Heart of Stone

~chapter 10~

That night, for the first time in a year, I fall asleep with ease. I sleep adjacent to my brother, who was beyond ecstatic to hear that I cut off ties with Everest. I'm not cured. But I feel better. And it'll only get better from here.

As I plunge into slumber, I can feel a dream begin to conceive itself in my mind. It's a sight that is all too familiar.

I'm plunging through a dark abyss once more. Only, this time, I have clothes on. It's the same outfit I was wearing when I went to see Everest in the park today. For some reason, despite initially being repulsed by this attire, I can feel an empowering aura radiating off of it.

"Well? I won." I say loudly. I can't see him, but I can feel the demon's presence. He never reveals himself, but his voice echoes across the chasm.

"That you did. I must say, I never expected a soul as weak as yours to overcome such a huge obstacle. I was certain I would have a new human to torture. Oh well." he says disappointedly.

"So what now?" I ask.

"Oh sweetie, I think you've had enough of people telling you what to do. You get another year of high school. What would you like to do?" he asks curiously.

I never even thought about that. Last time, all I did was sulk in my bedroom and binge-watch Pokemon videos until my eyes hurt. What am I going to do with my life now?

"Well, regardless, I can't wait until we see each other again. I just hope it's not through the same means as last time," he says cheekily as his voice faded away.

Even though I know his goal all along was to drag me down to hell with him, a part of me feels indebted to him. He's the reason I get to live my life again and experience happiness once more. Before his echoes completely fade away, I offer him some friendly reassurance as a goodbye.

"Don't worry. I'm never making the same mistake again."