The Devil Strikes

"G-GET AWAY FROM ME!!" Joshua screams, sending a knife from off the ground my way. I dodge before closing in. He panics, hopping to the left, still catching the crowbar to his leg. He falls over, scrambling to stay away. I move to get above him, raising the crowbar in the air.

'MARCUS MOVE!'

I jump back, just in time to avoid another knife thrown my way.

'Y-you heard that?'

'Mika?' I look over at her, seeing a surprised look on her face.

'L-listen, keep up your attacks on him. When he transforms parts of his body, I can read his mind and send it to you like this. Hurry up, he's gonna attack again!'

"I'll kill you, you fucking freak!" I see Joshua as he bolts forward, his hand turning into a cannon and letting out a cannonball of crystalized blood. I smack it hard with the crowbar, sending it just enough off course to slam into the wall. I rush forward as he tries to recover, sending my crowbar careening towards his head. I feel it squish against it.

'Right hand to your neck!'

I spin to the left, kneeing him in the spine and stabbing him through the shoulder while he's still stunned from the shock.

"G-GRAHHH!" He screams as I push the crowbar down as far as I can. Thank god this side is sharp as a motherfucker. Before he can try to change the material of his arm, I slam my foot into his back again. "I-I'LL KILL YOU!" The backside of his head transforms into a hole and a flesh-like arm comes rushing out, stabbing through my side.

"HRK!" The pain is immense, but I refuse to give up on his arm, pushing up. The sharp side of the crow bar cuts through the toughness of his flesh, severing most of his arm.

'Marcus, another hand!'

I plant my foot on his back and use it to push off into the air as the second hand comes out. The first hand rips out of my side, forcing me to bite my tongue to stay focused. I push the crowbar down, managing to push it into his head, but the hands dissipate in time for him to protect his skull. He grabs the crowbar and, with all the anger he could muster, sends me flying into the living room. I roll once I land, dodging his feet as they slam hard against the floor, him having changed his feet into bricks. His hands replace his feet as he sends them down to try and get my head. I hold the crowbar up, holding off the attack.

'His eye, Marcus! I got his left eye and it didn't heal! Take put his right eye and he's done for!'

I notice it after Mika says it. His left eye really is gone. I grin. He keeps slamming his bricks down on my crowbar, and I can feel the bar bending under the relentless attack. The next time he slams down I push him off, moving forward to send a fist to his left cheek.

'Marcus, your stomach!'

At the last second, I protect my stomach in time for something sharp to push through my hands, poking at my stomach as I use my penetrated hands to hold it back.

"You fucking demon…" Joshua seethes through his grit teeth. "I'll send you right back to hell, no matter how you left it!" Shit, the fear has already waned for him. Is there something I can do?!

"Hehe…don't think…I didn't come here…to bring you back with me." I cackle. Through his eyes, it must have sounded like a proper demon's. I wish I could hear my voice for myself. His eyes widen before his teeth grit harder.

"DON'T THREATEN A GOD!!" The blade pushes harder. Damnit, I don't have enough time. What do I- "AHHHHHHHHHH!" I see it as it happens. A kitchen knife pierces Joshua's right eye, Mika pushing it in as deep as it'll go. Joshua pushes back against her, ripping the knife out of his socket. "DAMNIT, GOD DAMNIT!! HOW DARE YOU, FUCKING BITCH!!" I watch as he screams, holding his head in agony. I grab onto the crowbar and, standing back up, walk over to the pained man and…I plunge the sharp side deep into his head. His whole body stiffens, pretty much confirming it. I've won. 

I move back as Joshua's body falls over. Blood pools under him. In my mind, I feel a weight lift. My ability must have been deactivated. I sigh. Staring down at the man, I try to recall the internal suffering I'd felt when I killed that angel. Nothing. I feel…absolutely nothing. That is, until I look at Mika, breathing hard. She's alive. She smiles. I smile back.

That's a good boy Marcus.

…

Walking out of the house, I look down at my bandaged hands. The pain in my body is dull and throbbing. Even the chunk of my side that's been taken is surprisingly not all that painful. Likely the adrenaline. I'm sure I'll be on the ground screaming soon. I hear footsteps and turn to see Mika, holding two cans of beer. I try to hold up a hand in protest but she forces it into my hands.

"Entertain my whims this once, okay?" She requests before taking my hand and helping me sit down on the house's front steps. With a sigh, I crack the can open and take a sip. It's strong, but…fine enough. I let the can rest against my knee as I look out at the destruction caused by the fight.

"Where's Professor?" I ask.

"Oh…he's passed. Sorry." She looks down before taking another sip.

"That's fine. I, uhm, figured as much. I didn't know him well but…he was a pretty good fighter." I sip from my beer again.

"Yeah. You didn't do bad yourself…jesus…how are you alive?" She asks.

"I don't know. I…I don't know." I bite my tongue on what I had seen while I was dead. I…don't want her to ever know about that.

"Well…I'm glad…uhm, glad you saved me." She blushes gently, sipping from her can. "Though I guess I had to go and save you right after. What is it now, 2 to 1? You better catch up." She chuckles at me, giving me such a warm look. It makes my heart race.

"I'll try, heh." I blush right back.

"Good. I'll hold you to it." She scooches closer, leaning her head on my shoulder. "Comfy…" I let her do as she wishes. Looking out at the night sky, I notice that the red eye is gone. I wonder if anyone else is still alive. If not…then it really is just us. I sigh, feeling my eyes starting to droop. I let them close.