October 2017

New Orleans, LA, USA.

The moon's pale light seeped through the broken windows of an abandoned apartment building as if the restless souls of its former residents still clung to the shadows.

Rafa Flores, a curious and imaginative high school senior, found himself standing at the building's entrance, his heart torn between the urgency of getting home for dinner and the irresistible pull emanating from within, to go inside.

With headphones nonchalantly hanging from his neck, softly playing hip-hop music in the background, Rafa stood 6'2, his lean frame emanating an air of quiet strength.

Rafa's defined jawline and captivating cheekbones carved shadows and light in all the right places. His caramel skin, combined with his jet-black hair, expertly styled with a faded touch beautifully showcased his Mexican heritage.

With an effortlessly cool vibe, Rafa rocked a backpack, a black hoody, and a pair of perfectly fitted jeans.

The moon's eerie glow highlighted his nervous expression as he glanced at his phone, aware of his strict mother's expectations. He had been on his way home from school when a chilling whisper pierced through his headphones. It was a ghostly plea, a spine-tingling voice murmuring, "Help me..."

Unable to resist the mysterious allure of the building, Rafa took a hesitant step forward and pushed open the door, its rotten wood groaning in agony as if warning him of the horrors that lay within.

The interior was a macabre tableau, with cobwebs stretching like sinister veils and the floorboards creaking beneath his weight. Shadows writhed and contorted on the walls, their grotesque dance captivating his gaze.

Rafa whipped out his phone and silenced the music, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Man, this place is kind've freaking me out," he exclaimed, a sense of unease washing over him.

Determined to uncover the origin of the hair-raising plea, he ventured deeper into its shadowy recesses, unaware of the malevolent force that awaited him.

The decaying walls seemed to hold secrets as their peeling paint and cracked plaster revealed glimpses of the building's haunting past.

Time seemed to stand still, the minutes slipping away unnoticed as he ventured deeper into the building's dark corridors.

The air was thick with an eerie sense of foreboding, as if unseen spirits were watching his every move. He ventured deeper into the abandoned apartment building, feeling their invisible gaze upon him.

A chilling breeze swept through the hallways, causing his skin to prickle with an inexplicable dread. And while most people would be gripped by fear, Rafa felt only a thrill of excitement, hoping that this time, it might be his father reaching out to him.

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Every step he took echoed ominously as if the building itself whispered warnings of an ancient evil that lurked just beyond his line of sight. The presence of malevolence was palpable, its icy grip tightening with each passing moment.

Rafa's heart pounded in his chest. “Could this really be him?” he wondered, his senses heightened to the point where even the slightest sound made him flinch.

"HELP MEEE..." The bone-chilling cry for help intensified, sending shivers down Rafa's spine. His body froze, paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. Thoughts raced through his mind, questioning if he should keep going. But the desperate plea, now filled with a sense of urgency, echoed through the corridors, refusing to be ignored.

"PLEASE!" The cry reverberated through Rafa's being, shaking him to his core. "I'm begging you!" it persisted.

Every instinct screamed at him to run, to escape the haunting sound. Yet, a flicker of bravery ignited within him. He couldn’t abandon whoever was in need. And what if his dad was there too? So he pressed on, determined to find the source of the cry.

As Rafa turned a corner, he was greeted by another dimly lit corridor, its emptiness engulfed in an eerie silence. A flickering light at the end drew his attention, casting eerie shadows on the walls. To the left, a room awaited, emanating the sorrowful voice that tugged at his heartstrings.

"Plea... ee, ease..." The voice, now filled with an almost lifeless sadness, pleaded for help. Rafa's heart ached with empathy, compelling him to keep going, every step accompanied by the creaking of the floorboards.

"C'mon, for the love of all things good, let it be him this time," he pleaded.

He braced himself, feeling the weight of an evil presence lurking within the room.

It was always a Demon, but never the one that he was waiting for.

The air grew heavy with grief and animosity, causing Rafa to smile in anticipation.

As Rafa cautiously stepped into the room, his eyes widened at the scene before him.

A man knelt on the floor, his face etched with desperation, clutching a weathered book that crackled with dark energy.

Rafa could hear the tormented soul trapped within the book's ancient bindings, pleading, "Please, let me go, Alan!"

The man's voice quivered as he responded, his voice tinged with sorrow, "I can't... I need you, Mary. Our children need you. I'm so damn tired and I can't do this alone anymore," he sobbed. "Please stay with me, Mary. Please!"

A shiver coursed down Rafa's spine as he sensed the sinister aura emanating from the book, an almost palpable darkness seeping into the room. He could feel an evil presence lurking within its ancient pages.

With his heart pounding, he urgently warned, “Hey, man! That book you're holding? It ain't a good read. Trust me, its got demons and bad voodoo written all over it.”

The man's eyes snapped towards Rafa, a wild desperation burning within them. "Stay away from me!" he cried, clutching the book tight with a vice-like grip. "She's mine!"

"I don't think you understand, Alan, that book isn't going to bring her back." Rafa empathized.

"What the hell do you know?!" Alan exclaimed in frustration.

"C'mon man, don't you hear her crying?!" Rafa insisted. "Just listen to her, it's eating her soul!" he pleaded.

At that moment, Mary unleashed a scream so chilling it sent a shiver down Alan's spine. Causing him to panic.

Alan's face contorted in shock as he released his grip on the book, taking a step back before collapsing to his knees. "All I wanted was to hold her one more time," he whispered, his voice trembling with sorrow.

The book shook violently as Mary's desperate pleas for help reverberated from within its pages, filling the room with an unsettling sense of urgency. Alan, overwhelmed by the unfolding chaos, found himself at a loss for what to do. Guilt weighed heavily on his heart as he realized the dire situation Mary was trapped in.

At that moment, Rafa approached the book, brandishing a knife. With a swift motion, he sliced his palm and let his blood cascade onto its surface, instantly halting its movements.

"You like that, huh?" Rafa taunted the book. "Let's make a deal then. Release that soul, and you can have mine instead."

"What?!" Alan's voice reverberated with shock and disbelief, his eyes widening in astonishment.

Suddenly, in a bone-chilling spectacle, the book violently shook, its pages flapping wildly, and from its depths emerged the ethereal form of a woman's soul.

She turned towards Alan, her gaze brimming with sorrow and compassion, and uttered with heartfelt sincerity, "Alan, you're doing an exceptional job caring for our children. They need you now more than ever, my love."

"Mary?" Alan gasped, his hand reaching out desperately towards her. But within seconds, she vanished into the ceiling, leaving Alan overcome with a profound sense of loss, as the book abruptly closed, ceasing its tumultuous movements.

Rafa casually scooped up the book, placed it into his backpack, and then turned around to leave.

"Wait!" the man exclaimed. "What about your deal?"

Rafa spun around, his expression puzzled. "Huh?"

"You offered your soul in exchange for Mary's. I'm extremely grateful, but won't it come for you?"

"It can try," Rafa boasted confidently. "But someone else already has a claim on my soul," he declared, turning to leave once more.

The man was taken aback, his disbelief evident. "Who?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Asmodeus," Rafa replied, walking away.