The Agreement — Part 1

Summary

The protagonist, Ali, faces the consequences of a deal with the Devil, which granted three years of fame in exchange for their soul, culminating in a confrontation with the Devil's Hellhounds and a journey to Hell.

Abstract

On the morning of November 15, 2039, Ali prepares to face the Devil's Hellhounds, who are due to collect their soul as per a three-year-old pact. Despite the early arrival of the Hellhounds, Ali attempts to fortify their defenses, following the advice of their mentor, Mick, to maintain eye contact and block out the disorienting hum emitted by the Hellhounds. However, Ali is ultimately overpowered and finds themselves in the Devil's presence within Hell's chambers, where the Devil mockingly acknowledges the fulfillment of Ali's desires in exchange for their soul.

Opinions

The protagonist is perceived as either mad or doomed by others for making a deal with the Devil.
The Devil is portrayed as a calculating and manipulative entity, using her minions to collect souls as agreed upon.
Mick, the mentor, is shown to have provided valuable advice to Ali, emphasizing the importance of maintaining eye contact and ignoring the Hellhounds' disorienting tactics.
The author, Makena Darya, seems to explore themes of desperation, the cost of fame, and the lengths people will go to achieve their desires.
The Devil expresses a sense of bemusement and superiority over human nature, highlighting the idea that humans are willing to sacrifice anything for their personal gains.

The Agreement — Part 1

Prologue | Fiction Writing

Fifteenth of November two-thousand and thirty-nine, today is the day. Three years ago I made a deal with the Devil. Three years ago, I sold my soul for a life that most only dream of. Some say I’m mad, others think I’m doomed. They don’t know that I’ve been preparing for this since I met the Devil herself. It’s five A.M, I’ve got about nineteen hours until they show at midnight. That’s what the demon, Damien had said three years ago.

“She’ll send her Hellhounds at midnight in three years’ time. Have fun pet.” He said with a scoff and vanished. I’ve got nineteen hours to set up my trap and arm the defences; the first item on the agenda, tea.

As I sit sipping my tea perched on the windowsill, steam lazily escaping my cup I look out of the window and see two black silhouettes appear atop the dew-covered hillside. My heart starts to thump, I set the cup down on the ledge next to me and slowly stand, my eyes fixed in their direction. The rising sun is casting long shadows in front of them elongating their dark slender frames as they stalk towards the cabin. Chills run down my spine as I note their robotic-like movements, it’s The Devil’s Hellhounds I realise, she’s sent them early.

“Shit! Shit! They’re not supposed to be here yet!” I curse as I stare out at the two silhouettes whilst sidestepping towards the front door. Did I remember to lock it last night?

“She said midnight,” I say in a panic, moving quickly towards the door. As I am about to turn my head to look for the lock I hear Mick’s voice in my mind from our first training session.

“Rule number one, don’t break eye contact even for a second. Do not look away, if you look away you’re gone!” He says snapping his fingers. I stare at the hounds whilst fumbling for the lock. I sigh in relief when my fingers curl around the cool metal of the door handle’s internal lock mechanism, I push it in sighing once more when I hear the soft click as it moves into place.

The Hounds movements are slow and methodical, you can almost see them thinking about each and every step. They move in unison, each step matching the other. A low electric hum can be heard from outside as they approach. I quickly block my ears with my index fingers remembering what Mick said about the hum.

“As it gets louder you’ll begin to wheeze as they suck the air out of your lungs, block your ears hum a tune, sing a song, anything to not hear that sound,” he says with a pained expression on his soft face. I stare out at them with my fingers in my ears humming an old song from the early 2030s.

I sidestep from the door past the windowsill in search of my noise-canceling earmuffs, the kind construction workers wear on a building site. I remember seeing them on the table near the far window last night. I stop at the edge of the windowsill careful not to break eye contact, my heart is pounding in my chest, sweat is rolling down my temples and the electric hum is growing louder, with it, my breath shorter. I give up on the earmuffs the table is too far away, instead, I start to sing out loud, my eyes are burning from staring at the Hounds for so long and my chest and stomach are in tight knots.

The Hounds are about ten feet from my front porch, that is when my eyes begin to water.

“I need to blink, I need to blink, I need to blink,” I think to myself. I stare until my eyes give in and for a millisecond, they close to relieve them from the burning sensation, just like that I’m gone. I’m still me, soul intact, still breathing but the Hounds have done their job, I’m in the Devil’s chambers, I’m in Hell.

“Ali, my darling!” she coons “Welcome to Hell,” she says arms spread wide as she stares at me, her eyes hungry. She is sitting atop a throne made of bedrock intricately decorated in patterns made of flame, both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Next to her obediently sit her two Hellhounds, still as statues.

“I do hope your three years of fame and desire were all you expected. Damien is one of my best demons, so I’m not surprised you sold your soul to him.” She says his name in a way that provoked a feeling of disgust within me.

“I am always so amazed at the lengths people will go to get what they want. Ah, humans, so concerned with their own selfish thoughts they’ll do almost anything for a fix. Ha, something I’ll never quite understand!” She muses. “Now, you know why you’re here, deal with a demon, fame, fortune, blah, blah, blah, blah. So, shall we get started then?”