text: So much time had passed since the last time i smelled the man sitting across from me. To call him pungent wouldn't be quite accurate. Imagine a room full of charred meat bathing in a pool of hot blood. "Haven't you gotten enough from me?" I lifted my glass of whiskey to my lips. The man's voice came back at me smooth as silk but sharp as glass. "Well, today things are different. It is I who needs you." Here I thought I was the blind one. Years ago I was down on my luck and called on this man in exchange for my soul. One detail they leave out is that this can only be accomplished by removing your eyes, the windows to the soul. "What do I get out of this?" I intentionally kept my expression indifferent. The man wasted no time with his response. "Freedom." I fell back off the chair as my vision abruptly returned. Even in the dimly lit bar I had to shield my eyes. I could see... I could see! I heard the creaking of wood as the man climbed up from the chair. He held out his hand to help me up. The long black nails scratched my wrist as I accepted it. "Nice to see you again Lucifer." I said as I stared into the pools of tar he had for eyes. "No need to be formal with me." He sat back on the chair. "This is a simple trade just like before. " As Lucifer sipped his drink, I retrieved a locket tucked beneath my shirt. Even though my vision had been gone for years, I carried a picture of my family with me. After I sold my soul, I left them for their own protection. Now I could see the beautiful faces of my wife and daughter again. Lucifer began to speak. "Another client of mine has violated our terms. I need you to take care of them." I stifled a laugh. "So you think I'm an assassin? I know the rules anyway, if I take their life my soul will just be yours again." "No, the terms don't apply today. Heaven is blind." Lucifer emptied his glass with one final sip. I stared at the locket again. Finally, I could return to my family, things could be normal again. I could already see the look on my daughter Hailey's face as she saw me walk into the room. How could I possibly say no? "I'll do it." I said. Lucifer smiled and raised one hand to my forehead. The scent of the night air filled my nostrils, the bar melting into a dark street. In front of me stood a small house. The night was unnaturally dark. Lucifer's handiwork without a doubt. I began walking slowly towards the house, a long sacrificial dagger clutched in my hand. Lucifer was still old fashioned in his methods apparently. The front door squeaked ever so slightly as I entered the sleeping house. The scent of cinnamon greeted me. I dodged shoes and toys as I made my way towards the stairs. I stopped at the foot of them noticing that someone was asleep on the couch. A child. "Sick fuck." I whispered under my breath. How was I any better than him? If I didn't do this I'd go back to being alone and blind, drinking my life away. That was reason enough for me to continue. I ascended the stairs. I entered the room where my target lie sleeping. Inching closer and closer to the bed I raised the dagger. I loomed over the mound of blankets before plunging the dagger downward as hard as I could. Moonlight illuminated the room the very second the dagger struck, no more unnatural darkness. I caught sight of my target's face and staggered back as my heart sunk. It was my wife. Her eyes were open and she was fully conscious as I embraced her bleeding body. She turned to me and smiled, a smile laced with pain. "John, I can't believe it's really you." She was still smiling. "I'm so sorry my love." I was fighting back tears. The room was suddenly illuminated as though consumed by fire. I turned to see Lucifer standing by the doorway. Rage boiled from within me and I charged at him. He lifted a hand stopping me in my tracks. "We had a deal John, and so did your wife and I." His voice seemed to be coming from everywhere at once. "All she wanted was for you to see each other once again. She knew it would come at a price." "I would have never agreed to this!" I screamed in frustration. Lucifer laughed a cold, mocking tone. "It was your choice not to ask questions. Now I really must be leaving John." Lucifer crossed the room and approached my wife. She turned to me and smiled once again as a single tear rolled down her cheek. "I love you John. " She blew me a kiss. "Hailey is going to be so excited to see you." Lucifer raised a hand to her face obscuring her eyes. Her breathing stopped. The room illuminated once again as Lucifer vanished leaving me all alone once again.