Demon, Awake

Turning in his bed, Bill awakened. Again, the smell of sulphur.

“Man! Again? What did I eat?”

 He looked at the clock and groaned. It was 3 am.

Dimly lit beside the clock, Bill’s demon sat on the dresser. Bill abhorred the idea of ownership, but the demon’s nightly presence created an incomprehensible bond. And he refused to be owned.

The size of a six-year-old human, the demon perched on the dresser top. His bright eyes peered from wizened features.

Bill said, “Oh… you again.”

The demon said, “Is that any way to talk? I’ve known you forever.”

“My eternal torment.”

“Call me Nick. You know my name is Nick.”

“Right… Old Nick. You came to visit. Again, uninvited. I have work tomorrow. Let me sleep.”

“This is the only time I get you to myself.”

Bill threw his body onto the bed. He mumbled, “You don’t exist. Go away.”

“Bill? That’s how you want to play? You know I can make things difficult.”

Why do I engage? “That’s all you do. Difficult Nick…”

“Poor boy. We have fun.”

Bill grumbled. “You might. I don’t.”

“Oh, come on…”

“You think sleepless nights are fun?”

Nick paused long enough for Bill to doze. He jarred him from his rare moment of bliss.

“I thought we have good talks.”

Enraged, Bill punched his pillow. He roared, “I’m sleeping!”

“In a minute. I need to ask you something.”

“To sleep.”

“No. Not that.”

“You’re ugly and your feet smell.”

Nick made a face. “No... You always say that.”

“It’s true.”

“Get some new material.”

Bill groaned. “I’m serious.”

“So am I. Let me do my job.”

“Ruining my sleep is your job? You’re fired.”

“I won’t let this go. You know I won’t. Let me do this. You’re awake anyway.”

Bill threw his pillow at the demon and missed.

“What? What can’t wait until morning?”

Nick mumbled. “I have a problem.”

“You are a problem. Let me sleep. I’m not a therapist.”

“But you’re a good listener.”

“Now…? It’s late. What can I do?”

“It’s simple. If you’d please sell your soul to me…”

“That’s actually a thing?”

“We’ve talked about this, Bill…”

 “Uhm, not for sale.”

Nick’s haunting of Bill had been a nightly event for years. He was Nick’s personal project. They went round and round until Bill collapsed from exhaustion. Then, each night, around three am, Nick would return.

Bill realized that, like it or not, he was up for the duration. He rolled from the bed and shambled into the kitchen. Nick followed.

What if I get a night job? Graveyard shift would screw with Nick’s schedule… This is affecting my health.

Bill filled the coffee maker. He took his time with each step; pouring the water, measuring the coffee, flipping the switch. Each lingering moment was precious and ensured he wouldn’t falter or spill. Breathing in the aromatic steam as he raised the warm cup to his lips was a moment he wanted to hold on to.

Bill looked at the demon. “Coffee?”

Nick sputtered. “No. You know I hate that vile stuff. All they drink down there.”

“Lack of carbonation isn’t why they call it hell, Nick. What if you don’t fit in?”

Nick explained his situation. “It’s like this… I belong to a kind of a demeritocracy. The worse you are, the higher up you go…”

Bill took the bait, yet again. “I thought you were talking about hell. Sounds like Washington DC.”

“Whatever. But tell me, Bill, what are you on fire for? Your passion. What do you want more than anything?”

“Is ‘on fire’ is your best choice of words?”

Nick said, “Duly noted… But tell me…”

Bill only wanted to lie down. Sleep. Sleep. “More than eternal life? If talking to you instead of sleeping…” What if I give up? At last, be done with it? Could it be worse than this?

“Forget the usual channels. I can get it for you. No problem.”

Bill tried to answer. “Something big? Life changing? Not a new car… Like a sex slave?” Who has the energy?

“Standard issue… Now you’re talking.”

“Not into that… I don’t know. I’m pretty happy at work… in my life, over all… Except for sleepless nights.”

“Tell me more.”

Bill looked at the demon. He got an idea. “Tell me, Nick. More than anything, what do you want?”

Nick stopped short. No one ever asked him anything like that. “Me?”

“Yeah. What would you sell your soul for?”

“I never thought about it… Wow… Peace and quiet. A day at the beach. A mountain meadow… with tweeting birds… never seemed possible…”

Bill watched his guest. Trying to stay alert, he tapped his fingers on his warm cup. “Ask for a transfer.”

Nick scoffed. “Doesn’t work that way. You have no idea. Obviously never been to hell.”

“I can see it from here. You haunt me. Every night. Why?”

“It’s my job. But I’m no good at it. I’m a failure.”

“Okay…”

Nick looked around. “You have anything besides coffee?”

“Water…”

Nick nodded. Bill filled a glass from the tap and handed it to him. The demon downed it in a few gulps.

“Thanks!” Setting the glass down, Nick resumed his thought. “No. Clearly, I suck at this. You should have sold out months, years ago.”

“So, it’s your fault I didn’t damn myself?”

“Bill, I’m afraid they’re going to fire me.”

“Sounds like a normal day in hell.” Nick gave him a look. Bill continued. “What would that look like? You’re in hell… What’s the worst they can do?”

“They could send me back to the lowest depths.”

Bill smirked. “What? A beach day at the lake of fire? Isn’t that where you belong?”

“No! I mean yes… but if I do a good job, I can advance up the ladder. You know. The whole corporate climb…”

“And what then? Run for office? Become a manager? A judge?” So tired… Bill leaned against the counter.

“I don’t care. I have more potential than shoveling brimstone for eternity.”

Bill only wanted sleep. Promotion or demotion, let me alone. “Maybe… you’re in the wrong line of work.”

“That’s my point. If you sell your soul, I can move out of this…”

“Yeah… I’ve had dead end jobs before…” He stopped. “Wait! You think I’m a dead-end job?”

“You’re the only one I’ve had, except for shoveling…”

Bill was incredulous. “I’m your first? They gave me to an entry level demon…?”

“Thought sales would give me a leg up. I need to get you and four others. Quota system…”

“Sorry to disappoint, but, you know, we’re talking about my life here.”

Nick nodded. “I know… It is a hard sell…”

Bill got an idea. “Hey… approach your clients with a bucket list.”

“What’s that?”

“When people list everything they want to do before kicking it. You could juice it up.”

“Intriguing…”

“But if your clients, after completing it, want more…?”

“Not my problem… But you’re right. Who gets the meaning of life by checking off boxes?”

Nick threw up his hands. Fighting tears he stared at the floor.

Bill felt himself drifting… He tried again. “What about pride in your work?”

Nick wiped his nose. “I’ve never done anything. Nothing to be proud of.”

“Right. Pride’s what got you all into hell to begin with. Honestly, Nick, as demons go, you’re pretty solid.”

“You mean that?”

“For a demon… But you could do better. Humility is a good thing. Ever think there’s another way? What if you switched teams…?”

Lost in his own thoughts, Nick mused. “It’s sad. No one has passion anymore. You think social media is the cause?”

“What are you talking about? You want passion? I’d give anything for a decent night’s sleep.”

Nick brightened. “Yes!” He pulled a contract from his jacket pocket. “I can help you, my friend...”

“You can. I need to sleep. Find someone else to join your club.”

Nick spread the contract onto the counter. “Just sign at the bottom. In blood.”

Bill stepped back from the counter. “Oh, no. I may be tired but I’m not stupid. Passion is one thing. But your price is too high…”

“Flexible terms, Bill. You want ten hours instead of eight? Done. A mint on your pillow. Every night…”

Slowly shaking his head, Bill held his gaze. “I said ‘No way...’”

“We could hang out together…”

“Like now? Oh, boy…! No.” He turned away.

“Damn! Bill! We have history…”

Fed up, Bill walked into the bedroom and laid down. His body ached for sleep. It’s so late. Too late?

Nick followed him and climbed onto the dresser and sighed. When sitting, he blocked the clock.

Back to square one. “Hey, Bill… I’ve got all night. Wanna play a game?”

Bill’s mind reeled. He couldn’t focus. Am I hallucinating? Bill said, “Is that the time? You look like a clock.”

Nick laughed. “I am a clock.”

“Relentless. You never stop.”

“My insatiable appetite consumes seconds and minutes like there’s no tomorrow. But always remember, Bill, the time we share will always be hours… get it?”

Not comprehending, Bill stared.

The sun streaming through the window awakened Bill from a deep slumber.

He looked at his clock. It read 8:30.

He said, “Finally…”

Though Nick wasn’t evident, Bill felt his presence. He only showed at bedtime.

Will he return? Or was that the end of it? I’ll see tonight.

Bill came home from work and had a quiet evening. Tired from fitful sleep and a long day, he turned in early.

He startled awake at 2am. Sulphur. Nick smiled from the shadows. He rarely smiled. The faint glow of his teeth gave him away.

Here we go again. “Nick. You’re here.”

“Miss me?”

“Not tonight. Not ever.”

“I have a question.”

Nothing changes. “What?”

“Last night, you said something about another way?”

Bill perked up. This is new.

“What about it?”

“I want to know more. I’m ready… Is it even possible? How do I sign up? Need my blood? Got a contract?”

“No blood. Enough blood’s been shed.”

Nick had never heard that. “That’s new. Really?”

“Believe it. But before I explain anything, if you want me to take you seriously…”

“What?”

“You have to let me sleep.”

“All night?”

“Do that and we can talk.”

Nick clearly did not understand. “That’s it? That simple? No catch?”

Bill nodded. “Let me sleep.”

“Okay… I’ve got a lot of time on my hands... Anyway, I’m here… I’ll watch over you.”

Filled with unspeakable joy, Bill stifled a sob. “That’s great. Thanks… See you in the morning.”

Nick shrugged and nodded.

Bill lay on his pillow and slept like never before.