Hellbound

3. A Deal With the Devil

Embarrassment would be an understatement. Naomi sits down on her barely springed cushion, a faded pink sofa, spitting a barren amount of old foam. She watches the television silently, face turning paler and paler as time passes by. She wishes for the ground to swallow her whole. The voice of the blonde reporter, clad with a navy blue vest echoes inside her head as she announces her humiliation to the world, attention citizens!, the Constantine Bridge will be closed until further notice after a teenager attempted suicide by jumping off the creaking railings, 10 meters from the arched entrance.

What the hell does she thinks she’s doing? Especially when she let HIM enter her apartment after that. Wait a minute, she didn’t even remember inviting him in!

“I’m not joking, for f**k’s sake! I can touch her. Yeah. Touch. You know, when another skin landed on another. Need I spell it for you?”

“Yes! She can see me too. Care to explain to me what’s the deal with that?”

He can hear him, the strange man that is. He’s walking back and forth in her kitchen, passing through her fridge, jumping up her cupboards and kicking everything in frustration without causing real damage. How ironic for the angel of death. No, scratch that. He already clarified to her on their way here that he isn’t an angel of death.

He’s something worse, a demon. But she doesn’t believe him in the slightest. Maybe, he’s just a part of her imagination, a schizophrenic delusion.

“Oh, hi baby! didn’t see you there. I’m so sorry you have to hear that.” There it goes again, the familiar tingle up her nape. She didn’t realize that her butt already left the sofa, her body now peeping behind a concrete slab, separating her kitchen and her sala. Why is she the one hiding? And most of all, why is he acting like he’s the one who owns her place?

Naomi gulped down hard, the television noise a background that adds to their tension. “You…what are you?” She furrowed her eyebrows before stepping back, seeing that the demon sighed and scratched the back of his head.

“Oh come on, sweetheart. I already told you before, didn’t I? I’m a demon…I’m—“

Liberty couldn’t even spat his name out loud, not when Naomi started throwing things at her, all her emotions poured in, landing towards him in forms of pots, hair brushes, notebooks, discarded clothes…basically anything she can grab her tiny hands onto. Her vision’s blurry from the pooled tears as realization hits her hard but not right, I’m going crazy.

“Jesus. Calm down, woman!” The demon panicked like he never did before. As the things that the girl kept throwing over him pass through his body effortlessly, she wishes his mind could block the effect of her actions on him too. This woman is as crazy as Christ letting Himself get crucified.

“Try moving an inch closer and I swear to God, I’ll f*****g kill you…” She threatened emptily. A little guilty on swearing to God. She knows she doesn’t stand a chance against someone like him, someone opposite of hers. But she’s also used to acting all tough and scary in school so might as well take it to her advantage now.

“Well, you can’t really do that, can you?”

“You’re not real!”

“Oh baby, I am. I’m as real as your brain tumor up here…” Liberty poked his head in a gun-shaped gesture, making Naomi widen her eyes in horror. How did he know about that?

She shook her head. “This is crazy! I’m going crazy, aren’t I? You’re just something my brain made up!” Because yeah, this is definitely her tumor acting up, materializing in front of her. That is a more logical explanation than believing that the stranger—intruder inside her house, is rather a demon.

“How did you even get in here? I don’t remember inviting you for a cup of coffee!”

“Don’t worry, I’m not really a fan of coffee anyways!” He giggled.

“Get out.”

“You won’t want that, trust me.” The demon is persistent.

“Why?”

“Because you have too many questions swirling inside your head, honey. And I’m here to answer ‘em all.”

Ugh. She swears, if she calls her another petty nickname one last time, she’ll—

“Pumpkin? Hello? Are you still there?”

Without wasting a second, Naomi hurried to her room, almost sprinting but never losing balance. For once, she was thankful that it is located the opposite of where that fucker stands. She left him confused, mouth agape, as he watches her scurry through her drawers from a distance. He doesn’t need to get close. And when the girl finally stepped out again, he swears to Lucifer, he almost died cackling at the funniest sight, Naomi holding a crucifix and a rosary pointed towards him.

“You—HAHAHAHAHAA—Goodness, lemme…l-lemme HAHAHAHA b-breathe!”

The girl wasn’t bothered by his laugh, though she finds it odd. She gathers all her remaining courage, visualizing herself into what she thinks a priest would look like, the idea coming from the countless horror movies she watched. She’s no saint but she’s a believer. She thinks she can manage with that now.

“N-naomi, oh my god HAHAHAHAHA, y-you’re torturing me…what do you think you’re- HAHAHAHAHA”

That’s right, she read about this. How demons always try to deceive people in vulnerable situations. Using her name as a leverage of her weakness. She scoffed. If he really is a demon then she’ll be the first dying human to send him back to hell.

Biting the inside of her cheeks, Naomi screamed with all might, In the name of our Lord, I cast you back to hell, Satan!, as she closes her eyes and tightened the grip on the religious relics, a souvenir from her religion teacher’s trip. Be gone, Satan! Be gone!

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHA y-you…” Liberty continued laughing, crouching down the ground and holding his stomach in the process. Naomi was disappointed but not totally confused at why it didn’t work. Slowly, the demon comes down from his high, wiping the end of his crinkly eyes where tears of joy have pooled in entertainment. He stood up, cleared his throat, and forced the remnants of his smile to subside. “You really are something, are you?”

Naomi let her arms fall beside her, eyeing both her feet, one with a slipper and one without. She looks ridiculous. She decided not to speak anymore.

“Hey, sorry to disappoint you but…that’s not ‘gonna work, my dear…not when you don’t have enough faith. Besides, I’m not even Satan.”

How much is enough faith? She thought but not letting it out. Instead, she raised her chin up and faced him with strong eyes. “You don’t know that! I’m a believer!”

This time, Liberty walks a little closer, Oh yeah? A believer who tried to take her own life? What’s your God ‘gonna think about that?

She froze. Too much has happened in a day, she feels she’s already in hell. If earlier she feels drained and sucked out of life energy…well, tonight would be different. She won’t let him mock her like that, demon or not.

Her mind started working a little faster, remembering how the stranger got stirred up when she attempted to jump off the bridge earlier. Maybe something about her death is affecting him. It’s time to hone the idea into a knife, literally. Naomi loosened her hold on the crucifix, dropping the rosary down while she stares straight to a set of two red eyes, she’s drowning in orbs of flames. She clicked the tip of the figurine, twisting it over just the right angle for the blade inside to be reveal, a knife, small but sharp. Nothing grand, but it is enough.

Naomi countered his smirk.

“Oh, no, no, no….drop that one right now. You got me good, okay? That’s not something you should joke about.” His expression turned serious, all traces of humor and flirting now gone. The stranger raised his arms in surrender, careful not to move even a finger in fear of Naomi’s next move.  

She’s right. There’s something about her death that stirring him up.

Naomi pressed the blade further down her skin, victorious at how the demon is reacting. “What if I don't care what would God think about me committing suicide? He gave me this life, it’s ‘gotta be from my own free will what to do with it, don’t you think? Don’t tell me, you’re a demon but you don’t rejoice in death? What a shame.” She found power in being the one spitting out evil against another evil.

“Listen, darling. Why don’t we have a nice, calm chat over here…and I’ll tell you everything. Everything you need to know, ‘mmmkay? Liberty motioned his body to the narrow dining table, a few steps beside the poor girl. His long, silky coat flipping elegantly while he turns his body to the side. Naomi flinched when his clothes almost touched her skin for the second time.

Carefully, Naomi lowered the blade from her neck, feeling a little calmer now. Her heart is back to beating steadily while she eyes the equally calm supernatural stranger in front of her. It’s like the both of them just entered a new page…fearfully natural.

For some reason, the room felt a little colder. Her chin started trembling. And when she looked down at the sitting demon, a flirtatious smirk was back on his face while he crosses his long legs in attempts to be a man of manners.

“F-fine…” Naomi stuttered, finally walking towards the empty seat adjacent to him.

“So, what do you want to know first?” Liberty was the first to speak, the girl averting his eyes.

“Your name…”

He sighed, licking his lips before stretching back a little. “I’m Liberty, nice to meet you by the way. Well, as I told you earlier….I’m a demon, a devil…whatever you call the likes of us from hell. Yeah, from hell.” He cringed at his poor explanation, a little annoyed at how rusty his interpersonal skill had become. Since when did he lose his smoothness over women?  Damn it.

“Why do you look like human?” Naomi countered in a monotonous voice.

“You see, we have some sort of rankings down there. I’m telling you this without the intention of bragging but I’m the second highest ranking devil in hell. The first is Lucifer aka Satan...” He laughed, remembering how she has mistaken him from his pal earlier. Maybe Christians are too lazy to differentiate devils after all. Maybe this is the downside of being the most famous evil figure on earth. If humans see one, it’s automatically Satan for them. Liberty can’t wait to tease his buddy when he gets back. “All the other ones are irrelevant…they don’t have concrete forms, only horns and tails, maybe they’re the ones you humans are most familiar with.”

She raised her eyebrow, looking at him properly for the first time, “And you don’t have horns and a tail?” She tried her best to recall the name Liberty in the bible but nothing is coming up to mind. She reminds herself to research about it later before going to bed.

“I used to have those, yes. But now that I can transform into human-like figure, I kind of enjoy it more. Besides, I’m more attractive like this, don’t you think?” The insufferable demon winked. Naomi rolled her eyes.

“Why can I only see you and not them?”

“That I don’t know too…not yet at least. You’re not even supposed to see me.”

“Do you just roam around the earth like this?”

“Oh yes! It’s not only me, everyone down there has missions no matter the rank. We are taunting humans to fall from grace. All the boring stuff.” He reasoned, yawning just by recalling the idea. Naomi blinked twice. Thrice. She needs to remind herself that she’s not talking to another sinful soul. She is talking to the sin itself.

“Oh yeah? Well, how exactly do you taunt people to sin, huh?” She challenged him, igniting a fire in the pit of his stomach, a toothy grin resulted from his excitement. It’s better if I show you.  

Naomi wasn’t fast enough to react when Liberty pulled his chair closer to her, angling his mouth on the shell of her ears while his left hand circled around her shoulders, fingertips brushing a few loose strands of her brown hair, tell Tiffany she’s a slut.

Naomi stood in terror, “what do you think you’re doing dragging my friends in this, you asshole!” She bolted up her seat, her chest heaving a deep inhale and exhale.

But just as much as she’s surprised, Liberty was taken aback at what just happened to. His brows furrowed while his eyes widened at how…his trick didn’t seem to have an effect at Naomi. He couldn’t command her to sin.

“Hah!” He breathed out in frustration, his face showing the opposite of what he feels. He let out a soft laugh at how everything seems to be a mystery with this girl. It didn’t work on you, I guess.

Naomi went back to sitting, pulling his chair farther as she became wary of his actions.

“Why are there so much mystery surrounding you. Just who exactly are you?” Liberty asked.

“Excuse me? I’m the one who should be asking you that, remember? Your name isn’t even in the bible.” She countered, expecting that the demon will just tease her for not reading the sacred scripture properly. Yet, no opposition came her way. She heard him tsked before saying, “I’m afraid your man up there is quite biased towards me…my existence.”

Oh, okay?

Before Naomi could even pry more about the demon's interesting statement, the girl noticed how his eyes trailed into the bowl of apples resting over the table, in the space between them. “Can I have one, please?” Liberty smiled widely until his eyes turned into horizontal slits. Naomi found it awkward. Can demons even eat human food?

“Uh…sure.” She grabbed one and threw it on him, Liberty catching the apple mid-air.

“Great. Thanks. Now I’ll be able to mm-eat apples mm-wherever I go on emm-arth!” He uttered in between sloppy bites. An undisciplined kid, joyous from tasting candy for the first time.

“Care to explain what just happened?” Naomi asked, pertaining to what he just said.

“Oh, sorry. This is too mm-good! Wait give me a sec!” Liberty did not waste any side. He bit down on the fruit until he finished every last edible red. “Human foods taste magnificent! And to answer your question, hmmm…let’s put it like this. When humans give something to us, it’s kind of like an offering, the same ones you’re laying down on altars for whatever reasons. Once you gave us food, it’s like you’re initiating something, luring us in. Of course we’ll get it. We’re not really picky.”

Oh, Naomi marveled at the thought. They stayed like that for a while until she finally popped the cherry.  

“So, why me?”

With this, the demon froze. He isn’t sure if he could tell her the details about his mission but he figures it would be necessary if he wants to gain her trust. Liberty grunted, tilting his head towards Naomi while leaning closer until their faces are only an inch apart. The newly found courage within the girl directed her not to move back.

“Naomi Mara Taylor, 18-years old. A catholic student born on July 15, 2003. Parents-less but not relatives-less, has brain tumor and a life stamp for about 2 years from now…why you, you asked? That I don’t know yet too but I was tasked to keep an eye on you, darling…to make sure you’ll die on the exact date of your death, not earlier and certainly not later. Consider yourself lucky, I’ll be your guardian angel for now on.”

Naomi’s mouth formed an involuntary ‘o’. Everything is too overwhelming. She doesn’t know what’s worse, learning that she has a record filed in the depths of hell or Liberty basically revealing that he’ll stick with her until she die. But the demon doesn’t seem to care.

“Wait a minute—“

“I need to complete this mission so I could ascend the hierarchy. I’m selfish like that. I want to be the king, the Satan of the new age.” He declared like he was talking in his reflection rather than to her.  Silence stood between them, Liberty letting her wrap her mind around the information he just threw around first. The silence became unbearable for her.

“Does it mean…my soul will go to hell when I die?”

It was Liberty’s turn to freeze on the spot.

“I’d say that your end is indefinite, though I’m not turning your hopes up. Only saints and angels are allowed there.” The demon shrugged his shoulders at the image. Disgusting beings.

“What do you mean by indefinite then?” “

“I mean your soul would still undergo a judgement process. You’ll see when you get to the gray area.”

“You mean purgatory?”

“You can say that, I guess.”

“Why aren’t you sure about so many things?”

“Listen, woman. I get that you’re scared about the afterlife and all the bullshit that comes after death. I wish I could answer your question but your soul’s destination isn’t included in the scope of my mission. I’m just here to accompany you on earth. Also, I haven’t even gone in the gray area myself, okay? Heavenly and hellish beings aren’t allowed there. It’s a law not to step foot in that place…only you can, when the time is right of course.”

Naomi’s eyes sparkled a little, ignoring the demon’s reminder not to keep her hopes up. Her mind betrayed her. It started imagining what heaven looks like, she really wants to go there and not in hell. She knows she’s a sinner but not a criminal. Even with a demon accompanying her right now, she’s not committing another sin yet. Maybe, just maybe—

“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s not ‘gonna work that way. There’s no point in worrying this early, anyway. If you cooperate with me, I promise I’ll keep you safe until you reached the gray area I’m talking about.”

Naomi is a fool for feeling reassured from a devil’s promise. A depthless word. An empty well.

She sighed. “Fine, I get everything now. You’re a demon. And you’re here to keep me safe. But don’t get me wrong, you still don’t have my permission on staying with me 24/7!”

“What? What do you want me to do then? It’s not like I’m ‘gonna lust over your human body, I mean it’s tempting but—“

“Will you stop?!”

“Right, right…” He lifted his arms up in surrender for the second time, Naomi groaned in annoyance. She has to have something to hold against his throat too. After all, she couldn’t afford to let down her guard to him. Not ever. Suddenly, she had an idea.

“Hey…what do you say, let’s make a deal?” She asked the demon, played with its fire.

“Oh? Sure baby, let’s hear it out.” He mocked.

“Help me…help me achieve my bucket list and I’ll cooperate with you. I’m never ‘gonna try to kill myself again.” She doesn’t understand why she’s suddenly blushing. She expects him to mock her again but…

“Tsk. Fine. So stubborn.”

That’s it? That quick?

“O-okay…you can go now.” Naomi cleared her throat to ease the awkwardness. She stood up and hurried to her room but before she could even take a step forward, Liberty stopped him. “Wait!”

“W-what?” She stammered like an i***t. Get yourself together.

“Let me try one last thing before I go…” Before she knew it, Liberty is already a hair away in front of her, reaching to brush his gloved hand over her cheek. Naomi’s heart shoots up her throat at how close the gap between them had become. Irregular beats. Muscles weak. She braced herself for whatever she’ll feel but…nothing, only a cold breeze brushed her face while his fingertips went pass through her skin.

The demon growled, clearly more affected by the fact that he can’t touch her than the way he made her blush. She thanked the dim fluorescent lamp above that hid her pink dusted cheeks.

Liberty declared, “No matter what you do, I’m not ‘gonna let you kill yourself.”

“Pftt. Yeah? How? You can’t even touch me...” Naomi turned her back against him, prepared to leave him be.

“Where are you going? Your room is over there!” The demon said, pointing towards the direction where the crucifix and the rosary came running from earlier.

She thought of a safer place aside from her room, somewhere he can never reach her until she got her s**t together, I’m sleeping at the church tonight.