K A I

"What the hell?" I groaned, scooting closer to the foot of the bed as I tried to brush the sleep off my eyes.

The Devil pouts her cherry red lips. "You know I don't like it when you say that, Kai."

I rolled my eyes because we both know how big of a liar It is. When I didn't respond, the smirk came back in a second and she slowly held out a palm towards my direction. I stared at her outstretched hand. Her presence is so unnerving I could feel the sweat trickling down my forehead and neck. Hesitantly, I quickly transferred my gaze to my roommate who seems to be enjoying a peaceful dream despite the hellish temperature enveloping us.

"He'll be fine," the Devil grinned. "Do not worry."

"I don't care about him," I snapped, my eyes narrowing into slits. "I'm just worried he'll wake up and see you."

The girl wiggled her fingers. "Take my hand, then."

Still glaring, I grabbed unto her small fingers.

The very second I felt my skin touch the Devil's, I was pulled into nothingness then vomited back to reality—all in a millisecond. When my brain started working again, I realized we are not in my dorm room anymore. We are standing on the roof of the administration building at Celestial University, overlooking the baseball field and the sad architecture of the whole place. Everything looks grey and depressing and the Devil stands proudly beside me with her arms folded behind her, a wide smile splitting her small face.

With the bright glow of the moon completely over us, I realized that the girl is wearing a discoloring white dress which seems to be dirtied with blood at the seams and neckline. The red bow wrapped around her waist is tattered and torn, and she is missing one white sock. "She died in a car crash," the Devil suddenly spoke, bringing me back to my senses. "They were on their way to the church..." Her gaze is still lost in the view before us and the unsettling smile doesn't leave her façade.

I sighed and slowly sat on the cemented roof. "She's young. She doesn't sound evil—"

"...For an exorcism," the Devil continued and that's when she looked at me, her red eyes piercing and firm. "It took me a long time to possess such a small body. I didn't know I would succeed."

I stopped and suddenly find it hard to breathe as I stared at the evilness beside me. Sometimes, when the Devil isn't in Its usual form, I fail to see It for what It truly is. Looks could be deceiving, that is nothing but a fact.

"But as they say, everyone has a weak point, and you just have to look for that in order to win," she giggled and for a second I could see the young human she once was. "She was an unwanted child. She was maltreated... I just helped her take revenge."

"She was a kid..." I frowned, confused. How could a small child summon something so dark?

Satan shrugged, seemingly unbothered. "So, I became her friend..." she grins widely. "You know this isn't my only form, right, Kai?"

I swallowed then looked away to gaze at the university field, and because I couldn't meet the Devil's red eyes anymore. Sometimes I wonder just how much pain the Devil might have felt to have this much hatred and anger buried deep within Its very existence. Or maybe It was created from that alone—from the darkness itself. The thought sent goosebumps through my skin and I shook the idea away.

"I believe you didn't visit me just to tell a little story," I huffed. "What do you want?"

"Oh, aren't you pleased I am favoring you?" the Devil giggled.

"You aren't favoring anybody, Devil," I snapped. "We all know that."

She laughs quietly, amused, before staring at her nails thoughtfully. Even those are dirtied with mud and dried blood. "Chanyeol sent me a soul already," she mused. "I wonder when the next one will come."

"You came here to pressure me, then?"

"I came here to remind you what has to be done," she deadpanned, all the playfulness gone. There was no emotion in her voice or on her face. Her eyes are bloodred but empty. "Just because some fucking Archangels came doesn't mean you can become so useless..."

I felt my blood boil. "I do not care—"

Suddenly, I felt her hand wrapped around my neck, her nails digging unto my skin and choking me. The Devil looked down on me like I am the most disgusting thing It ever saw. "Do not lie to me, Fallen," she sneered, her face crumbling and turning into something hideous. "Do you think I do not know the connection you have with one of the Archangels?" Her hand tightened and I felt a sharp pain from where her nail sank into my skin. "Give. Me. Souls. That is all I want..." she said through gritted teeth. "Do that or I will burn every last one of you to ashes."

Then the Devil went as quick as It came.

It left me fighting for dear life on that roof, gasping and coughing and trying to retrieve all the air that left my system. Blood dripped from my neck and to the white shirt I am wearing, and my extremities feel numbingly cold.

"Damn it," I cursed when I finally regained enough energy, standing up with wobbly legs and clutching my neck. "How do I go back to my fucking room?"

"Did you..." Do Kyungsoo debated whether to ask or not, shaking his head and pointing an unsure finger at me. His brows are furrowed in pure curiosity.

I rolled my eyes and pushed the black cap lower over my face. "Ask away or forever hold your peace," I muttered before grabbing my bag from the table. It's a new day and I guess we're supposed to go to classes now. It's a miracle though, that I woke up as early as Kyungsoo. Maybe because I cannot sleep properly again last night since the Devil just paid me a fucking visit. And it wasn't nice. I got wounds around my neck and I had to turn to my Fallen form just to heal myself and go back to my dorm room.

"Did you go for a walk last night and came back through the window?" my roommate asked before giving the window a curious look.

I gave him a cold stare. "Why would I fucking do that?" I snapped at him. "Leave me the fuck alone."

"Then why are you mad?" he asked back, offended, before looking away. "I was just asking..." Obviously irritated, Kyungsoo grabbed his own bag from his chair before stepping out of the room and into the quiet corridors. Without thinking much, I followed suit immediately, locking the door and jogging to catch up with him. He really walks fast like he's afraid his ex will come looking for him again.

"Hey," I stopped him, grabbing his arm. I shouldn't lose him. This is not part of the plan. He must feel as close to me as possible and I shouldn't give him any reason to be angry at me.

Kyungsoo turned to me with an emotionless face. "If you had a bad night, it's not a good thing to take it out on anyone," he said. "I don't expect you to tell me anything. But you don't have to be such a jerk, Kim Jongin."

My eyes went wide. Did I just hear a scolding from a mere human being? "W-What—"

"And you left the window open last night," my roommate sighs as he shakes his head in disapproval. "It was freezing at dawn, you know. And the shirt you wore, why leave it on the floor?"

I cannot believe this. "A-Are you scolding me, human?" I asked, surprised. No one in my entire existence has pointed out all the little mistakes I made like this. I am so stunned I can't even talk back. If I'm in my Demon form, he should be dead by now.

Kyungsoo shook his arm free from my loosening hold. "Yes, I am a human, and yes, I am scolding you," he narrows his eyes at me in annoyance and confusion, and I just stared at him. How dare he speak to me like this— "Are you alright?" he waved his hand in front of my face. "Oh dang. Did I scare you?"

"What—" I stepped back, insulted beyond words. "You do not scare me."

"Oh, okay. Then—"

But I'm already walking away.

I clasped the canned soft drink around my fist angrily. No human being is daring to sit with me during breakfast and I am too angry to be with the other Fallens. I could tell I am hungry, but the food does not appeal to me that much anymore.

Just when I was about to stand up and just throw my tray away, I felt a hand pat my shoulder before sitting beside me on the bench. "I wonder if you're thinking about burning this place down," Baekhyun grinned as he took a cup from his tray and sip from his coffee. If I could remember correctly, he was just sitting with the other Archangels when I entered the cafeteria.

I gave him a sharp glare. "What the fuck—" But rather, he slipped a spoonful of porridge between my lips, catching me off guard. The taste was good, but I was more surprised at the turn of events, so I just stared at him with wide eyes as I chewed and swallowed. Why are Archangels this nosy?

"You're going to pass out by the end of the day if you don't eat, Kai," Baekhyun murmured before handing me an apple. "You're human right now."

"You just might as well let me die," I said. "That's one less an enemy for you and your friends."

"Oh?" the Archangel cocked his head to one side, thoughtful. "But you're my friend, too. How can I not watch your back?"

I rolled my eyes but took the apple from his hand rather irritatingly, "Nosy."

"Hey, Kim Jongin."

Baekhyun and I looked up in unison towards the voice who just called my name. To my surprise, Do Kyungsoo is right there, staring between me and the Archangel with cautious eyes. He is holding a tray of food in his hands and when I narrowed my eyes at him, he gave out a sigh and moved slowly to sit across from us. "I'm here to apologize," he said quietly, voice barely audible. He then gave Baekhyun another glance.

"Oh!" the Archangel sat up before happily holding out a hand. "I'm Byun Baekhyun! And you are?"

Byun Baekhyun? What a stupid name. I rolled my eyes. But when Do Kyungsoo started to reach out his own hand as well, I immediately grabbed his arm to a stop. My roommate looked at me in surprise and Baekhyun did as well. "You're not getting his name, Baekhyun," I sneered before glaring hard at the Archangel.

Hell no.

No deity is going to get close to this human being.