"aahhhhhhh, aahhhhhhh, aaaah, aaaaa" Cameron is screaming his soul out.
Ren is standing in front of Cameron, sweat dripping from his forehead. Before Ren is lying, Cameron's half-cut leg. Blood is dripping from his leg and splattered on the walls as well.
"Fuck, is it working?" Ren murmurs, looking at the mess he just made. Cameron and his daughter are screaming their heart out.
Ren's hand is extended to the cut leg, focused on using his healing power. Green, smooth light is pulsating from Ren's hand to Cameron's cut leg.
The girl tries to scream at Ren but her voice isn't coming out loud,
"Do something, please."
"Shut up, girl," Ren yells at her, silencing her.
After a long moment, the blood oozing from Cameron's legs slows down and the flesh begins to wobble slightly.
Then, slowly, a thin layer of bones begins to form, taking the shape of the leg. Muscles form around the bones, tissue, and fibers, and after a few minutes, an outline of the full leg forms.
Bones and muscles begin to solidify, and soon the whole leg is regrown.
An excited laugh escapes Ren's lips, his heart pounding in his chest as he watches Cameron quiet down, sitting in his wheelchair. The man's face is blank, but the weight of his pain is evident.
If it's for my family, I don't regret making a deal with the devil, Cameron tells himself, enduring the pain he just went through.
After some time, Ren's laughter dies down, and he turns to Cameron with a sly smirk.
"I have to say you are stronger Mr. Cameron, still conscious after that hella pain. Anyway, I'm done," he says, his voice carrying a sense of finality. "And with this, you've earned twenty thousand dollars. I'm sure that will change your life."
The girl looks at her father, her heart beating in her chest, worry clouding her face. "Dad, are you okay?"
Cameron nods, though his voice is weak. "Y-yeah... I'm okay."
Ren steps forward, still grinning. "Tell me, Mr. Ford," he says slowly, almost savoring the moment, "how do you feel? Is your leg hurting right now?"
Cameron hesitates, glancing down at his leg. "Y-yes... a bit."
"Oh, I see." Ren crouches down, examining the regrown limb. He runs his fingers along the skin, feeling the muscle and bone beneath, checking for any signs of imperfection.
His mind races as he inspects it closely. Hmm... There doesn't seem to be any problem, he thinks. It's regrown perfectly. No deformation, nothing missing.
Standing up, Ren looks at Cameron with an air of detached pity. "After some time, the pain will go away, so you don't need to worry about it."
Without another word, Ren extends his hand, his powers flowing through his fingertips as they envelop Cameron's legs. The faint glow of his healing magic pulses, and within moments, the pain and stiffness vanish entirely.
Ren retracts his hand, eyes cold and distant. "This is the last favor I'll do for you, Mr. Cameron, as I pity your unfortunate life."
Turning to the girl, Ren's voice sharpens. "Girl, catch your father, or he might fall."
She quickly grips his arm, and Ren gives a small nod of approval. "Now, Mr. Cameron," he says, "try to stand up."
Cameron and Emily both freeze, surprise flashing across their faces. Cameron's hands tremble as he grips the armrests of his wheelchair. Emily holds onto him tighter as he pushes against the chair, his body shaking. His legs quiver under the weight of his own body, muscles struggling to bear the load after years of disuse. Slowly, painfully, he rises to his feet, with her supporting him.
And then he's standing—on his own two legs.
Tears flood Cameron's eyes, and his daughter's sobs echo through the room. "Dad... y-you can stand! Dad! Uwaa... uaaaaa!" she cries, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
Cameron holds his daughter close, tears streaming down his face. They cling to each other, shaking with emotion, overwhelmed by the moment.
Ren watches them silently, his eyes dull with indifference, but a faint smile pulls at his lips as he takes in the sight of their reunion. Such touching sentiment, but his heart barely stirs.
After a few moments, both Cameron and Emily fall to their knees in front of Ren, sobbing out their thanks. "Thank you, Mr. Angel, thank you," they cry, voices choked with gratitude.
"Angel, huh" Ren shrugs.
The girl, kneeling, looks up at Ren with tear-filled eyes. "You're not the devil... you're the angel. The angel God sent to help us. Thank you, Mr. Angel."
Ren's smile twists into something darker.
"Hahaha... the devil is the angel, huh? I like it. I really like it," he says, his laugh cold and hollow, echoing in the dim alley.
"Anyway, enjoy your life, Mr Cameron," Ren says, turning to leave, ready to fly away. "I'll take my leave. I hope you live the rest of your life happily... with your family." His voice takes on a sharp edge. "And don't tell anyone about this Angel. Otherwise, satan is also a fallen angel."
As Ren moves to depart, Cameron's desperate voice halts him. "Wait! Mr. Angel!" Cameron reaches for the bag of money beside his daughter, holding it out in front of him. "Please, Angel... take the money back. And please... heal my wife as well. I beg you."
Ren freezes, then slowly turns, his expression unreadable. "The deal," he says, "was for me to experiment on you, in exchange for the money. I can't help you any further, Mr Cameron."
Cameron grovels on his knees, his voice breaking as he begs, "Please, Mr. Angel... for the sake of God, please, help my wife. I beg of you."
A smirk curls across Ren's lips. "Hahaha... if you want me to heal your wife, Mr. Cameron, you'll have to make another deal."
Without hesitation, Cameron nods. "Yes, please, you can experiment more on my body, but please, heal her."
Ren laughs softly. "I don't need to experiment on your body anymore. But if I heal your wife... what can you offer me in return that's worth my time and effort?"
Cameron falls silent, his mind racing as he tries to think of anything he can offer. Ren steps closer, towering over him. "Tell me, Mr. Cameron," Ren's voice is a low whisper, "what can you offer me? What do you have that's worth my services?"
The air falls silent, tension thick, until the girl stands up, her voice shaking but full of resolve. "Take me," she says, stepping forward. "Heal my mother, and take me."
Cameron's head snaps toward his daughter. "No, Emily, don't!"
Ren chuckles darkly. "Ah, fatherly love. How touching." He steps closer to the girl, looking her up and down. "And what makes you think you're worth my time and services?"
Emily trembles but doesn't look away. "You... you can have my body."
Ren raises an eyebrow, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "Oh? Your body?" He steps closer, his gaze roaming over her. "You are... quite beautiful."
"No!" Cameron shouts, but Ren silences him with a sharp glance.
"But," Ren continues, his tone playful, "you're still just a kid. I don't use kids for pleasure."
Emily's voice wavers, but she presses on. "Please... take me, and heal my mother."
"Girl, I don't like teenagers, understand? No teenagers." Ren says, but the girl keeps pressing on.
"Please... I'll do anything you say. Please, help us." The girl cries.
Ren stares at her for a long moment, then chuckles. "I like you, girl. Very well then, I'll help you."
Ren steps even closer, pulling down the lower half of his mask, his lips inches from hers. Then, without hesitation, he presses his lips against hers, claiming the kiss as his payment.
Emily stiffens, but Ren holds the kiss for a minute before pulling away, his lips curling into a dark smile as he replaces his mask.
Turning to Cameron, Ren's voice drips with mockery. "Rejoice, Mr. Cameron. You have a loving daughter. I'll consider that kiss my payment, and I'll help your wife."