Oh Satan, my back is killing me. These old bones ain't like they used to be.
Walking around the farm hasn't been this tiring since I was a little lass, working nonstop just to make a living.
But walking around and seeing all the new hires working together, helping each other out, does put a little pip in my step.
A lot has changed ever since I first met Stygian. When we first met, I thought I was getting robbed by some weird-looking imp, but now he's this big ol' big-shot prince that basically runs Hell.
He's helped me and my family a ton, turning this here old farm into one of the main sources of food for Hell. It's gotten so big I can barely walk it all before I feel like passing out.
And as the farm grows more and more, the family grows with it. My spry little granddaughter Millie is going to be attending her first class—well, class might be stretching it. It's kindergarten.
I never really got why Lin wanted Millie to go to this fancy-pants school. I mean, look at me—I turned out just fine without needing all those books she was always reading. But it's her life and her daughter, so it ain't my business to pry.
As I walked along the dirt path leading to the main house, out of the corner of my eye I saw a rather tall figure wearing a black hat.
Turning my head, I looked toward where the figure stood and saw nothing but an old scarecrow.
Must've been the wind making it look like an actual person—or maybe I'm just going cuckoo from being too old.
I continued down the path, finally reaching the main house. As I entered the old thing, my daughter, who was in the kitchen cooking up some grub, yelled out to me.
"Hey, Ma! That you?" Lin shouted from the kitchen.
"Of course it's me! Ain't no other imp this slow and old around here!" I yelled back.
Still stirring and holding a bowl of eggs, Lin walked past the kitchen doorway so she could talk to me properly.
"Where have you been all day, Ma? You know the doctor said you shouldn't be walking around so much at your age," my daughter reprimanded me.
"Oh, shoot it, Lin. I ain't listening to some quack doctor. I'm fine. In fact, I could probably beat his sorry ass with my stick," I told her.
Lin simply sighed, placed the bowl down on the counter, and walked over to me, gently leading me toward the dining table.
All my grandbabies were running around and playing, waiting for her to finish cooking.
"Now all of you better behave before I start spanking all your behinds!" Lin yelled, making them all sit down and behave.
Still guiding me, Lin led me to my seat at the table, and I finally sat down.
Once my rump was settled and all my grandbabies were behaving, the front door suddenly opened and footsteps could be heard. I knew exactly who that was.
Joe—my daughter's husband—finally got back from wrangling some varmints that'd been causing trouble. He greeted me, took his seat at the table, and started playing with the grandbabies.
And speaking of grandbabies, Millie—who usually sat quietly beside me—tugged on my clothes, catching my attention.
"What is it, sugar cube?" I asked her.
"Grandmama… is school scary?" Millie asked.
"Why would it be scary, hun?" I asked back.
"Well… I've never really been to school
before, and I don't really know what they do there. And I'll be all alone," Millie said softly.
"Oh, don't you worry too much, hun. School's nothin' compared to working here on the farm. Trust me—you'll do great, sugar cube," I reassured her.
"Really?" Millie asked.
"Really."
Our conversation was cut short when Lin returned from the kitchen, carrying multiple trays of food and placing them on the table.
Once everything was set down and she sat beside Joe, we gave a quick prayer to Lord Satan and Lord Lucifer for the bountiful meal, and then we started eating.
As we ate supper, I felt a strange feeling crawling up my back. I looked around, but nothing seemed off—until I glanced out the window.
A rather tall lady wearing a dark hat was standing there, smiling and waving at me.
I rubbed my eyes, and when I looked again, the figure was gone. Still confused, I got up from my seat and began walking toward the door.
"Ma! Where ya going?" Lin asked.
"Nothing, sweetie. I just gotta go check on something. Don't wait for me," I told her.
Though still confused, she returned to the table, and I stepped outside.
Once I was out there, I quickly spotted the figure sitting on the bench, casually eating a candied apple.
"Who are you, stranger?" I asked.
She stopped eating and looked at me with a rather sinister smile, making me step back a little—before she quickly changed it into a warm, sincere one.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that! I just wanted to take in the view! I mean, just look at that hunk of meat working his ass off in the field! Rawr," the stranger said.
"You didn't answer my question. Who are you, and what do you want?" I asked again.
She simply smiled before standing up and walking closer.
"Someone who just wants to make a deal," she said, raising her arm as it glowed with sinister red energy.
"And why would I want to make a deal with someone I just met?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you're going to be dying tonight if you don't," she replied.
"Are you threatening me right now?" I said, narrowing my eyes.
"Oh no! Never! I just know you'll go poof once you go to bed tonight—and I can change that."
"And how exactly are you planning on doing that?"
"By making you younger, of course! Just shake my hand, and you'll live to see your grandchildren have children of their own," she said, extending her hand.
"And what do you want from me? I'm just an imp," I said.
"Oh, nothing much. Just a simple itty-bitty little favor. Is that too much to ask?" she smiled.
Thinking about my situation, I lifted my hand toward hers—but instead of shaking it, I slapped it away.
"Sorry, sugar. I ain't falling for your tricks. The last time my family made a deal with sketchy folks like you, my daddy died. So you can take your lying demon ass off my property before I start shooting you to kingdom come," I threatened.
The stranger, shocked and clutching her hand… smiled.
Why was she smiling? I refused her offer.
She raised her hand and spoke.
"You touched my hand," she said with a demonic grin.
Before I could process what was happening, red souls began forcing their way into my body.
They ripped through me inside and out, twisting and changing my body. I screamed in agony as the pain consumed me.
Seconds later, I collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air.
The stranger leaned down close to my ear.
"You're welcome, by the way. Oh—and you're not allowed to tell anyone. Toodles!" she whispered before disappearing.
"Ma! What's happening?!" the door burst open as Lin ran toward me.
"Ma, talk to me! What happened?! And why are you so young?!" she cried, kneeling beside me.
"I…" I tried to tell her—but whatever that witch did stopped the words from coming out.
"I… I don't know, sweetie," I said.
"Well, let's get you inside and figure this out, okay?" Lin said, her voice shaking with worry.
"Alright, sweetie."
As we walked back inside, I swear I saw that bitch smiling and waving at me from the corner of my eye.