A loud snap turned the peaceful forest still, before erupting with movement. Birds flew up, covering the sky as they made their escape. Deer ran, dodging each tree as it stood before them. The peaceful sound of birds and crickets chirping, filling the air with glee to those who are fortunate enough to stumble through it, had vanished.

  Instead it was the sound of scurrying critters and fluttering birds that would fill any sane person who heard with a mix of terror and wonder.

  A man, not too tall and by no means unfit, ran through these woods, his steps concealing his intent for running. He was not running for sport or because his presence was needed elsewhere. He was running away.

  Behind him a towering beast made its way through the woods, bumping into trees, making their roots stand in the sun.

  The man was hurrying to flee, to disappear, but found no place to do so. His eyes locked onto a small crevice in the ground. It was the thing he was searching for, a place to hide. He dashed toward the crevice, jumping in. He felt safer, now that he found a place where he would not be found.

  “Come on Corre. Come out of hiding and face me like a man. Give me back my egg while you’re at it!”

  Corre looked down, watching a faint glow emanating from his bag. His hand rushed to his side, blood had stained his clothes and tainted his hand. “Just my luck.” He silently muttered. “I ask for a little favour and before I know it, I am running away from a Celestial. That pompous prick really has to keep up his end of the agreement, because if that bastard makes me run from something that big for a stupid egg, without it. I’ll just kill him on the spot.”

  The beast now stood almost on top of the crevice. Corre held his breath. It moved on. He sighed.

  “For a second there I thought I was done for, but luckily I am a-” His foot hit the ground in front of him and a sharp crack was heard, the ground shattering beneath him as he put weight on it. He fell. He screamed.

  A sharp pain shot through his body as he hit the floor. He groaned. “Ow.” His voice was hoarse. “Why me?”

  Corre slowly got up, turning his gaze to the spot where he stood mere moments prior. “It wasn’t that much of a drop.” He checked his limbs. “And everything seems to be attached. I should be fine.”

  He looks around him, seeing an opening in one of the stone walls which surrounded him. His eyes adjusted to the brightness, after which he saw a ravine stretching far beyond his sight.

  Looking down, he saw the stream flow with life, both in and around. Hesitation struck him for a moment, before leaping into a tall tree close to the river. He landed in the top most part and started to slowly make his descent.

  Each time he moves to a new branch, he feels a pain flow through him like a wave through water. It was warm out, but not too warm, the sun feeling nice on his skin, but the moisture in the air cooled him at the same time.

  His body shook when he landed on the floor. “So, maybe I fell a little harder than I thought.”

  -

  Corre walked along the gentle stream, soaking up the peace he saw before him. He then hears a hum. What was that? Is that a human? he thought to himself, as he went to investigate.

  There was a figure by the river, humming a tune to itself. Corre looked at it from the thick foliage. It looked like a girl, but something was off. There is no way anyone like that could survive it here. I mean it’s constantly overrun with beyonders for crying out loud.

  She turned her head a little, revealing the mark on her forehead to him.

  I knew it, a demon. This one looks kinda weak though, maybe I should try. I mean if I win I get the power right? No pain in not trying.

  He stood up and readied himself. The girl looked up at the bushes, a rustling disturbing her hum. She yelped as Corre jumped out of the bushes. “Okay. Here’s how this is gonna go.” He said. A faint thud was heard when he hit the ground, displacing the loose rocks covering the river bank.

  “You’re gonna give me your power and-” He was stunned when the girl put a hand to his chest.

  “Stop talking.” She said as small sparks fizzled into his chest.

  The pain was moderate, nothing he wasn’t used to. But the colour.

  Isn’t lightning supposed to be blue, or white, or purple or whatever? Why the hell is it red?

  “Hey, back off, human!” The girl shouted. “I’m attacking you!”

  “Attacking me? Oh, so then this is a battle.” He grabbed the hand on his chest and tugged it off him. “Weird, I’d have thought a demon who’s so confident wouldn’t have soft skin. Ah well.”

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  He threw her back, not using a lot of force, but using her recovery to get into a fighting stance.

  “Remember, you wanted this.”

  The demon skidded to a halt. Before she could get into a stance, he was up in her face, arm cocked back

  The girl had barely enough time to dodge the initial blow, a small cloud of dust forming around her landing spot, as she had almost fallen to the ground. She got up quickly, expecting more. One punch after another went in her direction.

  Man she is faster than she looks. Then again I am not the speediest at the moment. Come on man, fight through the pain. The punches grew in number. The girl backed away, narrowly avoiding each hit.

  Then finally, there was contact.

  His fist was buried deep into her abdomen, her face not yet realising the pain she was going through. She was sent flying backward, hitting a tree. He had finally hit her, his opening was now.

  He rushed toward her, feeling the pain starting to rise again. Ow, ow, ow. God dammit, why couldn’t I get scratched in a different spot?

  Just before he was going to finish it, her voice sounded.

  “Wait! Please. I can help, just don’t banish me.”

  Corre stopped in his advance. “I’m listening.”

  “Well. We can take a bind.” “Ha, what do you take me for, a fool? I am not wasting parts of my soul for you.”

  He moved in closer. “I would only take a little, so little you wouldn’t even notice.” Sweat started to form on her face.

  “Fine. If it’ll give me the power I want, I guess I wouldn’t care if a weak demon like you were to be running around. Besides, electricity? That’s just neat.”

  He extended a hand. “So, how does a bind-curse work anyway?”

  She accepts the hand. “Aren’t you humans all so ‘interested’ in curses?” “Hey, can’t blame me. I haven’t really been taught this kinda thing.”

  “Well first we enter your soul.”

  “How do we do that?”

  “Are you really that much of an idiot? Just, close your eyes and focus on only yourself.”

  “You make it sound natural.”

  “It is natural.”

  “I’m not seeing any animal-” “Just shut up and do it already!”

  -

  “How?! Just close your eyes! It can’t take over twenty minutes to do that!”

  “You don’t have to shout at me, geez. My eyes are closed.”

  “No, they’re not. You keep peeking.”

  “Yeah, to make sure you don’t pull a knife on me!”

  “Ugh, why did he have to be insufferable?” The demon muttered quietly.

  “What was that?!”

  “Nothing.” The girl replied in the sweetest voice she could muster. “Just go at your own pace, however slow that may be.”

  “Riiiiight. Just close my eyes, right?”

  “Yup.”

  “And focus on… myself? What does that look like?”

  “Literally yourself, like, what every part of your body is doing.”

  “Ah, okay, sure.”

  Corre closed his eyes and started to pay attention to every small change happening inside his body.

  His heartbeat, soft, slow.

  His breathing, rhythmic.

  He felt his eyes move against his eyelids, his fingers twitching.

  Then, the sounds around him started to muffle. He opened his eyes and the outside world seemed to have disappeared as the two were met by a giant white sphere, faintly glowing as its fluid-like surface reflected Corre’s face as he looked at it.

  Corre felt a weightless invisible blanket cover him.

  His eyes were less sore.

  His muscles no longer tense.

  His body no longer in pain.

  “Well, now we can create a contract.”

  Corre was still completely captured by the sphere. “So, this is my soul huh.” He tilted his head, looking the orb up and down. “Looks more milky than I expected.”

  The impatient demon lets out a sigh. “Come here.”

  She grabs him and sits him down on the ground. “Here let’s just do this ok.”

  A contract had formed beside her. The piece of paper hovered toward the Corre. “Just sign at the bottom and hand over the right amount of soul. Then the power is all yours.”

  Corre looked at the contract, skimming through it. He read something about a missing body, but he chose not to linger on any part, seeing as he was looking for a catch.

  He failed to see one and grabbed the pen, which had been floating beside his head. The demon smirked, deep in thought.

  How can that man be such an idiot? Oh I can’t wait. That body will be mine. I will have a soul. Then no-one could call me weak. Weak demon? Oh please. In a moment I’ll show you weak! You wouldn’t dare call me weak if I had your body. Oh here it comes.

  Corre looked up after scribbling down his name. “So, now I just get the right amount of soul, hand it over and the bind would be in effect?”

  “Yeah, yeah. Of course.”

  Corre stood up and walked toward the ball of milk, reaching inside and taking out a small piece. “This should be enough.”

  He handed it to the demon, plopping it into her hands.

  Her eyes glinted with joy.

  “Why are you so-”

  More abruptly then they entered, the two left the dark space, opening their eyes once more.

  A glow started to appear from where their hands touched. The light became brighter and brighter.

  Corre started noticing a weird sensation in his hand. He looked down and to his horror saw the two hands flow into one another. The light started to blind them both until.

  Boom.

  Thud.