Path of least resistance

Lucinda has been long working the late shifts at the diner. After all, its only a block or two away. She can make extra hours and still get a reasonable nights rest and a warm home cooked meal. Tonight is no different, just walking home enjoying the cooler evening air. Eating a few pieces of chocolate along the way. Coming up on the first of two intersections she sees police cars. They are blocking most of the road and one of the sidewalks. She can easily get through, everything is contained. “I won’t push through, they have enough problems.” She says to herself, turning up the street to go around. Looking at the scene from a bit of a distance she sees its a car wreck. Nothing major just some bent fenders and a few bruises. Nothing some rest and a hot shower cant fix.

Lucinda turns up the street and continues her trudge home. Just a few pieces of chocolate remain. They won’t make it home at this rate. Just as Lucinda reaches the next intersection she decides to turn back down the street to be on the same side as her apartment. “It was the long way, but hey at least I got a bit more of a walk in.” She almost hums to herself. Just as she is passing by one of the alleys she hears something behind her, a trash bag moving slightly. Turning her head just enough to make out movement she notices a man is following her. Not being totally alarmed, she scans the other side too. There are three. Panic sets in slightly as she attempts to lose the men while also not show that she is onto them. As she scans again to see if they are closing distance she suddenly gets smacked in the face. Her head reels for a second as she drops down to a knee. Before she can reconcile the action she is drug into an alley a hand clamping on her mouth muffling her scream greatly.

She comes face to face with a very dark figure. Their face covered in something distorting features and making it hard to see him. “Hands up, give me your purse!” Lucinda is still trying to get the world to stop spinning when her purse is ripped from her and a knife tucked into her rib cage. This instantly clears her head. There are five of them! Two more were waiting in the alley. The three following her waltz into the alley skipping almost with a bit of laughter. “Ha ha, I told you we would get this treat one night!” One of the more scraggly men says to the group. Hands start flying grabbing at her from every angle. Her brain is completely wrought with fear and disgust at their actions. The knife pushes a bit harder as one of the men come up behind her closer. He breathes deep and exhales. “Ah, fresh from the diner are we little Lucy!”

The fear deepened in her. They knew her, they waited on her specifically. This could be very bad for her. Just as she is trying to formulate an escape plan words start forming in her head. They sound almost like echoes. The sound resonating in her head and ears but not out loud. “I….will….make you a deal….” The words echo and when the voice says deal it whispers again “DEAL! I will make you a deal.” The voice disembodied and becoming more disembodied as it speaks. “I will make you a deal, should….you give me one of those chocolates. All of these pieces of SCUM…scum…SCUMMM. Disappear….disappear..” The voice is haunting. But it is the only option. Her mouth covered she tries to think toward the voice, wherever it may be. “Please help, you may have all the chocolates…”

No sooner than she had “spoken” the words the knife in her ribs was gone. Falling to the ground with a clatter. The hand was also gone. Her senses returning slightly she tries to run, but then she hears the screams. Its clearly the voices of the men screaming. “OH GOD, PLEASE DON’T KI….” one of them screams and is cut short by the sound of crunching and splattering. Followed immediately by the unmistakable sound of his body, and blood, hitting the ground. Then as soon as it started it was over. The fear in her body forced her legs to not want to work as she heard footsteps and a clicking sound coming from deeper in the alley. The same place she heard the screaming. Looking over she sees something she never expected. A purple skinned demon in a very well dressed an kept suit walking out with a cane. Almost a swagger to his walk as he is picking something from his teeth and wiping his mouth.

The light hits his figure and clothes just the right way making a slight glint from his jewelry. One of the items being the freshly obtained watch he got from one of the men in the scuffle. “The deal Lucy, one chocolate please. “ He says calmly as he approaches her with his hand stretched out. “oh…ok, here…take it all.” She offers the bag to him. “TSK TSK TSK, no no. The deal was one chocolate. I am allowed no more than the deal entailed.” he says refusing the bag. Stunned she takes just one out and places it in his hand. “Are you sure?” she asks quizzically. A small smile washes over his face as he puts the chocolate in his mouth tasting it. “Quite sure. While I may be a demon, I am not a barbarian…” He trails slightly and picks up again. “I am simply bound by the demon code. Should I violate the deal, I suffer for a few thousand years. Trust me it’s worse than what just flashed through your head…” The words fall out and you are soaking up everything. He was right, she is imagining it pretty bad, but worse? How?

Tasting his chocolate she hears a slight growl from his throat. Joy from the taste it seems. “Thank you young lady. You will be happy to know there are no more attackers on your walk tonight. Please feel free to take your time and enjoy the walk.” He says with a slight joy, and disappointment in his voice. Lucinda’s mind is now much clearer. “What…” Her voice tails. Picking back up with more confidence she continues. ”Would you consider talking to me more if I offer more chocolates?” The demon hears the words and gets greatly excited at the notion. “I certainly would entertain the idea. Just call me by my name.” He leans in close and whispers in her ear. “Vel-Shock Don-Vor.” His voice seems to vibrate when he says it. “I will come to you and we can talk. For now however, I must go as our deal is done…” With a small scratching noise a portal opens beneath him and he disappears. Leaving Lucinda in the alley alone. At least she hopes she is alone. Gathering herself she decides it best to make her way to her home. Wanting to wash the night away.

It has been many days since she has seen her demon ‘friend’ but she knows he is still lurking. She has thought of many questions to ask him. Each time she comes close to saying his name she decides not to. Thinking that there must be better questions to ask. After all, getting the secret to life from a demon might not be a good idea. Finally nearly a month has passed and she has written hundreds of questions, ranking them from best to worst. Tonight she will call for him. It gets nearly midnight and she repeats the words she heard. “Vel-Shock Don-Vor”. After about five minutes she starts to say it again. “Vel-Shock…” Her voice changes to a mild scream as the demon cracks a bit of lightning next to her appearing quickly. “You called for me? What do you desire?” he says in his nearly seductive growl. “I would like to ask a few questions, I bought a whole box of chocolates. Many different kinds. What kind of deal could we make on this?” She says confidently.

Lucinda has studied for the last month on questions to ask the demon, but she has also studied the many tricks and logical side stepping he could use to trick her. The demon smiles speaking but nearly drooling as he does so. “Oh really, well this is quite fortunate. We could come to a deal. One question asked, one chocolate provided. Deal?” Lucinda thought for a moment and decided this was a good deal. “De…” She stopped abruptly. “No deal. I ask a question and you answer it honestly then you get a chocolate. If the question has no answer or you refuse then no chocolate.” Lucinda says in a very smartass tone. The demon lets out a haughty and mildly disturbing laugh. “Ah dear girl, we have a deal. It seems you are not easily tricked. This could be fun.”

Lucinda asks a simple question testing his boundaries. “What is the color of your skin?” The demon looked slightly perplexed and semi-smiled as he realized it was a test. “Purple, though there have been arguments for pink in some places.” He says chuckling. Lucinda starts to ask a second question and the demon interrupts. “No question without chocolate.” The firm matter of fact statement changed her demeanor slightly. She tosses him a chocolate which he quickly consumes. “Ahh, ok. Continue.” He shivers slightly at the taste bringing joy. Lucinda asks a few more primer questions with softball answers, like colors and other things well known. Finally after about ten or so questions the demon stops her. “This is becoming quite boring. While I do enjoy your chocolates, can we get to the fun questions?” Lucinda gives a smile as he says this. “Fine, I am satisfied you will do the right thing at this point.”

For another hour she asks various questions about things around the world, evil and interacting with demons. Then she reaches the more specific ones. “What did you do that got you sent to hell?” She asks him. His body language changes slightly. “I cannot answer that question.” He says firmly. Dissatisfied with the answer Lucinda pushes with the next question. “What was your name when you were on the human plane?” He adjusts again. “I again cannot answer…” He is in the middle of the same sentence when Lucinda interrupts. “I will make you a deal. I have two hundred more chocolates. If you answer the next question, and do so honestly, then you can have them all.” He adjusts once more but this time creeping to the edge of his seat. “Ask your question…..” He whispers to her. She smiles and sets down the papers, pulling her question from memory. “Is there a god of god or evil that must be obeyed by you or other demons?” Her voice was cool, collective and slightly bone chilling. The demon seems to drool slightly as suddenly a bit of fear creeps across his face. It is instantly replaced with determination and a relaxing of his entire being. “Yes, his name is…” Just as the words leave his mouth there is a quite large flash and a bit of screaming of the demon.

Lucinda opens her eyes and she stands in a bright void. Looking around her eyes adjust and finally she sees the small table with what looks to be a woman sitting at it. “Please have a seat.” The woman says. Lucinda is still confused and now is unsure of everything. “Please, take the seat across from me. There is much to discuss but there is only one topic right now that should be said. I would like to not repeat myself again.” Lucinda senses an urgency in the voice and quickly sits down. “What is there to discuss?” Lucinda says stumbling slightly over her words. “The woman at the table smiles slightly but not deeply and says. “Your questions will be answered but not right now. This comes later. What you need to know right now is that you will not keep up this contact and the demon has been delt with. Do not speak his name again. Should you do so it will not end well for you. Do I make myself clear?” the woman’s voice seems to change mid sentence and push into the form that is Lucinda. “Yes….yes ma’am..” Lucinda says. “Good, now go back and get some sleep. Work comes early.” The voice tells her as there is another searing hot flash. Then as Lucinda blinks and the flash fades she is back in her apartment.

“What the hell was that? Was that Hell or Heaven? Geez this whole thing isn’t fun anymore..” She says to herself as things start to become more clear. On her walls is written a bunch of what looks like gibberish. Its written in dark red ink, maybe even blood. Lucinda sees this and starts to get up and walk around. As she looks and walks it all further seems to be gibberish. She goes to walk back to where she was standing and the pattern starts to line up. Moving around and trying to form words or something useful she sees words form. “Vilda-Vesh Delver-Nash” She says, struggling a few times to say it right. There is then a flash and she is back in that white space looking at the woman who is completely dumbfounded at the arrival. There is a difference now though. The woman has horns and a flaming skull that rests between them. “You should not have done that dear. I do hope you enjoy your stay. As you have no way to find the return spell, you are stuck with me and there is nothing you can do. Welcome to what you might call hell. I call it my playground.” Just as she realizes her mistake Lucinda starts to speak. Only to be completely overwhelmed and consumed by the woman. The woman growing large wings and her jaws opening very wide. A demon, who literally eats her in one bite. The pain now gone forever.

Just as Lucinda is hearing her last thoughts a voice creeps in and speaks. “You should never have made the deal with a demon. We are the best liars.” Then the ‘CRUNCH!’ of her bones as she screams in agonizing pain for a split second, only to be completely crushed in the next second.