Random stories

There’s a palpable aura around those who wield an ungodly amount of power. The confidence, the assurance of command.

I’d encountered it before; this, though, was on the next level. Only one person - *creature* \- I’d ever met had ever possessed this much.

“Hello, Lucifer,” I greeted the man on my doorstep.

–

The Devil - his current guise that of an otherwise unremarkable, fortyish businessman - strode into my house as if, as the saying goes, he owned the place. In a manner of speaking, he did; nearly everything I had, and all the successes of the past five years, had been the result of my deal with him.

I’d started as a self-taught coder, years ago in my teens. I was going to write the next blockbuster! I’d be famous! The gaming industry would be in awe of my never-before-seen talent!

Then I’d met the real world.

“Perfect timing,” I said, running a hand over my locs. He wandered slowly from the entryway into the main room, examining the many awards and photos on the walls. Photos of my accomplishments, made with his help.

“Oh? How’s that? - Ahh, yes. Congratulations.” he said, glancing away from a photo of me presenting an award at an eSports tournament, to the big-screen television on the far wall. My most recent game, *Escape from Hell*, had just been announced as Game of the Year. “Why didn’t you go to the awards ceremony?”

“I expected your visit. This was the deal. I don’t intend to renege on it,” I replied tersely. “Let’s get this over with.”

Lucifer didn’t respond immediately; instead he continued watching, the reflected light from the screen playing across his perfectly human face.

Finally he murmured, “I’ve been following your progress, and have to say even I’m impressed.” He chuckled. “Surely you must realize how difficult that is.”

“I never could have done any of this without your help,” I muttered. He’d gone over the top, really, what with sending me not one but two actual demons to consult on the game’s accuracy. “Well. A deal is a deal. Right? I’m ready.”

He moved away, hands in pockets, again to examine the memorabilia around the room. “Yes, yes, I suppose…” he said, not even looking in my direction.

I was flummoxed. Not what I expected at all.

He suddenly turned to me again. “The demons I sent? They were of assistance, yes?” I nodded hurriedly. “I thought they would be. I read all of the reviews, you know. ‘Extraordinary level design.’ ‘Amazingly immersive gameplay.’”

He paused again, continuing his circuit around the room. “It’s been very instructive watching the players’...tricks. Particularly the *exploits*.”

“Um. I’m not following?” I said nervously.

He sighed. “Perhaps a slight revision in the agreement would be in order. Just a minor tweak.”

This sounded interesting, but I was wary. “What kind of tweak are we talking?”

“Two more years for you. And,” he smiled winningly, “a sequel.”

I thought a moment. “*Four* years,” I said. He raised eyebrows at this. “You know how game development can go. Scope creep and all that.”

He sighed. “A fair point. This isn’t the first software enterprise I’ve been involved with, actually…”

–

After a short discussion, I agreed; we shook hands. His radiated heat and power; I let go as quickly as I could.

He made as if to turn away, then stopped, raising a finger in the air. The next was presented as an afterthought.

“Oh, perhaps I neglected to mention this. Not directly pertinent to our revised agreement, but you should know.” He smiled. “I’ll be assisting you directly on this one.”

---

Submitted by LimeGreenBendyStraw on Wed, Nov 23, 2022 to /r/WritingPrompts/

The prompt

As the end of your deal with the devil comes to an end you summon him once more to hand over your immortal soul, you knew what you were getting yourself into from the start and despite it all you are satisfied to end it this way... only the devil seems weirdly reluctant to take your soul now