Ariels POV

It's late, but I can't seem to close my eyes.

Boredom is quite common within my life at the moment. I live alone, I eat alone, I sleep alone.

I don't really care enough about social interactions to make friends.

The brightness of my phone screen is causing the slightest bit of luminance, and my eyes widen in curiosity as I spot an interesting post.

The Instagram reel played, that robotic voice speaking the words written on the screen.

Summon a demon!

Use these simple steps:

Draw a pentagram, anywhere! It doesn't matter.

Prick your finger, don't go all satanist and slice your shit open.

Dab it on the pentagram, and make a wish!

Have fun selling your souls!

The girl waved, and the video ended, and I scoffed.

I then glanced at my little notebook, and became curious. It obviously doesn't work, or else everyone would've been freaking out in the comments.

I grabbed my notebook and flicked my lamp on.

With a pencil I drew a shitty pentagram, and then after a very long search found something I could prick my finger with.

I pressed my finger to the pentagram, and sighed, trying to think of a wish to make.

"Hmmmm...I wish..." I drew out my words, and thought hard. I should've figured this out before hand.

"How about...I wish I had a friend, there," I spoke barely above a whisper, and removed my finger. The bloody fingerprint stained the middle of the pentagram.

I chuckled, and went to shut the book since my curiosity had been satisfied.

But the grey pencil slowly soaked up my blood, and the pentagram turned red...

Wait...

"Wait...wait wait! No!" I desperately tried to erase it but it wouldn't budge. It began to glow brightly.

"Stop!"

I tried ripping the page out, my heart hammering in my chest. The paper wouldn't tear. I desperately yanked at the paper, but it just wouldn't tear!

Suddenly the book became too hot for me to hold, and I yelped, tossing it to the floor.

I scooted back on my bed, breathing heavily while I watched in horror as the small notebook went up in flames.

And from those flames a black shadow seemed to grow from the pages. It formed a humanoid shape, and then two bright red eyes snapped open.

I let out a small scream and hugged my pillow to my chest, trembling.

After it's eyes opened, a bright golden smile flickered to life as if it were a light. The eyes landed on me and I backed away even further, pressing against my headboard.

After a moment, the embers poofed away and the fire died out. There stood...a demon. He was tall, very tall.

Taller than any average person.

He had a human like shape, but there were several things off about him. His grey skin looked sickly, and his bright red eyes and golden teeth were a dead giveaway.

He was dressed in red, his hair was red, he was wearing a monocle that was also red.

His pinstriped suit looked tattered, and there was blood staining it in some parts.

He reached up and fluffed his hair, a bit of ash falling away as he did so. His hair was red and black at the tips. On top of his head we're two...

Ears? I think. They were also two toned.

Then he had two small antlers, sat right between his ears.

He was ever smiling, and that set off a few alarms in my head.

"Hello!"

He spoke and his voice sounded crackly, and almost like it was coming from a radio.

Him speaking to me made me crack, and I began to scream, which made his ears perk up in surprise.

Suddenly I found myself unable to scream, or speak. He had a finger pointed at me and there was a soft red glow around it.

My eyes were wide, and I clawed at my throat.

"I will give you your voice back if you promise no more screaming!" He said, just as chipper as before.

I nodded my head aggressively, and he lowered his hand.

I whimpered, and he stepped out of the ashes that used to be my notebook, looking around my room.

"Now I wasn't expecting this...where's the sacrifice? I was called to a blood sacrifice...could I have the wrong place?"

He mumbled to himself, placing his finger and thumb against his chin in thought.

"N-no..." I finally spoke and his head snapped to me, "I-I did it...b-but it was an accident! I didn't think it would actually work...!" I said, exasperated.

He tilted his head, "I see...well, now that you've done it and I have your blood there's no going back. Tell me dear," his form melted into the floor and I looked around before jumping away when he was right behind me.

"What is it you wanted?"

He was way too close to me, and the way he was looking at me was like I was a meal.

"I want you to leave!" I let out, scooting away from him. He crawled onto my bed and flopped down onto his back unceremoniously.

After laying an arm over his head in a theatrical show, he shot me a wicked smirk, "I'm afraid I can't! You've called me, now I must fulfill a contract!"

He rolled over onto his stomach and half of his body was hanging off my bed because he was so long.

I had my legs pulled against me, trying to make myself as small as possible.

"Tell me, darling," he rested his chin on his knuckles, "what is it you called me here for? You had to have had something in mind?"

I shook my head, "I-I was only playing around! I don't want anything..."

He lowered his eyelids, "well," he shrugged and rolled off my bed, standing back up but facing away from me, "I suppose if you don't have a wish to fulfill, then..."

The air in my room filled with static, making my hair stand up on end, and a horrible radio feedback entered my head as he turned around.

He had turned into something horrifying, his eyes sunken with radio dials in the center. His teeth had grown needle-like, and seemed to be glowing as he spoke without opening his mouth.

"I suppose you'll make a good snack."

I shut my eyes tightly, covering my ears, "wait!"

Everything stopped. I was taking deep, shaking breaths as I slowly opened my eyes.

He was back to normal, staring down at me with a smug grin.

"F-fine...if my options are make a wish or get eaten I'll tell you what I asked for," I grumbled, barely meeting his eyes.

"A-a friend..." I said softly, and he shifted his stance. My cheeks burned, and I felt beyond silly saying that to a demon.

I shook my head, not meeting his eyes, "I told you...it was stupid, I didn't think it was actually going to work..."

He was quiet for a moment.

"So...you sold your soul...for a friend?" He said, mock lacing his tone.

A lump formed in my throat, "yea, yea I guess I did," was my strained response.

He made a hum noise as he thought for a moment, and I looked up at him.

He shrugged, "very well...in exchange for your soul I will provide you friendship. Deal?" He held his hand out.

Him?!

"Y-you? Why do you want to do it?" I shook my head in disbelief, and he chuckled.

"Because you're entertaining! I feel it will be very amusing interacting with you regularly," he quipped and I sighed.

Slowly I took his hand, and his grip caught me off guard. Green fire enveloped our hands, and I hissed and pulled away.

"That hu-" I looked up, and my words froze in my mouth, looking around. He was gone.

"-rt..."