"Are those feathers?"

2021

"I MUST SAY THAT I'M impressed by how calm you are, knowing the unbelievable is happening," he circles me. His dark aura glides around me like the arms of an octopus enclosing its victim. "Most people would've run by now."

"I'm not like most people," I stay still, though I'm uncomfortable by his presence.

"Indeed," he turns around, taking his auras with him. "Take a seat, Jonathan."

With a wave of his hand, a round table with two chairs emerges in the center of the room. Many puppets in various expressions and sizes float around it as if they're guarding the table. He took a seat, gesturing me to the empty seat in front of him.

"You've told me your name. But that doesn't tell me if you're a friend or foe," I remain standing, hesitant to sit on that magical stuff. "What do you want, and why are you here... in Alexander's house?"

"Let's just say I'm neither friend nor foe. Just a deal maker to those who have summoned me," he said, resting his elbows on the table and his chin over his intertwined hands, still grinning maliciously. "Speaking of which, I'm here to offer you a deal, or maybe you can call it a wish."

A wish? The first that comes to mind is that he's a genie. But I've read tons of facts regarding genies, and the majority believed genies originated from a source that imprisons them. And this man—whatever he is—Sulod Hyde isn't one. His aura swims gracefully around him like an eel, but they aren't welcoming. His eyes are deep yellow with black sclera, and his body is almost translucent, with the dark cloak housing him. Alex's house may be his prison, but then again, after years of visiting his place, I've never once had an encounter like this.

"I didn't summon you."

"I'm summoned when the heart of one aligns with mine. A heart that reeks of rage and dejection, nothing but darkness," his eyes pierces through mine. "Beautiful, beautiful darkness."

"What do you mean?"

In the center of the table hovers an all-seeing orb that shows me assaulting dad. The incident took place back home.

"Tell me, are you happy with your life right now?" He waves a hand over the orb, showing Alex handing me the hoodie he's made for my birthday.

I watch the orb, hearing his voice after forever quivers my chin, and the emotions seep from my eyes. He embraced me that day, long and tight that it felt like we were the only ones in the world and nothing could go wrong. I missed how he felt around me, the delicate tone he'd use when he was calm, the excitement when he was happy, and the pain when he was down.

Everything.

I miss everything about him.

"Such a simple question, and yet we don't have a firm answer to it, am I right?" The orb returns to its cloudy background, bringing my awareness back.

"Yeah," I drag my arm over my cheeks, leaning my back against the chair. "I don't know."

"Since your arrival on earth, you believed that you were born a mistake, even when your parents told you the Gods make no mistakes," the orb now shows mom and dad. The dad before drugs consumed him. "Despite believing everything is wrong, something right came to your life."

The orb now shows Alex.

"He gave you everything you never had. Friendship, acceptance, intelligence, and, most importantly, love. For many years you refused to believe he would be a permanent character in your story. Only when you start to believe was it too late."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"So, you'll believe me when I say I know your pain," his aura forces my chin up to meet his conniving eyes. "You crave a new beginning. A place where nobody knows you, where the spirits of your past will only be a memory."

"And I'm supposed to believe you could give me that? I bet you're not even real right now. I'm probably dreaming," it took a lot of energy to say that because one part of me knew it was the truth, and another told me to stop denying what's currently happening.

"Believe what you want," my jaw feels lighter. I watch his every movement. He waves his magic over the orb once again, showing the incident that just took place back home. The orb gave a bird's eyes view where I watched myself stomping the shit out of dad, causing him to lose a few teeth, breaking his nose, and obtaining a black eye. It was cruel of me to believe he deserved it, but that's how I feel. "Is this what you've lost?"

I look up to see Alex's hoodie in his bony fingers.

"How—" I lost my words, feeling as though my stomach was in my throat.

He hands it to me. I take it, feeling the material, smelling it, eyeing the minor details such as his initials over the right shoulder sleeve. It feels real. I press it against my chest, my arms guarding it like it's worth more than my life.

"I could give you what you want," he said. "If that is what you really want."

"Are you saying you could bring him back?"

He laughs, and the hairs on my arms stand, for I'm petrified of how insidious he sounds.

"Unfortunately, that's beyond my abilities," he speaks coldly. "I can't bring someone back from death. However, I can change the life of a living, and that's you."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm prepared to offer you a deal," his hands conjure a golden scroll, shining brighter like the sun. The scroll opens, and the light ceases. "I'll give you the life of your dreams. A time where modern technologies have yet to be invented, a place where the sense of fashion is to your liking, and the transportation is run by animals, not vehicles."

"So, the stone age?"

"No, but I could if you'd prefer that," he snickers.

I shook my head.

"Didn't think so," the scroll levitates in front of me. The writings were written in cursive letters and a language I was unfamiliar with. I squint to focus on the words, but the light is intense that my eyes burn.

"I refuse."

"And why is that?"

"Well, for one thing, I can't read this damn thing, and I'm not making deals with someone or something I've just met," I shove the scroll back to him. The paper made a cling sound, making me question whether it was paper or metal.

"Weren't you convinced that this is all just a dream?" He recalls. "If it is, there's no harm in signing a deal, is there? It's just for laughs when you... wake up."

The longer I stay, the more I feel this isn't a dream. But then I look at the being sitting in front of me, powers hugging him, a table with an orb hovering over it, showing my past and present. The hoodie that was supposed to be burnt to ashes is now in my arms. I think otherwise. At this point, I couldn't tell what was real and what isn't.

"I suppose you're right." I loosen the grip of his hoodie, letting it drape over my lap. "Why are you offering me this?"

"I just want you to experience the life you wanted," he smiles, he didn't have lips, but his lifted cheeks gave it away. "But of course, all magic comes with a price. My deal is that you'll start anew in a land where your name isn't Jonathan Hank anymore. A land that'll bring you more fortunes than misfortunes."

"What'll happen to my current life then?"

"It's about time you asked me that," he gestures his hands over the orb, increasing its size and now showing an hourglass. But instead of sand filling the top, it seems to be feathers. Ocean green feathers.

"Are those feathers?"

He glances at me, preparing to answer.

...

"Have we got a deal?" He conjures a different contract this time. One where the writings were nearly invisible, and the paper was actually steel. The only visible element is the initial space on the bottom with my full name engraved.

I kept telling myself it was only a dream and Ryan's constant nudging on my leg, worried and scared, reassured me too. My eyes dart the common area, realizing this house is still Alex's, except that there's a magical being in the middle of the living room, and I'm talking to it. I did the cliché shit and punched my wounded shoulder. It hurts, and sadly, I'm awake and still here.

Everything feels real, but it's difficult to trust myself.

On the other hand, the new life he's promised is undeniably tempting. It is indeed everything I ever wanted that this life couldn't offer. If this is not a dream, could this be my chance to start over? Is this the Gods way of telling me I deserve something else?

I stand at the cliff's edge, unable to identify if I'll soar or fall once I leap off. The agreement is risky, but all magical elements in history are. My life is in my hands, and my decision will be my responsibility.

That is, if this isn't a dream.

"It's a deal," I hold my hand out with my eyes glaring into his. His powers slit a cut from my thumb instead. I flinch, trying to ignore the sting coming from it.

"Sign," the contract hovers in front of me. I close my eyes and press my bleeding thumb on the initial space.

"Congratulations, Jonathan Hank," the contract disappears. "I hope you don't screw this up. You know what'll happen if you do."

One by one, everything starts to stray. The table vanishes, and the orb evaporates with the auras around his body.

"You made a mistake!" The puppets around circle us, cackling like a witch before vanishing.

"Mistake?!" I began panicking. "What have I done?"

"Pay no mind to them," his voice begins to muffle. "They only speak the truth."

My body begins to feel heavy, as I fall to my side. Ryan's in front of me, lying motionless. And I fear she's dead. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't even get up. My legs are tugging apart, and my back stings as if I were being whipped by thorns.

"What is happening?" I managed to force my words out; I could barely hear myself.

Ryan fades from my sight, just as everything in the room, and Sulod takes over her place. His eyes are now scarlet red. If people would've asked me what I'd imagine the devil would look like, it would be him.

"You really are stupid, Jonathan," his smile stretches wider as now I witness his monstrous set of teeth. "You've just signed your soul to me!"

I speak again, but my mouth is gone as I'm fully paralyzed.

"However, a deal's a deal, and until then, I'll just have to be patient," he lay on his stomach, his horrifying appearance standing inches away from mine. "I should warn you. When you wake up, it'll be a challenge for you to remember our deal. You may or may not remember any of it. And if I were you, I'd be quick to gather the puzzles because if you fail... well, I guess you know what'll happen."

He's now dangling upside down, or it was only his head while his body was still lying on the ground.

"Now, I know what you're thinking, like, are you dumb, Sulod?! How do I find a way to remember something when I don't even know what it is?" His aura tickles my eyelids, the only response left in my body. "Trust me, one way or another, you will remember our deal. Hopefully, for you, it'll not be too late."

His entire body levitates and lands by the kitchen entrance, where I can see him fully. He lifts his arms into the air, his powers untwisting from his body.

"I'll say this one last time, Jonathan. Forget not of my words," his powers now flow in my direction. Everything I previously felt had doubled the effect. My eyes throb that they may gouge out, my skull's melting, and my organs are burning as if I'm inhaling gasoline. "Shall you start to go against our agreement, you'll meet your demise. Very slowly."

And before I knew it, that was the last thing I saw as darkness took over.

What have I done?