A contract in the dark
The world around Ozen spun into chaos as a powerful, foreign energy surged through him. His body trembled, as if it was no longer his own, and the floor beneath him felt distant. A jolt of electricity, sharp and painful, forced him to the ground. Darkness enveloped him, interspersed with bright flashes of orange light that seemed to flicker with malevolent intent.
Just as his vision blurred, a figure appeared before him—tall, imposing, and unmistakably out of place in the swirling darkness.
The man was dressed in a sleek, pitch-black suit, but what caught Ozen's attention was the pumpkin head. It glowed ominously, casting an eerie light over his surroundings, and the eyes were bright, fiery orange, piercing through the dark.
Ozen's breath caught in his throat as the man in the suit crouched down to his level, his expression hidden behind the pumpkin but his voice booming with the weight of authority.
"Looks like we've got ourselves a new contractee," the man said with a smirk, his voice carrying a strange, almost theatrical tone. "You didn't expect this, did you? But here we are."
Ozen's body ached, but despite the oppressive energy surrounding him, he managed to raise his gaze. The figure didn't scare him; it just felt absurd, out of place. Who was this—some Halloween mascot?
The pumpkin-headed figure chuckled, a sound that echoed through the shadows. "You don't seem impressed, kid. I get it. This whole situation is probably a bit cartoony for your taste."
Ozen kept his composure, despite the strange energy that burned inside him. He didn't flinch or react as the demon's presence loomed over him.
"I don't know what you want from me," Ozen said, his voice calm, steady. "But I'm not interested."
The demon—who, as it turned out, was named Jack shrugged nonchalantly, as if Ozen's indifference didn't bother him in the slightest.
"Fair enough. But I'll tell you what—I don't need you to be interested. I'm here because you've got something I can use. And whether you like it or not, you're already part of the deal. You've got power, kid. You don't even realize it yet, do you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Ozen replied, his tone cool and collected, not portraying any trace of fear.
Jack leaned forward, his pumpkin head flickering with an eerie glow. "Oh, you'll see soon enough. That fire inside you? It's real, kid. And it's why I'm here. You don't just get to walk away from me when I've chosen you."
Ozen took a slow breath. His body still felt heavy with the strange energy, but he refused to let it control him. His mind was sharp, despite everything, and he wasn't going to let some twisted Halloween creature tell him what to do.
"I'm not your pawn," Ozen said firmly. "And I won't be part of whatever you're offering."
Jack paused, blinking slowly as if considering Ozen's words. Then, his grin widened—exaggerated, playful, like a cartoon villain enjoying the drama.
"Really? You think you can refuse me? That's cute." Jack snickered, floating around Ozen like a balloon, his head swaying with the movement. "But this isn't a game, kid. This is real. I'm trying to offer you something that will save your skin when the world starts going to hell. Demons, monsters, chaos—it's all coming. And if you don't take my deal, well..."
Ozen remained calm, never letting his emotions show. He wasn't intimidated by the silly, almost comical display of Jack's theatrics. "If you think I'm going to be your contractee, then you've got it wrong. I don't need your power. I've got my own things to worry about. Just find someone else to horify cuz am not that type of kid."
Jack hovered for a moment, seemingly stunned by Ozen's calm demeanor. Then, as if deciding it was time for a change, he transformed. The towering, menacing figure suddenly shrank into something that looked more like a toy—a small, fluffy, floating version of himself. He still wore the black suit and pumpkin head, but now he looked more cartoonish, almost as if he'd stepped out of a child's nightmare. The only thing that remained constant was the vibe—this little creature still felt like a mafia boss, controlling the show.
Ozen raised an eyebrow. "Is this supposed to be some sort of intimidation tactic?" he asked, his voice deadpan.
Jack floated lazily in front of Ozen, acknowledging him as his new contractee but with a look of mild disapproval. "You're tougher than most. I'll give you that. But we're getting down to business now. The world's in danger, and you're either with me or against me. And trust me, kid—being against me isn't a good idea."
Ozen didn't flinch. "Then I guess I'll be against you. You're not getting me involved in whatever demonic deal you've got going on."
Jack's pumpkin head tilted with mock confusion. "You really think I'm some sort of con artist? You think I'm just here to enslave you and toss you into the Illuminati or something?"
"Isn't that exactly what you're doing?" Ozen asked, his tone unwavering.
Jack's grin faltered for a moment. He floated back and forth, his form flickering with orange light, his voice dropping into something darker. "You're wrong, kid. There's a real war brewing. Demons—creatures you can't even imagine—are coming for this world. And I can help you fight them. But if you want to turn your back on me, that's your choice. Just don't come crying to me when you're out of your depth."
Ozen stared at Jack, unblinking. "I don't need you. I can handle whatever comes my way. I'll make my own path."
A moment of silence passed between them, and then—something clicked. Jack's eyes widened, his head jerking back. His form wavered for a second, almost as if his reality was breaking apart.
Ozen's calm, steady refusal had somehow triggered a shift in the air. Jack, for a brief instant, vanished.
Ozen blinked. The darkness receded. Jack was gone.
The Day After
Ozen awoke in his bed, drenched in sweat, his body still sore from the strange energy that had flowed through him. He shook off the sensation, deciding it had been nothing more than a bizarre dream. But the memory of Jack's words lingered in his mind, and the unease wouldn't go away.
Two days later, he found himself approaching the gate's of his new school, still unsettled, but trying to focus on the day ahead.
James, his friend, greeted him cheerfully. "Ready for your first day, Ozen?"
Ozen nodded, forcing a small smile. "Yeah. Let's see what this school's like."
As they walked to school, Ozen tried to distract himself with the conversation, but the unease from the previous days still gnawed at him. They chatted about clubs, teachers, and sports, and James warned him about Mr. Elven, the time-conscious discipline master.Ray asked about their other friends and James replied "shown and Monica also go here while the other attend other school's". They continued discussing,
But then, as they reached the school, something caught Ozen's eye. A fancy car passed them, kicking up a cloud of dust. Ozen and James coughed as he looked up to see two teenagers—Mickey and Minnie—stepping out of the car, surrounded by bodyguards. Jame's voice was low, filled with disdain. Ray asked who those two were ,
James still with a frown replied "They think they own the place. Rich kids from a luxury brand family."
Just as they were about to move on, another luxury car glided by—this one sleek and more refined. The door opened, and a girl stepped out—Karen. Smart, graceful, and clearly admired by everyone around her.
Ozen felt something stir in his chest—a flutter, a strange sensation. For a moment, he forgot about the weirdness of the last few days. Karen gave a small smile before walking into the school.
James snickered. "Looks like you've got a thing for her, huh?" Ray placing a calm casual friendly look on his face
quickly shook it off. "I've got bigger things to worry about." But deep down, something told him the days ahead would hold more than just schoolyard drama.
End of chapter."Thanks for reading this chapter, your time means the world to me. If you enjoyed it, maybe a friend of yours would too 💡✨"
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Now lest find out together what happened next