Deals With the Devil

Chapter 1

Halloween 2016

The wind was whipping against her skin. The branches were trying to stop her, to cling to her arms. But she pushed through, she needed to escape. No matter what. The tears endlessly running down her face didn't help, they kept blurring her view. But she knew that she couldn't stop moving, not for one second. Suddenly the trees stopped, the girl had reached the end of the forest, but she kept running.

She started to slow down because her lungs were on fire, desperately trying to get more oxygen in. Her heart was beating over time. She leant against the nearby lamppost, trying to catch her breath, looking like a fish out of water. The girl slowly slipped down the post, before reaching the ground. Tears continued to roll down her cheeks, falling onto the dusty ground.

Eventually her breathing slowed and she could look at her surroundings. There was nothing around. In the far distance she could make out the forest she had just escaped. The lamppost was the only thing close to her now. The lamppost stood at the corner of a crossroad. The girl let out a light chuckle at the irony of where she was.

She started praying to God to give her a way out. But God wasn't listening. Someone else was. Somebody who understood.

Moments of silence filled the air, the girl just thinking of what to do next. All she had was her phone and her wallet. Taking out her wallet, she went to check to see how much money she had. Opening it she saw that she had forgotten to pick up her money when she ran from home. Just wonderful, the girl thought. Now she was stuck, without money she was going nowhere fast. Sighing she put the wallet back into her back pocket.

It became eerily silent, no noise could be heard. The girl looked up at the sudden silence. There in front of her stood a boy about her age. She quickly stood up so she was now level with him. His eyes looked red for a second before going to a chocolate brown. Just a trick of the light, the girl figured.

"Who are you?" the girl stuttered, half from tears and half from the sudden appearance of this boy.

The boy smirked. "I'm Daniel. Who are you beautiful?" A small blush rose on the girls face.

"Riley." She quietly replied.

"Well Riley, what are you doing out here?" Daniel asked raising an eyebrow.

Riley didn't really know, she just had to get away. Now she was in the middle of nowhere, with some stranger. "I don't really know."

Daniel gave her a serious look; he didn't believe her for a second. Riley let out a sigh, thinking before she spoke. Could she really tell a stranger everything? The answer: yes. Who else could she tell? Riley mumbled a quick, "Long story." silently hoping that Daniel hadn't heard.

"I have time, besides it must be one hell of a story for you to end up alone, in the middle of nowhere."

"Well short version, Dad blames me for everything and I just want anything other than this life."

Daniel saw how upset Riley was so he took her hand in his. "Clearly your father is an idiot. You shouldn't put everything on a child like that. But luckily for you, I have someone who understands."

Riley looked at Daniel confused, what did he mean 'someone who understands'.

Daniel saw her confusion and quickly elaborated. "I can give you everything you want. I can give you a way out. A way to a better life. All I need is a kiss from you."

Riley took a step away from Daniel, looking at him as if he was crazy. "Are you insane? You're some random person, in the middle of nowhere. You could kill me."

Daniel laughed. "If I was going to kill you, don't you think I'd have done it by now?"

"Okay, fair point. Why do I have to kiss you?"

"It's the only way to seal the deal."

Riley thought about it for a moment. He was offering everything that she wanted. But this did seem dodgy. Yet she would never get this chance again. Even if he did kill her, it's a way out. Why not? Riley finally decided.

"If I do this, you can take me away."

Daniel stepped closer to Riley. "Far away. You'd be with someone who knows all about crap fathers."

"Okay."

"Wonderful.", Daniel said clapping his hands. As they were leaning in, Daniel stopped. "There is a small catch."

Of course, Riley thought. "What is it?"

"For me to give you what you want, you need to do something."

"I thought kissing you was the cost?" Riley asked, once again confused.

"Oh no, that's just how we seal deals."

"Okay, so what do I have to do?" Riley said becoming annoyed. She just wanted out.

"You need to join an army."

Weird, Riley thought but she was past caring. "Okay."

"Seriously?" Surprise laced Daniel's voice. Riley just nodded.

"Perfect." Daniel smiled and continued leaning in. Sealing the deal with a kiss.