HER DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

As Elena screamed and tried to run,the figure caught up to her, covering her mouth and nose with a cloth. She struggled, but soon lost consciousness.

When she came awoke,she found herself in a dark room. Suddenly, the lights flickered on, revealing a person wearing a mask. The figure was short and stocky, and Elena knew it was a man.

"Who are you?" Elena demanded, trying to hide the fear from her voice.

The masked man chuckled. "Acting brave isn't necessary," he sneered, pulling out a knife.

Elena's eyes widened as the man touched the tip of the knife to her face. She began to panic, begging for mercy.

"Please, spare me! I don't know what you want. I haven't offended anyone."

Just as the man raised the knife to stab her, Elena closed her eyes, preparing for the worst. But instead of feeling pain, she heard a crash.

Opening her eyes, she saw the masked man lying on the floor, unconscious. She looked around, trying to see who had saved her.

That's when she saw him - the devil she had made the deal with. He stood tall, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity.

Elena's eyes widened in shock. "You...!"

The devil glanced at her,his expression unreadable. "staying out late this is what you get!."

Elena shook her head, still trying to process what had just happened. "It's not my fault. I didn't plan to come out tonight,I came out to eat."

The devil turned to leave, but Elena called out to him. "Wait, can we talk?"

The devil turned back to her, his eyes cold. "About what?"

Elena hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "Are you always this cold?" she asked finally.

The devil raised an eyebrow. "I'm the devil, remember? I don't do warm and fuzzy."

Elena took a deep breath. "Can we talk, please?"

The devil sighed. "I only came to save you. I was on my way to work, and then I had to intervene. If you're trying to renegotiate our deal, forget it. It's not possible."

Elena shook her head, a hint of desperation in her voice. "It's not that... I just want to talk to someone. I need someone to talk to."

The devil raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Am I your go-to therapist now? Do I look like the right person to talk to?"

With that, the devil vanished into thin air. Elena hit her head in shame,what was she thinking,she quickly composed herself and rushed out of the building. She had walked for a while before spotting a taxi. She hailed it and gave the driver her address.

As the taxi drove her home, Elena's mind wandered back to her miserable life. Her father was never around, always traveling for business. Her mother had been bedridden with cancer, and her stepmother had burned her mother's clothes, leaving Elena to shop for new ones.

When she arrived home, Elena went straight to her room, grateful for the quiet and solitude. She began to pack and arrange her things, planning to leave the house for good the next morning. She would check into a hotel, finally finding some peace and freedom from her toxic family.

Elena's eyes welled up with tears as she thought about her mother, who would soon be discharged from the hospital. She was determined to give her mother the care and love she deserved, away from the cruelty and neglect of her stepmother and stepsiblings.

Elena woke up at 5:00 AM, determined to make a fresh start. She called her secretary, requesting that she come to pick her up with the car. Her secretary arrived within thirty minutes, and Elena was ready, having packed her bags with all her essential belongings, including her shoes and other personal items.

She sneaked out of the room, locking the door behind her. The house was quiet, with no one in the sitting room or even the guards in sight. It was still early, and Elena took advantage of the silence.

Her secretary helped her load her bags into the car, and they drove off into the dawn. Elena instructed her secretary to take her to the nearest hotel, and they drove for hours until they arrived at a luxurious hotel called I-Stars.

As they pulled up to the hotel entrance, Elena felt a sense of relief wash over her. She was finally free from the toxic environment of her family's home, and she could start anew.

"Good morning, how may we help you?" the receptionist asked, smiling warmly.

"I need a room," Elena replied, her voice low and mysterious. She was dressed in a black, flowing gown, her face hidden behind dark glasses and a scarf.

The receptionist nodded efficiently. "Okay, let me just check our availability. What's your budget like?"

Elena hesitated for a moment before asking, "What's the cheapest room you have? I'm trying to cut down on costs."

The receptionist's eyes flickered with surprise, but she quickly recovered. "Our cheapest room is $5,000 per day."

Elena nodded, her face expressionless. "Okay, fine. I'll take it."

After completing the necessary arrangements, Elena received her room key and made her way to the elevator, her secretary helping her with her bags.

As they entered the cozy and comfortable room, Elena instructed her secretary, "Come pick me up later, around 10:00 am. I'm not really in the mood to go to work today, and I know my father's birthday party is scheduled to start at 10:00 am."

The secretary nodded and headed home, leaving Elena alone in her luxurious but inexpensive room.

*****************************

Zamiel stood atop the highest building, the early morning breeze caressing his face. He closed his eyes, savoring the gentle touch of the wind. This was his sanctuary, his place of solace.

As a being who had never known sleep, zamiel was accustomed to the quiet hours of the night. He stood there for a while, lost in thought, wondering and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. His next deal was already in the works, and he was biding his time, waiting for the ideal victim to come along.

The darkness seemed to energize him, and Samuel's eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intensity as he gazed out over the city. He was a master of the shadows, a weaver of deals and a collector of souls. And he was always on the lookout for his next conquest.

Zamiel remained on the rooftop, lost in his thoughts, as the darkness swirled around him. Suddenly, he sensed something, Somebody needed help.

A cold, mirthless laugh escaped zamiel's lips as he vanished into the shadows, leaving behind only the faintest whisper of his presence. He had a new prospect, a new soul to collect, and he was eager to seal the deal.

Zamiel reappeared in front of a small, run-down house. A young man in his thirties, desperate and hopeless, was about to take his own life. Zamiel's timing was impeccable.

A knock on the door broke the silence, and the young man hesitated, curiosity getting the better of him. He opened the door to find a strange figure standing before him.

"Who are you?" the young man asked, his voice shaking.

"I am the devil," the stranger replied, his smile twisted and sinister. "I grant wishes to those who need them most."

The young man's eyes widened in desperation. "I'll do anything," he whispered. "I just need a job, a chance to turn my life around."

Zamiel's eyes gleamed with interest. "I can give you that," he said. "But it will come at a price. Are you willing to pay it?"

The young man nodded eagerly, unaware of the true cost of making a deal with Zamiel. Zamel's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with malevolence.

"Very well," he said. "I will grant your wish. But remember, I always collect my due."