chapter - 012

- Mexico City -

[Carter Slade POV]

"The contract of the thousands souls."

Hearing those words, my first response was to transform into the ghost rider. My power of it has waned over the years but I will try my best to keep the contract safe.

"Don't get so fired up. We are not looking for the contract so we can give it to Mephisto. I want it destroyed like you want." Moon Knight says and I hear a grumble from the other rider at the mention of Mephisto.

Seems he too doesn't like him.

Turning my attention back to Moon Knight, I revert to my human form. I have to keep the remaining power for the windy days.

"How can I trust you that you too want to destroy it even if have found a way?"

"The situation in Hell isn't peaceful anymore. Mephisto has become weak with his old age and he is trying ways to find a better body for himself. His devil son, Blackheart, doesn't want to stay under his father's control anymore and is looking for a way to increase his power."

The more Moon Knight speaks the more my eyes widen. I have so many questions. How does he know about what's going on in hell? And ways to increase his power? I suddenly think about the contract.

If Blackheart absorbs it, he will become even more powerful than Mephisto. Then isn't better to give Blackheart the contract so that he can kill his father and stay in hell?

I look up at Moon Knight to confirm my guess but his next words stop me.

"Blackheart wants to make the earth his starting point against his father. He is still finding ways to escape hell and the moment he escapes it, he will start looking for the contract when he finds his father's dealing on Earth. And don't ask me how I know these things. It's related to my powers."

I gulp at that.

"So how will you destroy the contract? I had tried it before but I couldn't do it." If the contract is destroyed, there will be no problems left and I will also be free from this curse.

"I can't destroy it but he can. Well not now but he will be able." Moon Knight gestures towards the other ghost rider present who I had forgotten he was there with how quiet he is.

As if noticing the attention turn to him, the ghost rider shakes his head.

"I don't know how to break contracts."

"I know and I will tell you how to do it later but for now I want Johnny to be present, so go back."

From his words, I guess he is a relatively new ghost rider if even the spirit himself has to take charge. I wait as the fire on his body dies down and he returns to his human form but the next moment he falls unconscious.

I guess it's going to be a long night.

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[Ethan POV]

Early morning the next day.

I see Johnny wake up and start to look around. When he looks at me, he gets startled. Figures as I am still in my Moon Knight transformation.

"We need to talk." I start to walk out the door. He may not remember me transforming into Moon Knight as it was too early for him.

"Ethan..." Guess I was wrong. He may be stronger than I thought.

"Don't call me that when I am like this. I don't want others to find out my identity. You were an exception being my friend and you being a ghost rider." I stop him. "Get freshened up and come out. I have something to tell you."

He just nods his head.

[Johnny POV]

Seeing Ethan walk out the door dressed as Moon Knight has me feeling weird. I mean, suddenly finding out your long-time friend has a secret identity in which he goes around beating thugs while being wanted by police and not feeling anything will be weird.

I guess that was the secret to his over-the-top strength but me having a secret identity to which even I was not privy. I sigh.

I know how I got these powers. When I transformed, dreams of the contract I made with that man all those years ago were all I was having while transforming. I feel angry at my younger self.

I had thought that the contract was simple but the man was dangerous, so I had left Roxanne behind to save her from my breaking the contract. But who would have thought, I was making the deal with the devil himself, and it was only a chance that kept him from collecting his dues.

And from what I remember Ethan spoke about hell, it is only a matter of time before he comes knocking on my door. I hate this. He cheated me into selling my soul to him.

I get up and freshen up before heading out. I see Carter and Ethan sitting under the tree's shade. Making my way toward them, I too sit down. I want to hear what Ethan wants to say.

"So, before you start feeling repulsive of your powers, let me tell you the true origin of them. It should also help you by making the spirit remember something." He speaks while looking at me with white glowing eyes and I nod.

"Ghost Riders are being in whom the spirits of vengeance indwell. The spirits were sent to protect mankind from evil entities but they were captured, tortured, and driven to insanity making them corrupt in their desire to seek revenge against Mephisto and mankind for its sins."

As Ethan speaks, I start getting a reaction from inside me. I look toward Cater but he shows nothing on his face.

"They may have forgotten their true purpose in their twisted lust for pushing the guilty but permanently sending Mephisto back to hell can help regain their former selves. Now, they are just enslaved by him to be used to collect the souls from his deals."

Hearing this does make me feel better. I mean, having a corrupted angel who has a chance at recovery is better than a mad enslaved demon.

"As for the contract, when you gain more control over your powers, I want you to try and consume a few souls from the contract. If it has any negative effect, we will stop but if doesn't, this can be the spirit's first step at revenge."

I do feel a bit uneasy about consuming souls but a desire comes from within. I know it is the angel influencing me but purifying the spirit is my main priority.

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