CHAPTER 3: ANSWERS

‘So this is how it feels…’

Random thoughts kept lingering on Chris’ mind, as if someone else is controlling it. He sees several memories, some happy, and most are the saddest moments of his life. He closed his eyes. He could almost feel every moment again, like it is currently happening.

Chris is being embraced by the demon or at least, that’s how Chris perceives it. He was being enveloped by the demon’s darkness. He doesn’t feel any physical pain, only the utter silence and coldness which he unusually feels refuge. He thinks it was ridiculous, he really thought that the demon would bite him or anything similar to feed on him.

His mind starts to wander, he wanted to see them more. Even though he is well aware that it was all in the past. He simply wanted to see them again; alive and smiling at each other like all other “head-over-heels to each other” couples. He missed it, how long has it been since he saw it?

The memories suddenly blurred, he feels like he’s been dragged away. He extended his hands, trying to reach for it, but the force is too strong for him to resist. The memory completely faded in his sight and was replaced by the memories he recently earned.

He heard the news of his parents being killed by cruel people, it repeated over and over again until he couldn’t think of anything but the fact that he wanted to serve them justice; that he wanted the people behind this to die like what happened to his dear parents.

“Why does it have to be them?” He mumbled. Tears are escaping from his firmly closed eyes.

The demon detached itself from the human. Damien saw how wrath fuels on the Chris’ eyes as soon as he opened it. Demons corrupt humans by tapping into their minds, finding their deepest desires and translate it into sinful acts.

Tears continued to flow on the human’s face. Damien grinned, Chris’ miserable state proves him how worth his five years of wait.

Chris watched how the demon’s appearance changed before his eyes. The black fog that always surrounds the demon is as if being absorbed back to its body. Chris is too pre-occupied to be even amazed but he must admit to himself that he is curious with what is happening. It continued until the black fog finally reveals a man with strong features. Chris first noticed the demon’s eyes which are very dark, much like the fog that previously surrounds him.

“Surprised?” Damien spoke. His voice also changed, still deep but it sounded human.

Damien looks like a human, with a very dangerous aura. Chris stared at him with a flat expression. He would never admit that he’s astounded. The demon already played with his emotions earlier, he won’t let the demon to completely control him.

“So you copied a human’s face?” He replied.

The demon laughed, “Now you have a sharp tongue, this is my real face. I am the original.” Damien answered. He sat on the couch then crossed his legs lazily and like an arrogant king would do.

“Then why didn’t you reveal it in the past? Is it also part of the contract?” Chris just wanted to supply answers to his curiousness, or maybe he’s just trying to divert his attention to the fact that his parents died and he just sold his soul to a demon.

He felt suffocated just with the mere thought of not seeing his parents anymore. So many things he wanted to say and do for them but now all of it is gone. He cannot revert back the time, but he can do something in the present.

“Nope,” he leaned forward and pointed his face, “This is my appearance from the start. Your human eyes just can’t see it. You’re a bit special, because you can see me but not entirely.  Now that we’re in a contract, you can now see me as well as other creatures like me in clear form, isn’t that amazing?” Chris felt annoyed, now that he can see Damien’s face he can now see how smug his face is.

“Tell me what you know.” Chris ordered. He doesn’t have enough time to fool around.

“Hmm,” the demon grinned, “What should I know?” Chris hands are already balled into fists. He couldn’t control his emotions, he’s angry that Damien sees his tragedy as an amusing thing. He knows that he’s a demon, Chris is aware that they are cruel creatures and it is exactly what the demon is waiting to happen to ruin him. But he is still angry even with all that knowledge.

“Stop playing innocent with me, I’m not dumb. I know that this is what you have been anticipating!” Chris exclaimed. He’s losing his patience.

“Can you calm down? Damn, why does it have to be wrath your deadly sin? I have to deal with hot headed kids for years. You humans are so attracted with it.” Damien clicked his tongue and stared right into Chris’ eyes, “I don’t have anything to do with your parents’ death. Don’t growl on me like a hound.”

“I didn’t ask if you’re innocent, I want to know everything that you know about my parents’ death. All of it.” Chris tone is firm, but the demon sees it as a child trying to scare a wolf.

Damien scoffed, “You said you’re not dumb, are you sure about that?” Chris didn’t respond and simply glared at him.

“Maybe you just chose to be blind? Or you’re simply an innocent child. With the sudden wealth your family acquired, do you really think that your parents are simply working as office employees in some company?” The demon’s playful grin is back. Damien saw how Chris’ expression changed from furious to plain confused.

“What do you mean?” Chris asked.

Damien sighed dramatically, “Do I have to spell everything to you? They are lying to you. Go check their room and find out for yourself.” The demon challenged Chris.

Chris didn’t answer and stormed his way towards the kitchen and rummaged through the drawers. He sprinted towards his parents’ room as soon as he found the master keys in the drawers. His parents always locked the door of their room. Chris never asked why nor tried to enter their room.

The room is peaceful when he entered, too peaceful. He started to find whatever Damien is talking about in the drawers, in the closet and even underneath the bed but he didn’t find anything suspicious.

“What the hell is he talking about?” He mumbled to himself. His eyes went to the family portrait hanging on the wall, his heart started thumping hard. He approached the portrait and started removing it with trembling hands.

His hunch was right. A vault is behind the portrait. Chris sighed, mostly to stop himself from crying again and because he realized how dumb he is just like what Damien said. He slid the cover of the keypad and stared at the numbers. He realized that he has to figure out the passcode to open the vault.

He immediately tried a combination of the days of his and his parents’ birthday but the vault failed to open. Chris bit his lower lip, he shouldn’t be careless or it might end up locking. He sat on the bed as he starts to figure out the possibilities of what the passcode is. He didn’t know how many tries he still has so it has to be certain.

Maybe the passcode he entered is right but just in a wrong order? Chris kept overthinking as he starts to mentally list all possible combinations including his parents’ wedding date.

He’s about to try putting his parents’ wedding date when he realized and remembered something. If they are hiding something then they wouldn’t put a passcode that is easy to figure out like important dates and such.

Chris remembered his younger self asking what is the date engraved in his mother’s wedding ring since he knows that it is not his parents’ wedding date.

Her mother smiled and ruffled Chris’ hair, “It is the date when your father and I first met. The date is also engraved in your father’s ring.”

Chris racked his brain trying to remember the date. It’s been years since he saw it and he doesn’t have the best memory. Chris took a deep breath before blindly punching the date he barely remembers.

‘032100’

The vault produced a sound then a soft click. Chris felt his knees giving out, thank goodness that he remembered the right date. He opened the vault and took out everything inside the container. He immediately checked the thick documents in several folders.

The demon is right. All this time he was a clueless fool.

“I assume you have the answers you wanted?”