A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL:broken rules

THE MAN IN BLACK CLOAK

“Where do you think you are going without my permission?” one of the men thundered.

“My house isn’t far from here, or would you want me right here right now”, he grunted, laughing roughly.

“What’s your problem, don’t touch me”, I yelled, slapping off his hand as he tried to touch me.

“Oh, she’s rude”, one whimpered, grabbing my skirt and yanking at it.

I was already skimpily dressed. He had torn off a good amount of my skirt so that I was already naked.

“No, no… I like rude girls, they know how to ride a d**k so well, just take a look at her sexy vee from the panties”, the second man whispered, grabbing my waist.

My hands flew uncontrollably, landing a hot slap across his face.

“Don’t you dare touch me, I’m warning you!”, I yelled again, trying to sneak away from the small space between them and pulling my skirt to cover the torn part as they surrounded me but the man I had bumped into stepped in front of me, blocking my path again.

Where do you think you are going to? "After stressing me so much, you have to make me smile once again”, he sneered. Taking a step closer, I could smell the stench of alcohol mixed with his bad breath. It was worse than death by hanging - this.

This stench I was inhaling was poisonous. It’s toxic to my health.

Daringly, I pushed his chest, but immediately, I felt stupid doing it. He didn’t even flinch, not even a sway more of a stagger. I was no match for just one of them, but three.

I had stirred up his fury. Now his face twisted in anger as he raised his hand to hit me. My heart stopped working for a second as I shut my eyes tightly, only waiting and expecting the worst.

Time seemed to have slowed down as he yelled “How dare…”, he yelled, but the words were never completed.

I was patiently waiting for the pain, every muscle in my body tensed as I had no choice.

But the torment was suspended mid-air, like a cliffhanger as I shivered in fear.

Then—

A pause.

A crack in reality.

“I’m sorry, please…”, I heard one of the men beg, my heart still racing. I slowly opened my eyes.

They were no longer surrounding me.

The three men were now a few feet away from me, sitting on a spot, their backs pressed to each other, all bundled up and pleading for mercy to a figure in a black cloak with an edging fabric lingering like a serpent and emanating darkness like the night itself had come alive in him.

The ruthlessness in their eyes when they were tormenting me had transformed into that of hurt children in need of their mother, they looked helpless that I could pity them.

But no, I wouldn’t, “MEN”, I scoffed with bitterness and disgust.

It felt good watching them beg, watching them kneel and cry, watching them feel how I felt, I didn’t care if I was going to be next when the man in the black cloak finished with them, but I would adore him— for letting me come after them.

The cloaked figure in black took a step closer to them. I couldn’t hear what he said, but I could see his hand gesturing slightly, like an orchestra conductor summoning suffering, slow and deliberate as he spoke.

He slowly looked up at me, his eyes burning with rage as they glowed in the dim light, his gaze fixed on me like he was casting judgment on my soul.

And those eyes, it’s familiar. Peculiar. Unforgettable. Unholy.

I couldn’t just mistake or forget them.

Hector…?

I whispered, down from my soul, like a prayer to a curse.

The three men also turned to me, shaking and pleading. I could see the sorrow on their faces as they pleaded with guilt—and I was pleased.

I was too weak to stand, I couldn’t move. I sat, my weight resting on the wall as I watched the men frilly.

Hector grabbed the head of the man I had bumped into earlier and slammed him to the ground roughly.

A shiver ran down my spine as I least expected it, though I should have felt something - pity.

But no, I didn’t, just the shock.

I thought I had had enough for tonight, but with this I know it’s only getting worse. Tonight was a night to remember.

The man didn’t move, he wouldn’t, he couldn’t, as still as a corpse— I guess he was now.

Hector pointed to what I couldn’t see in the distance and the two other men hurried to their feet, dashing off into the distance.

I guess it was my turn now, my body quivering in fear as Hector began moving towards me, every step heavy, dominating, and powerful.

His long hair bounced with grace with every step he took and the surrounding darkness thickened as he approached me emanating a dark aura.

Truly it was Hector.

He said nothing, but it was enough to make my bladder loose.

This kind of silence screamed of terror.

Should I beg or should I just let him have me? Should I run away or at least fight for my life amidst this unexplainable chaos?

His gaze fixed on me like a predator examining his prey.

I tried to run, but my knee was still frail, my head as light as a feather and my vision slightly blurry. I'm

My breath seized as I waited for the worst once again.

I opened my mouth to speak but only a whisper escaped.

Once again, my fate was before me.

I wouldn’t die tonight after all.

“Are you alright?” His cold voice asked.

Slowly, I raised my head, my body still shaking with fear, his expression was cold, emotionless.

Of course…

I could still see the man lying across the street.

Did he just save me? And… kill for my sake?

My eyes began to tear as I sat there helplessly, a mixture of revenge, fear, happiness, tiredness, and gratitude.

Revenge that the men got what they deserved, fear that I was frail and anything could happen to me right now, happiness that there was hope for my safety, tiredness from all this drama and runnier, and gratitude for Hector saving me.

“Go away”, he ordered firmly.

I wanted to run away, but I just couldn’t.

With tears streaming down my cheeks uncontrollably, I stared at him, his gaze locked with mine.

He sighs in frustration and sweeps me into his arm firmly.