Devils and Deep Regrets

 My jaw drops as I watch the document slide over the counter. “You’re a devil?” I ask, eyes widening.

“Only an underling.” The creature says, but a hint of amusement shows on his face as he studies me closely.

“I expected you to be a bit more… evil.” I remark, glancing up once before taking the pen from his hand.

“So did I.” The devil replies, and shakes his head as I start reading through the papers. “And, for the record, Michael, I think you’re the dumbest, smartest mortal that ever existed.”

Ignoring him, I analyze the page.

The recipient shall be tasked with whatever the host decides.

This document cannot be replaced, and once signed is official.

If the document is signed as a refusal, the recipient will then on live in eternal pain.

Something document important blah we will control blah blah and you can live blah I get it already.

I paused a moment.

“You know my name?”

“It would be weird if I didn’t.”

“So,” I say as I scan the clauses and act as if knowing what the hell I’m doing, “I’m…” looking for the right words to say.

“You’re not necessarily bad-” he adds, “-but you annoyed me, so.”

Underneath his dark hood I can see him chuckling to himself at my situation. His eyes still seem to emit an eerie sort of light, even in the dark, and it scares me.

Yes, oh yes, it would scare me half to death. If I wasn’t already.

He taps rather impatiently on the table;

I give him a glare before signing my name in cursive: Michael Allard.

And the world seems to bend once again.

Colours shine brightly and more intensely than ever before.

Looking down, I’m no longer standing in darkness.

Looking up, I spy a bright blue sky looming over me.

Looking around, the world spins and I give the strangers passing a wide grin.

I’m back.

Damn, I never knew how much freedom meant in life until it was gone.

What was the point of living if I couldn’t do what I wanted, after all?