Oh, what optimistic fools we were. You know how people go through rough patch of their lives? Well, I think I can say I went through a rough savanna filled with lions.

Nothing in my life seemed different at first. But then, slowly, insidiously, a poison was poured in my life. I learnt the hard way how far the devil's influence was reaching.

Going through my job offers, I noticed that over time, less and less companies were willing to hire me. I tried calling my regular clients, but was always given vague excuses as to why they didn't want my work anymore. "Your delays are too long." "We have found someone who will do it cheaper." "Company policy prevents me from disclosing that." "The CEO contacted us personally to tell us not to hire you anymore because he owes a favour to the Devil." Okay, maybe they weren't as direct, but Moony told me it was basically how he operated.

Apparently, back in the days, he would only grant favours in exchange for souls. Offering grand riches or power to those who accepted. But nowadays, he was more subtle -I guess people realised a life of luxury wasn't much compared to an eternity of damnation. So, he would rather offer small favours in exchange for small favours. "You want that promotion? Sure, I might be able to arrange that, no problem. All I ask in exchange is that once you're in place, if I tell you to fire someone, you do it. Not much of a price to pay now, is it?"

That way he had woven a tight web of influence. He didn't need to control everyone I was in contact with to make me suffer, he only needed a few key individuals.

I tried to struggle. I clung to my remaining clients as long as I could. Once they were gone too, I tried something else. I started selling my work to individuals rather than companies. The people of the Internet usually liked my style and it wasn't like the devil could prevent them all from buying from me. It wasn't paying as much as before, but I was surviving.

Ends of months were tight, I sometimes had to skip a meal, but it was all worth it for her. If it hadn't been for the Moon, I wouldn't have held on. Despite how hard it was, the nights we were spending together were magical. Whenever I would doubt, one glimpse at her would give me enough courage to continue at least a little longer. Her presence was soothing, recomforting. If only she could have taken me with her to the sky...

For a while, things remained like that, and my hope grew that maybe the Devil couldn't do me any more harm. But when I told that to Moony, she avoided my eyes. Smiling, she simply answered "Yeah, maybe."

She knew that the worst was still to come.

First, the websites I was using to diffuse my work started having trouble processing my payments. Multiple times, they accused me of having wrongly configured my settings. My accounts kept being disabled then reenabled until eventually no major site would let me join them anymore.

Yet money wasn't the biggest problem. As those shenanigans were happening, something else occurred. My private accounts were hacked and drawings were posted under my name. They replicated my general style and signature, but never would I have depicted what they represented. Every one of them was nauseating.

You have to understand that those were the accounts where I communicated with my few friends and families. I tried changing my passwords. I tried closing the accounts and opening brain new ones. But no matter what I did, my endeavours were buried under sickening "art".

The people close to me wanted to believe that I had nothing to do with that. But if it wasn't me, then who was it? Who would find me important enough as to waste their days creating those abominations just to ruin my life? I couldn't blame them for thinking that, since I had no way to answer those questions that wouldn't have landed me in a mental institute. And I couldn't blame them for taking their distances from me.

Stress and little food made me lose weight. I was only having cold showers to spare electricity. I wasn't well and Moony could see it. Once again, she was the one without whom I could not have endured it all. She was so radiant. She was worried about me, I could see it, yet she kept smiling because she knew her happiness was the most beautiful sight there was to me.

But when she couldn't be with me doubt crawled inside me, its little legs crawling over my brain. I was wondering if I wasn't going crazy. Could there really be a perfect girl coming from the sky at night because she was in love with me?

Some night, the Moon found me crying in a corner of my room. When she approached me, I looked at her and tried to see if my hand could go through her to confirm she was a delusion. That's when she snapped.

First, she kissed me, passionately, to remind that yes, she was real, and that no I wasn't crazy (yet). Then she said:

"Lucy, I love you more than you think, but we cannot continue like this. If we don't stop, you'll end up in the street. It pains me to say that, but my darling, you have to tell Lucifer that we won't be seeing each other anymore.

-No, please, you can't do that to me! You're the only thing I have left." I grabbed her hands. "If you leave now, I will never recover from it. Please, please sweetheart, tell me there's something else we can try to stop the bastard. I know I have asked you before, but I also know you have not been fully honest with me."

I saw that she was pondering whether to tell me something. She was crisped and her hands were closed so tightly around mine that she was hurting me a bit. She sighed deeply.

"I shouldn't be telling you that, this is so selfish of me. Deep down I know I only do that because I don't want to lose you. But yes, there is one thing left that we can try. But you might lose everything, me, but also something much more important."

She marked a pause.

"You have to challenge Lucifer to a duel."

There was an almost tangible weight to her words. That tone she took was so far from her usual light-hearted attitude that it froze me to the bone. I asked her nonetheless:

"Tell me more.

-You see, Lucifer is not all-powerful and, like any of us, there are some rules binding him. And one of them is that if he makes a deal, he is forced to uphold his end. Usually, when he wants something, he just offers a compensation to the person that has it. But then there are cases where there's no compensation he could offer. In those cases, he suggests a duel. The other party gets to choose what they'll get if they win and what the duel will consist in, sword battle, guns, rock paper scissors... Anything's fair game. Which means...

-Which means I could duel the fucker for the right to be left alone! But if I lose, I won't be allowed to see you again I suppose..." I was already thinking about all the details of our confrontation when Moony continued:

"See, that's where the problem is... He could get that simply by waiting for you to crack under the pressure. No, now he's furious at you, he wants to torture you forever... So, if you want him to duel you, you'll have to bet something a lot more precious...

-You're talking about my soul there aren't you?

-Yeah, she exhaled. I'm sorry Lucy, but it's the only way. I know him well and he won't accept any other condition.

-I see... So, if I lose, I'll go straight to hell. Well, I guess that's what everyone's been telling me to do recently anyway," I laughed in a vain attempt to defuse the tension.

I thought about how frightening the Devil had been for a brief instant back when I had met him. I thought about spending an eternity in terror and pain. I thought about never seeing Moony again. I thought about how much I loved her. I thought about how any place would be hell without her.

I strengthened my resolve, met her eyes and asked her:

"Has anyone ever won against the bastard?"

She let out a heavy sigh and smiled.

"I love you Lucy, but gosh are you stubborn. Yes, I have heard of people winning against him. But from what I know, they all tricked him in some way.

-Okay, so all I have to do is manage to fool the most twisted mind in existence, easy peasy."

The Moon laughed, then I laughed before grabbing her face and kissing her deeply. The Moon must have had really softened me because at that moment my mind was filled with corny thoughts like "the Devil may be strong, but our love is stronger!" Ugh, I feel all sticky just by thinking about it. But I did love her more than anything.

We spent the next few days brainstorming ideas about how we could defeat the Lord of Darkness. At some point I got afraid Lucifer could be spying on our discussions, but Moony assured me that while she was there it wasn't possible.

I first suggested something that could have had to do with my drawing skills, but then she listed all the painters that lost against him and I quickly changed my mind.

Our ideas were getting worse and worse. After ten minutes talking about how I could challenge him to five rounds of pin the donkey, I had an illumination.

"Wait that's it! I yelled.

-See, I told you we were getting somewhere with that donkey!

-No not that, sorry sweetheart, that's a dumb idea...

-Yeah, to be honest, that's what I was also thinking, I just didn't want to cut your enthusiasm. What's your plan?

-Okay, so it's a bit risky... But you'll have to trust me.

-I don't like where this is going...

-Moony, I'm very serious, you must have faith in me, in our love. I must too and I do. Do you trust me?"

She pondered the question for a few seconds.

"I do Lucy, more than anything."

Her loving gaze filled me with the last bit of confidence I needed.

"It's settled then. Let's call him."

I took the silver bell he had given me when we met and started shouting:

"Oi! Lucifer! I'm summoning you and all, you son of a bitch! I want a duel against you!"

The familiar circle of flame appeared in the middle of my apartment. Once the fire died out, the elongated form of the Devil appeared.

"You know I have no mother, right? Son of a bitch is hardly an insult to me... he said when he arrived.

-Oh, I'm sorry, would you have preferred me to call you a bitch?"

His mouth stayed open just fraction of a second longer than it should have. I grinned. He continued as if nothing had happened:

"You were talking about a duel?

-Yeah, if I win, you leave me alone forever. You stop interfering with my life forever, directly or indirectly. You also stop any attempt of separating Moony and me. If I lose, I consent to never see her ever again.

-That's hardly an offer! he said, outraged. All I have to do is wait a few more days and you'll beg me to stop your misery in exchange of not seeing her. Good bye.

-Wait! It was worth a shot... I mumbled. What would you say if I added my soul to the mix? I lose, you take me to hell or however that works.

-Hmm... So, I'd get to torture the insolent brat who tried to steal my future wife forever? I'm listening...

-It will take place in a week in this very apartment. No peaking at the other's preparations and no sabotage. We'll get ten minutes one after the other... to scare Moony. The one who makes her the most afraid wins. I'll even let you start. Of course, no harming her for real, just scaring her.

-Lucy, no! Moony shouted."

The Devil burst out in a maniacal laughter.

"What you mean you... Hahaha... Oh no, that is too good. But who am I to contradict young a girl with a death wish? Alright, I like your conditions, but I don't want you preparing anything fishy with my dear Moon, so neither of us will be allowed to see her during the week of preparation, deal?"

He extended his hand.

"Deal!" I answered firmly, extending my own.

He exploded in laughter and flames and slowly disappeared as the fire engulfed him.

I turned my head towards the Moon. She was crying.

"No... What have you done Lucy? You can't compete with him on that front, he's the Devil! Fear is one of his specialty!

-Shh, I told you you'd have to trust me, I said, putting my hand of her face to appease her. I know what I'm doing, so please, don't cry, everything will be alright. Besides, you know me, even if I were to lose -which I'm not going to do, let that be clear- I'd reduce the gates of hell to dust just to go back to you.

-Okay, she sniffed, I trust you. I'm sorry, I can't stay any longer. The deal you've made, I can't fight it. I won't be able to see you before next week.

-I know, just remember, I love you!

-I love you too."

And with that, she disappeared in a ray of silver.

I spent the next few days preparing my plan. I didn't actually need that much time, but I wanted to rehearse it as much as possible and to make sure everything was perfect. There was too much to lose.

The week actually went by at lightning speed, but when the flames lit up in the middle of my room, I was ready.

He appeared with a pocket watch in hand and said:

"I think it's about time.

-Yup," was the only thing I managed to say because of how nervous I was.

Then my Moonie appeared. It was hard not seeing her for that long. I immediately grabbed her and held her tight against me.

"I missed you, I said.

-I missed you too," she answered, slowly stroking my hair.

Then the raspy voice of Lucifer rose in the room:

"I missed seeing you too dear Moon.

-Go fuck yourself! we both shouted.

-Alright, he retorted, visibly annoyed. In that case, shall we begin?"

He then clapped his hand and a different ring of fire appeared.

Held by two small winged demons, a black rectangular box with an hourglass on top slowly rose. I guess because of my perplexed look, the Devil explained:

"This machine here will translate the Moon's fear into numbers that your fragile human mind can grasp. What? Did you expect that we would just ask her who scared her the most?

-Well yeah, kinda, I admitted.

-Ha, I know that my dear Moon is a beacon of innocence, but the liking she has in you might skew her judgement. At least with this, we'll objectively know who she was most afraid of."

Shit! I was still thinking I could win this, but if Moony had been the judge, it would definitely have been a plus. I turned to her:

"You think we can trust that thing?

-I believe so. I've already heard of that device. Besides, he's so confident right now, I doubt he'd even bother trying to cheat.

-Okay. Devil, when you're ready.

-With pleasure, he grinned. My dear, please forgive me in advance for what I'll make you go through."

With that, the counter was set to zero, the hourglass turned and a dark smoke started emanating from Lucifer. It fully engulfed the Moon and for ten minutes, I was unable to see or hear her. The only thing that moved during this time were the numbers on the box, rising quickly.

I was nervous and my eyes kept jumping between the counter and the time. Satan was unmoving wearing only the faintest smile of satisfaction and victory.

Finally, the last grain of sand fell and the smoke that was surrounding Moonie receded. She was pale -paler than she usually was I mean- and breathing heavily. I almost leapt to grab her as it seemed her legs couldn't hold her and I sat her down on my bed.

"I'm sorry, I cried. I'm sorry you had to go through this, it'll be over soon, I promise.

-It's okay Lucy, it's okay, I knew what he was capable of, don't worry, I just need a few seconds."

Lucifer let out a long whistle as he looked at the counter.

"89,568. Not bad. I've done better, but I guess considering the Moon's nature, it's only to be expected that she'd oppose a little resistance. I guess it is your turn now, human, he spat while resetting the counter.

-Can't you at least wait a little? I'll give her some fresh air."

I went and opened the window, preparing myself mentally. I couldn't delay this forever. I held Moony closely against me and kissed her as if it was for the last time.

I grabbed a remote on my desk and said:

"I'm ready, start the clock."

The small hiss of the sand filled my ears and I pressed a button on my remote. A thunderous bang resonated from speakers dispersed in my room. The Moon jumped a little. The numbers on the counter moved to twelve.

I then pressed another button and a mechanism bumped her out of my bed. Again, the number rose a little, fifteen.

I continued pressing buttons on my remote, triggering other effects and mechanisms. But no matter what came up, I couldn't even hope to compete with the King of Darkness.

When there was around a minute left, I pressed the remote one final time and a puppet skeleton came swinging from the ceiling, screaming right in front of Moony's face. Fifty-eight. I wasn't even sure how much of that was solely due to her nervousness of seeing me lose.

I dropped the remote to the ground and started weeping:

"I'm sorry Moony! I'm so sorry! I tried! I swear I did! But I knew I could never beat that monster. I still wanted to make an attempt, for you, because of how much I love you!

-Lucy, no..." she whispered.

I approached the window.

"But it's over now, I have nothing left in stock... There's nothing I can do my love! I love you, but I can't lose my soul, I have to try and save it, before it's too late. I love you."

And with that, I sat on the window, still facing her, and tumbled backwards.

I had just a bit of time to hear her scream "No!". In a glimpse, I saw her run towards me, but she was too far to catch me.

I closed my eyes, smiled.

And safely landed on the huge inflatable mattress that was below my window.

The Moon's head appeared from up there, followed briefly after by that of the Devil. She immediately jumped out the window herself before slowly landing next to me. She started hitting me lightly.

"You idiot! You moron! I thought I'd lost you! Never, ever do that again you hear me!

-Relax sweetheart, you won't get rid of me that easily," I laughed.

We then heard a loud scream:

"That is impossible!"

The Moon carried me back into my apartment where the so-called King of Darkness was hitting with all his strength on the box that was proudly displaying 95,421. When he heard us enter, he veered wildly and made a step towards me.

"You! You're going to pay for that! You hear me! I will unleash all the legions of hell after you! You will...

-I sincerely doubt that Lucifer, Moony cut him, grabbing his wrist. A deal's a deal, you know that better than anyone. You promised her to leave her alone forever and that's what you'll do. And just so you know, don't even try contacting me when I'm alone, you might regret it.

-Aaaarrrggghhhh!" he shouted, in a desperate attempt to leap towards me.

But just as he was about to reach me, flames consumed him and he disappeared.

"He's always been a sore loser, Moony chuckled. But I guess that's it, Lucy, you're free!"

Out of reflex and exhaustion, we sat on my bed.

"We're free you mean! But it's really over right? He won't find another way to ruin my life?

-No, don't worry, he's bound by the deal, he can't escape it.

-You'll have to explain how that work one day.

-Yeah... one day. But tell me, what was the deal with all those haunted house shenanigans, you must have known it wouldn't work.

-Of course I did, you barely react when we watch horror movies, but I wanted you to think I had tried everything I could. I wasn't sure jumping out the window right off the bat would be impactful enough, I wanted you to believe I was truly desperate. Oh, by the way, I'm quite severely in debt now. Installing all this junk wasn't cheap you know? Especially that mattress downstairs.

-We'll find a way to deal with that, don't worry. Actually, I think we can deal with anything now," she whispered.

She leaned her head against my shoulder and I delicately pulled her closer.

"I guess we can," I answered, bathed in the pale moonlight.