What will you choose?

What will you choose?

         “One answer is only I require…” The creature’s touch felt cold from my hair as if he covered with ice the strands he caressed. “My dear… angel…”

         After minutes with no answer, its thin lips stretched into a grin with lingering evil intentions I felt. And began to tell in my ears the heavenly words my mind and body desire the most.

         “What more could you ask for…? Freedom is granted as soon as you say your sweet yes… my dear princess… is it money?” Its black wings fluttered back and forth.

         “Never again would you and your family feel your stomachs grumble in complete emptiness…” He smiled sweetly.

         “You will not be sold again…”

         Something unexplainable ached in my heart.

         “You don’t have to work… ever… to earn money… and provide your family…”

         He fluttered his coal black hair. “Going to school? Never… never my dear… for you have the eternal money….”

         “Haven’t you gotten tired of making your way through towns with smoky public vehicles? … not anymore… because you’ll have your own limousine…”

         He spun at one of my sides and gracefully danced. Then he stopped and opened his pure lovely red eyes with long eyelashes, so beautiful those could hypnotize the weak in spirit.

         “Rich friends instead of these filthy kids whose parents abandoned them to those torturers? All night long you will party at bars or go to clubs… with bountiful laughs… living a luxurious life… as you deserve…”

         In this unpainted small chamber, dirtied by specks of mildews at the walls’ edges, about thirty kids ranging from eight to twelve years old were sleeping side by side like sausages. Autumn was the last season I witnessed before I entered this unmerciful torture chamber as the next season coldly came. And with a light bulb that only lights once in a day.

         Nearly all of the time, the small window built to the farthest wall facing east serves sunlight at the center of this chamber.

         The rations of the breads serve as how I count the days that goes by: one bread a day each kid, that’s how it works here. And it was not an amount that would satisfy even a baby’s hunger. The water was our only surviving hope. They have dams of water here.

         We were sold here to be slaves by a wealthy count that runs illegal businesses. Money got the best of our parents’ minds.

         I eyed this creature anywhere it flied to. It’s for the best to be alert, especially when it’s not just any creature—a devil in its convincing forms.

         “Love? You seek your parents’ affection and care even though they did not hesitate to sell you, no matter how you hide it… my dear child…” His sweet soft tone with those words put a crack in my emotion. I should know that this devil knows all about its prey just to crumble it within its dark claws, begging for mercy.

         “Endless knowledge? Granted… no man will exist far more greater than you… you will know everything… anything… even the hailed geniuses of this world are idiots compared to your immense capacity… to think of the cleverest decision…”

         He stared at me straight in the eyes and I felt something that shivered down my skins. Although this creature scares me, the words he emits sounded too heavenly to disagree.

         He hovered above in front of me.

         “I’m sure you want power… yes, yes… the power to destroy the people who hurt you… the desire to crush them and see them writhe in pain before at your feet… my angel… tell me all your desires and I will give those all to you…”

         Yes… I do want that… to avenge myself and all the children here who suffered under them. And inflict the pain we felt to their bones and flesh.

         My head felt heavy and I bowed down. I felt myself surrendering. All of what he told was true enough. And escaping this chamber is what my heart desires the most—freedom.

         Don’t all of us want that?

         If I agreed, I could see my parents again, this fear for my life would vanish, not only those, I could live a luxurious life with gadgets my parents’ failed to give me. Forever with riches. Anything I want I can take. It sounded like a prayer to the god of wealth.  I could already say ‘Amen’ to finish it.

         Isn’t it invigorating? It’s already maddening.

         “But of course, there is a cost for all of this?” I breathed out.

         I was surprised he laughed vehemently I thought all of the children would wake, but nobody did, not even one. A kid just scratched his ear because a mosquito pestered him. By that, I was sure I was the only one who could see and hear him. I was the only one he was provoking.

         “It’s not that huge for you to take hesitations…” I closed my eyes when he flew towards me.

         His voice sounded clear and soft in my ear as he spoke.

         “It’s just your soul… when you achieved what you want all your life, I’ll claim what we agreed to… We just have to make a Faustian contract…”

         Just your soul…

         Just my soul…

         It made me think. Is my soul a worth of those promises I don’t have any guarantee? Offering my spirit to the evilest of all in exchange for my human desires?

         "But... if I will make that Faustian contract with you... I may not be able to go to heaven—"

         He laughed loud again, but this time, long and loud enough to def me.

         "Why ask me? But I have a question for you. Is there a God right now?" He laughed again but his voice changed to a deep tone. Like of Satan's.

         I didn’t know what to think anymore…

         I just blurted out the answer my mind whispered…

         There was no answer from the creature but I heard his low hiss and ever mocking laugh in my ear and I was put into unconsciousness.

Months already passed since I left that place. I don’t want to call its name anymore.
And I am very happy for the answer I gave to that devil.

         It was not a mistake that I did not give up hoping that someday someone will rescue us from those horrible torturers. Each of the slaves’ parents planned a rescue and collaborated with the authorities. It happened at dawn when all of the guardsmen’s were sleeping.

         When we were led outside the chamber, I could not believe I was free again. My parents hugged me and said they were tricked by that wealthy count. He said that he’ll only hire us, not sell us.  But since my parents couldn’t read, they signed the contract and gave me to him.

         But at that moment, none of those mattered. It was enough to be with the ones I love whom I thought abandoned me. I cried in happiness.

         Now, I am helping my parents run the store we recently opened at the market. Whenever a kid begs for food, I give him because who knows who and when devils will provoke someone again. As much as I could, I help kids like that. Like what happened to me. Especially to the weak at heart and mind, it’s a very dangerous encounter.

         I was really glad I did not prioritize my earthly desires to my faith.

         I have a God, and that God did not leave my side. His presence remained around me even to the most crucial part of my life. That devil was wrong but I was sure he knew.

         He’s the only one I will believe and trust all of myself to, forever and ever.

Do not abandon all possible hope.