The Devil's Lover

by Tsukino Migoto

  It's good that William is keeping his soul anyway. He does not think that he can handle it if he has his soul with him. He'll definitely be broken and gone mad. He puts his clothes on in a hurry. He does not feel that it is necessary to hurry home nor does he feel that it is necessary to stay either. It’s just a routine to him. At night, he should be at home. That’s what other kids do. Well, what most kids do. And that’s how it was with the old Trance’s lifestyle. At night, home is where he belonged. "Leaving?" he heard William’s voice from behind him, slicing through the air like a knife.

  "Yes," he simply answered.

  William gets up to a sit on the bed with the blanket covering his lower part of the body. They made love again last night after the third death. William was persistent in calling it ‘making love’. But to Trance, it was just pure sex. Love couldn’t exist in a relation like this. In school, however, it's getting tense. Everyone is freaking out over the suicide frenzies that had been going on. Especially the students from the Third year of senior high. Because the suicides had been happening around them. Well, they haven't figured out yet that the students who died were in the same class as Trance was in their first year since they had been separated to different classes as they hit their third year. Soon, people will start to notice the pattern, perhaps. Oh, they all can do the math quite well after that. "Come here," William suddenly pulls Trance closer to him by wrapping one of his hands around his waist despite of the fact that Trance was perfectly obvious ready to leave. His hand is locked around the waist with a force that indicates he is nowhere willing to let him go.

  Trance leans in closer to William with a sly smile on his face. It’s almost as if he wanted to plant a kiss on William’s cheek. But William does not allow it to happen for he immediately grabs both of Trance’s wrists with a strong force, pulls him back onto the bed and pins him down flat on his back. He can see William's naked body perfectly now as the blanket is no longer covering him as he hovers above him. "What's up?" Trance asked uncaringly despite of a little smile curves on his lips, amused by the sudden authority displayed by the charming devil.

  William only smiles back at him and chuckles a little with an amusement matching to Trance’s. "I just want to take a little more time looking at your face," William said.

  "Are you trying to be romantic?" Trance asked.

  "Am I being romantic?" William answered with another question.

  Trance only sighs and looks away, letting William be. He doesn’t care about getting home. He doesn’t care about staying. He doesn’t have a purpose. A reason. A drive. There's no use arguing with the devil. William then holds Trance's face, letting go of his wrists in the process, to pull it facing up front so that they can both look into each other’s eyes. Their eyes locked and for a moment lost in time, it looks almost intense, almost lustful, almost hateful, but also almost in love. Without taking his eyes off of him, William then gently kisses Trance's lips. A soft inviting kiss. An invitation and a suggestion for a more intimate extension. They kiss for a while and Trance can feel himself lost in the kiss. With his eyes shut tight, he adores how the devil is good at this. At kissing that is. But the kiss ended abruptly. By the devil himself. And when Trance opens his eyes again, he sees William is eyeing him like a predator looking at its' prey instead. There’s no love in those eyes. Just mere lust. And not of sex. But of blood and flesh. Almost like a hunger. It is in that moment that William's eyes slowly shifting from normal human’s eyes into a vertical split like that of a snake. But it is glowing red in color, illuminating in the darkness. Trance shudders at the sight before him. He can’t deny the surprise of seeing something like this for the first time. Could it be this is his true form? "William?" He called, feeling cold sweats running on his forehead.

  The lips on William’s face curve dramatically into a smile. A smile of a devil. "Are you afraid of me?" William asked him in a distorted voice that sounds like a growl mixed with a whisper. He sounds almost alike to the possessed girl from the movie 'Exorcist'. Only that William is scarier in appearance and manner. It was as if you could not predict when he will strike or if he will strike at all. The smile left William’s face out of a sudden as he lets go of the trembling Trance and jumps out of the bed in an inhumanly manner. William creeps in a distorted conduct slowly into the bathroom attached to the bedroom they were in. "GO!" He yelled at Trance from the distance. "Leave! Now!" He ordered in the same scary voice. Trance would not miss this chance. With a survival instinct so strong and a shot of adrenaline rushing to his brain, he quickly gets up from the bed and runs towards the door of the room. He rushes down the stairs and feels completely relieved as soon as he got out of the front door.

  He bangs the door shut and runs a little to the pavement. He takes one last look at the house and quickly concentrated back on the pavement, running away in a jog. A little distancing from the house, he no longer feels afraid. The fear disappeared as if he it has evaporated into the cold night air. He is no longer trembling... It must be because he's far enough from William now. And it means that he's far enough from his soul. So, he walks steadily towards his home. Thoughts of the previous incident still attached to his brain but he is no longer bothered by it. But just a little, he feels a little unexplained craving. For death. To be eaten by the devil. Or to be rid of this world. To disappear as if he never existed in the first place. He craves to be in danger. As long as the danger is by the devil himself. He longs to be taken away. He longs to be gone.

  10. WILLIAM ACKERMAN

  ~Perfect Now~

  ~♫Music♪♫~

  PE class. It’s when all hells break lose. Humans’ children scatter upon the school compound like the wretched lowly beings that they are. I found Trance at the field. The only human’s child that I had come to grown an interest in. I jog slightly towards him in order to join him. He looks at me indifferently at first but a moment after, there’s a note of worry crosses his face. “Are you okay?” He asked me. “Last night you look like a vampire about to eat me,” he indicated.

  I shake my head in defense. “I’m fine, honey,” I assured him. Of course, it’s a lie. I’m not fine. Yes, I was about to really eat him last night. Literally. “I was just teasing you,” I added another lie.

  He merely shakes his head at me, not commenting any further, as if he’s shaking away all the wariness out of him.

  ~♪Hey you, Miss wearing the crown, Run me around, Dragging me down♫~

  At one end of the field, a group of cheerleaders are practicing their monkey-like routine while at the other end, the football team is practicing aggressively. Funny. These humans are so alike to animals. They think that they’re much more intelligible compared to animals. But really, there’s not much difference.

  ~♪Hey you, Miss head of the class, Never come last, Pain in the ass♫~

  Meanwhile, both Trance and I are stretching out, getting ourselves ready for a run. That’s what the teacher wanted to test out today. Our running skills… Humans do this. They are always testing, always searching, and they are never satisfied. Such curious beings they are.

  ~♪Look who's perfect now, Got my head in the clouds, Look who's perfect now, Got my feet on the ground. Look who's perfect now, Got my head in the clouds, Got my feet on the ground, Look who's perfect now♫~

  “Hey Trance, is that your new boyfriend?!” I heard a voice yelling out to Trance out of a sudden. At first I thought what I heard was the sound of nails scratching on a chalkboard but as it turns out, it was one of the cheerleaders; Simone. Oh. She’s the head cheerleader… I see. She’s trying to bully Trance again as it seems. Trying to bring him down. These people never learn.

  Trance looks at her without a hint of angriness or annoyance. Of course, his soul is well shut by me. That’s why he didn’t care. He will only feel when I let him feel. I didn’t tell him that yet. Trance then sticks out his tongue to Simone and yells back, “hell yes! We’ve totally fucked!”

  ~♪Hey you, Miss never too fall, Standing so tal
l, Knowing it all♫~

  I immediately laugh at that remark by Trance. It was surprising even to me. It’s wonderful how little thing such as a soul which encompasses our fear and self-regard, when discarded, can do wonders to human’s life. Trance didn’t laugh along though. Maybe he doesn’t think that it’s funny. Simone’s also obviously doesn’t find it funny. She looks rather pissed off. “Wow, you’re such a faggot, Trance. Dress like a girl already,” she jeered at him in a mocking manner.

  ~♪Hey you, Miss living a lie flying so high, Goodbye, goodbye♫~

  Trance did not even flinch at that detestation. “I’m gay. Not transgender. Gee… when will that wizard gonna get back to you about that brain, Simone?” Trance replied sarcastically. I laugh even more at this second remark.

  ~♪Look who's perfect now, Got my head in the clouds, Look who's perfect now, Got my feet on the ground. Look who's perfect now, Got my head in the clouds, Got my feet on the ground, Look who's perfect now♫~

  “You fag!” Simone scorned at Trance, getting angry by Trance’s sarcasm. That is what will happen to people with lower intelligence level. They don’t have a good comeback so they threw insulting word instead. How pitiful. Almost sad, really. But also funny.

  I had never laughed this hard in a long time. Trance then lifts up his middle finger in the air towards Simone. “Suck this, Bitch! ‘Coz you won’t get to suck mine…” He mocked her. There are many students around the compound. They appear to be really interested by the mouth-war they’re having. Reading their thoughts, they found it amazing that Trance fought back because his story of always being bullied by many is quite famous.

  Reading Simone thoughts, on the other hand, portrays a real vicious thinking. She can’t accept the fact that Trance stands up for himself today. Trance used to let her say anything and never fought back.

  Humans. Similar to monkeys. When they manage to gang-up on someone, they feel powerful. The art of bullying. A gang against one. They derive pleasure from this act, as it seems. They derive a sense of belonging. They derive power. What a fictitious belief. A vicious attack on those who are different than them. And it’s also hierarchical, if you know what I mean.

  ~♪Now I see, Now I found, Now I know what you're about, I keep you out of reach, won't let you pull me down. My favourite superstition left me a piece, but the puzzle's missing, And it didn't take too long to figure out, Look who's sorry now♫~

  Hell… I’m going to make Trance more famous. “Trance…” I called out to him.

  “Yeah,” he looks at me, smiling. He’s satisfied that he is not afraid to fight her. Soul discarded along with fear.

  “Let’s give ‘em a show,” I suggested. He smiles back at me in agreement. We both understand what that means. Therefore, in the middle of the field, with that many people watching… gaping their mouth wide open, under the light of the morning sun, we kiss…

  ~♫music♪♫~

  It’s a passionate and lingering kiss. From the corner of my eye, I saw Peter looking at us in disbelief. He seems to be engulfed in fury. I can smell jealousy. He walks away from the field at the immediate pain protruded invisibly in his heart. We break the kiss and stare into each other’s eyes romantically as I hold his chin with one of my thumbs.

  ~♪Look who's perfect now, Got my head in the clouds, Look who's perfect now, Got my feet on the ground. Look who's perfect now, Got my head in the clouds, Got my feet on the ground, Look who's perfect now♫~

  Then we heard it. People are clapping their hands at us and are screaming in excitement. Their eyes are shining in awe towards our bravery. The teacher who’s there at the field scolds us a moment later, “Trance Wilson! William Ackerman! Headmaster’s office! Now!”

  We’re gonna be sent to detention class, is it? Is homophobia supposed to be something forbidden in a Christian school such as this? Religion is another matter matched to the act of bullying and differing. Not many humans’ children are aware of this though. But, that’s the last thing we would care about. We win. The cheerleaders shut their bitching mouth. The footballers, the guys who raped Trance, were stupefied. It’s a glorious win.

  ~♪Look who's perfect now, Got my head in the clouds, Look who's perfect now, Got my feet on the ground. Look who's perfect now, Got my head in the clouds, Got my feet on the ground, Look who's perfect now♫~

  Oh well, at least, that’s what the devil can do. I can make wrong things look right in the eyes of the others. It wasn’t long after the incident that we became a phenomenon around school. Whenever people see us walk by, they’ll whisper with excitement to each other. They’re smiling when they see us together like they want some more action from us. We became real popular. Like an icon.

  ~♫music♪♫~

  Probably… it’s just something to get their minds off the suicide circle that’s been going on. Sadly for them, no, the killing will not stop. Revenge must be taken. More lives must be claimed. More hearts must be ripped apart. More blood must be spilled. Everything is sooo perfect now…

  11. TRANCE WILSON

  ~history~

  “What is going on, Trance? You’ve never been called to the headmaster’s office before in your entire life and now you’ve been called twice?! This time, you kissed a BOY in public!” My mom rumbled. I almost had forgotten that I was breed in a Christian family, imposed upon Christian beliefs. That I must pray to God. Pray to God and God will pay heed to me. And I will be saved. The noise of my mother’s high-pitch voice is hurting my ears. I wonder how God will sound like. If God sounds alike to her, I rather listen to devil instead. At least William is soft-spoken. God didn’t come to my aid. William came. Maybe this is God’s will after all.

  “Yeah,” I simply answered her nonchalantly. I believe that sends her furthermore into rage. I can’t figure out why she’s so angry. A kiss is a kiss. Regardless if it is a boy or a girl. In public or in private. A sin, claimed by her, or an approved act. They are just an act. An act done by many. Practiced by many. What’s so wrong in that? I guess some people can’t see the beauty of conducting an immoral act. The art of committing sin.

  "Can you believe him?!" My mom asked my father furiously. My father had lost for words. He is torn in two. Looking into his heart, he is feeling pity towards me for everything that had happened and he thought that what I did at school was probably just me being disruptive. I can do this ever since I woke up from the coma, you know? I can look into people's heart and know what they're feeling. Not that I care much but it just happens. I have no control over it. I also noticed that I am also a lot stronger and faster. William said he had lent me some of the devil's ability to help me get my revenge. This abilities, honestly, are quite profoundly useless to me. I don’t need them. He should just hurry up and kill them all already. All at once. And then me. End me. That’s all that I wanted. I guess William enjoys playing games. Little by little. Slowly. Maybe he enjoys getting things slowly done. But I know that I’m not enjoying my time at all. I want it all to end.

  My father's about to speak to me when I stand up quickly and walk straight to the door emotionlessly. I decided that I needed some fresh air. Being with these people doesn’t help. "Don't worry. Soon, I would not be a burden to you anymore," I said as I open the door and get out into the dark, cold night, blending in. I heard my mom's crying in the arms of my father as I walk on. Why is she crying? I can't feel bad for what I did or said. I have no soul. How can I feel anything? The best I can do is to ignore them. Having no soul is the only thing I like about coming back. The wait is torturous however. Waiting for it all to end. William. Dear William. How I despise his games.

  I know where I'm heading. I'm going to William's fake house. He's dangerous and unpredictable but he's the only one I can trust. If he's going to kill me there and then, I would not even care. He should just quickly get rid of that soul of mine. That soul is making me having second thoughts. I hate having second thoughts. I hate the old me. I hate the nice me. I hate these games. I hate having to be a player and
a part of this.

  "Trance!" I heard someone calling me as I pass the neighborhood’s soccer field. I turn around and to my surprise, not quite, but pretty surprised, I see Peter huffing for air, trotting hurriedly towards me. He must've trotted quite a distance to catch up to me just now. I look at him with little interest and put on a face like I was saying 'what d'you want?' at him. He looks at me in the eye for a moment, struggling to find a word to say. He opens and closes his mouth repeatedly like there's something he really wanted to say to me but it got choked in his throat. Finding no meaning to stand there waiting, I turn back around quickly to head back to where I was heading to. "Wait!" Peter called as he grabs my arms and pulls me for a turn to face him.

  "What, Peter? Asking for another push from me?" I said, skeptically, reminding him that I had pushed him back to the lockers a few days back. He is still gripping my arms tightly.

  "I... I'm sorry..." He finally managed to say what's he had been trying to say.

  "For what?" I asked, pretending to be stupid at first but then I glare at him sarcastically. "Oh... for raping me with your friends and beating me to death, is that it?" I chuckle, being slightly cynical in that statement formed as a question by me. "Yeah.. 'sorry' should make up for it," I indicated sardonically.