Ayren returned to the hospital a few hours later. Time passed quickly for the two of them, as if time itself was eager for this turning point in their lives.
In the room, Seris was looking at the sunlight passing through the window. Half an hour after Ayren left, the tiredness and all the pain in her body disappeared completely. She quickly called a nurse and asked for discharge. After seeing that she was really already well, they released her.
She asked how much everything had cost. The nurse said she didn't need to worry, as it had already been paid.
At that moment, Seris heard footsteps and turned around. In the hallway, Ayren was walking normally in her direction.
New black T-shirt, dark pants, and even new sneakers. The clothes were good, but his appearance still wasn't looking great, especially with his hair covering his face.
She looked him up and down.
"Wow! I'd say from a five to a six and a half now." Seris commented with a smile.
"Coming from you, I take that as a compliment." Ayren replied. He was used to her habit of rating everyone, in fact, because of her, he picked up the habit too.
Ayren then handed her a bag.
"There's a skirt and a shirt and a shoe. I don't know how to choose women's clothes, so I chose what you used to like wearing. Get dressed and come with me. We'll do some shopping before going home." Ayren said, without giving her a chance to refuse.
Seris happily took the bag. The clothes she was wearing were filthy, so going out like that was really bad.
She went into the hospital room, got changed, and came out.
"How do I look?" Seris asked with a goofy smile.
"From a six and a half to an eight. If you're ready, let's go!" Ayren said, not caring too much, but he did think she looked really beautiful.
"Pfft, suck-up." She said while following him.
'Ayren… you're finally talking to me normally again. Could it be that the demon blessed me?' She thought with a smile while looking at Ayren's back ahead of her.
"HEY, aren't you much taller?"
Ayren heard the surprised voice behind him, without caring.
…
..
.
After half an hour, the two went straight to the only mall in their city.
"Seris, have you ever been here?" Ayren asked, looking at the big building that stood out from the others in the city center.
"Hmm, I haven't. You know, Ayren, there was nothing that made either of us want to leave the house. The last time I went so far from home was…" Seris didn't finish, but Ayren understood.
"It's okay, it was my last time too. But it shouldn't be that hard. Let's look for a cellphone store first. Mine could stop working at any moment." Ayren said as he led the way.
The two looked at people and shops along the way without much interest.
Suddenly, Seris stopped in front of a store.
"You want those accessories?" Ayren asked.
"No, I thought they were pretty, but there's not much money left. I spent everything to do the ritual." Seris replied without changing her expression.
"You can choose whatever you want. I'll pay." Ayren entered the store, picking up the accessory he saw her looking at. It was a necklace with a silver cross pendant.
He took it to the counter and paid using his phone. Then he saw his account balance drop.
Balance: $15,960.00
Ayren used his free time to earn some more money, because he knew he would need it. It wasn't much yet, but it was enough for now.
Seris thanked him with a goofy smile while already putting the necklace around her neck.
Then, time passed. Two brand-new cellphones, clothes, and shoes. Various other accessories that Seris showed she liked. Ayren knew by watching her expression change. Others wouldn't notice, but he knew what she wanted.
The two were now sitting in the food court while eating ice cream. His was vanilla, and hers was strawberry.
"So, Ayren. This money… did it come from your demon?"
"Or did you steal it?" Seris asked while tilting her head with a mischievous smile.
"I didn't steal it. I earned it. No need to think about it, but know that money won't be a problem for me, so spend as you like." Ayren replied, thinking of ways to multiply the earnings, just these ads and earning a little once wouldn't be enough. He needed another kind…
Seris bit her lower lip, thoughtful and envious.
"Ayren, do you think my demon will give me something too? Like… if I offer a few souls."
Ayren stopped eating for a moment while looking at her.
"I have no idea. But are you really going to offer a soul? And whose would it be?"
"I haven't thought about that yet…" She replied smiling like she wasn't talking about killing someone.
Ayren gave a slight sigh.
"Then think carefully. I don't want you to regret it later when there's no turning back."
She looked at him before speaking.
"You don't like the idea of killing?"
"It's not that. I just… well, I don't think anyone's life matters to me except yours. So whatever, but I won't go around killing just because I can. Besides, it's not the first time we've done this…" Ayren said, looking into her eyes.
Seris then remembered what caused them to be separated as children and fell silent.
"And Seris. The most important thing. Demons really exist, and other things we don't know about. The world we knew is no longer the same. We have to act with a bit of caution until we're sure that only we are special." Ayren said seriously.
This had been on his mind since Seris woke up. If it were just the ads, he might still believe he was the only chosen one. But now that Seris had also witnessed something abnormal, it would be foolish to think it only happened to them.
"You're right. Ayren, I'm sorry, I'll think better and not let myself get carried away. But Ayren, something tells me that even if there are people like us… I feel like we're special, different. Always have been, and I know that's true!" Seris said with a confident expression.
Ayren didn't understand why she thought that, but it didn't matter now. Just as he was about to say something, a voice interrupted him.
"Well, well, hahaha, isn't it the weird little couple still together?"
Ayren and Seris turned together to look. It was an old schoolmate, a blond guy who looked around nineteen, one of those who always tormented Seris.
Ayren noticed him coming from the corner of his eye. But he thought he wouldn't remember them or even recognize them. But he was wrong.
"You really deserve each other. Two murderers, huh? It's unbelievable that you two are walking free." The blond guy laughed with contempt.
"The mute freak and the crazy killer. Lovely couple, what was justice doing letting you still be together?"
Seris froze for a moment when she saw the guy. First came fear and memories. Ayren noticed and held her hand instinctively.
She looked at him, and then her thoughts calmed down.
'Why the hell am I caring about this barking dog? Now, Ayren and I belong to a different world. Yes, nothing will separate us now.'
Seris remembered the demon's darkness, remembered the new world she had touched. The fear and the anger turned into coldness.
In her mind, a decision was formed without any doubt.
'I offer him!'
Without much effort, it accepted what Seris offered. Seris suddenly felt a burning sensation, and looking down, she saw her cross necklace burn her skin for a moment before stopping. Suddenly, in front of her, the boy stopped smiling.
His eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the floor like a lifeless puppet. His head hit the ground with a dull thud. Blood slowly began to drip from his head, completely motionless on the floor.
Then, a small chaos broke out. People started screaming, while security guards ran to the blond guy on the ground. Seris trembled, cold sweat running down her neck.
But on her face… a smile. A smile so beautiful that Ayren had never seen it. It seemed like a genuine smile, strange and joyful. No pretending, like she usually did.
Without thinking too much, Ayren held her hand and pulled her away without hesitation. The two left the mall with their shopping bags without causing a scene.
Already outside the mall, while waiting for the car Ayren called to take them home, he looked at her.
"It was you, wasn't it?" He asked in a low voice.
Seris didn't answer, just kept smiling, and he saw she was breathless.
He waited a few more minutes before breaking the silence between them.
"Seris. Do you want to live with me?"
She blinked suddenly, surprised.
"Are you serious?!?"
"Yes, you know. We only have each other. Before, neither of us had motivation or reason to stay alive. And that's why we drifted apart, but things have changed."
"There are bigger things in this world, maybe we need to protect ourselves. I want to protect you. We should help each other, and living together would be best." Ayren said, looking at the sky.
'Besides, with her nearby it's easier to keep control. You never know what this girl might do or get into. Before, she had no power to do anything, no motivation, but now…'
Seris quickly nodded, a real smile escaping her mouth.
"Okay. Ayren, I really want to."
…
..
.
The two arrived in front of his rundown building after Ayren paid the driver who brought them.
They went up the stairs in silence.
"Seris. I never cared before, but… Why don't I see other people living here besides the two of us? It's like a ghost building."
"Hmmm, now that you mention it… Before I saw a neighbor here and there, but over time it seems like it's just you and me left around here." Seris said, finding it strange but not caring.
As soon as they reached Ayren's door, Seris saw a faint smile on his face, and he suddenly seemed anxious.
"They arrived! The products arrived. Seris, come on! Let's test this now!"
Ayren grabbed the packages delivered to his door and ran into the apartment, heading straight to the bedroom. He dropped the shopping bags on the floor and opened the box.
Four distinct products were in front of him.
'Yes, the four products I bought from the ads. I have to see if they really work.'
He picked up the first one, a small bottle with a transparent liquid, applied it to his face, and rubbed until it was completely covered. Suddenly, a slight burning started. The effect was immediate.
The dark circles disappeared. The marks on his skin vanished like magic. His pale skin gained a subtle, clean glow. Ayren blinked as he ran to look in the mirror.
Seris, watching him with curiosity, now had her mouth open, stunned.
"What… Ayren, what the hell was that?!?!" Seris shouted, running to him in the bathroom.
"It really worked…" Ayren saw his satisfied face in the reflection.
"Seris, do you want to tr—"
Before he could finish speaking, Seris had already snatched the bottle from his hand.