3. All you have to do is ask

“Make a contract with me, and I’ll be yours as much as you’ll be mine.”

“What?” I blinked. I was never ready for anything that came out of his mouth.

He chuckled, like my confusion was his favorite entertainment. “You heard me loud and clear.”

“I ... I don’t get what you mean,” I said cautiously as he pulled both legs up onto the bed and sat cross-legged.

“Get comfortable while we talk. I’m not going to hurt you. I promise.”

“And why the hell should I believe you?”

Ash sighed patiently. “Come on, little lamb. If I really wanted to hurt you, don’t you think I would’ve done it during the three days you were passed out—in my house?”

“Hurting someone unconscious isn’t half as fun as hearing them scream in pain,” I snapped back, stubborn as hell.

He laughed—actually laughed—eyes full of amusement. “Well, look who’s got the twisted imagination here.”

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. What a dumb response. Just … dumb.

Ash patted the mattress in front of him. “Sit. I want you to really hear me out,” he said with saint-like patience. I was ready to throw in another refusal when he added, “Now. Or I’ll burn your ass in hell.”

I exhaled sharply, glared at him, then slowly scooted closer and sat across from him.

“Good. Now let’s get to the real talk,” he said smoothly. For some reason, I couldn’t look at his face for more than two seconds. “First of all, what’s your name?”

“Ruby Emerson.” Total lie. That was the name of Nathan’s dog that died three months ago. And Nathan’s last name. The one I was supposed to take.

Lena Emerson. It sounded nice. It sounded like I belonged to him.

“Well, Ruby. After what you saw earlier, what do you think I am?”

I hesitated, not sure what I was about to say. “A demon?”

He growled, just a bit, and I caught a flash of red in his eyes. “Don’t lump me in with those bottom-feeding creeps.”

I winced. “Devil?”

Ash took a long breath, clearly trying not to set me on fire. “Yes, I’m not the kind that just whispers sins into people’s ears. I’m a devil.”

He leaned back against the bed frame, raised one hand, and twirled his long fingers in the air like he was drawing something invisible. A faint red light sparked at his fingertip before fading. “Name’s Ash Ravencroft. I make deals with humans. You have something I want. I can give you something you want.”

I swallowed hard, trapped in his stare. “What do you want?”

That smile widened, and something dangerous shimmered behind it. “I want your soul.” He tilted his head, voice low and teasing. “And in return, I’ll give you whatever you desire. Power. Protection. Revenge … or something more.”

I tried to think straight, but my brain felt scrambled. “And … you think I’d just say yes?”

Ash didn’t answer right away. He just smiled, lifted a hand to tilt my chin up, forcing me to look into his eyes. “You won’t say no, little lamb. I know what’s in that heart of yours—desperation, rage, pain. You want out, don’t you?”

I didn’t reply. Because damn it, he was right. But that didn’t mean I’d roll over.

I held his gaze, gathering the last scraps of courage I had left. “And how exactly do I give you my soul?”

“We will … fuck.”

My heart skipped a full beat.

I stared at him, praying he was joking. He wasn’t. Not even a twitch of amusement—just calm, dangerous certainty.

“You’re joking.”

Ash raised a brow like he was daring me. “Do I look like the type who jokes?”

I shook my head, breath caught in my throat. “No. No way I—”

“But you will.” He leaned in close, breath warm on my skin. “Not because I’m forcing you, but because you’ll need me. And when the time comes, you’ll be the one coming to me.”

Shit. I hated how confident he sounded.

I steadied myself, ignoring the chill crawling up my spine. “Will I die afterward?” Because honestly, if yes, I might consider it.

Ash chuckled, eyes gleaming. “Of course not, sweetheart. I’m not stupid enough to kill you that fast.” He twirled a lock of my hair around his finger. “I’ll just take a piece at a time. Slowly. And you’ll enjoy every second of it. Trust me.”

I bit my lip, trying to keep my panic and fury in check. I didn’t know what the hell this guy really was, but one thing was clear: if I took the deal, my life wouldn’t belong to me anymore. And I didn’t want that. That was the last thing someone like me wanted—someone who already thought about ending her own life. Death sounded so much better than this demonic crap.

“I’m not interested,” I said firmly, confident—even if my confidence was paper-thin. “So with all due respect, let me go back.”

“Why?” Ash said coolly, eyes flicking to my wrist resting limply on my lap. “So you can try killing yourself again?”

I clenched my jaw. My emotions were spiraling out of control. “That’s none of your business.”

“You can’t just walk away. I bought you for a million dollars.”

“I never asked to be bought!” I shouted, voice cracking with frustration.

“Fine then,” he said easily. Too easily. I didn’t trust it one bit. “Watch and learn what would have happened if I hadn't bought you.”

I was still in bed, still facing Ash—or at least that's what I thought before everything changed.

The room faded. The soft mattress beneath me vanished. Suddenly I was on a cold, filthy floor. My breath hitched, my body shook.

I wasn’t in Ash’s room anymore.

All around me, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed, accompanied by harsh sighs and low, disgusting laughter.

I looked up and saw a row of men leering at me from across the room. Some held cameras. Others, tools I couldn’t name.

I tried to back away, but cold metal chained around my wrists held me in place. I yanked, panic rising. When the hell did I get chained? When did I even get here?

“Finally awake.” A big man stepped forward, grinning wickedly. “Ready to be our star, barbie doll?”

My blood turned to ice. They weren’t going to—

No. This wasn’t real. This couldn’t be real.

But when one of them grabbed my jaw, forcing me to look into his eyes, I knew it was real.

Someone behind me laughed. Another yanked my hair back so hard my head snapped up. “Don’t be scared,” he whispered near my ear, voice oozing mockery. “We’re gonna have so much fun.”

Then I felt the sting on my neck.

A needle pierced my skin, spreading something hot and searing throughout my body.

My knees buckled. Vision blurred.

No!

I tried to scream, but my voice got stuck. My breath raced, chest heaving in panic. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t—

“I can save you.”

I gasped. The voice appeared out of nowhere, whispering in my head softly but dangerously.

Ash.

I looked around frantically, but all I saw was darkness.

“I’ll save you by killing them all.” His voice came again, almost sounding like a promise. “Come on, little lamb, all you have to do is ask.”

I closed my eyes, bit my lip until it almost bled. I didn’t want to. Killing was a sin. And if I did it, that meant I also had to accept his contract offer. He’d bind me with that sinful deal.

Rough laughter sounded again. Cold fingers slid down my thigh. Rough beard scraped my neck.

I jerked, fighting. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a silhouette. I turned fast to the far end of the room, and there stood Ash, behind the camera crew, smiling defiantly. Like a devil himself who already knew he’d won. His dark eyes locked on me, waiting.

Tick tock.

I hated this. I hated him. But I hated them more.

I took a deep breath, then looked at Ash with hate and the last bit of hope I had left.

“Take them all down!”

***

What do you think about this scene?

250226, Anne Joyce