"Well...what now?"

"There's nothing we can do, Molly. You heard the Doc..."

    In the waiting room of the hospital, a woman with brown hair, white skin, and blue eyes sat on a chair. She looked exhausted, holding a cup of coffee in her shaking hand and pulling the grey sweater around her tightly with the other. The male sitting across from her looked indifferent, watching her with green eyes before running his hand through his black hair. The man sighed, knowing what was about to happen.

"You know people, Daniel, I know you do. You have contacts--people who could help!"

"Not the good kind, Molly! There's no guarantee that anything would even work!"

"Daniel, please! June is all I have left!"

He sighed again, mentally cursing himself. "Molly..."

"Please...just...please Daniel..."

After a moment of silence, Daniel spoke up. "I'll try to contact them. But I can't promise they'll help."

"All I ask is you try...thank you Daniel."

Daniel nodded and left the room, biting his lip. He cursed himself. "Fuck me, this is a horrible idea."

Three months later...

"Well, at least we know the fire alarm works." A female with pink-colored faux hair, tan skin, and bluish silver eyes said.

Another female rolled her eyes, groaning. "Jani, just. Just stop. I only have a certain level of sanity, and you're not helping me keep it."

"Just saying! So... should we find this--"

    Jani was interrupted by a loud shriek. When they turned around, the two women saw a lean figure on fire, staring them down with pitch black eyes. It let out another loud shriek before the sprinkler system started going off, dousing the creature and causing it to steam more. The white-haired woman next to Jani narrowed her eyes as she held out her hands, their outlines being enveloped in a glowing light. She picked up a nearby bed frame and slammed it against the creature, trapping it against the wall.

    The creature, once doused of all flames, was grey with charred skin and seemed completely out of fight. The two females relaxed for a moment, staring at it while being soaked in the sprinklers. Just as Jani was about to say something, there was another shriek and the sound of steam hissing behind them. The white-haired female groaned, turning to stare with pink aurora-colored eyes. Two more grey creatures were charging at them down the hall.

"I fucking hate Infernals!"

Jani snickered. "I don't think they're fond of you either, Arsene!"

     Arsene yelled out as she clapped her glowing hands together, creating a shockwave that caused the walls to shake and the Infernals to fall on their backs. Once down, Arsene moved her hands up to grab the wires from the ceilings and tied the Infernals together. After, she started breathing heavily, letting her hands return to their non-glowing state. The sprinklers turned off a few moments later, just as Jani began to kneel and inspect the Infernals. Another for the creature books--a disturbing add-on for their entry. The Infernals were tall lanky creatures. They sort of reminded her of a Wendigo, but they had black pits for eyes and grey skin that was charred. Jani touched one's arm and recoiled while yelping. Even when they weren't on fire, she felt as though she just touched a burning log. Jani stood up and shook her head before turning to Arsene.

"Why is it always Infernals that are involved?" Jani asked.

"Probably because when souls are drawn from the body, all that's left is a shall; a husk to seek other souls to rescue them from eternal flames."

"That got morbid very fucking quick, Arsene."

"Whatever, let's just get this done."

    A while later down the hall, Arsene and Jani made it to a room untouched by the demonic scene around them. Everywhere they had gone, there were ashes, charred and decrepit walls and floors. The halls were lined with body parts and organs of all sorts--it looked like it was out of a nightmare. Jani could feel herself starting to become nauseous until they found the untouched room. Arsene looked at the pink-haired woman.

"Jani, stay here. At no point in time will you open this door, okay?"

"What? You're not going in there! That's like asking for a dance with death!"

Arsene raised her eyebrow. "Last time I danced with Death, I stepped on his toes. I'm pretty sure I'll be fine Jani. Don't. Open. The door."

    Before Jani could say anything else, Arsene went into the room and slammed the door, locking it. Inside, there was a large shadow on the other side of the wall. It had horns and four arms, with a tail swinging back and forth in the shadows. There was a girl sitting up in bed, humming softly to herself and drawing. She had no hair and barely any eyebrows. The girl was starting to look up as a demonic whisper filled the air. There was another woman laying on another bed near her, fast asleep.

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"Who are you?" The girl asked.

"My name is Arsene Garver...who are you?"

The girl smiled. "June Preston. I'm a cancer survivor."

"That so...?" Arsene asked, not taking her eyes off the shadow.

"Creepy, isn't he? I told him he was creepy, but all he did was laugh...well..."

"Let me guess--creepily?"

June laughed. "Yeah."

"Hmm...June, how old are you?"

"Sixteen. And a half."

"Ah, so you're practically an adult."

"I guess? Is, ah...is something wrong? Mom is acting weird and I kinda want to leave."

Arsene frowned a bit. "June...did your mom tell you what's been happening or why you can't leave?"

"No...? Why? What's going on...?"

"June...The reason you're alive," Arsene sat next to June in a chair, "is because your mother made a trade with...something evil. Or, well, that's considered evil."

"A...trade?"

"Yes...Your mom...she made a mistake to keep you alive. You were feeling weak three months ago, right?"

June frowned, backing away slightly. "What did my mom do...?"

"Why don't you ask her?"

    June swallowed hard as demonic whispers could be heard growing louder and louder as she turned towards where her mother was sitting now. The woman, brown-haired and blue-eyed, stared evilly at Arsene. She had red around her eyes as she looked back and forth before yelling loudly. The woman threw her hand towards Arsene and the shadow shot towards her, swinging its tail at her. Arsene was knocked on her back and groaned, hearing June yell out in shock.

"Mom, what are you doing?! Stop it!!"

"No! I won't let anyone take you from me! I wouldn't let cancer do it, I'm not going to let some meddling bitch take you!"

Arsene got up, groaning. "Look lady, I'm not trying to take your kid. But sacrificing souls of innocents because some third-rate demon said they could help is wrong on so many levels."

June's eyes grew big in horror. "S-sacrificing?"

"Yes, your mother has been killing people to keep the demon satisfied--and strong enough--to keep the cancer from killing you."

"M-mom...tell me it isn't true..."

The woman only glared more at Arsene. "She will not die!"

"Mom!"

Arsene held her hands up to her sides, away from her body. "June, I can't let your mom kill anymore people. Do yourself a favor and look away."

    The demonic shadow lunged itself at Arsene again, only to hit a barrier that looked like it burned it. It recoiled in pain and growled before the woman ran at her, a knife in hand. Arsene threw her hand towards her and a bed frame smacked into her, pinning her against the wall. The woman struggled against it, causing herself more pain as she started to bleed from the sharp edges rubbing into her skin. Arsene walked over to June, breathing heavily.

"June...!" The woman sobbed, her voice cracking.

"Mom...Molly...Why?!"

"You were going to die! The doctor said it was terminal!"

"So you gave up and turned to a demon?! If I die, then I die! It's not worth other people's lives, mom!"

Arsene looked at June. "What do you want me to do, June? I won't kill your mom, but removing the demon influence could kill you."

June looked at Molly then to Arsene. "I...I've been an unknowing prisoner in this hospital for the past three months...I...I'm tired. I'm ready to go."

"No!! Don't! Leave her be!" Molly screamed.

Arsene stared at June. "You're entirely sure?"

June nodded. "Please, Ms. Garver."

"Okay...if you see Death, tell him Arsene sent you in peace. You won't be suffering anymore."

    Arsene placed her hands on either side of June's head gently. Her hands glowed brightly as she started pushing the demon keeping her alive away. June winced in pain as she felt claws digging into her mind and demonic yelling echoing in the room. After a turbulent wind and the sound of a heavy door closing, the demon sealed away, June was laid back against her bed, lifeless and still. The heart monitor began ringing one high-pitched line. Molly started crying and struggled to get free.

"You killed my baby girl!!"

Arsene glared at Molly. "No, you killed her the moment you gave her to a demon to keep alive! And now you're going to a special place for people like yourself!"

"You monster!"

"I'm not the monster here, you are! There was a chance that June could have survived, even if the cancer was terminal! You took that away the moment you got a demon involved!"

    Arsene burst out of the room, pale from lack of energy, and was greeted by two tall figures wearing robes. Jani was talking to them. Before they could question her, Arsene moved past them and headed down the stairs to the main floor. White shrouded figures began to show up while some more people wearing robes followed; they had talismans and books in their hands, purifying the place. The white-haired woman left the hospital, slamming her car door shut and starting it. She drove to the nearest liquor store.

"Fuck this day and misguided dumbasses..."