As they neared the alley across from the junction of Olive and Vine, Benji double-checked the list. "Oh, no! The feathers! I forgot the feathers! How'm I gonna find feathers in the dark?"
"Don't worry about that," a voice replied from the alleyway. Nick chuckled as they walked closer. "I collected them for you." The fidget spinner spun in his fingers, red lights flashing. "You two cut it close. Only an hour to spare."
"Your list took us all over the city," Raeph replied.
"Yes, well, it was for an important cause, wasn't it, Benji? That makes all the trouble worth it, yes?"
"H-here's the stuff you asked for," Benji said, holding out his backpack. "My mom's gonna get better now, right?"
Nick threw back his head and laughed, causing his hood to fall away, once more revealing his horns. "Yes, yes, your mother will be fine. And don't worry a thing about the backpack. Those trinkets were really just steps to the goal. The true cost for your mother's healing is one fallen angel." He smirked at Raeph and pulled seven feathers from his pocket. "Look at these beauties. You've been losing them all day. And look, they're each a little different... Wanna know which one is my favorite?" He fanned out the feathers, arranging them so the slow progression from pure white to dull grey could be seen, reciting, "Stealing, cheating, lying, coveting, lusting..." The feather on the end, all grey and dull, had a tip of black. He looked up from the feathers to Raeph's horrified face. "What do you think the Old Man will do with you? I doubt even his Son will come to your defense; you know how he feels about leading little ones to sin..."
"No," Raeph whispered.
"Come, old friend. I have a case to bring to the Old Man, and you're the accused!" He linked arms with Raeph. "And you were right—a devil can't change his horns; but, an angel can change his wings!" He winked at Benji. "Ta-ta for now, kiddo. Tell your mom I said hi."
Benji gasped, backpack dropping to the cement, as Nick and Raeph disappeared.
He stood there for a moment, then slowly looked around. Finally, he grabbed up his backpack and raced out of the alley; he didn't stop running until he reached the hospital, where his mother was just opening her eyes.
YOU ARE READING
The Contract
FantasyBenji's only desire is for his mother to recover from the accident. When he meets a mysterious stranger in an alley who offers to grant his most fervent desire, can he trust this stranger's word? And when the cost of this deal is to complete a stran...
