THE MONSTER INSIDE ME (#ONC2024)

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE REBELLION

I was in prison for a brief time. Once again, they demonstrated my innocence. There was no evidence of me at the crime scene. But I was marked. I carried the evil within myself.

I returned to my home. I no longer had a job or anyone who cared about me.

The demon returned, carrying promises of grandeur from him. I did not believe it. I stopped believing in anything or anyone. Not even in me. The rebellion within me grew stronger each day.

I was determined to make the damn demon feel I had accepted, but this was not the case. I planned to play with him first, followed by his destruction. The demon underestimated my resilience and determination. My plan for revenge was carefully calculated and executed with precision.

"Okay. I am going to give you souls, but only men's." I told the demon on a warm summer day.

"I don't care if they're just the souls of men, but I want them now!" The demon replied, his fiery eyes glowing with anticipation.

His deep voice no longer terrified me. I was a woman of stone. I did not feel anything, and I did not want to feel anything.

Some day, walking around the streets slowly, I came across a modest store that piqued my interest. It was dark and smelled odd. When I peeked through the window, I noticed a book about esotericism. Noa once spoke to me about magic and esotericism. They were not witches, but they enjoyed these themes.

I chose to enter the gloomy store. I wanted to learn more about demons and how to destroy them. As I stepped into the store, a bell above the door chimed softly. The dim lighting and musty smell of old books surrounded me, creating a sense of mystery and intrigue.

There were dusty crystal balls, ancient spell books, and jars filled with mysterious herbs lining the shelves. At the counter, there was an ugly, small man with a lustful expression. I didn't care, so I approached him, saying:

"I want to learn about demons and how to get free of them."

He responded in a sybilline voice:

"You've arrived at the perfect place. I know about it."

"Tell me," I said.

"Shall we go to the back room to be more comfortable?"

"No, son of a bitch. I want to outwit the demon who is hunting me. Can you help me, or not?" I exclaimed in anger.

The tiny man responded:

"It is impossible. I'm sorry, but I can't help you."

I was so enraged that I wanted to punch the small man. I explained to him: 

"He wants me to get him souls, but I don't want to kill anyone."

The tiny man looked at me with pity in his eyes and whispered:

"There may be another way to outsmart the demon without resorting to violence."

I leaned in closer, eager to hear his alternative solution. But just as he was about to speak, a loud crash interrupted us as the demon burst into the room, ready to claim his soul.

As the demon approached us, the tiny guy hastily took out a small talisman and recited a spell, but the demon pursued him fiercely, killing him instantly in front of my eyes.

I witnessed his soul leaving his body and being absorbed by the demon's jaws.

"You had to do that; I don't want to waste time looking for food. Go and do what you have to do," growled the demon, his voice filled with fury.

Then he vanished. I observed the man's body, now with his head pushed against the counter. Blood splattered across the counter and dropped to the floor. I glanced at it, captivated, yet I heard a voice in my head.

'Go away; do not drink the blood. Don't condemn yourself anymore. In the future, I will assist you.'

It was a man's voice—nice and soothing. I "saw" the man in my mind. He was a mature, gorgeous man. His blue eyes were filled with compassion and understanding. I knew then that I was not alone in this dark world of demons and bloodlust. I listened to him and escaped to avoid becoming involved in a new crime.

For a while, the demon forgot about me. Perhaps he was satisfied. I had a new job cleaning a mature woman's home. Physical activity helped me stop thinking. I focused on my new job, trying to bury the memories of the demon and his tempting words. The routine of cleaning and staying busy kept me grounded and distracted from my dark thoughts.

At night, I remembered the mysterious man. And I asked myself who he was. Whether he existed or was simply in my head, I'd have to wait and find out. But deep down, a part of me hoped he was real.