ravaged by cancer that had spread mercilessly. The doctors had given her just a few weeks to live, and Artur couldn't bear the thought of losing her. Desperation had driven him to this moment, where he believed only one option remained.

He had heard tales and whispers in the internet's darkest corners and from old, superstitious relatives. Stories of making deals with the devil at a crossroads, exchanging one's soul for a favor, a miracle. Artur had scoffed at such tales until he saw the life slowly draining from Elena's once-vibrant eyes.

With a deep breath, Artur began to recite the incantations from the book. Words that had no business existing in the realm of the living tumbled from his lips, and the air grew colder with every syllable. As the final words left his mouth, the ground beneath his feet seemed to shudder, and the mist coalesced into a sinister, swirling shape.

From the depths of the swirling mist emerged a figure. Tall and imposing, it wore a sharp, black suit that seemed to absorb what little light remained. Its eyes were fiery embers, and a wicked smile curled across its lips.

"You've summoned me, Artur Besnik," the figure hissed, its voice dripping with malice.

Artur's voice quivered as he replied, "I'll make a deal with you. My soul, in exchange for saving Elena from her cancer."

The demon's laughter echoed through the forest, sending shivers down Artur's spine. "A noble sacrifice, but you should know that deals with the devil come at a price. Are you prepared for the consequences, Artur?"

Artur hesitated, but the image of Elena's suffering face flashed before his eyes. He nodded, determination etched on his face.

The demon extended its hand, and Artur reluctantly placed his trembling palm against it. At that moment, he felt an intense burning sensation as a contract was forged, binding his soul to the demon's will.

As the contract sealed, the demon's eyes flared, and it whispered, "It is done."

With a sinister grin, the demon vanished into the mist, leaving Artur alone at the crossroads, his soul forever marked by a desperate choice. He knew the consequences would be dire, but at that moment, all that mattered was the hope that Elena would be spared from the grip of cancer.

Little did Artur know that the price he had paid was far greater than he could have ever imagined for himself.

"Halt, you moldy whore-blooded worm!" The harsh words rang out, a volley of insults that Lucifel absorbed with irritation and defiance. He emerged from the forest, his steps deliberate and his gaze narrowed. Across the grassy expanse stood a lone soldier, his presence a stark interruption in the tranquil surroundings of the abandoned children's park.

Lucifel's lips twisted into a derisive snarl as he retorted. The annoyance was evident in his tone. "Oh, for fuck's sake, when can you dour dirt-licking mongrels leave me the fuck alone?" The soldier's words were met with his fiery response, his voice dripping with contempt. "I already have one sniveling coward thinking they can insult me." He studied the curly green-haired male before him, his red eyes locking onto the defiant glare that radiated from the soldier. Lucifel's scoff was a dismissal, a proclamation of his disdain for the situation.