A young man who only wants peace in his life...
A Demon who only has one desire...
What will happen if their fates crossed path?
Created by D.O.G.
Artist, editor and writer: elscythe
Character design, and writer: CheshireAki
Editor, and writer: Mari...
Mike continued on with his daily life. The only remarkable difference to his everyday routine is that Albert, who made sure that he and Mike have the same schedule from classes down to the break time, is always with him.
However, no matter where they go, people still gossip. Mike would usually ignore them but after what happened in the library, he couldn’t help but feel a bit paranoid at the fact that maybe one of them could be a demon who’s after him or specifically, his soul.
As the two walked past the school gates, with Mike trying to avoid making eye-contact with anyone looking their way, Albert sensed the presence of another demon.
“Okay so, don’t panic,” Albert whispered, “I can feel a demon nearby.”
“What? Where??” Mike panicked as he looked around, searching for anything amiss. Albert saw this in the corner of his eye and resisted the urge to clock the man beside him.
“I told you not to panic!” Albert said while gritting his teeth.
“Well, how do you expect me to calm down if any second now someone would kill me?” Mike hissed, frustrated at Albert.
“Just stay quiet and don’t look around!” Albert scolded Mike then continued walking.
~~~
As they walked out the school premises, Albert could feel the presence of the demon slowly fade. He felt something off, so he slowed down his pace.
“What’s wrong?” Mike asked, clearly worried when he noticed Albert became more wary of their surroundings.
“It’s gone…” Albert muttered under his breath.
“So it’s not following us anymore? Maybe it wasn’t after me after all.” Mike said, eyes glimmering in hope that he get to live another day.
“Don’t raise your hopes up, it might be planning something.” Albert stated, dampening on Mike’s optimism.
Then suddenly, Mike realized every movement have ceased. The students around them stopped moving, the birds above them are suspended in the sky, and everything is just at a standstill. Mike checked his watch, it says 4:38pm and the hand isn’t ticking.
“What’s going on?” Mike stopped from walking and glanced at Albert, who seemed to be looking around them.
“Don’t worry; I think I know what’s coming.” Albert told him instead.
“What is it?” Mike asked again.
Suddenly, a black vortex appeared in front of them, just about 10 feet away. Everything else suddenly turned blood red in Mike’s eyes, as if everything including him was submerged in blood. As the black vortex stopped growing, a strange claw came out of it.
The creature emerged from the vortex. It looked like a black dog but with three drooling heads with sharp teeth, just like Cerberus from Greek Mythology. It had big bird claws for paws and bright yellow eyes. It was also covered with stitches and bloody wounds on its chest revealing its ribs. But what’s distinguishable about this creature is the massive black feathered wings on its back that’s twice as big as the dog.
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“W-what’s that??” Mike stuttered. He almost threw up from the looks of the demon, but since he was too scared to do anything, he ended up swallowing his own bile.
“A Naberius.” Albert said, “Chill, these guys are easy to handle. Just stay back.”
Mike moved further behind Albert.
As Albert readied himself, the Naberius lunged towards Mike. But as soon as the demon’s claws reached Mike’s scared face, Albert grabbed the Naberius by the nape of the middle head and slammed it to the ground. Mike fell and landed on his bottom in shock.
The left head of the Naberius bit Albert’s arm, which made him let go of the middle one. Mike noticed the wound inflicted by the Naberius on Albert.
“Y-you’re bleeding!” Mike screamed, seeing the blood seep from the bite, whereas Albert didn’t seem bothered by it.
“Damn right, I am. It’s just a scratch, no biggie.” Albert paused to assure him then continued fighting the demon with his bare hands.
‘Have they never heard of a weapon, or even a gun? Or maybe those things don’t affect them at all?’ Mike thought to himself as he tried to find something to help Albert, but there was nothing nearby that he could use.
Occupied with his thoughts, Mike didn’t realize the fight was already over. Albert stood there in a puddle of blood with one of the heads of the Naberius in his hand decapitated. Mike couldn’t take it anymore; all with the horrible and gruesome sight in front of him, plus the horrible smell coming from it, had simply amplified the nausea Mike was trying hard to push down. It is inevitable that he threw up.
“Yo, not cool man,” Albert said disgusted.
“I’m sorry, just not used with the blood and stuff.” Mike groaned.
“Well, you’ll get used to it. We’ll be doing this for a long time.” Albert said.
The Naberius’ body dissolved into black dust, leaving a gold coin where it once stood. Then everything turned back to normal. The students move, birds fly, and the clock ticks once again.
Albert picked the coin up and walked towards Mike. He extended his hand, in an attempt to help him up but Mike didn’t take it. Seeing as how Albert’s arm was still wounded, Mike worried that he might make it worse. Although he did thought to himself, ‘With a wound that big and deep, how come he doesn’t feel anything? Or maybe he does feel something but just doesn’t show it.’
“Are you going to be okay?” Mike asked.
“Yeah, like I said, it’s just a scratch. It will heal in no time.” Albert assured once again.
“Then let’s go home.” Mike decided not to pry too much and since the man said so himself, he dropped it.
“Sure thing…” Albert replied. “And can we stop by 7/11?”
~~~
As they enter the apartment, Albert was slurping on a Slurpee. Mike made a face as he couldn’t really see how the demon likes something that taste like medicine, or how he could actually consume something made by humans in general.
‘You learn something new every day,’ He thought.
Mike looked at the arm which was wounded before, but now it’s as if nothing happened to it. It healed so fast. Which reminded him, he didn’t say his gratitude yet. One thing he’s not good at was saying something positive to others. After all, no one had ever done something nice to him other than his grandpa, so why should he? So he was a bit shy, but he has to say it.
“Hey, thanks man.” Mike said trying hard to act casually but deep down he felt like crying. If it wasn’t for Albert, he would’ve been dead by now.
“For what?” Albert, who paused from his drink, asked and clearly confused at the sudden appreciation from Mike’s side of things.
“For saving me back there.” Mike muttered and wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“Oh well, don’t mention it. Just doin’ my side of the deal.” Albert responded. He wasn’t really sure what to say since no one had ever thanked him for killing someone else before. He’s a demon after all, and that’s their job, but hearing a simple ‘thanks’ from Mike made him feel all tingly and joyous even for a short while.
‘Huh, the hell was that?’ Albert furrowed his brows as he continued his slurping.
