Deal With The Devil

Chapter 2: Victoria Eriel

The producer called out, “Alright, we're live in ten seconds!” and stepped aside, allowing the cameraman to adjust the camera to focus on both me and the interviewer.

I fixed my curls and smiled, ready to show my face to the viewers behind the camera. I can’t believe I have gotten this far in this industry. People love me, and people praise me for my beauty and acting skills. Despite my age, I always get the big dramas and roles. I wasn't worried about being a mere cameo or supporting character in various projects. My presence alone, once confirmed to be a part of a drama or movie, has the power to generate significant buzz, and it all boils down to my undeniable ability to captivate audience attention.

“Welcome to Rina’s Show,” I continued to smile at the camera, waiting for it to turn to me as the host said her opening spiel.

As she speaks, a feeling of being watched creeps in. I discreetly glance at the studio staff, checking for any signs that a stalker has infiltrated the space. I’m so used to stalkers occasionally trying to break into my house, pretending to be a staff and just following me wherever I go that the company decided to send at least two bodyguards with me and live with me. They’re like stalkers from South Korea that continuously invade their idol’s privacy, except that it’s happening to me in both my country and overseas.

As I scanned the surroundings, my gaze settled on a shadowy figure standing near the door. The place where the staff are all gathered up is dim so there’s no way that even a shadow can come from a person.

Immediately, a wave of unease washed over me as I realized there was no one near the door to cast that shadow. Confused, I looked up at the ceiling of the set, searching for anything that could have caused the shadow, but there was nothing. What’s even bothering me is how dark the shadow is, it takes form in a human shape and it looks so solid. Those types of people who paint themselves black to prank other people, it’s exactly like this shadow, except that there is smoke on its edges.

I almost jumped on my chair when my assistant casually walked past the door where the shadow was standing. With a chilling sense of dread, the figure at the door rose and signaled at me, gesturing to get my attention. It took me a few seconds to realize that the host is almost done talking and the attention will be focused on me in a few seconds, meaning that I have to fix myself.

I gulped before facing my direction towards the host.

Could it be him?

Yet, the figure gestured again, an inexplicable presence that should not be able to exist. But I had made a pact, an agreement that my soul would not be claimed until my death. It seemed impossible – he could not just break our pact so easily, could he?

I smiled immediately as the host turned to me with a bright smile. She’s holding the questions in a small paper on her hand.

Of course, the most usual thing to do when you’re in an interview is to ask the one being interviewed the usual ‘how are you?’ question, so I went to answer it.

It began asking me questions about my career, and I responded confidently without hesitation, briefly setting aside the unsettling presence by the door as I focused on the conversation.

“So you were only sixteen when you got pregnant, right? How did you manage to raise your daughter given that she’s created through accident? I really wanna know, as well as what pushes you to be the talented artist you are right now?” The question caught me off-guard.

Sure, I have attended multiple interviews over the years and they have asked me about my daughter but this question is really new to me. Most of their questions revolved around how I had moved on from the supposed 'heartbreak' I experienced while being pregnant with Lilia. I had carefully crafted a media image that fooled everyone into thinking I was struggling with heartbreak, a lie I continued to maintain even as the truth was entirely different.

I smiled and looked at my manager for a second before speaking, “Actually, while I’m pregnant with my daughter, the only thing I have in my mind is how are we going to survive this? Knowing that I was only sixteen and my parents’ wages were a bit low I chose to let my daughter stay in my womb”

Lie.

It’s a lie.

I have tried several attempts to kill Lilia but it seems like all the forces from the universe don't want me to.

The host nodded, faking sympathy on her foul-looking face.

Such a b***h.

“But one thing for sure, while she’s still growing in my womb, my passion for acting is still strong. So, a year after I gave birth, I quit school and decided to go all in to audition even though I knew that I have a small chance of getting accepted,” I paused and clasped my hands as I placed them on my thighs.

Lie. I wasn’t sure if my ritual actually worked and I was scared to leave it all and trust Satan himself.

“But then I miraculously passed it. I gave my first paycheck to my daughter and my parents,” I continued before smiling at the camera.

She let out an ‘aww’ from her mouth. Forcing herself to be impressed with my story. To be honest, I wouldn't be all that impressed with myself either. There were plenty of famous celebrities she had worked with who had similar stories, after all. Still, it seemed she was intentionally being difficult, acting like a complete b***h for no apparent reason.

She nodded before gazing down on her interview questions before smiling softly, “It’s sad to say that I only have one question left to make you stay here for a little while with us,” she said.

I almost rolled my eyes. Her behavior came across as so fake and disingenuous. It was no wonder then, that the other celebrities I had spoken to were so quick to gossip about her behind her back. Sure, she’s popular because of this show but she’s clearly a wannabe trying to squeeze herself inside the celebrity world.

I nodded in agreement, maintaining a look of disappointment as I spoke. “You're absolutely right. We still have other interviews to attend, so it'll definitely be a pleasure to come back here again,” I replied, feigning politeness even in the face of her attitude.

With a nod, she decided to throw the last question on me.

“Could there be any reason that you’re still hiding your daughter’s identity? Not even a drop of her first name?”

I almost laugh at the stupid question, that’s a question that can be answered by non-celebrities.

“I want to give her privacy. Since I’m pretty popular and you’re aware of the reports of the stalkers, I don’t want anyone pestering her at all. People are so smart nowadays that even if you reveal even her first name, they can find who that person is,” I answered as I looked into her eyes, trying not to look pissed.

She nodded, a spark of annoyance in her face before turning towards the camera with a bright face. I’m impressed how she managed to change her expression in such a short period of time. Truly a two faced person.

§§§

“Guia, why would you even book me for an interview with that woman when you already know that she has such a bad impression on celebrities?” I complained as soon as I entered the penthouse that we’re currently staying in.

I can hear her tired sigh from behind me. We’re already packed with schedules today and we’re both tired, but still, she’s the manager, she’s supposed to be taking care of me as well.

“They have been begging me for weeks to schedule an interview with you so I just gave in to shut her up,” Guia explained before placing the bouquet of flowers on the coffee table.

“She’s obviously giving me dirty looks, f**k. I hate that stupid girl”

I sat on the sofa and opened my phone to check the response of the viewers from an earlier live interview.

“I’ll go now, I’ll ask Mona to bring you some food,” Guia said before letting out a yawn as she closed the door behind her.

Outside, one of my bodyguards was waiting, accompanied by my personal assistant who was tasked with buying clothes for Lilia. Meanwhile, my other bodyguard stood discreetly in the corner of the room, silently keeping watch over the situation.

“Nylon, you can take a rest now. You look like a ghost standing there,” I said, not even bothering to look at him.

“Yes, Ma’am”

In the span of a few seconds, I heard heavy footsteps approaching the bedroom, followed by the sound of the door closing. It was evident that both bodyguards had closed themselves in the room.

Not even a minute after hearing the door closed, I felt a cold air behind me. It’s chilling that I would’ve thought I was sitting in front of the air conditioner.

I furrowed my eyebrows before deciding to look back, but as soon as I did it, I almost fell from the sofa.

It’s that shadow from the set earlier and it’s even closer this time. A shadow that is connected from its body catches my back before I can even fall down.

My eyes widened in terror as I stared at the ominous presence before me. I could see nothing but an inky black shadow, a chilling figure exuding a cold mist that sent chills down my spine, causing goosebumps to rise on my skin.

“What do you need from me?” I hissed, although my voice sounds shaky from the rising fear inside of me.

A terrifying growl escaped from it, making my heart beat faster. Before I knew it, I felt a sharp pain from my back. It felt as if something had clawed at me, causing me to cry out in pain.

Without a word being said, the shadow suddenly let go of me. My back hit the cold tile floor as I heard the sound of Nylon’s footsteps and voice coming in my direction.

“Die”

Those were its only words before it vanished from sight, disappearing before my eyes in the same instant that Nylon re-entered the living room.

He rushed towards me and helped my shocked figure up. The stinging pain from my back is still there and I can hear Nylon’s panicking voice but none of his words register in my mind.

Die.

Is it for me?

But it’s too impossible, we made a f*****g deal. I’m not the one that he’s going to kill and take. We have a contract.

I feel bad for selling Lilia’s life in exchange for my career and wealth. That's why I’m trying to spoil her as much as I can as I know that she doesn’t have a pleasant future ahead of herself. Let alone dying at young age, maybe even a tragic death.

But this devil, this satan.

He can’t f*****g do this to me. He couldn’t possibly go back on our agreement, could he? It was a binding pact, one that he should have been unable to break.