Hell's Reformation

1

Humans are fascinating creatures. They claim to be more righteous than the other, but one push on the right buttons will make them more sinful than a harlot. On Earth, the Supreme Ruler of Hell roams the land, searching for a man or woman to tempt. Violet eyes that shine like amethysts gaze upon the neighborhood, sensing any negative energy to intensify.

The Devil surveys the people jogging along the sidewalks and the dogs sniffing every grass strand they come across. An Aspin meets the demon's gaze, then it growls and barks loudly. The dog attempts to gain attention from the passersby, but no one came to investigate the root of the bark. The demon smirks and ignores the hound, continuing his search.

Until the Devil halts.

The demon stares at the bungalow, with ivy vines climbing on the grey walls. Dry leaves scatter around the weedy land, and the Devil could see various insects living among the grass. However, the aura of the house is not of interest, it is the languid energy inside. The demon enters the abode with silent steps and is greeted by the dim living area.

The dust lays like gloomy snow on the wooden floor. If a human were to walk inside the place, they would have coughed and smelled the musty dampness of the home. The entity floats, searching for the source of the negative aura until it reaches the kitchen.

A scrawny boy with brown hair and tan yet pale, sweaty skin is tying a Hangman's knot on the kitchen counter. His hands shake as it forces itself to move, and the demon could see the bruises on the forearms of the boy.

A grin contorts the Devil's face as it floats closer to the adolescent, soundless and unnoticeable. Once near, the entity whispers in a soothing yet malevolent voice.

"Lucas."

The boy stiffens, squinting his hazel eyes in confusion. "Who...?"

The entity moves closer to his ear. "I am you, Lucas. I am your mind, your soul, your desires. And, I can see you are suffering."

Lucas' hazel eyes gaze down to the half-done noose and he sighs."I am."

"Then, you must be willing to end your suffering right here, right now, am I wrong?"

"No."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Do it." The Devil takes its monstrous hands out of its black, misty cloak and places them closer to the boy's hands, inching closer and closer to the adolescent's bony and slender fingers.

However, without a word, Lucas undoes the knot.

The Devil retracts his hand, and a frown replaces his grin. "Why did you stop tying the knot?"

Lucas gulps and says, "I- I haven't talked to anyone like this before. It's new."

The Devil starts to move away from the human, and its violet eyes narrow in confusion. It mutters, "Excuse me?"

"If you are in my head, then, why are you right beside me?"

The demon jumps back and floats to the archway separating the living area and kitchen, its instincts telling it to flee from its failed temptation.

"W-Wait, don't go!"

The Devil stops in its tracks and looks back at the boy, who has his arm outstretched. "Why not?"

Lucas looks in his direction and searches the darkness, his hazel eyes squinting, attempting to find the entity's black cloak.

"I just don't want you to... Please?" the boy pleads.

The request renders the Devil silent, his mind debating with itself on whether or not to fulfill the boy's plea. Then, he comes to a decision.

The entity appears out of the dark. The brunette's eyes widen as he is greeted with something inhuman. The Devil's head and legs are of a goat's and it has a human torso. Its claws are long and sharp, and large demon wings enveloped its body with black bones and wine-colored wing membranes.