Bargain Infernal

Episode 4: A Heart to Protect

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in a muted orange glow. Alex leaned against the counter of a small diner, sipping a lukewarm cup of coffee. The events of the past few days weighed heavily on his mind, but a rare moment of peace allowed him to let his guard down if only for a little while.

The bell above the diner door jingled, and Alex’s heart skipped a beat. In walked a woman with auburn hair that shimmered in the fading sunlight. Her eyes, a soft hazel, lit up as they met his.

“Lila,” Alex said, setting his cup down and standing to greet her.

She smiled, a warmth in her expression that Alex hadn’t felt in what seemed like an eternity. “Hey, stranger. You’ve been hard to find lately.”

Alex shrugged, trying to mask the turmoil beneath his calm exterior. “You know how it is. Life gets… complicated.”

Lila tilted her head, her gaze searching his. “Complicated doesn’t even begin to cover it with you. But I’m glad you’re okay.”

Her concern was genuine, and Alex felt a pang of guilt. He hadn’t told her about the deal with Lucifer or the battles he’d been fighting. How could he? She was the one good thing left in his life, and he couldn’t bear the thought of dragging her into his nightmare.

Later that evening, Alex walked Lila home. The streets were quiet, the hum of the city subdued as the night deepened. Lila chatted about her day, her voice a soothing balm to Alex’s frayed nerves. For a moment, he allowed himself to imagine a normal life a life where demons and hellfire didn’t exist.

But the illusion shattered when Alex felt the now-familiar pulse in his mind. It was faint but growing stronger with each step. His body tensed, his senses sharpening as he scanned the shadows.

“Alex?”Lila’s voice pulled him back. “Are you okay?”

He forced a smile, though his eyes remained wary. “Yeah. Just tired, that’s all.”

They reached Lila’s apartment building, a modest structure nestled between two larger complexes. She turned to him, her smile soft and genuine. “Thanks for walking me home. It’s good to see you again.”

Alex hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to stay. “Lila, I…” He stopped himself, unsure of what to say. Instead, he nodded. “Get some rest. I’ll see you soon.”

She looked at him curiously but didn’t press. “Goodnight, Alex.”

As she disappeared inside, Alex lingered on the sidewalk, his fists clenched. The pulse in his mind was stronger now, a steady thrum that sent chills down his spine. Something was coming.

The attack came swiftly. The streetlights flickered and dimmed as three demons emerged from the shadows, their grotesque forms illuminated by the faint glow of their crimson eyes. Alex stepped forward, hellfire igniting in his hands.

“You picked the wrong night,” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.

The first demon lunged, its claws slicing through the air. Alex dodged, countering with a burst of flames that engulfed the creature. It let out a guttural screech before collapsing into ash.

The second demon was faster, darting around Alex with inhuman speed. It lashed out, its claws grazing his arm. Alex winced but didn’t falter. He summoned a wall of fire, forcing the creature back before delivering a devastating blow that reduced it to nothing.

The third demon hesitated, its glowing eyes fixed on Alex. But before it could strike, a new voice rang out.

“Get away from him!”

Alex turned to see Lila standing in the doorway of her building, a baseball bat in her hands. Her expression was a mix of fear and determination.

“Lila, get back inside!”Alex shouted, his voice edged with panic.

The demon seized the distraction, lunging toward Lila. Alex’s heart dropped as he saw the creature close the distance in an instant. Without thinking, he threw himself between them, summoning a shield of hellfire to block the attack.

The flames roared, and the demon recoiled, its skin blistering from the heat. Alex didn’t give it a chance to recover. He channeled all his strength into a final blast of fire, obliterating the creature in a fiery explosion.

The street fell silent, the only sound Alex’s ragged breathing. He turned to Lila, who stood frozen in the doorway, the bat still clutched in her hands.

“Lila,” he said, his voice soft. “Are you okay?”

She nodded slowly, her eyes wide. “What… what was that?”

Alex hesitated. This was the moment he’d been dreading. He couldn’t lie to her, not after what she’d just seen.

“It’s complicated,” he said finally. “But you’re safe now. That’s all that matters.”

Lila stepped closer, her gaze searching his. “Safe? Alex, you just fought off… I don’t even know what those things were. You’re not telling me everything.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re right. I’m not. But it’s better this way. The less you know, the safer you’ll be.”

“No,” she said firmly, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. “If you’re in danger, I need to know. You can’t shut me out, Alex.”

Her words struck a chord, and for a moment, Alex considered telling her everything. But the thought of her being dragged into his world, of her being hurt because of him, was too much to bear.

“Lila, please,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Just trust me. I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”

She looked at him for a long moment, then nodded reluctantly. “Okay. But this isn’t over. You owe me an explanation.”

Alex managed a small smile. “Fair enough.”

As Lila returned to her apartment, Alex stayed outside, his senses on high alert. The demons were getting bolder, and it was clear they weren’t going to stop. But now, more than ever, Alex had something worth fighting for. He’d made a promise to protect Lila, and he intended to keep it no matter the cost.