The Chosen Demon

I'm near hysteria by the point the memory flash is over, pain is still filling my twisted appendage as I scramble around on the path, searching for something of use. I find nothing but a stick, and the old bandage I still had tied around my head. My hands shook as they untied it, the bandage was still stained pink from previous uses, but seemed as though it would last. My sense of panic had already left me, the budding flames turning to more of a constant ache. The break must have not been as bad as I'd assumed, thankfully I've had worse…

'But where do I go from here?' If I go back, they might think I'm not useful anymore, they might even just kill me anyway for taking so long. A low laugh escapes me at this thought and I sit up.

"Why go back anymore? This world is cruel and unkind, kill or be killed, and...if I can't survive..."

Yes, it was the only solution! I had to run! I had never tried before, they had ravenous dogs and even more ravenous people but what do I have to lose? They already have complete control over my life- No. Had. For once, I'm going to be the one in control and if I die, it will be by my own terms. I knew exactly where to go.

Mt. Ebott, the mountain from which no souls return. But I don't have a soul according to them so I know I'll be fine. I can feel myself being filled with a new feeling as I walk with my make-shift crutch. Like everything is possible if I just stay determined. This feeling of heat in my chest, spreading itself through my body in a massive wave of fiery passion. For once the flames are on my side as they fill me with determination to keep living on, to escape.

'It's finally time to leave this place, leave behind everything I've ever lived through', I think to myself with triumph and courage in my heart, 'And should I die...I'll die knowing I have no regrets because I'm finally trying to do something about all this!' With that thought in my mind, I make it to the summit and I start my climb; the sun-set close behind.

The mountain has many gravel slides on its surface and I sometimes slip but I keep going. I wish I could have repaired my worn shoes before coming here, but there's no time for second thoughts now. I just have to make it to the top, abandon this pointless world if I have to, but if I can just find somewhere safe to run to-

"NIMA!"

'The beldam!' I can hear myself let out a whispered curse as her voice cuts through me like a dagger. I have nothing to defend myself with! I can hear the growling of the dogs as more shouts of my "name" echo across the nearby land. I'm halfway there now but my head-start will be meaningless if they use those beasts of theirs! Still, I stay determined, forcing myself to go as fast as I can despite the endless pain in my leg.

I continue my climb, keeping myself at an agonizingly fast pace as I keep going up and up the harsh mountain terrain. I imagine whatever it takes to make me distracted, like burning that horrid village to the ground.

'Whoa, my thoughts have taken a dark turn…' I had never thought about things like that before, stuff like hurting others. I knew that the world was "Kill or be killed" but I had never actively thought about bringing misery to others before, just about why I shouldn't trust them. 'Then again...they do call me a demon, what would be so wrong with being one if that's already my "name"…'

"My name is demon, is it time I start acting like one?"

There was no time to dwell on this now, I told myself. There was no time to stop and think, I told myself. Though my thoughts still drifted to it, the added weariness of my legs begging me to stop probably bringing the urge on at full strength. I kept going, the words I had spoken still ringing in my mind as rocks tumbled down from where I placed my feet. Eventually, though it seemed like a long time coming, I reached the top of Mt. Ebott. Unfortunately, I could already hear the footsteps close behind me, and see the light of torches cutting through the shadows of the night. I stood at the top, poised in front of a large hole; not facing them.

"Nima!" The beldam called me, "What do you think you're doing you insolent little-!" She stops when I turn around, keeping my head down and letting my bangs shadow my face. I can hear the villagers bringing their guard up, holding tightly to the ropes of their hunting dogs as they pull against their masters; towards me. I can the entire group collectively back-up as I smile as wide as I can because it's funny, really. Here they are, all seemingly ready to slaughter me, and yet still turning tail when I look at them strangely. I do the only thing appropriate when faced with such controversial reactions.

I laugh. I starts as a giggle, escalating into what can only be described as full-blown hysteria. I raise my head, red eyes wide with a crazed look in them. I can hear the villagers gasp, whispers of "She really is a demon" and "She's possessed!" circulating from the crowd as I continue my crazed laughter. But at these whispers, I stop. I look around. Then I snicker at the contradictions.

"I'm sorry, what did you just say?" I say, my voice taking on an eerily calm and deep tone, making me sound older and much different than before. "It never mattered that I was innocent before?" I ask the crowd, speaking as though I am a completely different person. I wonder, if at this point I'm just messing with them or if I've truly gone mad.

The beldam seems the most shocked as she points at me with a shaking right hand, speaking in a hushed tone to the person next to her, "It was never meant to happen, you said if we did this we'd be safe!" It's almost too funny, I can't help but start laughing again.

"You're all so foolish" I say in a sickly sweet way, reminiscent of the girl in the church, "You haven't prevented anything, what you've done-" I smile so wide I feel as though I've broken my jaw as I cock my head, my eyes dripping with a dark liquid that can only be blood, it runs down my face, trailing down my lips to seemingly drip from my mouth.

"IS AWAKENED A TRUE DEMON."

I'm still laughing when they run, or stay on shaking legs and prepare to fight, still laughing as I curse them and their pathetic village to be plagued by a demon in disguise after I'm gone and see the yellow flowers grow, still laughing when I realize I'm not in control of my own body at this point, still laughing when I realize I don't care, still laughing as I watch the demon inside me kill all the villagers left in sight, including the beldam, the girl from the church, and the priest, and I'm still laughing as the demon leaves my body and I fall in Mt. Ebott.