Ozzy Day 70 Demon

The screams were horrible. They rang out though the silent hotel. Then there was the sound. Ripping and tearing of flesh, bones splintering as they were chewed, slurping and gurgling as bodies were consumed. Deep breaths. I tried to focus on breathing, I was scared that it could hear me breath, hear my heart that was in a frenzy. The red emergency lights were pulsing, washing the room in a sinister crimson. How long has it been? Ten minutes? What was the average response time for Exorcists? I tried to remember all of the emergency protocols, but I couldn't focus. How useless all of this was, just stay still and hope it doesn't find you. If I had stayed still when it appeared I'd be dead like my coworkers, torn to pieces in seconds. I was on the second floor, event room B. Joeys, the restaurant was across the hall. There were emergency exit stairs in the back, I recalled from the fire escape plans. Another scream filled with terror, echoed briefly. It was getting closer, it would be here soon. I imagined the route I would take, but my legs were frozen stiff. Come on move, I pounded on my legs to wake them up. I took stock of my situation. There were people scattered throughout the event hall, but there wasn't really anywhere to hide. Tables were flipped to make barriers, people were hiding in the bathrooms attached to the hall. Just a bunch of sitting ducks. Another scream, this time closer. I ran out into the hallway, in my haste I didn't notice the blood on the floor, my foot slipped and I fell onto my back. My heart pounded against my ribs. “I hear you.” The icy voice seemed to come from all directions.

With fear I looked down the hall. I couldn't see it, but it was there. Just a looming silhouette of a monster. It moved slowly towards me. The crimson lights flickered then shut off around it, keeping the beast shrouded in mystery. I could feel its glare, feel its hunger, its presence pressed down on me, locking me in place. The doors to Event room B swung open, a young man ran out, right in front of the demon.

“Hello, I'm glad you came out to see me.” It said, its voice reached into my mind.

I could feel all of my senses spike with immediate danger, it was going to kill him.

“Wait please, don't. You want souls right? A deal?” The young man pleaded.

No you idiot I thought, the first rule of demon survival is to never make a deal with one. Your soul will be sent to hell if the demon you made a contract with kills you. Better to die.

“Ahhh, a deal. Speak.” Its icy voice hissed.

“There are lots of people in that room there, kill them all and let me go, you have to be getting close to your goal right?”

“Ill give you time, until all of them are dead, I won't kill you.”

Then in a blur it disappeared into the room.

The crushing weight of the demon's attention left, I could move again, I ran and didn't look back.

“Wait for me!” I heard his voice call.

No, he will get us both killed. I heard him running behind me as I dashed through the seating area of the restaurant. Screams and the sounds of bodies being torn apart shook the floor. I got to the kitchen, the red exit sign was above the stairs. Then everything went black. It was here already. I could feel it, like it was over my shoulder breathing down my neck. No, no, no no no. I was so close to escaping.

“Wait, did you kill the ones in the bathroom too?” The young man said.

I struggled but I managed to move slowly towards the door, the demon's presence made it feel like I was walking through congealed blood.

“All eight of them, yes.”

I was close.

“How was it even a minute since-”

“Fifty seven seconds.”

“Wait there is a girl here I can-”

I opened the door and shot down the stairs. There was no scream, just a popping sound followed by splashes. 

I was taking the steps five at a time as I ran down. I was going so fast that I slammed into the wall as the stairs bent around the corner. I bounced off the wall and kept running. I swung open the door at the bottom, relieved to see that the light was still flashing red. I was in a staff area, with lockers and storage taking up most of the room. But across from me was the exit of the building. The demon can’t leave the building it was summoned in. Just a few more feet and I would survive. I ran with all of the strength I had.

Five feet left, four, three, I was going to make it. Then the lights went out.

Crash

Through the ceiling it came, right in front of me.

“I love your fear, your hope turning to despair as you realise there is no escape.” 

I couldn't move, It felt like I was drowning. Every breath was stuck in my lungs.

“Do you want to make a deal?”

I looked up at it, and saw death looking back down at me. This is how I die, so fast, so sudden. I don't even have time for my life to flash before my eyes. My soul sank, my body was limp, this is what true terror feels like. Fear not of death but what comes after.

“No, that's alright.” 

I didn't see it move it, just a blur. My body flew backwards slamming into the stairwell door. Pain spread from my back to my whole body. But I was alive. I was surprised that I could still move. That I could still think.

A scream? No a howl, a terrible sound that sent shivers down my soul. 

“Im almost done!” The demon's voice was filled with hatred. The sound was like glass in my eardrums.

“You are finished.” A human voice said.

“You think you can exorcise me, I've killed so many humans, my strength grows.”

There he was, the Exorcist. In his pure white robes. So white, in this nightmare of red. He was like an angel.

I didn't understand what happened next, they were moving so fast, flashes of white light. Hissing, screaming. They were fighting, trading blows, and then silence. The demon was just gone. The Exorcist walked over to me, a reassuring smile on his face. Calm like he didn't witness all the death. All the blood. The screams that still echoed in my mind.

“It's fine child, I've sent the demon back to hell, never to return.” He had a calm voice, it was soothing. He put one arm behind my head and one underneath my knees, then picked me up like I weighed nothing. I felt like I was floating. His calm voice was humming a hymn, suddenly I felt peaceful, so calm.  My eyes were heavy, I might close them, but for a moment.