Playing with a demon -2

"No, I am a demon."

Clank.

Ziana dropped the knife in terror. Her eyes widened in fear as the creature's eyes glowed in the darkness. She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Even her body turned into a statue as it looked into her eyes.

A demon? Why were fictional characters becoming her reality now?!

"I heard you married a grim reaper." The creature said and tried to inhale her scent. "Did you form a connection with him yet?"

So that bloody husband was the reason again! She cursed holding her breath as it leaned closer.

The demon stared at her with a sinister grin, controlling her mind as Ziana struggled to move from her spot. She could only stare in terror as the creature tried to inhale her energy.

"Let me taste your energy." It uttered making her heart sink in despair.

A cold chill ran down her spine as its breath brushed her neck. It bent its head and she gulped in disgust. Her heart stopped beating as its claws dug into her wrist.

God! Was she going to die again? Ziana thought with tears trickling down her eyes. She could not even run and that wrenched her heart.

"What are you doing?" Kate's voice came through the hall.

Ziana panicked that it might harm her too. But instead of attacking her, the creature hissed and moved away from her neck. It released her hand and her body shuddered in response.

"I will see you again." The creature said in a low, raspy voice with a smirk. It stepped back and disappeared into the darkness, leaving her trembling and alone.

Ziana stood there, shivering in shock. Her heart thudded in her chest, and her skin prickled with fear. Her legs grew weak and she supported herself on the kitchen counter.

"What's wrong?" Kate asked rushing towards her.

Ziana shook her head and held her chest trying to calm her racing heart. Supporting herself to the kitchen counter, she took a few long breaths.

"Why are you shivering?" Kate asked holding her arm. She was even sweating in this cold weather and that made her frown.

"Nothing." Ziana managed to say but her heart was not at ease.

So that demon would return soon? But why did it disappear? Was it afraid of cops?

'Hahaha. Why would I be afraid of a cop, dumbo?'

Its voice ran through her mind again and her lungs stopped working for a second.

"What's wrong, Zia?" Kate asked pressing her shoulder. This girl was acting weird again.

Ziana shook her head and wrapped her hands around her. She hugged her and tried to calm herself down. However, that strange feeling of facing death again made her emotional.

Why was life so harsh to her?

Tears broke out of her eyes and she struggled to hold them back. Closing her eyes tightly, she tried to calm herself down.

"Hey, why are you crying?" Kate panicked feeling her sniffle over her shoulder.

"I am sorry for bringing about Jackson. I couldn't help dissing him again." She apologized assuming Ziana was thinking about her Ex again. She regretted talking about him earlier.

Ziana didn't answer but hugged her tightly. Only if she could let her know everything that had happened recently. But that would only put her at risk.

"I am sorry." Kate mumbled slowly caressing her back. Even after 6 months, Ziana still struggled to move on. But that jerk had already found his new lover. And that was pathetic!

Ziana nodded and broke the hug. She couldn't just cry over it and wait for that demon to return. She needed to figure out a way to fight this demon and survive.

"Let's cook together." She said wiping away her tears. As long as someone was with her, that demon didn't dare to show up and she needed to use it.

"Actually, Mathew called and woke me up." And Kate's words made her heart tremble in fear.

"We finally found the drug supplier. He is trying to escape through the sea and I need to leave." Kate explained with a sigh.

"But I promise to take you out for dinner tomorrow."

"Only if I am alive." Ziana muttered under her breath.

"What did you say?" Kate frowned at seeing her murmur something and sighed out loud. She didn't want to leave her alone, but it was an emergency.

"Okay. Pick my favorite flowers if you come early tonight." Ziana said with a sad smile.

"Huh?" Kate's eyes furrowed in confusion. She was really acting weird and Kate was in a dilemma.

"Nothing. Just leave." Ziana replied shaking her head. Pushing her out of the kitchen, she mumbled, "Catch him and come home soon."

Kate sighed and walked to the entrance. Taking her car keys and jacket, she turned around and worriedly looked at her best friend.

"I am really fine. Don't worry, haha." Ziana forced a laugh though she was crying inside. There must be a way to survive. Isn't it?

"Listen to some music and relax. Okay?"

Ziana's eyes widened at her words, and a wild idea flashed in her mind. If she kept her brain busy, that monster probably wouldn't dig inside and control her. It might even not come to her if she kept her mind occupied.

"I am leaving." Kate declared again when Ziana was lost in her own thoughts.

She nodded and stood at the entrance as Kate walked to her car. Waving at her as she started the car, Ziana ran inside her house when she drove off.

She quickly turned on her speakers and played loud music. She even turned on her mom's radio and television.

Fuck neighbors! Her life was more important than their peace!

Running to her room, she took her headphones and grabbed her phone. Connecting to her playlist, she increased the volume and put them on her head.

The music distracted her mind but she couldn't help thinking about that demon.

What if her efforts were useless? What if it reached her in the end?

Who could save her from dying again?

Yael! He flashed in her mind and she frantically searched for his number. Yes, that guy would surely help her.

But he wasn't here to receive her call and was sent to the afterlife for a speedy recovery.

"Pick up!!" She grumbled trying again and it ended up on voicemail.

"I am in trouble, Yael. Some demon wants to devour my energy. It can control my mind and paralyze me. Please come to my house and help me." She recorded and sent it to him before tuning into some loud music.

The lyrics kept her mind busy but her heart couldn't stop beating in anxiety. She walked into the kitchen and filled a glass with water. She gulped it down in her shaky hands and placed it aside.

The knife she had left on the wooden chopping board caught her attention and she grabbed it. This would act as self-defense. But would the demon be affected by it? She wasn't sure but still clutched it tightly.

She walked back to the hall and sat on the couch. Her ears throbbed from the noise but she cared less. She wouldn't mind turning deaf if this music could save her life.

She texted Yael afraid to call him again. What if that demon caught her during her calls? No, this was not the right time to take risks.

But instead of just listening to music, she decided to do something else and scrolled through her browser. She looked for her results dates, referred to the civil exam website, read some more blogs on the cut-off marks for this year, and kept herself busy.

This was her second attempt at taking this exam and she was very confident about selection for detective vacancies. Last year, her results brought a storm to her life though she had prepared well. Her boyfriend left her, people called her useless, and even her family suffered a lot. But this time, she would fulfill her dream and make her mother proud.

Her past hit her with a wave of emotions that she teared up again. At least her mind was occupied and she continued surfing online.

A few minutes later.

Ziana continued struggling to keep her mind busy with various activities. In fact, she downloaded a shooting game and couldn't figure out how to play it. She read some stories online, kept watching trailers on Netflix, and did everything to save herself.

But before she could sigh in relief, her lights started to blink wildly. They flickered and then turned off completely, leaving her in the dark. All her devices shut down and an eerie silence filled the room except for her headphones. Her body trembled as all her efforts to distract herself now went in vain.

A chill ran down her spine and her heart raced as her mind started fogging with fear. A loud thunder echoed outside and she trembled in terror.

"Hey, sweetheart."

"Where are you?" The voice echoed in the room but Ziana didn't even breathe out and clutched the knife tightly.

No! She needed to try before giving up.

And when she felt it walk towards her, she took a long breath and waited patiently. And when it was inches away from her...

Stab!

She jabbed its stomach and even rotated the knife to harm it.

"Fuck!"

Zayden's clear voice startled her and Ziana stumbled back as he groaned in pain.

The lights were on again, and she looked at him in horror. Her eyes scanned the knife stuck to his waist and then at him in shock.

Oops. That was a mistake.