Conner Rider

"I was walking with Deero and that scary old lady attacked us. She ate Deero." Chane said, voice catching in his throats, looking a bit down at the dead deer.

"She must be the one killing the forest demons these past weeks." Dylan said. "Remember the half goat demon?" And he shivered. "Satan, I almost end up like that!"

"But now we're even greater than Satan!" Nate was the only one still singing. "We kill the witch! We kill the witch! We kill the witch! We, demons, kill the witch! Long live the demons! We are the greatest! We kill the witch!..."

Everyone ignored Conner who was crouching beside the dead witch looking rather upset. He got up abruptly and was about to walk away. I quickly grabbed his arm. "Conner! Can I come with you?"

He was my only hope. No one can help me end the contract but him now. I needed him.

"Leigh." Dylan grabbed my other arm with his unwounded hand. All the demons quieted down and looked serious. I avoided Dylan's pleading eyes, met Chane's cute plus pleading eyes instead. They were good friends, but if Dylan's still my bodyguard, the bully would never stop. I would never ever have a normal happy life again. I have to choose!

"Don't let her go." Nate said to Dylan. And the demon held my arm even tighter. Chane came towards me with water brimming in those big eyes. He said "Are you going to leave us?"

"Leigh, please don't go." Dylan said it again and it was already too much for me. I couldn't look at the heart-aching scene anymore. It was as if I was abandoning my family. I turned my face the other way, shook Dylan's hand off, and went with Conner without looking back.

Conner trod on dead leaves and twigs among the jumble of trees with light, soft, and effortless steps. I didn't talk to him much. It was a bit awkward. We soon came out to a green meadow and I saw two more persons there whom made me groaned, Seth and Pheobe.

"The witch's dead." Conner told them. Phoebe dropped her little red lip in shock, while Seth remained the same, only the atmosphere around us seemed cooler.

"How?" Seth asked shortly.

Conner was reluctant but he finally said. "The demons killed her."

The weather was colder than ever. If I wasn't wrong, I thought I saw some ice on the tip of grasses. Seth asked again. "Which demon?"

"Dylan." Conner's voice was light.

"That damned creature!" Phoebe suddenly exploded. "She's us to kill! We're supposed to be the hero! We've come all the way here and that, that--urgggg!"

I recoiled at the way Phoebe acted. I shut my mouth knowing it wasn't time to say anything. Seth was still quiet while the red girl went on swearing. They story sounded like they planned to kill the witch to regain their reputation at their home town or something, but the plan was thwarted by Dylan, and partly me too. I shouldn't be here.

"That demon put us into this! And now it takes our only way of honorable life away!"

Phoebe said that before Seth veered his icy eyes at me. "What's she doing here? Are you changing your mind? You're ready to kill the demon?"

Hell! "No! I--"

"Then, there's nothing to say." And he and Phoebe turned and walked away.

"But--"

"Excuse them." Conner said. "It's been hard years for all of us." I looked at him and he smiled. "Now, tell me. Why are you coming with me? You still don't want to kill that demon."

I shook my head. "Help me Conner. I want to cancel the contract. I cannot kill anybody but I can't stand it anymore."

"There's only one other way." Conner said and started walking toward where Seth and Phoebe were gone. They were already disappeared when I looked again. But I was more interested in our conversation now. Did he just mention another way?!

"You have to clean your soul." Conner carried on calmly. I wanted to jump. Isn't that just so easy! "Literally. Souls can be cleaned by fire. So if you can burn your souls…"

"You mean…I have to burn myself? Like what Natalie was about to do with me?" Man, she was really trying to clean my soul? To help me?

"You'd die."

Of course, I would!

"But that's the only way. Some human wait until he dies and burns his body. Or you can pull your soul out while still alive and burn it, but only demons can do that. And demons would always eat souls after pulling it out right away."

My face bore desperation. The only other option was not an option. There was no way I could be free now. I'm stuck with the demon until I die!

"Be strong. I'll help you protect your soul."