"I wish to make a contract with the Mare."
Scott's declaration hung in the air, met with a heavy silence that clung to the dimly lit room. Unperturbed, he tried to amplify his intent.
"I wish to make a contract with the Mare!"
The subsequent silence embraced him once more, prompting a resigned sigh. It seemed like a futile venture. Who in their right mind believed in demons anyway? Nevertheless, he mustered one last attempt, his lips parting just before an unexpected voice interrupted him, causing him to shut them in surprise and stumble backward.
"I get it, I get it. Just shut up already, brat!"
The voice, an uncanny blend of soothing and alluring tones, reverberated in the room. Turning around, Scott finally laid eyes on the source – a peculiar woman sitting cross-legged on his bed. Slitted pupils atop glowing red eyes stared down at him with impatience.
"I heard you want to make a contract, then. What is it? I don't have all the time in the world to waste on you!"
With a swift motion, she hopped up, her long reddish-black hair flowing behind her. Scott, clearing his throat, quickly stood up from the floor, dusting himself off before straightening up.
"I'm Scott Riley, and I want to form a co-"
"I get it already!"
The woman interrupted, shaking her head. Scott could swear he heard a click of her tongue in impatience, adding to his sense of discouragement. She sidestepped him, picking up the old book, flipping through its pages with a look of disinterest before disdainfully dropping it on the ground, muttering 'trash' in the process. Bracing himself for potential ridicule, Scott steeled his resolve against the impatient demon, finally voicing his wish.
"I wish for a friend..."
The room hushed at his request, and the woman stared at him with raised eyebrows. Amidst the potential desires for immortality and power, this peculiar kid sought friendship, and the demon found it pathetic. Despite her initial disdain though, she reluctantly agreed.
"Fine. A deal is a deal."
The room once again fell into contemplative silence, one fixated on the wall, the other deep in thought with closed eyes.
"Nice weather we're havi-"
"It's not."
"Sure is cold in h-"
"Again, it's not."
The demon's responses sliced through Scott's attempts at conversation, each interruption a deliberate choice. Annoyance flashed in Scott's glare, mirrored by a smug smile on the demon's face. The game of verbal cat and mouse continued, minutes slipping away until the bored demon sighed dramatically.
"Okay, 'Scott,' listen up. There are a few rules, and you have to abide by them. Firstly, my stay in this world will be short-lived, as demons aren't allowed to roam freely in the mortal realm for long periods."
Scott nodded eagerly, and posed a few questions, but Mare brushed them aside, continuing in a lazy, disinterested manner.
"There's a handful of rules and a truckload of consequences, but don't expect me to lay them all out for you. You'll have to navigate the maze yourself when the penalties come knocking."
Mare's grin widened, a touch of satisfaction coloring her voice.
"Lastly, I'm a man," she, no he, declared, piercing Scott with a glare that felt like it could dissect his thoughts. The demon, despite the feminine appearance, maintained an eerily still posture, resembling a porcelain doll devoid of any movement, not even a hint of breath.
That was until Mare lifted a finger in the air, the old rabbit's foot dangling from it on a string. His smug expression transformed into pure disappointment as he fixed his gaze on Scott.
"One more thing, I'm sure the book specified a 'Rabbit's foot blessed by a priest,' didn't it? I'm confident you can at least read."
The demon's rudeness fueled Scott's anger, but he took a deep breath. Kindness wasn't on the demonic agenda, and he anticipated insults and ridicule from the beginning. However, a glimmer of hope lingered; maybe the demon would show a semblance of courtesy after granting his wish.
"I forgot..." he admitted with a hint of shame, averting his eyes and tightening his grip on his knees. He braced himself for the demon's expected mockery.
"Oh well, it's not like it affects me in any way. The blessing is only supposed to keep the demon trapped so they..." Mare began before, in the blink of an eye, appearing in front of Scott. A wide grin adorned his face as he clutched Scott's throat. "... can't do this."
Scott gasped in surprise, the demon's grip immobilizing him. The overpowering force of a creature renowned for its malevolence held the 17-year-old in place. After a while; Mare released his grip, shaking off his hand as if tainted by something filthy.
"But, of course, killing you would mean I don't have an anchor to the human world. So you're safe... for now. Untill I find a replacement."
Silence once again draped over the two, broken only by the demon's casual yawn as he sprang to his feet. "Alright, let's go do something fun! Get your butt up, Scotty!"
Scott stumbled, bewildered by the sudden change. It was well past midnight, far from sunrise, and stepping into the darkness seemed impossible. Yet, a spark of hope ignited – perhaps the demon possessed some mysterious means to bypass the phenomenon.
With determination, the duo approached the front door. Mare, without a care, stepped outside, a grin illuminating his face in the moon's dim light, beckoning Scott to follow. Doubt lingered in Scott's mind; he expected another failed attempt. But maybe ...
And with that, Scott took a step forward. And another ... and another. He couldn't fathom the reality – he was outside! Embracing the darkness of the early morning for the first time in his life. And it was safe.
No nightmarish creatures lurked beyond the shadows, no ominous cult movements awaited. The surroundings merely comprised abandoned streets swallowed by silence, devoid of any light for an extensive stretch. Scott had always believed that escaping the clutches of sleep would unveil a terrifying existence, ready to finish the job.
The town wasn't technologically backward; its inhabitants were aware of the outside world reveling in nightly festivities. However, an inexplicable force hindered them from leaving. Once at the town's border, beyond the surrounding forest, all aspirations to depart dissipated.
Had it not been for someone accompanying a fleeing person over the border, the truth would have remained hidden. The townsfolk dismissed it as last-minute changes of heart, with only the so-called 'lunatics' embracing the bizarre belief.
Spinning in a circle, laughter bubbling from within, Scott faced the sky with outstretched arms. The realization of achieving his lifelong dream – stepping into the night – enveloped him in pure bliss, erasing any lingering suspicions and regrets about the demon.
In that moment, he made a decision. Mare was his ticket out, a chance at a new beginning in an unexplored world. The veil obscuring his vision for years had finally lifted, and a sense of liberation washed away the unnoticed restraints holding him back.