Doomed to Die

Deal with the Devil

Hello all! Second chapters are so scary, because you're not sure if anyone's reading what you write and yet you're so excited to get on with the story. Hopefully I'll be able to keep the chapters coming in a relatively quick fashion. I'm not known for my punctuality when it comes to writing. Enjoy!

And once again, I must admit that I don't own Loki and the gang. One day, though...

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Chapter 2: Deal with the Devil

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My feet were rooted to the floor as a crowd of screaming people raced madly for the doors. I couldn't tear my eyes from the sight in front of me, where a man's eyeball was being plucked from his head. The man in the long coat, the one tearing the eyeball out, looked up from his work and scanned the room, a smile spreading across his face. His blue eyes fell on me, and I shivered at the cruel delight I saw inside them.

"Jenna, come on!"

I tore my eyes from the man's piercing gaze to see my friend Kelsey running towards the exit as she called my name. Suddenly my feet could move, and I ran towards the doors, dodging the altar bull's horns again.

Get to the the door, get out. Don't get caught, don't get killed, don't look back, just get out, I told myself. As I passed the altar I felt a smooth hand grasp mine and then slip away.

"Please, he-help me."

"What?" I said, stopping immediately. I turned to see the man on the altar, Dr. Schäfer, stretching a trembling and bloody hand towards me. The man in the coat was nowhere in sight.

"P-please help m-me," he whispered again, his arm falling to his side.

Oh my word. He's still alive.

I glanced back at the door, then looked at the doctor again. Sighing, I picked up a serving towel from the floor and rushed over to him. "It's going to be all right. Just stay still and--"

The words stuck in my throat as a hand twisted my arm, turning me around. The man in the coat dug his fingers into my arm. I winced as pain spread through my limb like a fire.

"What do you think you're doing?" He said in a low, even voice.

My mouth went dry immediately, fear choking the words back in my throat. "I just want to help him," I whispered.

The man stared down at me, that sickening look of delight still hiding in his eyes. "And yet I did not give you permission to do so, mortal."

Instantly a fire kindled inside of me and my face flushed red with anger. "Permission?" I said, my voice louder than before. "This man is dying and you want me to ask for permission to save him? Not very likely!" I yanked my arm from the man's grasp.

The man's eyes grew hard and cold. He walked towards me slowly, and I stumbled backwards until I was pressed fully against the altar. The man leaned down to whisper in my ear. "If you attempt to save him, then I will kill you."

My eyes widened and I gripped the edge of the altar so hard my knuckles cracked. This man wasn't serious, was he? The sight of him tearing the doctor's eye out came to mind again. Oh, he was most definitely serious.

The doctor is most likely going to die whether I help him or not. Why risk my life to save a dead man?

I shook my head as these thoughts came flooding in. I couldn't leave this poor man to die, could I? True, he had already lost an enormous amount of blood. He'd probably die anyway. I opened my mouth and began to choke out the words. "I... I don't..."

"Please..." The doctor's moan was weaker than before. I glanced back at him. His face was so white compared to the deep red blood surrounding him. I sighed and turned back to the man before me.

"Will you let me help him first?"

"What?" The man straightened and stared at me with surprise. I stood up straight and looked him in the eye.

"Will you let me help him before you kill me?" I said slowly.

The man stared at me as if he could not comprehend what I was saying. Slowly, a small frown formed on his face.

"Do as you wish," he said, turning on his heel.

A small sigh slipped through my lips as I turned to the doctor. I grabbed the towel and placed it firmly against his eye on an attempt to stop the massive flow of blood.

"Shh," I said. "Hold in there. Just breathe."

The doctor grasped my hand tightly and held it to his cheek. "I-I'm..."

I raised my other hand to his head and stroked his hair gently. "Don't speak. Save your strength."

Blood flowed over my hands and spilled onto the floor. The doctor shook, his white face covered with blood and sweat. He lifted his other hand and cradled my cheek.

"I'm sorry," he gasped, tears filling his eyes.

"For what?"

His hand dropped from my face. "That you will die because of me."

My eyes widened and I pressed another towel to his eye.  "No, don't you say that!" I gripped his hand more tightly. "Don't you dare!"

The doctor smiled at me, his teeth gritted in pain. "I'll try," he whispered. "I'll try."

"That's right, just hang in there." I ran over to the drink table and grabbed a glass of water. "Let's just get some of this blood washed off and we'll..."

My voice trailed off as I gazed at the figure on the table. The doctor's hand hung from the table, and his chest was still. I took his his wrist and held it, desperately seeking a pulse.

Nothing.

I folded the doctor's arms across his chest and kissed his forehead.  "I'm so sorry," I whispered.

"And so you sacrifice your life in vain," a smooth voice said. I turned to face the man in the coat, anger drying the tears that had formed in my eyes.

"Are you proud of yourself, murderer?" I spat.

The man drew himself to his full height and once again dug his fingers into my arm. "I am no murderer. I am Loki of Asgard." He turned on his heel, pulling me towards the doors. "And now you are mine, mortal."

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Yay, second chapter's done! Feel free to point out any grammatical or spelling errors. I know that I've stopped reading what could've been a good story just because there were too many mistakes of that kind. Thanks for reading!