The Devil's Love

||. Chapter 5: First Meet .||

Orange-red flames danced around the twigs magically. He sat down casually on a rock, mixing some dried leaves as fuel to it. The crackling fires seemed uncertain to his dark eyes. Brightness seemed to be seeping away from its position, allowing darkness to cloud his thoughts. Something was lurking in between the forest dangerously. Malice was spreading in these woods like radioactive particles in a human body. Their steps were slow yet steady as if they feared that someone might have caught them off guard. 

In order to quench the thirst of his curiosity, Angelo picked up the hoodie he had set aside earlier. Reaching out for a bucket of water, he poured it over the bonfire. Angelo put on his hoodie casually, tugged his palms in between the pockets and get himself ready for an adventurous night. Night had always been the best time for him to rest his mind, to let a little sweetness in his life. While the living is asleep, it would be his time to lurk around with peace not having to worry about his own mistakes in this vast universe.

Crossing the path of his stagnant company, Angelo brushed his fingers across the rough surface. The usual, empty, uninviting cave had seemed to catch his cold heart. He loved being in the cave where he could hear the sound of dripping water that serves as music to his ears in the morning and lullaby at night. Every cold air in the cave served as a warning to his unwanted presence. As he climbed up the empty cave, he caught sight of sudden movements from the other corner of the forest and curiosity flood his chest again.

Usually, Angelo would have let those teenage kids slipped through, but tonight, something foul seemed to pollute the air and it is definitely not climate change. He had heard kids joking around with illogical horror stories or putting up a scare prank on their peers. It was a foolish thing to do, but he had to admit he was once a child. Those were his form of relaxation. A soft smile escaped his lips at those memories.

The sound of the bursting force through the air was unfamiliar to his ears. He whipped his head up from the rock when he heard struggles, rustles and even the sound of swooshing voices in the air as if evil had risen again. In contrast, evil never rose. It had always been there, lurking and studying the changes, waiting for its time to explode. Taking a jump, he walked closer to the source before taking a sharp turn at the corner and studied the figures carefully before deciding a move.

His dark eyes scrutinized the surroundings carefully. A smirk carved on his porcelain face and his lips curved upwards. She wasn't a stranger to his eyes, neither were they. He recognized them since he had caught them lurking in between the forests long enough for the host to recognize its permanent visitors. He wanted to slip away, to pull himself away from the problems caused by humans, but stopped his tracks because of Ansel. It was his call; now or never.

Angelo growled. "Why?" he questioned silently. "Why are you with them?"

Angelo wasn't a fan of heroic moments. He never wished to be one either. The only thing heroic thing about himself is his inner peace or rather selfishness – a term he was referred to long ago. Climbing down from his hiding spot, he slipped in between the rustling trees. He had never torn his gaze away from Ansel, not once. He hates that he cares, but that is one fact he would not trade. He had traded everything away and this is the only thing he still keeps close to his heart.

Moving as rapid as dragons, Angelo managed to get a clear view from behind a huge tree bark. He kept himself hidden in the dark, fearing that they might notice him. He stood still, his fingers brushing against the rough tree bark. A soft gasp escaped his lips when he noticed blood trickling down from her collar bones, drenching the sides of it. His heart throbbed at the sight and took a step forward, but stopped. The firm warning rang through his mind.

The doings of humans cannot be reversed due to the causes and effects of their choices. Never interfere with them.

Angelo retreated his step. Tearing his gaze away, he gritted his teeth. What if he had become the destructor of her life? He did not want to ruin her life. The amount of doubt in himself was overriding his consciousness. Appearing in Ansel's life meant a lot to him. He had been waiting for an opportunity and this would be one. Probably the one and only one. Angelo tightened his fist, looked up into the shimmering stars in the skies before turning to look at the group again with determined action.

"Kill me," said Ansel with ragged breath. Her eyes shone with no sign of regret. "Kill me! Shoot me right through my head and leave me to rot in these woods. I dare you! You insolent rat!"

Angelo froze in his spot. He turned around and saw no mercy in Daniel's eyes. The older man bore his crooked teeth, pushing the tip of the gun onto her forehead. A contented chuckle escaped Daniel's dry-cracked lips and it was joined by Ansel's hysterical one. Angelo wondered about the existence of chuckling competitions. Both of them might be champions if it weren't for the tension in between their features.

He was beginning to doubt Ansel's sanity. It was either she was magically mad or her heart had longed fell out of its confinement. Angelo refused to believe his eyes when he witnessed the girl pulling the gun harshly as if demanding for her life to be ended. Her lips were trembling, that even under the night skies, he could see the cracks of fear in between her cheeks. It was as much as he got since she hid most of it; skillfully. Walking towards the scene, Angelo crossed his arms, leaning onto the bark of the tree as he whistled, gaining attention from the group.

"I would suggest you leave her alone, young man," Angelo spoke up, causing the group to turn their heads to him and he smirked. "You don't want to ruin the chance I have just given you."

Standing there casually, Angelo studied Ansel's face as she tore her gaze away from him, lifted her legs and kicked Daniel's groin, causing the man to lurch forward. The lady at the side tightened her grip around Ansel's neck, dragging her head backwards as she stared at Angelo.

"What chance have you given us when your girl is still in my grip?" She grinned as if victory was already hers.

Ansel struggled in the grip. She tried to reach up to grab the opponent's neck but failed when her wound was assaulted by the enemy. Ansel bit her lips as she heaved, trying to suppress her own anger and screams.

She whipped her head up to see who it was. When she caught sight of the figure under the hood, Ansel tried to confine her own shock. Mr. Black and Mystery – she muttered internally. Right at that moment, she felt her nervous system came to a halt. They seemed to have torn apart on their own. She never knew who he was, but she would recognize those features anywhere. His presence instilled terror in her chest. Her sight was already hazy while she wrestled with the grip around her neck. Whatever he was trying to pull off, Ansel prayed she wouldn't be the cause of another death in her life.

Brushing the ashes of the bonfire in between his fingernails, Angelo gawked at Daniel's figure who was gathering his strength. He took a few steps forward, his lips curved into a smile. "I am not speaking gibberish. Do as I say, let her go and I will spare you." Angelo warned.

"And...," said Daniel, brushing the dirt away from his lips as he towered over Angelo. "If I don't, what are you going to do, pretty boy? Send me to Hell? Oh, I forgot, you do not have the permit to Hell, but soon, I will render it to you."

"If your wish is to reside in Hell," Angelo spoke, removing his hood, his porcelain skin showing under the moonlight, causing Daniel to take a step backwards. "I will be more than happy to provide you a free passage in." Angelo threatened, his dark eyes seemed to bring a spark of lightning in between.