He wiped his hands clean of the bright red blood stains. He had no choice. At least that is what he told himself every night. There was always a choice. 

“Fuck, it’s not coming off,” he shouted as he desperately tried to wipe his hands harder. 

“May I suggest some water, Jin?” The black cat sitting at the corner of the room spoke softly. His fur was darker than night, a seemingly empty void, his yellow eyes the only glint of color. 

“Shut up,” he yelled and threw a book at the cat which he had picked up from the coffee table. 

The book went right past the cat who simply yawned, “You’re so rude. I don’t know why I put up with you. There’s a sink in the bathroom. Use it.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Jin turned around and slammed the bathroom door shut. 

He stared into the mirror, it was the same every time. He had killed many people by now. His tired dark brown eyes stared back at him. Was it enough yet? No. Jin owed the demon sixty souls, and he was not backing down. It didn’t matter how many lives. As long as his sister got to live. She was worth every life he took. 

He washed off all the blood, all the pain. He washed off the memory of taking a life. Or so he told himself. He climbed out the apartment window, the black cat following behind him. 

“How many is that now?” The cat asked lazily. 

“Eighteen,” Jin muttered before stopping. 

His gaze lingered on the horizon, the night had been strange, to say the least. He waited for the sun to rise, for the new day to start. Perhaps he would awaken from this nightmare. He took a deep breath, the world always seemed too harsh, too dark. Here he was, making it even darker. It did not matter. At least she would have all the joy in the world, at least she would be alive. 

The cat glanced up at him as they walked down the street, “It’s not so bad, is it? They are only human lives. Short and fragile. After all, every human being is doomed to die at some point.” 

“Can you ever stop talking? Your constant chatter was not part of the deal,” Jin snapped at the cat. 

“Oh ho ho, you’re just a sour worm. I am simply trying to lighten the mood, my friend,” the cat meowed before jumping up on Jin’s shoulder. 

Jin rolled his eyes and stopped at a small bakery, killing people always seemed to make him hungry and the only thing open this early were bakeries. The scent of freshly baked bread was always comforting, reminding him of his grandfather who used to bake every day. 

“Memories are always bittersweet, are they not?” The cat purred. 

Jin closed his eyes, he wanted so badly to shut the demon out, to have nothing more to do with him. Yet he was always there, stalking behind him everywhere he went. He picked up a soft red bean bun, it was still warm from the oven. He glanced at the man behind the counter, old and worn out. Jin sighed as he paid for the bun, he needed to get ready for work after this. Another long day of meaningless actions. Sometimes he wished he could kill them all, his bosses, and co-workers. He was getting too used to it, seeing the blood on his hands. 

He saw it all the time, even when he had washed it off. As he took a bite of his red bean bun he saw it. His hands were stained red, blood dripping down on the ground. It was not real. He closed his eyes again and focused on the taste of the bun. It felt warm and sweet in his mouth. 

“You will stop seeing the blood eventually, eventually, eventually, ” the black cat hummed. 

He didn’t respond. There it was again, telling him how he would get used to it; that the numbness would come eventually. He gritted his teeth before he tore off a piece of his bun and tossed it down to the cat. 

“Next time buy me a whole one,” the black cat meowed as he happily munched on the piece. 

“Cats are not supposed to eat pastry,” Jin mumbled under his breath. 

The cat chuckled, “Good thing I’m not a cat then…” 

Jin rolled his eyes, the cat loved telling him how he was not a cat. Did he secretly enjoy hearing it? He shook his head and headed into his small apartment. The sun was rising outside, shrouded by a layer of mist.

The black cat stopped as Jin unlocked the door, “Wait. I smell rosemary and sage.” 

“Rosemary? Sage? Someone’s perfume maybe? Does it fucking matter?” Jin slammed the door open.

He glanced inside, something seemed different. It seemed darker than usual. His eyes shifted to the cat who arched his back and hissed. Something was in there, he could feel it. It resonated with his very being. Was it someone he knew?

“Rosemary and sage are what he smells like… The raven that follows me to no end,” the cat hissed, “We must run. If you wish to keep your promise and keep your sister alive, you must aid me.” 

“Raven?” Jin squinted his eyes, peering into the darkness. 

A loud caw hit them both as they stood there, Jin was starting to realize that the cat was not messing around. A gust of wind came from inside the apartment, almost knocking Jin off his feet. 

“I suggest running,” the cat hissed as he leaped down the stairs. 

Jin didn’t wait around, he dashed down the steps, following behind the cat. His heart was beating loudly through his chest, something about that raven made him feel almost excited. He grinned as they ran, had he ever felt so alive? The raven cawed again in the stairwell, and a gust of wind whooshed down the stairs. It hit Jin and he tumbled hard down the remaining steps. 

“If only you had started running sooner,” the cat muttered as he stared directly into Jin’s face. 

Jin grunted and pushed himself off the ground, in that moment he felt lucky that the demon had made him stronger and tougher. 

“I don’t see you doing much here. This raven is your enemy, not mine,” Jin shouted as he finally got up on his feet again. 

“As they say, potato, tomato,” the cat meowed and ran along. 

“Who the hell says that?” Jin said in an annoyed tone, running behind the cat. 

“Everyone. Haven’t you heard of it before? It’s because they sound so similar,” the cat remarked, glancing back to see if the raven followed them, “It is as I thought. He will not follow us into the light.” 

“What are you on about now?” Jin grunted quietly as they passed by an old woman. 

“The raven, he won’t follow us into the light. He can’t leave the darkness. Well, that’s a relief. We simply have to stay in the light at all times.” the cat stopped and jumped up on Jin’s shoulder again. 

“What about during the night?” Jin scowled at the cat. 

“Ah, yes… Um… I will think of something,” the cat grinned wide, “Now, I’m hungry from all the running. Buy me some delicious meat please.”