Between heaven and hell

Meeting Mason could be risky, because of the three, he was always the most aggressive. His offenses were always the worst, and he got physical several times, Jacob liked psychological terror and Benjamin just liked to watch. I needed to think of a different way to approach him and control his violent nature.

I walked distractedly and ended up bumping into someone, when I turned to apologize I was faced with those unusual pairs of eyes of the old witch.

"Look what the Mother Goddess sent!" she said, smiling and turning to me. Just then, I turned the other way and began to walk away. "The fireman seems to like you, as does the prince." I looked over my shoulder in shock, the old woman still smiling in my direction. I walked with firm steps towards her, stopping inches from her.

"Don't you have anything else to do, apart from stalking me and talking in strange riddles?" the old woman took a step to the side, as if asking me to follow her.

I just wanted to go home and think about the next steps in my revenge, I didn't want to follow an old witch around town and end up understanding absolutely nothing of what she was saying. As much as one part of my mind told me to stay away, the other part, the curious one, insisted that I follow her. Yes, I went after that old woman who refused to answer any question I asked.

"Can you just tell me how far we're going? I have other things to do, I'm not as idle as I look." I didn't get an answer, but I still followed her for a few more minutes.

Contrary to what I thought, the old woman didn't take me down a dark and sinister alley, but to a beautiful park full of families and tourists. She settled down in a bunch and patted the space next to her, inviting me to stand next to her. I took a deep breath and sat on the bench, observing the scene in front of me next to the witch.

Once again, I asked myself why I didn't stop for a moment and look around me. The sun was shining brightly, but the trees provided cool shade for everyone who was there enjoying themselves. A gentle breeze blew hair of all colors and sizes, and laughter could be heard from miles away. I found myself paying more attention to a family of three, the parents and their daughter.

I began to have absurd thoughts about things I would never have and a future that would never happen in my life. Seeing those families so happy reminded me that I had been rejected more than once by my own family and then taken in by a stranger. I got up to leave, but the old woman grabbed my wrist. At that moment I saw, before my eyes, a place of fear and despair. A violent wind started up, as strong as a storm, I looked ahead and saw countless souls being thrown from side to side by the wind, with no control over their bodies, hitting each other violently, falling to the ground only to be thrown up by the strong wind and falling again. A deep despair began to overwhelm me, my eyes filled with tears and just as I was about to give myself over to that feeling, I felt myself being pulled away.

I opened my eyes and was once again in that park, standing in front of the witch, who was looking at me serenely.

"What did you show me? What was that place?" I asked, hugging my body to contain the tremors.

"That, my child, is the domain of your prince, the second circle, destined for those who indulge in lust." Then she held out her other hand. "Don't be afraid, just accept the gift I'm offering.

With a few reservations, I held the witch's hand. In an instant, I felt a comforting warmth coming from a soft, gentle light. When I opened my eyes, I saw people sitting quietly on a green lawn, radiating a pure, gentle blue aura, something very like what I felt when I was next to Raphael.

I let go of the old woman's hand and looked at her in confusion. "What was that place?" I asked with a strange feeling in my chest, something akin to guilt.

"That was the third sphere of paradise, dedicated to divine love in its purest form." the old woman said, and I felt even more confused.

"Why are you showing me these things?" she smiled strangely and got up from the bench. I took a step back, avoiding touching her again.

"Many creatures are curious about you, wanting to have your body and soul. Some come from the light, others from the shadows. You must be careful and not be alone." The woman's words matched what Penelope had also said.

I sat down on the bench and thought carefully about everything that was happening. Fabian hadn't collected my soul yet, so other demons wanted to take me with them. That old witch had already told me that I would have to make a choice, and suddenly I was between two completely different men, one of whom was the prince of hell himself and the other a rescuer with a pure aura. I looked at the witch, who seemed to know exactly what I was thinking.

"Is the choice I have to make between those two?" I asked, feeling pressured. She turned to me, her gaze shining and her countenance serious.

"It goes far beyond two men, this choice is between the salvation and damnation of your soul." I laughed nervously, but the old woman remained serious. "I know it sounds absurd, but you would also say that having a contract with a demon and becoming a succubus would be too."

I really couldn't be skeptical about everything that which was showing me. I discovered a world that I never thought was real, demons walking freely through the world, seducing people and taking their souls. If demons were real, there was nothing to stop angels from being real too; if there was hell and eternal damnation, there was also salvation. I had the chance to save my soul. Still, there were others like me, and I found myself wondering if that which was helping them too, or if other people were instructing those with contracts, trying to help them, if those dead people on the reservation were also instructed to save their souls.

"Did you also try to help those people who were taken?" I asked with my heart squeezing as I remembered that terrible scene.

"No, only you have that opportunity." I was shocked by his revelation.

Why would I be privileged like that? What made me different from those people who deserved this chance? I, of all people in the world, was being given the chance to prevent my doom. Just as I was about to ask the witch, I heard someone calling my name. I turned and saw Fabian approaching. I looked forward again and the old witch had disappeared, leaving me with even more doubts.