making a deal with the devil {cameo | JB}

[Knuckles]

Pherick

A devilish grin spread from ear to ear as he glared at the stage where Apollo stood. For so long she tormented him by trying to teach him how to live differently than he knew, but now she was going away. Chaske and Rolf both stood on that very stage staring at the crowd - Pherick didn't care for Rolf anyway because the stupid fool ruined his life. Chaske was different, strange, yet he didn't know where to put him on the list, but now the one person who had any chance of making a positive difference was being taken away.

And he wasn't sure if he cared.

Sometimes it bothered him not knowing what his future held, and it felt like it was being stripped away in the blink of an eye but in this moment none of it mattered. She stole his coin before and returned it to him, but the fates took it from him once more. Willingly giving up the only piece of his brother was hard, yet it was in his hands now. Finding the hiding place was easy.

He just didn't use it to determine who would live and who would die.

Swiftly, he made his way to the stage refusing to look at little Pariah or Salem or anyone else. It was his turn to speak to her. Her actions this morning crossed the line, and Pherick wanted her to know about it.

But part of him cared.

She was different compared to any other person he met.

It didn't mean he cared though - did it?

Saying goodbye wasn't what he had planned because he never said those words before. A mother and a father died the day that happened. A brother vanished forever, and then he lost the one that swore he cared, but he never did.

The peacekeepers tried stopping him from entering the room - Pherick pushed them away. Dark eyes locked on their's; "I get a chance to talk to her. It's not long, but I'm using my time." Every emotion left his body as the words infiltrated the air, and only when he was inside the room did he allow himself the chance to finally breathe.

The same dark eyes that met the eyes of the peacekeepers gathered around broke as he looked at the tiny coin in his hand;

"Remember this?" He asked flashing the coin in the palm of his hand; "You need to find better hiding places if you're actually going to keep it away from me."

423 words

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Apollo Salon

It’s evident the held breath that’s released from Pherick’s thinned lips of composure as he finally stands amongst my imprisonment. Seems at the very same moment my own exhale combs through my throat, captured before by the dulled overwhelming sensation of all occurring about. The coin, we both know all too well, glistens from his palm - shined upon by the radiating Sun raying through the single window present, unaware of the cruel choice of today’s annual event. It’s not the Sun, nor Pherick’s coin, that maintains my attention however - but rather the features of the one I’ve gained to subtly understand over the months.

The terror still rattles the beat of my heart at the mere thought of our first true memory we unfortunately created together. The imagery of his claws wrapped around Pariah’s throat, tightens my already stressed bones. The cruel reminder of when I realized it was I to ignite such a scene, sends an agonizing chill across my spine. A hand washes down my recalling expression, leading my eyes back upon that Coin of his. Was it that object to cause such an occasion, or the likes of my own foolish actions? More has been drawn between us since, yet it’s still that event that terrorizes me even more so then today’s.

That unpredictable voice of his’ curls through the air in curiosity, questioning if I remembered this object of his’ - as though I could ever forget it. A statement coils from his tongue next, advising to discover a better location to shelter his coin from his knowledge. Without permission my eyes narrow, wondering if a new fear is being presented to me. Upon my oncoming absence, will he return to flipping that coin in debate of stealing another’s existence or not? The retirement of that coin was supposed to already be determined weeks ago.

There’s also no erasing the recollection of that coin’s final flip. Once before the continuation of my persisting life was chanced, though now it’s being tested again. Weeks ago it was quick at least, left within that object’s decision. My own breath was held as I accepted the odds, heads leaving my survival in the palms of Pherick, and tails withdrawing that coin’s say any further. Time stood viciously still, as the coin shimmered within it’s flipping motion - to eventually collapse upon my preferred fate. But now is that bet of ours being demolished?

Gently the tide of my head glides from side to side, in refusal to his words. “There’s no need to keep it from you anymore. You said you wouldn’t…” There’s no point in addressing his former ways however. “That was our deal.” Is reminded in desperation. Both of us are far too aware of my inability to confiscate his coin now. No longer can I do anything, not even protect my family as I’m supposed to do. Today has made me as useless as I had always feared I was.

[Knuckles]

Pherick

The sun glistened through the sole window in the room reflecting from the tiny coin flickering into Pherick's eyes. A deal was all Apollo brought up, and it was one he would never forget. The coin held so much power, and it gave him many opportunities in life. It was a way to live by the fates without any worry in the world. Broken dreams turned into reality the moment it gave him the choice of what to do. Only broken dreams turned into nightmares Pherick couldn't fight anymore.

"Of course I remember our deal." His tongue clicked against his teeth for a moment as he slowly shook his head. "I gave you my word, and I'm not like other members of my family." A quick change swept across his demeanor the moment he mentioned his family. It was far from a family, and yet Pherick lived with them for so long.

He was left for dead under a pile of leaves, but they can't kill someone who was already dead.

But soon the dark grin returned.

Pherick didn't listen to or make any promises because he knew they were only simple phrases to get what a person wanted, and after their goal was achieved betrayal struck through the words. Promises didn't matter, and it wasn't a promise he gave.

"That's not why I'm here." Crossing his arms, Pherick leaned against the wall. Twice his family was reaped for the games, and right now was the first time he ever stepped foot inside this building. It was the first time he caught a glimpse of the last piece of district his brothers saw, and it didn't even matter to him.

Nothing mattered when the world came crashing down.

"I have a simple request." The devilish grin grew larger with each passing second, "If you find Rolf in the afterlife, let him know how much I hate him, and how I wish I would've been the one crushing his chest with the spiked club thing." A chuckle left his lips because it was something Pherick yearned for, yet he would never have the chance to do.

355 words

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Apollo Salon

A matter with the label of a promise will never coil from Pherick’s tongue, that much was comprehended long ago. It’s solely a petty statement that may ensure proper actions will be followed in the future anyways. Such as a promise from a Rugrat that they won’t sneak cookies before dinner anymore - though still it leaves no guarantee they’re not sliding those greedy little fingers into the forbidden jar while backs are turned, and eyes are unaware. Still though, gaining that promise provides at least a smidgen of hope it won’t happen - but to no surprise, I’ll set that sliver of confidence aside to satisfy Pherick’s preference. At least there’s assurance that his word pertains even more then a promise ever could.

But though he clarifies our deal will not be broken, my breath is held once more as though no such relieve has been provided. Already the picture of our Home tonight overwhelms my imagination. Will silence weep through the hallways in a shared confusion of what to do? Will chaos break into numerous battles neither of us will be there to resolve? Will our rescues not even return to our overgrown shelter, and abandon it as we have? And to place the cherry on top, there’s the disgusting knowledge that you probably wont retrieve back to our family and care for them as I’m forcefully unable to. Fortunately a request from Pherick yanks me from the turmoil of my pessimistic thoughts.

A chuckle seeps from Pherick at the end of his words, and even mirrors from my own voice after a moment. Never before would the consideration of delivering a message in the afterlife have crossed my mind, but leave it to one of my boys to proceed such. “That confident I won’t survive this, huh?” Sarcastically floods past the gates of my lips, shockingly not offended by his claim. Least it provides a distraction from the worries of my departure, even relaxing me to lean upon the wall - and proceeding the light laughter from my core. “I’ll up that request for you - I’ll annoy him so much he’ll come back to life, and you can kill him yourself. Only murder your permitted, and no coin needed.” Is joked in the enjoyment of the dark gentle humor.

“Prometheus would be able to make it home to you guys…” Unexpectedly flutters from the depths of my lungs, in sole disappointment of my own inability. And though my smile persists, the creases of my eyes frown from the thought of her. Evidently my statement is partially wrong however, as she’d certainly overpower a Game - she’s obviously made her choice to never return to us in particular. “Least I can help another make it out. Patch up the good ones, and make them some decent meals…” I attempt to retrieve back to the comical manner once more.

[Knuckles]

Pherick

The final moments of his brother replayed through his mind over and over. So many times Pherick flipped the coin hoping the fates would allow him to steal Rolf's breath, but it never happened. It wasn't in the plans for his future. Thankfully it was taken care of.

For a moment his words lingered before his eyes while his gaze darted from the coin in the palm of his hand to Apollo to the sun flickering through the window. Yet time seemed to freeze as she followed his lead chuckling along side him before speaking something the fifteen year old never considered.

Perhaps that was how it came across, however, that wasn't how he meant it.

The muscles in his scrawny neck turned his head from side to side before he even realized what was happening - "I said if." Yet it wasn't good enough anymore because his words had already left, and now he didn't have the ability to steal them back.

A huge grin twists from ear to ear, and his face lit up with joy as Apollo took him up on the request even mentioning she would break him so Pherick could steal Rolf's breath away.

"I'll definitely remember that."

But then her words weigh heavily on his mind, and a beaten heart ceased for only a moment before racing away within the confides of his chest. A lump formed in the back of his throat making it hard to breathe and swallow. His tongue slid across cracked lips as he looked back into the palm of his hand.

"Are you already giving up?" For once his voice was calm yet completely clear of all emotions; "Maybe you should turn to the fates like I have for so long." The grin went away, and Pherick made his way over towards with his palm extended before him.

"Take it, and leave your entire existence in the hands of the fates."

321 words