“Scarlett give me your arm!” Kafele whisper-shouted.

Scarlett furrowed their brows. Their heart pounded. A knot lumped in their throat. Kafele stared with wide but intent eyes. Scarlett whipped out their arm. Kafele furrowed his brows and clasped their wrist. It was like the world had pressed paused. Clanging rang out. The blade of the scythe hooked Kafele’s arm. He winced as he was yanked off.

Scarlett scrambled backward. Their breaths turned rapid. Their eyes shot wide. The portrait flew halfway across the room, sliding to a stop beside its frame. The cold floor burnt Scarlett’s elbows through their sleeves. They glanced at Kafele, who laid on the ground, clasping his arm with white knuckles.

A figure stood right where they’d came from. Horrible bangs erupted as they swung their scythe. Horrible bangs followed by hysterical laughter. Kafele pulled himself upright. He let out one shaky breath , gritting hit teeth. “Aw.. how sad.” The contempt-filled voice mocked. “I can’t wait to see you bleed..”

“I’m already bleeding, nitwit!” Kafele hissed. “Go to hell!”

The silhouette stepped out of the shadows. They tossed the scythe into one of their six arms. A wide grin packed with malice was glued onto their face. All hundred of their eyes were cemented on Kafele, who ran a hand through his messed up hair. “Deming..” He muttered, smiling. He looked at the floor and shook his head. “I thought you died.”

“What did you think would happen?” Deming dismissed. “You hit a demon over the head with a metal pole.”

Scarlett slowly turned to the portrait. “Don’t go for that.” Deming sighed. “We can do this one of two ways.”

“And what would that be?” Kafele said harshly, stumbling to his feet.

“You can either hand me the portrait or I take it from whatever’s left of you. Sound good?”

Kafele scoffed. A smirk ran across his face. He fixed his sleeves—well, the other as much as he could. It had almost been torn off. He pulled it up and took a deep breath. “I guess you’ve made your choice.” Deming shrugged, setting the bottom of the scythe against the floor. Their demeanor changed. A grim but amused grin spread across their lips. “I’ll make you suffer!”

Deming whipped the scythe around. The blade jutted out. Chains clicked and clattered. Kafele leapt out of the way. Scarlett hugged the ground. The scythe crashed into a locker. Deming chuckled and let out a little huff. They jerked it back. The blade flew out. The lockers crashed like a block tower, colliding into row across from them. Dust and chemicals kicked up. The bitter air did nothing to help.

Kafele rolled across the floor, gasping for air. “Having fun?” Deming asked merrily. “We can go again if you want. This is your last chance.” Kafele dusted himself off and swept back his hair.

“Well then, I guess it’s a wonderful day to die.” He shrugged. Deming burst into laugher. They swung the scythe forward. The blade erupted. Kafele flipped out of the way.

Another tower of lockers crashed as the blade retreated. The cycle continued. Kafele flipped. Lockers fell. Deming’s hysterical cackles echoed.

But Kafele was going toward Deming?? Scarlett grit their teeth. They turned back to the portrait. A million questions rushed through their head. One of them was: ‘Why?’. They rolled over and snatched the thing. Sylvie’s blood-splattered face stared out. Kafele tripped. Another tower of lockers fell. His eyes widened. He rolled out just as they slammed down.

He took a quick breath. The ceiling blurred in his vision. He grasped his wrist and winced. Every sharp pain he had muted. He forced himself upright. Deming sauntered over. “Looks like you’ve lost.” Deming sighed. “It pays to do other things besides dodge.” Scarlett’s heart dropped like a penny in a bottomless pit.

Kafele leaned against a locker. He heaved for breath. His heart thudded. “Well, this is it for you.” Deming smiled, pressing the blade against his throat. Kafele closed his eyes.

“You got me.” He stated with a hint of amusement. A slight smile crawled across his face. “What a nice time we had, eh?”

“Sure, Kafele, sure.”

“I knew I could’ve never beat you.” He said weakly. “You’re a demon, after all.. and I’m only a mortal.”

He slid a hand into his pocket. Deming burst into a fit of giggles. Kafele pulled out a quarter. “Where’s your friend?” Deming taunted. Kafele started to whistle a jolly tune. Deming narrowed their eyes, which were glued to the quarter he flipped. Kafele smirked. He kicked Deming in the shin. Deming stumbled. Just as the scythe started to fall, Kafele whipped it out of their hands.

He spun it around, pressing it against their throat. Deming’s grin grew inhumanly wide. All their eyes landed right on him. “Piss off, soul eater.” He growled. Deming nodded. They disappeared in a flash. The world stopped breathing. Silence washed over the room. Scarlett rushed over. Kafele muttered something incomprehensible.

“K-Kafele..” They stammered. “Are you well?”

“I am now.” He chuckled, pulling himself up.

He dusted himself off. Scarlett failed to compose themself. “I guess it’s time we go back.”

“--What was that?” Scarlett spluttered, gripping the portrait a little tighter.

“They didn’t explain any of this to you?” He raised his brow. “What a shame. I guess we have a lot to talk about then.”

Later.

The two headed out to the back of the building. The walk was silent. Aapo leaned against the wall, holding a little square device. He shoved it into his pocket. “You two look beat up.” He said playfully. Kafele happily laughed.

“Yeah.” He sighed. “We.. weren’t fast enough.”

“Do you drink, Hughes?”

“Not a lot.” They replied in a shaky voice. “I-I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize.” Aapo shrugged. “You should be on your way then.”

“I don’t think Scarlett knows how to work it.” Kafele shrugged, turning to face them. “Let me finally see your wrist.”

Kafele chuckled. Scarlett couldn’t help but to join him. They held out their wrist, Kafele took it. “I know it sounds absurd, but just hold it down, think of a place and time and you’ll be there.” Kafele said in sigh. “Even home will do.”

“So it is magic?” Scarlett asked, looking at the ground.

“No.” Kafele dismissed, his eyes somehow dulled even more than they were.

Aapo lowered his head. “W-Will Nanè be joining us?”

“Possibly, Scarlett.” Kafele replied solemnly. “You should get home. This is a lot to process and you obviously.. uh, need some time.”

“Of course. Thank you for your help..”

“We’ll let you know what we find.” Aapo said, peeling himself up. “See you around.”

“S-See.. you…” Scarlett said quietly.

“By the way.” Kafele rested a hand on their shoulder. He wore a friendly smile. “Welcome to the agency.”