Behind Closed Doors

Episode 1 Ending 1: Refuse the offer

Lizzy breathed in and let it go as a long, reverberating laugh. "Oh, how I wish it was that easy."

The demon clicked his tongue. "It could be."

"No. I don't believe that."

"Well, if you change your mind, I'd be happy to discuss the matter with you again."

Grunting, she gazed out the window at the gray autumn sky. They shared silence for a time, long enough for Ruth to get annoyed and say she had better things to do than watch paint dry. The woman wafted away, disappearing into the house.

"What year is it?" The demon asked, breaking the silence. "What is the world like now?"

"That reminds me, I asked before what year you were trapped here and you never answered."

"I don't know why that is relevant," he responded.

"Well, if you want to know what's happened since you were locked in here, I kind of need to know when that was."

"Valid point. I was locked in here on October 17th, 1926. I would give you the exact hour; it isn't like I haven't had more than my fair share of time to dwell on it, but that evening is somewhat fuzzy."

"You've been locked in here for almost ninety-three years then. Today is September 8th, 2019. So, let's see." Lizzy cocked her head to the side, thinking about what she'd learned so far in history class. At least she'd paid enough attention to know the highlights. "There was the great depression that started at the end of the 1920s when the stock market crashed and everyone went bankrupt. That sounds like a shitty time to live through."

"Did they ever end prohibition? Stupid idea that one was. I bet they could have used a drink. Speaking of, it's been forever since I've had one. How old are you again?"

"They did end prohibition. I'm seventeen. I'm not bringing you alcohol."

"Shame. So what else happened?"

"Well, there was World War II. And then a few years later there was the Vietnam War, that one actually ended in the middle of the seventies."

"So many wars," he sighed.

"Uh, yeah. That is kind of America's jam. The Iraq War technically ended a few years ago, but we still have people all over the world. It's a huge political thing."

"Was there anything good?"

"Of course! There are a lot of really awesome things," she replied. "There was a whole civil rights movement. Outlawed discrimination against African Americans and women. No more segregation. Well, technically. We are still working out the kinks like fifty years later."

"Anything less grim?" He sounded sarcastic.

Lizzy rolled her eyes. Leave it to a demon to call equal rights 'grim'. "Movies are pretty great. Oh, and they are working on self-driving cars. Looking forward to that one. Technology has taken off. I keep asking my aunt and uncle for a phone, but they aren't interested. I secretly think they would be relieved if I just disappeared one day."

"Oh, really?" It was a question, but it sounded more like a statement coming from him. She decided to let that one slide by.

"I mean, I don't know." She shrugged her shoulders. "Life is just life. We all live our little parts and try to do the best we can."

"You have a pretty cheery outlook on it, for someone sitting here hiding from other kids."

"What choice do I have?"

"There is always a choice." His voice took on a silkiness that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. "You could free me. I will help you achieve a life you could never even dream of."

"Can you bring my grandmother back to life?"

"I happen to frown upon necromancy, so no."

"Then you don't have anything I want," she replied, quickly brushing away a tear fighting its way past her lashes.

"Although," he mused. "If it means my freedom, I might make an exception this one time."

"Don't be obtuse," she said, though she couldn't help the smile that curled its way across her lips.

Billy ran into the room, shouting, "Lizzy! Lizzy! Those other girls left. I watched them go. I made sure they were all the way down the lane before I came to tell you."

"Thanks, Billy! You've been a huge help today!" Billy's face lit up like a little sun as she praised him.

"What did the kid say?" The demon asked.

"The girls I'm hiding from have gone home, so it's time for me to do the same." Before her aunt killed her for being so late. If she didn't hurry, she would miss the car to their church. If she didn't go to church, her aunt would lock her out of the house, and it was getting too cold at night to sleep in her cousins' little treehouse.

"We will continue this discussion next time, Lizzy."

The way he said her name made the small butterflies in her stomach flutter once again. She bit the inside of her cheek and tried to ignore the feeling. "I highly doubt that." She was going to reply in kind with his name, but realized she had never asked. She looked at the door.

He must have noticed the trailing off of her sentence because he offered, "Idan."

"Alright, Idan, what makes you think there is going to be a next time?"

"What choice do I have?" He responded, mimicking the way she'd asked it moments before. Lizzy heard a thump, as if his head just hit the wall, and then a disgruntled growl. "If you aren't going to free me, can you at least bring me a newspaper, or a few books? Anything? And I do mean anything." He drew the last word out, his voice taking on a rather pleading tone.

"Not saying that I am coming back," she said, standing and dusting her backside off. "But if I do, I will keep your request in mind."

She was about to round the corner of the hallway into the kitchen when she heard him ask, "Are you sure you can't just open this door?"

"Not today, Satan!"

Lizzy grinned at the long string of angry curse words which followed her from the hallway. He was right about one thing. She was definitely coming back.