The Soulcatcher

Short Story

  The ritual was almost complete. She carefully drew the last line, and sighed in relief. The pentagram was finished.
  Then she lit the candles surrounding the edges of the pentagram. She took a step back and admired her work. Then she began chanting.
  The words were strange and harsh-sounding. They stung her tongue and lips, but she continued relentlessly. The demonic chant flowed from her mouth and filled the air with darkness.
  Eventually, the ritual was finished. She waited patiently. The pentagram steamed and hissed. Black ooze filled the pentagram, taking shape into a vaguely humanoid shape. The ooze hardened. It began glowing red, and then it spoke.
  What do you want? It asked. The sound wasn't audible, it was on her head. It sounded gravelly and sharp. It was threatening. She shivered slightly, despite the fact that the demon couldn't do her any harm.
  "I want souls," she announced boldly.
  Souls? Like, animal souls? The demon asked.
  "No, no, I want human souls," she replied.
  Human souls? The demon sounded slightly surprised.
  "Yes, human souls," she repeated, sounding annoyed.
  The demon thought for a moment. I could give you some... powers, and all the souls you'll ever want. For the low, low price of..... your soul.
  The female was shocked, but she tried not to show it. She thought about the demon's offer.
  Hmmm, if I can get all the souls that I want, maybe I can get mine back, or just use someone else's as a replacement.
  "Alright, deal!" she agreed, much to the demon's surprise and delight.
  Okay, now say these words after me to seal the deal.
  It spoke more of those harsh demon words, and she repeated after it. The words sounded strong and bold, and they made her uneasy, as if she was trapped in a cage.
  There was a puff of smoke, and she found herself looking at a man that had suddenly appeared in her house.
  The man grinned. "I'm finally free!" he laughed.
  The female looked at the floor. Thick red lines and candles surrounded her.
  I'm in the pentagram! She realized. That's not good. And where did the demon go?
  She attempted to walk past the pentagram line, but as soon as her foot hit the line, it ached and steamed, and an invisible wall pushed her back. She screamed in pain. What is going on?!?
  She glanced at the man, who was looking at her and still laughing.
  Help me! She screamed at him, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized that that wasn't her voice. The voice was deep and gravelly. She looked down at herself and shrieked. She was made of glowing red ooze. She was the demon.
  The man chuckled.
  "It was your idea!" He smirked at her.
  This isn't what I asked for!
  "Oh, but you did!" He replied. "You were the one that wanted the power to take people's souls, now you can! And I'm free at last!"
  I'll take your soul then, she hissed.
  "I don't think so!" He giggled in delight. "After all, you're stuck in that pentagram! And I'm definitely not giving up my freedom, not again."
  He turned away. "Anyway, have a lovely day!" He laughed once more, and she watched helplessly as he walked away. Before he reached the door, he turned.
  Demon, be gone. He murmured in the demon language.
  She felt herself being sucked away, and then she disappeared, into blackness. Her body felt like lead, and she screamed angrily. The darkness swept over her, taking all of her remaining hope and happiness away.
  Something in the dark chuckled. Welcome to Hell.
************************************
  Although she collected many souls from foolish people, she never felt complete. None of the souls completed her. They weren't hers. She was always cast back into the darkness that was Hell. Never was she truly happy again, for she had forsaken the very thing that had given her life and pleasure. Her soul.