CHAPTER 1: BIRTHDAY GIFT

He feels like falling, no, he is really falling.

Chris extended his hand, trying to grab anything to save himself but all he could grasp is darkness. He anticipated death but he felt his back hit something soft instead. He opened his eyes, quickly got up and scanned the place. He is currently sitting on a king sized bed, in a room painted red and black.

Sounds of laughter echoed the room, like two people are having the time of their lives. Chris tried searching for the source of the voice but failed, and also realized that the room has no doors or any way out.

Panic started hitting his system, “Who is that?” He asked but the voices continued laughing and this time, more people are laughing until it is incomprehensible.

It was simply maddening.

The voices started to get louder every passing second. Chris tried getting out of the bed but a pair of arms emerged from the bed and grabbed him by the neck. He is pinned back to the bed. Chris immediately resisted as the hands started strangling him.

He felt himself being buried on the bed and then the feeling of falling again.

Chris gasped as he opened his eyes once again. Another unfamiliar place welcomed him.

“What is happening? What is this place?” He kept asking on his mind. Fear is starting to creep his reasoning. His eyes started to adjust in the dim light. He seems to be in an empty corridor, with no other way but forward.

With nothing but paranoia, he started walking. The dark atmosphere only adds fuel to his playful mind. Still, he continued walking with each cautious step.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

He suddenly heard a sound of something dripping. He realized that the liquid is dropping on his shoulder. He jolted in horror, the red liquid continued dripping on the floor. Chris immediately realized that the sticky liquid is blood. He didn’t dare looking up or he would surely lose his mind. He raced forward, running as fast as he can to exit the corridor but the passage feels endless; Opposite of his hope which is evaporating the more he spends his time in that spiteful place.

The voices laughing from earlier are back and its tormenting his sanity as he pants trying to run away from this nightmare.

A nightmare…

He momentarily stopped, the laughing voices went louder and louder, starting to keep up as Chris stopped moving.

“This is not real. This is a nightmare!” He closed his eyes and continuously says in his mind. He opened his eyes and finally saw the ceiling of his bedroom. He glared at the man sitting at the edge of his bed.

“Do you like my gift?” The demon is giving its best smile to annoy the hell out of Chris.

“You’re so mean.” Chris answered. That nightmare is so terrifying!

He didn’t bother getting up. His head still ache from the nightmare. The demon acted hurt, “I gave my feelings to that gift and you trampled on my feelings? You’re so mean.” The demon imitated Chris’ tone to taunt him. Chris didn’t know why the demon is even bothering to stay with him, but five years already passed before he knew it.

“Admit it. You’re touched with my sincerity.” Chris rolled his eyes and got up from bed. He remembers that he is a student and he has to attend morning classes. Why do morning classes exist in the first place?

“Giving me nightmares as gift for my birthday, yeah, very sweet of you Mr. demon.” He checked the time on his phone, it’s already 5:30 am.

The demon laughed, “That’s right, thank me and let me corrupt you.” Chris rolled his eyes. He doesn’t know why the demon hasn’t given up on him, it’s been years!

Demons are attracted to already corrupted souls, they feed on darkness lingering on humans’ soul and fuels their desires in return. But demons are attracted to pure souls as much as they would to darkest souls. Pure souls, when finally tainted are the most delectable. That is why the demon has been trying to corrupt Chris’ soul for years.

“Give me a break. It’s my birthday after all,” Chris doesn’t know where he gets his guts to casually talk to a malignant entity, but because the demon is always around he already treated the demon as his friend. Even how weird that may sound.

The demon scoffed, “Just be thankful that I’m around. Your parents didn’t even bother greeting you personally this year. They are getting worse aren’t they?” The demon pointed at Chris’ phone where the notification of Chris’ mom greeting him for his birthday is still unchecked. “Your father managed to greet you personally last year right? Although he’s in a real hurry so you couldn’t even say thank you.” The demon shakes his head and sighed.

“You’re with me, exactly 5 years today. You should be well aware by now that those kinds of tricks won’t work on me. I would never hate my parents. Yes, I do wish that we can celebrate special occasions together and that we could spend more time together, but that’s it.” The demon clicked its tongue. It is aware that it wouldn’t work but there's no harm in trying as humans saying goes.

“Spare me your drama. I’m starving because you won’t let me corrupt you.” The demon disappeared. Finally, he has some peaceful time alone.

Chris checked his phone again. He opened his inbox and saw 3 messages from his mother. First is greeting him a happy birthday, second is reminding him to eat before going for school and lastly, saying that they love him.

Chris smiled, this is enough for him.

The happiness is quickly washed away by shock as soon as he glanced at the time displayed on his phone, “shoot! I’m going to be late!”

--

Chris had to skip breakfast, even though his mother would always remind him not to. He managed to catch the bus and is now sitting comfortable by the window.

They used to be a simple average family, not wealthy but can sustain. His parents eventually got a job together in a big company. Few years and they finally managed to move in a bigger house but it is also when they became busier. Their humble home suddenly became an almost empty house.

The earliest memory of his birthdays that he can vividly remember is his 5^th birthday. He remembers that he used to be the happiest kid during his birthdays. Their celebrations are nothing grand, but he would give anything to experience it again.

Chris met the demon who’s bothering him on his 13^th birthday. He remembers his child self, running downstairs, all excited because his parents promised him that this time, they could celebrate together. He looked around the house but no one is around but him, he went towards the kitchen where he expects his mother to be. He saw a note placed on the refrigerator.

“Happy 13^th birthday to our treasure, we love you so much Chris. Sorry that we couldn’t fulfill our promise because something urgent came up on work. We promise to give you our gifts when we’re back. -Mom and Dad”

Thirteen years old Chris tried hard not to cry but he sobbed before he could even enter his room. He kept his head burrowed on his pillow while bawling.

“Why are you crying?” A deep voice echoed in his room which made him lift his head.  He immediately wiped his tears so he could see clearly the vague figure from the corner of his room. The man is as if a shadow, black fog lingering around its body. Chris couldn’t see his face at all but he could feel that the creature is staring at him intently.

“Who are you?” he dared to ask the stranger. The figure laughed, it’s deep voice echoed the room.

 “I cannot tell you my name, unless we form a contract.” The creature answered and approached Chris. The child automatically distanced himself from the unknown creature.

“I saw your parents rushing off your house earlier. They probably hated it here.” The creature said in a curious tone. Chris felt his chest ache because the creature’s words but he reminded himself about the note his parents left.

“You’re wrong. They just have to go to work. They don’t hate our house.” The child immediately defended his parents.

“If you say so,” the creature sounded unconvinced.

“What are you, and what are you doing in our house?” Chris asked cautiously this time. He used to see another man when he was younger but the man looked kind and gentle, unlike the creature in front of him. He often told about the kind looking man to his mother, because he used to tell everything to his mom. But his mom dismissed it as an imaginary friend.

He wonders if the creature in front of him is another imaginary creature, but he is already thirteen. Is it still possible?

“I’m a demon.”

--

Chris arrived at school on time, he saw his best friend Kurt waiting for him in front of the gates of the school.

“Happy birthday.” Kurt greeted.

Chris smiled, “you waited here just to greet me?”

Kurt only shrugged and grinned, “Why not?”  

They were about to enter the classroom but someone went out first. Chris is dumbfounded seeing that it is the demon. It stopped in front of Chris then eventually walked away without saying anything or even minding Chris’ worried face.

The demon has been around Chris for a long time that he already knew when the demon just finished feeding. The demon is more vivid whenever it feeds. It forms a clearer figure of a man but still covered in black fog. Chris would also feel suffocated whenever the demon is near him after it feeds. 

“Chris? Why aren’t you going inside?” Kurt asked. He’s confused on why Chris suddenly froze in front of the doorstep. Chris didn’t answer, went inside and quickly scanned the place. The teacher is not yet around so everyone is busy with their own businesses. He noticed one of his classmates is erratically typing something on his phone. His expression looks grim.

Chris approached his classmate with a small smile, “Paul,” he called his classmate. The man seemed flustered. His eyes are unfocused, almost lost.

Chris has never seen how the demon fed, and what would happen to its victim. Now he’s seeing it firsthand and is bothered to the core. His classmate didn’t answer and continued typing over his phone.

Chris called him again, and that is the time he barely responded, “H-huh?” Paul slowly regained his composure,

“You’re pale, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine…Thanks for asking.” Chris only nodded and went to his seat at the back.

“What was that?” Kurt asked curiously as he pulls out his text book and pen out of his bag.

“It’s nothing.” He simply dismissed the conversation to avoid any more questions.

--

“Hey, want hang out in my house? I’ll treat you, how about pizza?” Kurt offered as soon as the classes are over. Kurt has been Chris’ best friend since they became classmates on highschool. Chris is rather aloof so Kurt is the one who’s always talking to him.

“Sorry, but I have to go home early today,” Chris has to go back and confront the demon.

“Oh? Are you celebrating with your parents?” Kurt asked with hope, but he instantly regretted his question when he saw sadness flash on Chris’ eyes.

“No. I just have to go back early.”

“Okay then. See you tomorrow…” Chris responded with a smile, he really appreciates Kurt’s effort to always cheer him up. He also wanted to go with him but he has to talk to the demon first. He hurriedly went to the bus station to get back as quick as he can.

“Show yourself.” He ordered to the demon as soon as he reached his bedroom.

“You wanted to see me? That’s new.” Black smoke appeared behind him. He fearlessly faced the demon.

“Why did you do that?”

“Do what?” The fog from the demons body lingers around him because of their short distance.

“Stop feigning ignorance. Paul looked so unsettled earlier.” Chris is clearly upset which the demon found funny. Laughter roared on Chris’ ears which annoyed him.

“Why are you even asking me? I’m a demon. I feed from darkness in humans’ souls. I’m hungry, I eat. It’s a really simple concept if you ask me.”

The demon inched closer, they are almost face to face but Chris still couldn’t see the demon’s face. It’s like Chris is facing void. He took few steps away from the demon as he still feels suffocated by its presence.

“I don’t remember having an agreement that I can’t feed from people around you. If you don’t want that to happen then would you let me feed on you? I would gladly devour you.”