Ten years. Free of them, free to be herself. It wouldn't cost her much, and ten years seemed forever away. Besides, she wasn't about to believe it. It seemed much too good to be true. What did she have to lose, anyways?
"Abby, I don't know how to tell you this, but your parents are gone."
"What?"
She looked down at her lap, trying to look shocked. She was, but not for the reason that they would think. It had worked. How was that even possible? As confusing as it was, it made her sort of happy. Anything was possible. So she continued looking sad, even managed to squeeze out a few tears.
Then again, she'd always been a good liar.
Abby sat at her computer, wondering how she was supposed to search for this. It wasn't like it had left a business card. She first tried typing in ten year contract, but that only led to some news listings about sports. Moving to advanced search, she added in red eyes. That seemed to work better. The first thing that popped up was simply titled Crossroads Demons, and she clicked on it almost instantly. The website popped up, displaying a red eyed woman who looked very similar. Not the same person, but enough to reassure her that she was in the right place.
Crossroads demons are entities that make formal agreements or bargains with humans, granting any wish in exchange for claiming their life and soul at a fixed point in the future.
Sounded pretty accurate so far, she had gotten her wish.
Deals made with humans are sealed with a kiss, and contracts are written invisibly on the skin of the person.
The kissing part was true too, as much as she's like to forget. The body had seemed no older then five, but the spirit? Let's just say it had seemed far more… Experienced.
They tend to have red eyes.
Yep.
When the person dies either before his or her time, or is killed by a hellhound at the end of the appointed period, his or her soul is sent to hell.
The demon, or whatever it was, hadn't mentioned that, but she didn't care. No matter what happened, nothing could hold a candle to the hell she had been experiencing on earth.
At least now she knew what it was. As she read on, she discovered that she only had ten years. She may as well make the most of it.