I kept running until I reached a black stone paved road with the bird trailing right behind me.
It suddenly jumped backwards screaming. It turned around and ran the other direction. I was confused, until I turned to my left. There was a carriage, with winged humanoids standing guard on top. One thought went through my head, 'Demons!'
I immediately laid on the road in hope to avoid detection. The carriage soon passed me by. I sighed in relief. I waited for a while and then decided to follow the road in the direction of the carriage. Why, you may ask, answers.
Walking the road, I saw many sights, dead trees, almost dead trees, and dying trees. I was astounded by the variety. After a few grueling hours of walking, it got a lot darker out. The atmosphere was still red, but it was a darker red. I assumed this was night.
I wonder what eldritch horror abomination is going to jump me now. I moved that thought to the back of my mind and focused on walking forward.
I eventually came upon some lights in the distance. It came from behind a stone wall. I approached the wall with apprehension, I saw the demons standing guard on the top of the wall. They looked like they didn't care much about their job. Probably minimum wage employees.
Well, it sucks for them, but it's good for me. I'd probably get cooked in a pot if they saw me. I found a good sized red rock by the road and started digging a hole with my spear. After a good while the hole was me sized.
I climbed in the hole and pulled the rock over the top, leaving only a slit open to see through. I lied there in wait, awaiting the day. After a while, it got lighter out and I could hear talking from the town behind the wall, it seemed busy and lively.
Not soon after I saw a carriage coming into town. When the carriage approached my hiding spot I slid the rock to the side and rolled underneath the carriage, holding on to the underside. Looking up through the wooden boards I saw men, women, and children chained together.
Some of them were crying, most all of them were in pain. Well, at least I know I won't be cooked alive, probably. We crossed the gate. I then heard a voice, "Name and purpose"
"Ariel Von Debryce, servant import." A voice said.
"You're clear, head on in." A bored voice responded
The cart moved into the town, I waited for all the slaves-to-be's to leave the caravan and the slave traders to go on lunch break before getting out underneath the carriage. I looked around and saw demons operating the stalls and buying goods, as well as some humans seemingly buying goods in someone else's name.
I approached a fellow human in a tan tattered robe who had a rope for a belt
"First time being sent out?" He asked me
"Um, yes." I responded
"My name's Grayson, what's yours?"
"My name is Jeane, Grayson."
"Anyways Jeane, what where you sent out to buy?"
"Just staple food stuff."
"Staple food stuff?" He questioned
"Well, the actual word he used to describe them was 'groceries', but I don't if he's allergic to anything and I-"
"Don't worry, they're not like us lesser beings, they don't get allergic and just a fair bit of warning: don't ever even insinuate that to them or you might lose your head."
"Noted. I was just bought, so I was wondering if there was any taboos I should know about, so I don't you know, like, 'lose my head'."
"Don't speak to a demon unless spoken to. Don't call them anything but a demon. Don't speak provocatively. Don't refuse any orders, ever. Don't use them speaking to you as an excuse to ask questions. Don't speak to any other humans unless they wear similar clothes. Never venture near town hall. Don't get caught anywhere where people are absent, and that's pretty much it."
"So, Grayson. What did you do before, you, you know, got here?"
"Haaha. I forgot to mention that one, that's also a taboo, don't ask about others humans' past lives. It tends to make them really sad, and some demons hate their slaves talking about a time when they were free, although some other demons don't care." said the young man
"Is it also taboo to ask how you got here?"
"No, it isn't. Although my story is embarrassing, so excuse if I don't reveal it."
"No, it's fine. You don't need to reveal the circumstances, but were you sent by a portal or maybe a spatial distortion?"
"You're an exiled huh, I feel bad for you. As for me, my soul was sold."
"What's an exile."
"A person like you, someone who wasn't sold but fell through a crack instead"
"Does that mean I can return."
"Yes, it does. Unlike me who can't. When a demon dies, all the souls sold to him perish as well. Of course your soul has enslaved to a demon, but you were not sold from earth. Meaning that if your enslaver dies it does not kill you, kind of a big deal."
"That does seem good."
"Yeah, It is." He sighed and looked at the scarlet sky, I felt that he felt proud, although maybe I just wanted him to feel proud about me, that maybe he'd feel pride that there's still hope for at least someone here.
I thought about it and smirked, he should be proud of me.
We eventually left to our 'masters', but in reality I just hid in an alley, although hiding here was against the supposed taboos, where else was I going to sleep. In few hours into the night I heard rushed eating and pained mumbling from the alley adjacent.
Awoken from my nightmares, I approached the cause of disturbance. It was a small malnourished demon, his pale skin stained with whatever made these alleyways so damp, whatever it was, I didn't dare to imagine.
His blue bangs swayed as he looked up at me, "Hello there, it seems hell has street rats too." I said
He looked flabbergasted, his blue eyes igniting in cerulean anger, "What do you want, slut."
'slut?' I was shocked, appalled even. I mean I make a lot of people mad and angry, but normally they wouldn't call me a slut, they'd just immediately resort to violence. I spoke up, "I'm not here for that kind of business, I came here because you're eating too loud and I would like to request you to be quieter." I said with a smirk.
"Then why are you here, skank!"
'Skank?' I guess it's better then 'slut', at least it's an improvement. "I just told you, but finding out that you're a demon, I have a different proposition to make."
"Ugh, fine, just say your peace and leave me to eat my bread."
"I want to make a contract."
His eyes shot wide open, "You're a exiled!?"
"Um, yeah. Why is that a shock?"
"It's extremely rare to see a wild exiled, how did you cover up his death?" He said, elated
I smiled, "I'll tell you when you sign the contract."
"Fine, you came to me instead of a stronger demon because you know you can't avoid being contracted. I know you wish for a more lenient contact, so what will it be? Free movement, assured safety,-"
I interrupted, "Not a staple contract. I'll list my terms: we will not harm each other, we will not plot to harm each other, if one's actions causes the other to experience a change the other would consider harmful that constitutes as harm, I will help you establish as whatever position you choose, although if the path to your position will harm me I do not have to help you in the path, in exchange you must answer all my questions truthfully with no intent of deceit or subterfuge, any breach of this contract is subject to absolute death for the breacher."
"You gotta be kidding me. Where's the submission clase? Nevermind the absolute death for a demon! Human, you're stepping out of your place, why do you think I'd ever accept this!" said the demon while coughing
"Because you don't really have a choice. You're starving, you're malnourished to the point of deformity, you're thirsty, you have no home, and you have no future. Yet that can all change with a single word. So why do you hesitate?"
"Human, stop being arrogant. You're undeserving."
"I am a human, that makes me weak but it doesn't look like your body holds much strength either. If it's an issue of your pride, just don't think of me as a human."
"Then what should I 'think of' you?"
"A god."
"Muhahahhahhaha!" His face turned somber and resigned as he raised this left hand, "Fine, deal. On my origin I invoke a bond, to reach a forlorn ambition, I make a compromise with thy" there was a apphension "equal soul, one whom I pledge my eridition, one I shan't harm and whom shan't harm me, who pledges their service to thy ambition so that I can see it through."
He put his palm up to me, thinking I know what to do, I do the same. Upon contact I hear words echoing throughout my being, words so strange yet so familiar, as if they were always a part of me.
We spoke in unison, "Let thy marauders of this accord face destined death."