I fell back in exhaustion as I completed the final mark. Finally. The symbol was finished. I knew it only needed one more ingredient until the process would begin. If it went according to plan, of course. And if not, I wouldn't live long enough to know. I was not a religious person. This experiment only proved it. No religious person would try something of this magnitude. Trembling from anticipation, I grabbed a knife and slowly drew it along my hand. A river of blood flowed out, dark and hot, and splattered onto the center of the symbol. It lit up. A dark, cold void opened where the symbol was, and I could feel it trying to suck me in. To trap me in the darkness forever. Though exhausted, sheer willpower kept me rooted to the spot. Fear played a role in that too. From the void, I saw a hand emerge, followed by an arm, as the genie emerged. This genie was not the type in children movies, such as Aladdin, but an actual genie. It looked typical enough. Cloaked entirely in black except for the face, which was pure white. No face, except for a giant, fanged mouth. I already knew what it was for: to devour my soul. But I knew the rules. I had three wishes, and I would make sure I never gave an opening for my soul to be stolen. I already knew what to say. After all, I had rehearsed for weeks. As the figure gazed down on me, smiling a terrifying smile, I looked up, where its eyes should be, and said "I wish for an infinite number of wishes." The figure opened its mouth, exposing a black hole of a throat, and rasped, "How interesting," then laughed a bone-chilling laugh. "Very well," I said. "Let's start with the most delicious meal possible." "As you wish," the genie responded. A meal appeared in front of me. It was absolutely heavenly. "What would you like now?" the genie asked. "How about we go for a ride?" "Of course." The next thing I knew I was soaring above the cities at an incredible speed. It was a never-before experienced sensation. Finally, I requested to be returned home. As the days progressed, I ran through my prepared list of requests, each more extravagant than the last.
Finally, I had seen it all. Done it all. Nothing could compare. The most delicious meal became boring, a repeated sensation. It held no meaning. I realized there was nothing else to experience. Nothing else to do. Nothing at all. I sat against the wall. The genie stayed beside me, as always, smiling his ghastly smile. Why does he smile, I wonder. There is nothing to smile about. You can't take my soul. Why even try? I realized I was depressed. Extremely unhappy. There was nothing anymore. No sensations. Everything became... dull. I looked up at the genie. Could this have been his plan? No, of course not. He existed only to serve. Finally, I came to a realization. Happiness comes from accomplishment. Adrenaline comes from experiencing something dangerous. To create, one had to destroy. To be happy, one must have a reason for that happiness. It was the natural order of things. I had none of that. Everything was handed to me. Nothing I did could kill me, because genies were prohibited from doing that. I knew that. I stared at the scar on my hand. The one I had given myself summoning the monster responsible for my current situation. Although, if I think about it, the so-called "monster" was a mere servant. I was the real one responsible. I knew what I needed to do. After all these years. After all my time with the genie. I stared at the smile. "This is my final wish," I finally said, after what seemed like an eternity. "Make me happy." "Very well." The smile seemed to grow larger, but only slightly. As if it knew it had won. But of course, it knew that from the start. My fate was finalized the moment I had activated the portal. The moment I had first seen that smile. The only thing I could do was smile back. I closed my eyes, as the darkness engulfed me.
