No Choice

As we stood on the bridge, the aftermath of the intense battle began to sink in. Gabriel separated from me, becoming a distinct entity once more. We exchanged a glance, and without a word, we knew it was time to leave the bridge behind.

But our departure was halted when Uriel suddenly faltered, his knees buckling as he struggled to remain upright. Gabriel rushed to his side, concern etched on his face.

"Uriel, are you okay? You look like you're about to collapse," Gabriel said, his voice laced with worry.

Uriel attempted to brush off his exhaustion, his pride evident in his response. "I'm fine, Gabriel. Just a bit...winded."

Gabriel's expression turned skeptical. "Uriel, don't be ridiculous. You need help."

But Uriel refused Gabriel's offer, insisting on standing alone. His determination was admirable, but his drained state was evident. I intervened, my voice firm but gentle.

"Uriel, you're not fine. You're drained. You need to rest and not use your powers for a while."

Uriel's resistance slowly gave way, his eyes acknowledging his weakness. With Gabriel's support, we made our way to Belzebub's wrecked car, which had been teleported with us. Gabriel touched the vehicle, and in an instant, it was restored to perfection.

We drove to my house in silence, the only sound being Uriel's labored breathing. As we arrived, Jenkins, my butler, greeted us with his usual composure.

"Welcome, gentlemen. Please, come in. Mr. Uriel, you look like you could use a lie down."

Uriel nodded weakly, his eyes already closing as Jenkins led him to a nearby bed. We settled him in, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me.

Gabriel turned to me, his expression serious. "Daniel, I need to leave. I'll call for some heavenly backup. We don't know when Belzebub might strike again."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Okay, Gabriel. Thanks for everything."

With a nod, Gabriel vanished, leaving me to watch over Uriel. Jenkins appeared at my side, his voice soft.

"Supper will be ready shortly, Mr. Daniel. Would you like to eat in the dining room or on the sofa?"

I smiled, grateful for the normalcy. "The sofa is fine, Jenkins. Thanks."

I woke up with a start on the sofa, my mind foggy from a nightmare that had left me breathless. The memories of Belzebub's sinister grin and his menacing laughter still lingered, making my heart race with anxiety. I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the lingering fear, but it only seemed to intensify as I thought about Chris and Deli, still trapped in Belzebub's clutches.

My phone shrilled, breaking the silence, and I groggily reached for it. The unknown number flashing on the screen sent a shiver down my spine. I hesitated for a moment before answering, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Hello?"

"Good morning, Daniel," Belzebub's smooth voice oozed through the line. "How was your night's sleep?"

I cut him off, my patience wearing thin. "What do you want, Belzebub? Why are you calling me?"

His tone darkened, and I could sense his anger simmering beneath the surface. "I'm living in your father's body, Daniel. And I can't believe you just stood by and watched as Uriel almost killed me. I saved Deli, and this is the thanks I get?"

I clenched my jaw, my frustration boiling over. "What have you done to Chris?!"

Belzebub's laughter sent a chill down my spine. "Ah, Chris. Well, Deli's still trapped in Hell, and Death wants her badly. So, I had to send Chris back home alone."

I was confused, my mind racing with questions. "What do you mean?"

Just then, the doorbell rang, and I asked Jenkins to answer it, my attention still fixed on the phone call.

But Belzebub's voice suddenly changed, and Chris's voice spoke on the other end. "You remember the favor I asked of you, Daniel? I didn't have the heart to kill Chris, so you're going to do it for me. Whatever happens next, know that their blood is on your hands."

The line went dead, and a gunshot echoed through the house simultaneously. I leapt up, my heart racing, and rushed to the door. Jenkins lay on the ground, a bullet wound to the head, and Chris stood over him, a gun still smoking in his hand.

But it wasn't Chris. His eyes were vacant, his expression twisted in a malevolent grin. Belzebub's presence was unmistakable, and I felt my anger surge.

"You always wanted me dead, Daniel," Chris's voice spoke, but Belzebub's sinister tone was unmistakable. "Well, I thought to myself, why not kill two birds with one stone?"

My mind reeled in horror as I lunged at Chris, my body seemingly moving on its own accord. I pinned him to the ground, my hands around his throat, choking the life out of him. Belzebub's silent laughter echoed in my mind, his voice taunting me.

"You are my blood, Daniel. You promised to do a favor for me, and now you have no choice but to follow through."

I screamed, my mind torn apart by the realization of what I was doing. I was killing my best friend, and I couldn't stop myself. Belzebub's control was too strong, his grip on my mind unyielding.

As the life force began to flicker out of Chris's eyes, I wrestled with my own body, my sobs ravaging my chest like a wild animal.

My mind screamed in desperation, pleading with my hands to release their deadly grip, but they seemed to have a mind of their own. I was trapped in a living nightmare, forced to watch as my own fingers choked the life out of my best friend.

The weight of my betrayal crushed me, suffocating me with its intensity. I felt my heart shattering into a million pieces, each one piercing my soul like a shard of glass. The thought of living with this guilt, of carrying the burden of Chris's murder on my conscience, was a fate worse than death itself.

Belzebub's cackling laughter still resonated in my mind, a cruel reminder of the monster he had turned me into. I was no better than him, no better than the Devil himself. The realization was a poisoned dagger, twisting in my heart with every passing moment.

Chris's eyes, once bright and full of life, now dimming like embers, their light fading into an eternal darkness.

His face, once a picture of friendship and trust, now contorted in a silent scream, a testament to my unspeakable and forced betrayal.

In that moment, I knew I would be lost forever,if I stayed trapped in the hell of Belzebub's own making.

The darkness closed in around me, a suffocating shroud that would haunt me for eternity. I was the architect of my own damnation, and Chris's soon to be lifeless body was the gruesome proof.