Balam's Bargain

Chapter One: The Beginning

   I know how I got here. Four years ago I was in a bad place. My parents had just been murdered, both stabbed 13 times in the chest and throat. They were attacked in their home while he was sleeping. Their murderer was yet to be found and had been sending me letters, mocking me. Each of the letters consisted only of five words,"Catch me if you can". All I felt was hatred for the man who killed my mother and father.
   It was a cold December night and I walked home from a late shift. The frigid air numbing my face and hands. I was rushing to get home and out of the cold. There he was, standing under a lamppost smoking a cigarette.  I didn't know he was a demon at the time.
   The demon wore a fitted suit with a red tie and a necklace that held a strange symbol. His eyes were normal but seemed empty, and emotionless. The graying hair on his head was slicked back allowing the light to hit his face directly. The demon's sinister grin that was illuminated by the orange streetlight. He threw his cigarette to the floor and stomped it out.
       The demon looked at me and his unnerving smile widened. My stomach wrenched and I knew then he wasn't human.
   "I see you're in quite a pickle, Max", he spoke menacingly and looked me straight in the eyes.
   "Excuse me?"
   He waived his hand and a cloud of black smoke surrounded us. The smoke cleared and we were standing in my apartment. My eyes widened in fear and I backed away from him.
   "What the hell are you?!" I screamed.
   The demon lifted his hand and instantly I was thrown backwards against the wall. He threw his head back and cackled. His laughter struck terror into me and made me even more frightened.
   "Someone who can help", he said, still smiling widely.
   He had an eager, hungry looking expression on his corrupted face. He held his hand out and a thick fog appeared around it and left a long hand written contract with "Trade Terms" written in bold letters at the top.
  He smiled again and said,"Max, let's make a deal. I know you want to find the man who killed your folks, and I can help."
    Suddenly the fear was replaced with something else, both anger and vague interest. I had no idea what was going on and now this stranger was talking about my dead parents.
   "How exactly can you help?" I demanded, "I don't even know you!"
   "The name's Balam, and I know who killed your folks. I can help you get the revenge that you want so desperately," He smirked,"For a price."
   That part was definitely intriguing. All I'd wanted since my mom and dad died was vengeance, and this man was offering me just that. I didn't care the cost, I needed this.  
   "What price?" I asked impatiently.
   "Your soul" he offered.
   Was this guy serious? After the things I'd seen him do I didn't doubt that he could fulfill his side of the deal but was I willing to fulfill mine? I thought of the letters and suddenly I was flooded with rage.
   "Deal," I said through gritted teeth.
   "Excellent!" He cackled.
    Balam presented a black feathered quill and an open bottle of red, thick ink that seemed to move and throb. I took the quill, dipped it into the grotesque liquid, and signed.
   The moment the quill left the paper I felt a dull pain in my feet. It spread upwards and the pain intensified. Soon it felt as if needles were being shoved into me from all sides. I screamed in pain and I felt like I was going to collapse but something held me upright. Then, all at once, the pain stopped. I fell to the floor, heaving.
   I felt empty. Like a part of me was missing. My blood ran cold as I realized the depth of what I had just done. I sold my soul to this... this thing.
"Our deal is now sealed," he said while, his face turning serious and grim.
   He waved his hand once more and the document disappeared.
   "Now," he said,"Let's get down to business."