The demon's deal

First part and last part

Sure, here's the story from the beginning with all the requested changes:

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**Chapter One**

Alex was just a child when his world was shattered. At nine years old, he was accustomed to sleeping in his parents' room, plagued by recurring nightmares of a monster lurking in the shadows. His mother, exhausted from a late night shift, had grown frustrated with his nightly intrusions.

"Honey, there's no monster. Now leave mommy alone," she said, half-asleep.

Alex stood in the doorway, tears welling up in his eyes. "But Mom, I really saw it!"

"No more, Alex. Go back to your room," she insisted.

Heartbroken, Alex ran to his room. As he reached his bed, he froze in terror. A demon jester with a mask, its eyes gleaming with malice, stood before him, smiling. Alex walked backward, trying to suppress a scream, but it was too late. His scream echoed through the house.

His father woke up, alarmed, and opened the drawer beside him, grabbing everything in it. Alex's mother slowly woke up, her eyes widening as she saw her husband bruised and the red jester looming over them.

"John, what's happening?" she screamed.

"Get the powder!" John shouted, struggling with the demon.

Alex's mother grabbed a nearby jar of red powder and circled the demon, dodging its claws. She chanted something in Latin, and the demon snarled, squeezing John's head until it crushed. John fell to the floor, lifeless.

Alex was paralyzed with fear, watching the scene unfold. His mother finished the circle, and the demon was forced back into the depths of hell, its smile now one of rage and malice. Exhausted and drained, Alex's mother aged rapidly before his eyes.

"We love you, honey," she whispered, collapsing. "Get the book."

Alex ran to his mother, holding her aged body in his arms as she took her last breath. He then ran to his father's side, crying uncontrollably. The phone buzzed; it was 911, likely called by his father before the struggle.

"Please, help! My parents... they're..." Alex's voice trembled as he spoke to the operator.

**Chapter Two**

Six years had passed, and Alex was now 15, living as normal a life as he could. The horrors of his past were buried deep, only surfacing in the darkest corners of his mind. As the final school bell rang, Alex quickly grabbed his stuff to make it to Gamer's Paradise, where a massive line awaited for the new first-person shooter, **"Warzone Chronicles."**

"Alex, hurry up!" Roger, his only friend, zipped up Alex's bag. "We're gonna be late! Gamer's Paradise closes soon."

"Yeah, I know," Alex replied, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "But before we go, are you going to say hi to Lisa?"

Roger blushed and scratched the back of his neck. "I don't know. I don't think today is the day."

Alex gave him a look. "Really? You sure?"

Roger sighed, "Yes, I'm sure. Now let's get out of here."

Just then, Lisa's voice rang out, "Roger, is that you? How are you?"

Roger's face turned bright red. He turned around slowly. "Hi Lisa, I'm good. How are you?"

Lisa smiled. "I'm good now that school is over. Want to come shopping with us?"

Roger blushed even harder and stammered, "I'd like to. Let me just speak to my friend."

Lisa nodded, "Okay, see you outside." She and her friends walked away, giggling.