Summary

Nathan, a young wizard, finds himself in a dire fight against a bloodthirsty demon, using unconventional means to survive.

Abstract

In "A Hell of a Fight," Nathan's luck is tested when he faces an enraged demon in a battle that leaves him resorting to the unexpected contents of his pockets for defense. After being hit and sent flying into trash cans, Nathan uses acorns imbued with magic to create explosions, temporarily halting the demon's assault. Despite the chaos and a close call with a balcony collapse, Nathan remains resourceful, with a mysterious card sliding out as his potential saving grace. The story is part of a larger series, "A Hell of a Bedtime Story," and the author invites readers to support his work on platforms like Ko-fi and Patreon.

Opinions

The author uses a humorous tone to describe Nathan's predicament, highlighting the absurdity of using acorns as a weapon against a demon.
Nathan's character is portrayed as resilient and quick-thinking, even when faced with imminent danger.
The story incorporates elements of fantasy and mashup genres, appealing to readers who enjoy a blend of humor, action, and the supernatural.
The narrative emphasizes the importance of resourcefulness and wit in the face of overwhelming odds.
The author engages with the audience by hinting at a cliffhanger and encouraging support for the continuation of the story, indicating a dedication to the craft and the series.

FICTION | MASHUP | FANTASY

A Hell of a Fight

Part 8 of A Hell of a Bedtime Story — Nathan’s luck finally runs out when he faces an angry, bloodthirsty demon

The demon’s fist hit Nathan like an out-of-control truck and sent him flying into the restaurant’s trash cans. It fitted Nathan’s kind of luck to be rescued by fermented food waste, but ‘hell ya’ he’d live another day … and smell like a digester for a couple of days.

There was no more time to waste on this train of thought. Demon-guy was coming at him again like the maddened Truck-kun himself. Desperately, Nathan grabbed into his coat’s pockets. Something must be hidden in his old friend and trusted companion—one last trick up his sleeve.

Demon-guy was up in the air now, leaping at Nathan and ready to rend him with his claws. The young wizard’s chops dropped when he pulled a handful of acorns from his pocket. Was he supposed to bring a bloody sling to fight Goliath?

“Well, f**k this!” Nathan yelled and desperately threw the acorns at the demon.

To his relief, he timed his improvised spell just right and infused his projectiles with enough magic to create multiple explosions at impact. It wasn’t only strong enough to stop the demon mid-flight but sent him right back into the restaurant through the hole in the wall.

Unfortunately, the explosion was strong enough to affect him too. Like Carrie’s telekinetic ragdoll, he was flung back into the biowaste.

“At least it’s softer here,” he muttered, looking for another way to stop the demon.

He heard an angry gnarl from inside the restaurant and kept his eyes on the hole in the wall, ready to release all the power he could gather and pull the second-floor balcony down on his horned foe.

The next thing Nathan saw was the restaurant’s backdoor flying toward him, and he got a glimpse of the demon. It stood there like an unloved, ugly grandfather clock that nobody wanted. Its leg was still extended for the kick.

“Not f**king f…!”

Nathan’s sentence was stopped short when the door hit him and buried him in the garbage again. The red-skinned demon appeared in his field of vision as it flung the door away like a toothpick. Behind him, Nathan saw a large part of the building collapse with the second-floor balcony. He had released his magic before the door hit him and had no time now to gather new energy to defend against the next attack.

Somewhere nearby, he heard the sound of rain falling on metal trash cans. A few drops cooled his face. Was this the last sensation he’d feel in his life? Like fate flipping him, Nathan watched a card slide from his right sleeve — his literal and last trick up the sleeve.

The demon grabbed Nathan by his right arm and left leg. Then, he started pulling with all his strength, and time seemed to stop for Nathan.

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This is a response to Jonathon Sawyer’s Monday Mash-Up №16.

Prompt #2: Just as you are about to die, time stops -> 2 points
Constraint: A truck (the demon's fist hits liek a truck) (1 point)
Constraint: A balcony (1 point)
Constraint: The sound of falling rain (on the metal trash cans) (1 point)
Constraint: Acorns (1 point)
Hardcore Constraint: A grandfather clock (2 points)
Literary Device: personification (his coat is his trusted companion) (5 points)
Tally 1 point
Sum: 14 points

Oh my gosh! The suspense is killing me!

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