The One That Got Away

Marion and Pearl

My sister, Marion, was working at closing up the museum.

"I'll get started on dinner!" I called to her. I was in the middle of chopping vegetables when I heard it. "Marion, who are you talking to?" I went into the main display room, where my sister was talking to a man.

"But, my dear, your ancestor needs you."

"Hey!" I hollered at the man. His head jerked in my direction. Suddenly I couldn't move. "We're closed. Leave."

"What are you going to make me?" He laughed, somehow knowing that I couldn't move.

"Leave them alone, Baalberith!" A cloaked man burst through the door.

"Wait a second..." Slowly I broke free of the spell. Soon I was completely mobile. "Get. Out. Of. My. House." I picked up the sword that was for 'display'. Suddenly my sister fell to the ground. "What did you do to her?"

"She agreed to a contract. Just to make sure though, you'll have to accept a contract too." Baalberith grinned at me.

"No, Baalberith! You can't do this! They are my descendants!" The cloaked man yelled again.

Baalberith frowned and turned to the cloaked man. "Fine. I will give you this one's contract and you can convince the other one, on one condition. They both must live in your house in Hell starting today or they're both mine."

"Deal-"

"What?!" I yelled at them.

"No whining. Go turn off the stove and pack. Pack for her too. You have an hour." I went from slightly liking the guy to thinking he was a complete jerk. The men and my sister disappeared immediately and I reluctantly obeyed all of the cloaked man's orders in the hour given to me. I threw away the now useless vegetables and packed everything I could with the rest of the hour.

"Are you done packing, yet?" I turned to look at him, but the man was still cloaked.

I gestured to the bags on each bed, "Those are mine, these are hers."

Suddenly I was in a room with only my bags. It was a well furnished room, but it all felt fake.

"This will be your room. Your sister's room is across the hall. I will be in the room at the end of the hall if you need anything." Then he disappeared again. I guess I would have to get used to that.