Chapter 6

There’s no sign of him here. As I suspected. Maybe he is dead

I left my safe haven to come back here to see if Nightfall’s presence still lingered within these alleyways.

His demise always struck me in an odd way. I don’t believe that a single energy blast can cause all that, let alone kill a “special” person like him.

On the topic, why did he turn into dust? That was weird. I tried to pry some answers from the gnat but she wouldn’t budge.

It’s so…strange. Am I that powerful? Or was that idiot extremely weak.

Whatever the answer is, it’s not going to get in my way.

My findings ended up shorthanded after doing my deep analysis of this hell hole. All I could find is the crumbled card he sent me a few nights ago and his symbol drawn in blood on the wall.

I don’t want to believe that the moon fetishizer is as good as dead. But what other options does the lack of evidence lead to? Missing in action? I know certain serial killers like to clean up their mess so it will be hard for their prosecutors to catch them. The only problem is that Nightfall doesn’t fit that description. He plastered that star symbol all over this alleyway so he definitely wanted to be caught.

Looks like I came all the way here for nothing. I thought. Guess I can go back.

Before I stepped out of the alleyway, rapid footsteps came from behind. Reaching for my tanto, I sharply turn around to see a rugged woman bending over, catching her breath. Her clothes were nothing but rags and had a bandana wrapped over her head. Must’ve been in her late 20’s from her facial features.

“Wait, don’t go.” She pleaded.

“I don’t have any money.” I responded bluntly.

“No, I’m not asking for that!” The woman shot back.

“Then what do you want?”

“You’re the one who beat up Kija’s men right?”

Kija? Oh, him. I totally forgot about that guy. I wondered if that weasel I left alive went through and told him my message.

“Yeah? What of it?” I questioned, getting a little suspicious.

The rugged woman immediately bowed her head which caught me by surprise.

“Thank you!”

“Oh, well uh, you really don’t ha—”

“If it wasn’t for you, my friend would’ve died!”

“Uh, you’re welcome?”

This…I wasn’t expecting. And here I thought she was going to hassle me for a dollar or two.

“Kija likes to push us around and treat us like crap! If we dare to stand up to him then…then…we die. We’re just trying to live our lives! Everyone else has rejected us. So why do people like them spit on us?! It’s a shame!”

I remained silent and listened to her words.

“But when you killed that man’s minions, it sparked something within me, within all of us to fight back against him. Maybe with your help we can put Kija down for good.”

I looked at the woman long and hard. Is that what they see me as? Some sort of protector?

I’m nowhere near that. If anything, I’m a woman who happens to save people that get in my way. I’m still trying to get my life together. I don’t see myself as some sort of hero that saves the day from evil. I mean, for fuck’s sake I killed people in my past life. Why should I get put in the same light as those people?

“I don’t think so.” I denied her request.

“Wha—”

“Don’t get me wrong. I did indeed ‘save’ your friend’s life but it wasn’t because of the goodness in my heart. Those men pissed me off and he happened to be around when I killed them.” I hissed, venom dripping from my words.

I walked out the alleyway when I heard her cry out, “You can’t be serious?!”

I let out a loud sigh, my back still towards her. So close.

“Look miss—”

“It’s Hae.”

“Look Hae, I get that I somehow started a revolution in these alleyways but if you care so much why don’t gather around some hobos and fight for it. You don’t need me. From those words you were spewing at me earlier, you definitely have a fighting spirit.”

After giving my words of “encouragement” to Hae, I finally left the alleyways a little pissed off for some reason.

I guess that's the price one pays for doing the right thing.

The way back to the dojo didn’t make it any better either. Not because it started to storm and the rain soaking my clothes, not because I accidentally ripped one of my sandals from falling over and busting my ass on wet grass, and not because the inside of the dojo was wet from the rain.

It’s because that gnat was going to be there, mocking me, torturing me. I’m getting tired of her. She’s been a pain in my ass as of late, especially after I killed Nightfall.

I had no more than entered the dojo when I felt a sharp pain on my temple. The force of the hit knocked me on my ass. Again.

I looked up and speak of the devil.

“Ooops. Did I do that?” Lilith asked in a fake voice.

I glared at her and spoke through gritted teeth, "You're the worst kind of person, you know that?"

“Aw, I love you too~” The demon fairy cooed.

I clicked my tongue and got off the floor. As I walked into an empty room—which was my bedroom—Lilith followed me.

“So how did your fruitless search go?”

I ignored her.

“I’ll assume that things didn’t go right, no?”

I laid on my side and pulled a tattered cloth over my head. I prayed that sleep would take over me before this gnat annoys me to death.

“Hey! Don’t go to sleep on me now!”

With one hard yank, the blanket flew off of me and onto the floor. A loud groan escaped my lips as I reached for my blanket again. Of course, the same thing happens again.“You’re not even going to say good night to me? I’m hurt.” The gnat pouted.

“What the hell do you want?” I growled.

“What the hell do I want? No, no, more like what does Hell want to do with you.”

“You can bore me about Hell later.” I rolled my eyes, pulling the cover over me once more.

“I’m afraid I can’t. Especially when you unlocked that power of your’s. Well, I technically did.”

Unlocking my power? What is this gnat getting at? Is she talking about the energy blasts? Was that my power? Also she didn’t unlock my power. Unless.

The bite.

I placed a hand on my neck where Lilith bit me. She must’ve done something to trigger those powers. I knew it wasn’t out of luck.

“But that doesn’t matter. No more screwin’ around. It’s time to get real! Get serious. You have the attitude, the power, so let’s do it.” Lilith rambled.

I could seriously care less on what this pest has to say but I’ll be talking to walls if she wasn’t here so I might as well give an ear.

“Do what?” I questioned.

“Some damage of course. Get pissed, kill some people. Wait, you already did that. Hahahaha!” The pest laughed. “That’s what a demon is supposed to do.”

“No, that’s what a murderer is supposed to do.”

"You're a demon. You're bound to cause chaos."

"I'm not bound to do anything.”

I walked away from her and out of the dojo to check on the weather but as always, she followed. The clouds are a little greyer than usual which means it’s about to storm.

Great. Another round of leaking ceilings and wet floors. Perfect.

“Yes you are. Demons are always bound to do some destructive shit.” Lilith cackled.

“Look, I don't have time for this. I have other things to worry about.” I said, walking back in the dojo.

Lilith fluttered right in front of me, her beady red eyes were a little bigger than before.

“You can’t turn your back on your obligations.” Lilith pointed a finger at me. “What, you think you’re too good to be a demon? You should be down on your knees, thanking Diablo for reviving you!”

“And you should be on your knees!” I pulled out my tanto, the point inches away from her neck. “Thanking me for not killing you now.”

Lilith moved the blade away and gave a slasher smile. “I don’t think you know what you just got yourself into, but it’s time for you to find out.”

“Enough with your antics, fly!”

The demon fairy started to make these weird monstrous moans and grow in size.

Limbs began to grow out of proportion and her fairy body fell off like dead skin.

What loomed over me is a huge pink demon with a hunchback, glowing red eyes, very sharp teeth, and huge ivory horns sticking out the sides of its head.

My blood ran cold. I wanted to run away but my feet wouldn’t allow me to. I glanced at the petit fairy skin on the ground.

There’s no way.

“What’s wrong? You don’t like my appearance?” Lilith spoke, her words were drilling in my head.

“Ugh! Get out of my head!” I shouted, covering my ears.

“No, this is how demons communicate. Through telepathy.”

I let out a few grunts, feeling dizzy in the process. I want this thing to shut up!

I dashed towards the pink monster with my tanto at the ready. The blade connected with her stomach but it didn’t do anything.

Another swing. Nothing. Another! Another! And another! Still nothing.

I looked at my tanto in horror.

No, not now!

“Ha! It tickles!” The demon chuckled. “Now it’s my turn!”

I made an attempt to run but it caught me by my kimono and raised me above their head. I tried to escape from Lilith’s grasp but her nails were digging into my hair.

She threw me into a couple of trees. The sheer impact made me cough up blood.

“What are you?!” I cried.

The pink demon approached me, licking her talon claws. “I already told you. I’m a creature from Hell. Powerful than any ordinary demon.”

I reached for my tanto which made Lilith laugh out loud.

“Fool! You cannot use weapons on me. That’s not why he chose you. There’s something within you that Diablo senses. Something evil. It is my duty to make sure you follow through with it.”

She stomped on my chest with great force. I could hear my bones crack as more weight was placed on it.

“Ack!” I coughed up some more blood.

“Consider this a reminder. Get with the fucking program!”

My eyes felt heavy as Lilith transformed back into her “original” state.

“I’ll be back for you baby. Sweet dreams.” She blew me a kiss and fluttered away.

I could feel my organs starting to give way. There was a splitting pain throughout my entire body. It felt like I was being torn apart from the inside.

I collapsed and felt myself passing out.

"This…isn’t…over.” I mumbled between each breath.

Little by little the world around me became black and cold. The void was silent and all-encompassing.

I closed my eyes and let the darkness consume me.