Bargain Infernal

The rain hammered against the windshield, the wipers doing little to clear the deluge. Alex Mercer gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white, his jaw clenched. The old car groaned with every turn of its worn-out engine, struggling against the slick highway. His mind was elsewhere, replaying the argument he’d had earlier that night. Words he couldn’t take back, a door slammed in frustration. He barely noticed the curve in the road until it was too late.

The tires skidded, the car spinning out of control. Time slowed as the guardrail loomed closer. Metal screeched, glass shattered, and then nothing.

Alex woke to heat. Stifling, suffocating heat. He opened his eyes, expecting the sterile lights of a hospital room, but instead found himself surrounded by an infernal landscape. Rivers of molten lava snaked through jagged black rocks, and the air was thick with the acrid stench of sulfur. Screams echoed in the distance, chilling him to the bone.

“Ah, finally awake.”

The voice was smooth, almost pleasant, yet it carried an undercurrent of menace. Alex turned to see a figure standing a few feet away. Tall and imposing, with sharp features and piercing eyes that seemed to see straight into his soul. He wore a suit sleek, black, and immaculate—a stark contrast to the hellish surroundings. Two dark wings, faintly glowing at the edges, were folded neatly behind him.

“Who… who are you?”Alex managed, his voice hoarse.

The figure’s lips curled into a grin. “You can call me Lucifer.”

Alex staggered back. “This… this isn’t real.”

Lucifer chuckled. “Oh, it’s very real, Alex. You died. Skidded off the highway, remember? Tragic, really. But let’s not dwell on the past. We have more pressing matters to discuss.”

“I’m dead?”The words felt foreign in his mouth.

“Dead as a doornail,” Lucifer confirmed. “And ordinarily, you’d be spending eternity here, paying for your sins. But…” He let the word hang in the air, his grin widening. “I have a proposition for you.”

Alex narrowed his eyes. “What kind of proposition?”

“A second chance,” Lucifer said, his tone almost seductive. “You see, some of my… subordinates have escaped. Demons who thought they could defy me. They’re wreaking havoc on Earth, and that simply won’t do. I need someone to bring them back. Someone like you.”

Alex’s laugh was bitter. “Why me? I’m just some guy. What makes you think I can do anything against demons?”

Lucifer stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “Because I’ll give you the tools you need. A fragment of my power. Enough to make you a force to be reckoned with. Hellfire to burn your enemies, shadows to cloak your movements, and the ability to sense the wicked wherever they hide.”

“And what do you get out of this?”Alex asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.

“Order,” Lucifer said simply. “Chaos is bad for business. And, of course, when you’re done, you’ll return here. But not as a prisoner. No, Alex, you’ll have earned your place as my lieutenant. A far better fate than the one awaiting you now.”

Alex hesitated, his mind racing. The thought of eternal torment was unbearable, but the idea of serving Lucifer wasn’t much better. Still, if it meant another chance…

“Do I have a choice?”he asked finally.

Lucifer’s grin turned razor-sharp. “There’s always a choice. But I wouldn’t recommend the alternative.”

The deal was sealed with a handshake. Alex’s skin burned where Lucifer’s hand touched his, a searing pain that spread through his entire body. He fell to his knees, gasping as power surged through him. When he looked up, Lucifer was gone, and the hellscape around him began to fade.

He woke with a start, lying on cold asphalt. Rain poured down, soaking him to the bone. The street was deserted, the only sound the distant rumble of thunder. He pushed himself up, his body aching but alive. His reflection in a nearby puddle caught his eye, and he froze.

His eyes were different. The irises glowed faintly, a fiery red that wasn’t there before. He raised a hand, and to his shock, flames danced across his fingertips. They didn’t burn him, but the heat was undeniable.

“Guess it wasn’t a dream,” he muttered.

The first few days were a blur. The powers were overwhelming, and the sensation of evil a faint, nauseating pulse at the edge of his consciousness was constant. He stumbled through the city, trying to make sense of his new reality. It wasn’t long before he encountered his first target.

The demon had taken up residence in a dilapidated warehouse, its presence corrupting the area. The air was thick with malice, the shadows unnaturally deep. Alex stepped inside, his heart pounding. He didn’t know what to expect, but he couldn’t back out now.

The creature was monstrous, its form shifting and writhing as if it couldn’t decide what shape to take. It turned to face him, its eyes glowing like molten gold.

“You’re not human,” it hissed, its voice a guttural growl.

Alex raised a hand, summoning flames that roared to life. “Neither are you. Let’s get this over with.”

The battle was brutal. The demon was fast and strong, but Alex’s new abilities leveled the playing field. He moved through the shadows, striking with precision, the hellfire searing through the creature’s flesh. It screamed as it fell, its body disintegrating into ash.

As the last remnants of the demon vanished, Alex felt a strange satisfaction. But it was fleeting, replaced by a deep unease. This was only the beginning.

That night, Alex sat on the rooftop of an abandoned building, staring out at the city. The rain had stopped, and the moon cast an eerie glow over the streets below. He clenched his fists, the faint glow of his eyes reflecting in a broken window.

“What have I gotten myself into?”he whispered.

Lucifer’s voice echoed in his mind, smooth and mocking. “A second chance, Alex. Don’t waste it.”

Alex closed his eyes, the weight of his situation pressing down on him. He had a mission, a purpose. But at what cost? And when the time came, would he be able to face the consequences of his choices?

For now, there was no turning back. The hunt had begun.