The wicked demon whom deceived me and stripped away my body continues ravaging through the dead. I cannot stand the sight of it and try to find my happy place.

Think. Think. Think! Oh gosh, I don’t have a happy place! Is that even real?! I don’t know! Unicorns and ponies! Happy cheerful people!

But my imagination is tormented by what I have seen. Those magical beings and jolly people are massacred by her! Teared one by one and eaten alive! My nightmare is interrupted as I hear something off in the distance. The rustle of the dry Summer leaves left by the wind, damp grass carefully being trembled, and light silent steps on concrete.

Demon, we have company.

Even though I wish with all my might for her to die, if she dies most likely I would go with her. It’s no use, she’s too busy stuffing herself with the life of the innocent.

When was the last time she ate or do demons eat this way? What am I asking?! These things don’t have manners!

Clap* Clap* Clap*

“Congratulations.”

From the remaining shadows of the night an old man appears before us.

Another lunatic.

He wears an ebony dress with a red shirt under it. He doesn’t fear her as he walks with vigor and spirit; closer and closer.

“My complements on making it this far. You have grabbed my personal attention.

He’s not alone as from behind an entire village of followers carefully tread.

Not many demons get the luxury of being exorcised by the bishop himself.

He proudly raises a stick covered in gold and precious emeralds.

I, Aarzoo will send you back from whens thou came.”

Who the hell is Aarzoo?

My captor’s skin instantly crawls and ceases feasting. My body unnaturally raises itself cautiously while gazing around our surroundings.

Why didn’t you warn me we were being ambushed?

I was calling for you, but you were too busy desecrating the dead.

I doubt it, and that’s not any stick it’s his crosier. We’re outnumbered and not just that-

† “Wait!” †

A short gasp is heard among the crowd while the critters of the night hold their breath; a void of despair fills before the interloper’s presence. The so-called bishop drags his wrinkled face onto the crowd where the voice proclaimed. On the other side, my body is dropping buckets of sweat as tension seems to deepen. I can feel this demon’s intentions-

Runaway.

As a faction, everyone marches three steps backwards except for two people whom bravely stand in front of Aarzoo. Both wear the same brown cloaks with the exception, theirs fashion yellow vertical stripes with tribal patterns and a hoodie covering their hair. One of them is probably shorter than I but the other is twice my size. The short stranger looks slim while the tall one stands with undefined muscles not even his cloak can hide. Finally, the short interloper takes half a step forward. It’s a woman! Even though I cannot see her hair, her voice stands out: sweet but with command.

† “I…” †

My eyes naturally dart at her up and down. She’s wearing combat boots while the person behind has a pair of worn-out Spartan sandals.

I can’t see the size of her breasts but compared to the mammoth before her- his are huge!

Perverted human, don’t think less of her because she’s a woman, or her partner. They’ve been hunting me since the moment they’d laid eyes on me.

Then they must be really bad at their job. Unfortunately for me, you’re still here.

Irritation steams from my reply but she keeps quiet as she’s too focus on the massive respect these two have for this old man.

Who is this Aarzoo fellow?

Before the woman could continue, her partner brutally steps forward while taking off his hoodie. He’s a bald African American, probably in his late twenties.

How could he not stop this demon? With those ripped muscles, he could pop my head with no effort.

‡ “Forgive our poor manners, your excellency. My name is Punishment and this is our sister, Death. We come representing the great Genocidaires and our original task is to exterminate the foul beast before you, your holiness.” ‡

The woman named, “Death” kneels on both knees while leaning forward exposing her neck. Punishment, reaches for his back and pulls out a rusted medieval mace.

He can actually reach back there with those muscles!

He steadily hovers the deadly weapon on top of Death’s head.

‡ “If we are to fail such a simple task to bring your attention; then, we are not worthy to stand before you nor god. Please, give us this chance to exorcise this demon properly and prove our worth to you.” ‡

“Nay.”

† “Let it be.” †

The massive brute inhales one last time while raising his beaten mace and swings with no remorse.

‡ “Let it be.” ‡

At the same time, Death pulls out a ceremonial dagger from her chest and launches it towards her killer’s throat.

“Halt!”

Punishment holds his mace millimeters away from his sister’s skull as Death instantly had pulled back her dagger.

These people are above my imagination. How did she pull back the dagger?

It’s wrapped around a special type of thread. The human eye cannot see nor feel it even after death.

“You have prove yourselves worthy before my presence.”

Both brother and sister exhale what was their final breath with exhaustion, but show no evidence of regret. Meanwhile, everyone else mutters to one another as they cannot believe what the bishop has just proclaimed.

“Those who do not hesitate before their own punishment for their sin and face death with open arms are suitable in my eyes for redemption. Both of you are supposed to be the best executioners in this region. Why have you failed? Not just once, but multiple times to the same demon; I have read your reports and I am not convinced.”

Punishment’s knees break as he falls by his sister; both bow down almost kissing the floor with nothing to respond. A gentle weep comes from the giant as Death smashes one of her fists on the sidewalk.

“Do not belittle yourselves, my children. As of now, I will judge your worth.”

Aarzoo instantly claps his hands twice. Two men rush out from the crowd holding each a piece of the same chair. The bishop shuts his eyes and attempts to sit. As he does, the chair in installed the exact moment his bottom hits the cushion. He sighs and pouts with disagreement.

“I really wanted to finally use my power… if I must be god’s eyes and reason- let it be. Death and Punishment, you have been baptized with these proud names; to never speak nor write your birth names… Sigh*… Today, I will judge you as god as my witness. I will consider if you really are worthy of the title, Genocidaire. If you fail, you will be stripped of your rank and marked as traitors for the rest of your pitiful lives here and in the afterlife. You can deny this opportunity and walk away as failures; rest assure your souls will be saved, but entry to our covenant will be denied. Are you willing to risk it all and accept your responsibility?”

†‡ “As god as our witness, the dagger of the church, and the executioners of the shadows; let it be.” †‡

This is it, you’re about to witness what these two are capable of. We may not come out of this alive… Well, I will not you. Sorry kid, in advance.

You can always give me back my body. I’m sure we can come up with some kind of negotiation between both parties.

You really don’t understand our situation; these people don’t reason with sinn…

Punishment’s mace thunders down as it catches us off guard. The demon unconsciously at the last second tries to shield herself with my left arm but the force of his mace cracks through my elbow’s bones and tissue. His mace doesn’t stop, as it pierces through the lifeless corpse next to us. The moment it makes contact, it dramatically explodes while shattering the floor as shards of concrete hits us.

“GaaaaAaahh!!”

She screeches in agony, as she grabs my limbless forearm and tears it off.

What the hell are you doing?!

Shut the fuck up and let me concentrate!

‡ “Don’t think you’ll get away this time; god smiles upon us, repent!” ‡

I sense desperation, fear, and hatred swirling inside this demon. The only thing keeping her going is her will to survive. Her gaze darts from one side to the other.

What is she looking for?

I need a weapon.

There are only pieces of the corpse, shattered glass from someone’s liquor, shards of concrete, and my left forearm laying around. Finally, she gazes at something that may be strong enough to defend herself: one of the jogger’s legs.

This will have to do.

Punishment gracefully pulls out his boiling mace from the hole he just made and steadily sets himself to swing once more as he guesses the demon’s intentions.

‡ “Don’t you dare desecrate him anymore!” ‡

She breaks for the dead man’s leg, however she recalls theirs another foe on the field.

Where is she?!

As my elbow continues bleeding, the demon cutoff’s her speed to stop and search for Death, but before she could find her my face splatters blood.

† “Why aren’t you unlucky? If you hadn’t stopped, my dagger would’ve ended your life painlessly.” †

“My fucking eye! You fucking cut my fucking eye! Aaaah! You fucking witch!”

An eye?

I look down and to no surprise, there it is- my right eye; just motionless on the floor. I can’t feel it nor wish to know what this demon is going through, but she deserves this. For abducting my body, all those innocent people…

Wait. What will happen to me?

It fucking means we’re both fucking dead! If I die, you die with me! So just shut the fuck up!

‡ “That’s right, keep watching her. The moment you let your eye off her, you’ll be greeted back in hell.” ‡

We hear an appalling breeze come from Punishment’s side as the floor under him crackles. She wants to peek but the moment she does, Death will take our lives; I must be her eyes.

Jump!

The emotion of mistrust is there, with a millisecond to decide, and having no other choice she gives me the certitude; I may be right. She leaps! My body gets a foot off the ground, but it’s too late as we’re brought back down with the utmost force from Punishment’s mace; it strikes her on my lumbar spine.

“GyAaeyaaah!!!”

Meanwhile, inside my body even though there’s nothing inside but emptiness it still feels as if everything trembles as my vision comes and goes away. The demon forces herself to open my bloodshot eye as we impact the ground; she must know where her opponents stand. Maybe bad luck, poor performance, or faith; we’re greeted with a satanic smile as Death stares down upon us.

† “Where are your friends now, fiend?” †