Look Within Yourself

by Hayley Fox
(North Providence,Rhode Island)

Hell had never been something I feared, for I had always thought I was a million miles away from ever experiencing something even remotely c l o s e to it. But then, a simple lie was all it took for me to be conquered by the Devil Himself. It had been a tiny lie, at least from my perspective. The police officer had asked me if I had seen who had killed my dad, and I had answered with one simple word. "No." And, if you think about it, I kind of was telling the truth. Because I had been upstairs, reading my book for school. Then I heard a crash from the bottom floor, and instantly my legs were up and running. When I had gotten to the bottom of the one flight of stairs, I saw my dad. He was there, lying there lifeless, blood on his face and shirt, which gave me the impression that he had been shot. I looked up from my father to the dark figure that had been cascading over him, and a gasp had escaped my lips. It was Mr.Brown, a man with a physiological problem. No one had ever known what his problem was, but they did know that he needed help. I stood there motionless as I stared into his eyes, feeling the life drain out of me as he muttered "Don't tell anyone." My eyes flew back down to my dad, and I fell to my knees in sorrow. I remembered back before Mr.Brown had been sent away to the Asylum, he and my father had had some kind of problem with each other when it came to lifestyle choices. My father was always one for being tidy and well kept. Mr.Brown just liked living the way an average person did. A little mess here and there. One day my father had gone too far in insulting Mr.Brown that the older man went ballistic, eventually showing the world that he did suffer from some kind of disorder. When they strapped him down and pulled him into the back of the van, he stared right into my fathers eyes and said "I know where you live." Then the van drove off. My dad had wiped what he said off, but I still felt goosebumps five hours later. And I had let the man who was responsible for my fathers death leave, and I lied for him to the police.. simply because he said I needed to. Now? I stare at myself in the mirror, as the Devil slowly takes over my body. He's smirking at me right now, chuckling even. "I hope lying for that man makes you feel all warm inside now kid. Look in yourself, see you the way I do now.. and you'll give into the inner Devil you've been holding back." I grip the counter with both of my hands, and shake my head, my eye color now fading from red to my original dark green. "Never, I won't let you turn me Satan." "Oh I think you will darlin'.. seeing that I can feel your will power sinking away more and more into the darkness.." His voice was low, and it made me shiver. I had never felt so freaking weak in my life. I cringe a little and look down at the sink, refusing to see just how weak I truly was. "What happens if I let you takeover?" "Well, its simple. You'll still be alive, but.. a different side of you will be there. I mean, yes, you'll still be you.. you'll still go to school with your friends... but you will just see life from my point of view." I take a deep breathe, lift my head up slowly, and stare at my human face for a few more minutes before slowly, ever so slowly, nodding and handing myself over to him. "Excellent.." Comes his dark voice, from deep inside me. My human reflection soon fades away and is taken over by a different form. I was still staring at myself in the mirror, still gripping the sink.. only this time, I had a willing smirk on my face and my eyes were narrowed. When I spoke, it came off as a sweet innocent voice. Every victims biggest weakness. "Where are we going now?" He chuckled softly. "We could just sit back and watch the drama of your fathers painful death unfold on the news." "I like that idea." We both laughed and walked out of the bathroom and downstairs.

- This is the Devil possesses you prompt. I know you're supposed to survive.. and I made it so my character did, but just in.. a different way. ;] Let me know what you guys think!