The Raven

Last Hope

As I was thinking of a way to help her out, I could hear the low growling coming from the Devil. I knew there wasn't a lot of time left. So I grabbed my friend's hand making her focus on me. 

"Listen to me!" I said. 

"There is only one person that can stop him, and that person is you. You need to try to hold on to yourself even after the time restarts. You need to exercise your free will! Tell him no! Refuse the dark union and stand up for the humans we left behind! Stand up for yourself! 

We all have the power in ourselves, but the Devil told me that yours is much bigger than that of a regular person. Use that power to change the world for the better, stop him from terrorizing the land of the living. There isn't much I can do against him right now, but you have the power not to give in. Not to allow him to tap into the magnificent power you possess. You can do it! I believe in you!" I screamed as the time restarted, and a very angry Devil approached me. 

He quickly and effortlessly broke the bubble that held me and my friend, and the moment he did that my friend was back to her monstrous self. 

The only thing I could do was hope, that behind those lifeless eyes my friend was aware and as eager to take revenge as she seemed before. The Devil offered her his clawed hand, and she accepted it with something that unfortunately reminded me of adoration and complete trust. 

Was she lost once more? Could she fight against the hypnotic influence of the father of all evil? I didn't have much time to think about that since there was suddenly a noose around my neck which quickly refocused my attention.

One of the demons had its slimy tentacle around my neck. As it squeezed harder and harder, I started seeing dark spots that were getting bigger and bigger. Just before I could embrace the darkness and forget all my woes, the Devil stopped the demon. 

"You can torture her if you want, but I want her alive and aware for the rest of the ceremony." The Devil ordered. 

"Did you really think that you could stop me!?" his voice boomed, small flames coming out of his mouth. 

"You are just a worm under my shoe! Can't you see that!? You are just a fly that I can kill or torture as the mood strikes! I can pull off your wings one by one and then kill you! That can be repeated forever. 

What you did was just get your self into even more trouble. You shall be tortured more than any human has ever been. The first step comes now. Come to me, my bride, let us finish the ritual." he addressed the last words in her direction. 

She approached him without hesitation and the revolting ritual continued. I watched as a demon bit into my flesh drinking my blood carefully so that it would be painful enough for it to enjoy it, but not so painful that I would faint. 

It was difficult to focus on anything, as the vicious pain went through my neck. I could feel burning pain throughout my whole body. Through the fog that went over my eyes, I could see all my hopes fall through as the Devil continued with the ceremony and my friend did nothing to stop him. 

First, he made her drink blood from a living human whose screams still remain carved in my memory. It was a scream of pure horror and loss of hope. I felt sorry for the poor soul in the small part of my mind that could feel anything. 

She bit into his white flash with such savagery and precision that I was sure my friend was gone. Tears started pouring down my face. I had failed her once again and with her, I had failed the world. I wanted to scream from anger, but I had no strength to do anything but stand there being devoured by a monster. 

Not satisfied with only drinking the human's blood the bride ripped out its throat and gave it as a token to her master. Then she ripped out the human's heart and showed it to the gathered demons. It was splashing blood all around, but the worst thing about it was that it was still beating. 

Held by the cold hands of the gruesome bride it kept trying to give life, not aware that there was no body, to keep alive. "Tell it there is no body. It can stop beating. Tell it to stop." I murmured incoherently.

The Devil approached his bride after the loud approval from the demons. He used his pitchfork to slash her hand, and then he started ravenously drinking her blood. 

That action made him stronger and bigger than he really was. Even the demons seemed to be surprised that it was actually working. His size was increasing so rapidly that it was difficult to follow, but he didn't seem to be satisfied with the progress. 

To make the process quicker, he bit into his bride's neck. It was a mocking replica of a loving kiss two people exchanged after the vows. She didn't even scream, although the pain must have been much bigger than the one I was experiencing since the Devil had so many razor-sharp teeth. 

She accepted and praised her fate without ever wondering why that was happening to her. 

The Devil became enormous and terrifying but that didn't seem to be the end of it. He started shifting into a colossal raven with a huge slick body, black as the blackest night, and blood-red eyes that were capable of burning anyone the moment they saw them. 

Next thing I knew, he spread his wings and flew upwards breaking the ceiling of the cave. We could see all the different layers of Hell as he broke through them and after some time I saw something I thought I would never see again the blue skies. 

The Devil had risen. 

My friend was just a broken shell thrown away by the Devil, and I couldn't help but stare at her lifeless eyes. 

After a while, the demon stopped his feast on my neck, and I was flown by it to the light of day. Probably its master wanted me to see the devastation it was about to bring on the land of the living. 

"God help us all!" I thought.