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Theo

There is no way in hell I’m actually possessed by a demon.

That shit isn’t even real. I mean, my Mom believes in it, but she believes a lot of off-the-wall stuff.

It has to either be a prank or a hallucination.

I really didn’t think I was that deep into the mental crisis hole, but I should probably go to the doctor if I’m seeing shadow-creatures in my living room.

The weird voice in my head is quiet now, but I do feel something different.

Maybe my body is finally breaking down from all the pizza.

Maybe I should go for a walk or take a shower.

Instead, I unlock my phone and flip through the unread texts.

I don’t have the energy for my parents or friends right now, but maybe I have just enough for Molly.

She’s always good about being there for me, albeit in a mean-big-sister kind of way.

Hey, shitface

Sorry I’ve got Mom blowing you up to get to me

Theo, I stg, you better call her!

Can you do it for me, Mol? Please…

I’m not in a good spot

You’re such a little bitch, you know that?

Fine

I’ll call her, but I want something from you

Tabby has a soccer game on the 15th and she wants Uncle Teddy there

FINE

PLEASE JUST CALL MOM

Tell her I’m alive…sort of

You’d better fucking show up, Theo

You broke her heart last week when you didn’t come

I’ll be there, alright? My new roommate can drive

You got a roommate?

Yeah, didn’t I tell you about the demon that’s possessing my body?

Not funny, Theo

You know mom thinks that shit is real

Do you think it’s real?

Idk

I have to feed these kids

Do you, though?

By law, yes

Go take a shower, I can smell you across town

Nah, I’m gonna show up to Tab’s game looking like Robin Williams in Jumanji

I always wanted to do that

GOODBYE THEODORE

I snort and throw my phone back onto the couch.

The TV is back on now, the sun is shining, and there’s no sign of any demonic presence, but I can’t help myself.

As a recovering Catholic and a movie-lover, I have to look it up.

I open the browser on my phone and type in ‘how do I know if I’ve been possessed by a demon?

’ A stupid amount of articles that I don’t have time to read come up, ranging from satirical to deadly serious.

How do you not believe what you have seen with your own eyes? says the creepy voice in my head.

“Because it’s literally insane,” I respond out loud. “Demons aren’t real. Possession is just something people made up to explain actual, diagnosable mental illnesses or other health problems.”

Give yourself over to me and I shall show you what is real.

The voice is soothing now, almost sweet, cloying, with a distinctly feminine tone.

I wonder vaguely if demons even have genders.

Then I start to wonder if it would be so bad to let someone else drive for a while.

I’ve done a spectacular job of fucking my life up so far.

What more could a literal demon do to it?

The fact that I’m even considering it is probably a sign that I should call my doctor immediately.

“What happens if I…give myself over?” I ask.

Freedom, croons the voice. We will sow fear and discord through the land, such that has never been seen before, and you will finally understand what it is to–

“Wait, you want me to…do bad things? Like, violent things?”

I will show you the release that comes with sin, debauchery, and hedonism. No more self-denial, no more striving to be good or pure. I will allow you to give in to those base instincts, to take what you want, to hurt those who have hurt you. Revenge, destruction, lust, power.

“That sounds…like a lot of work,” I sigh. “I can’t even take a shower right now, and you want me to commit crimes against humanity?”

Give yourself to me and I will be in control.

“I mean, I’m not really one for vengeance or debauchery anyway. It’s all a bit dramatic.” I laugh and the weird, pulsating feeling in my chest gets stronger .

Why do you not obey me?! the voice screeches. You are a useless lump of human flesh, unfit for possession! If you will not do my bidding, then I shall be forced to take drastic measures.

“Like what?”

You shall know when I take them, human!

“Alright, well…see you then, I guess.” I settle down on the couch and flip channels for a while.

The voice goes quiet, but just to make sure, I grab my phone and write an email to my doctor about possibly getting on some antidepressants…

or maybe antipsychotics. Demon or no demon, I have to do something to get myself out of this rut, and drugs seem like as good a solution as any right now.

Once I send off the email, I go back to my search page and type in ‘list of demons’.

I open the first Wikipedia link and read through the ‘A’ section.

“You’re not on here, Anck-su-namun,” I say out loud.

My name is Annoth’zagoz, you vile little worm!

“Are you…female? Or what’s the situation with that?” I can feel something strange shifting around inside my body before the voice answers.

Yes, I prefer to take on a female form…such as you understand it.

I type in ‘female demons’, then scroll through the ‘A’ section again. “Can you see this? Like, through my eyes?”

Yes, comes the grumbling reply.

“Well, you’re not on any of these lists. So, clearly, you’re either a hallucination, or you’re just not that important.”

There’s a long pause before she answers. This is my first human possession. I have labored in the Seventh Tower for centuries awaiting my chance to complete this mission.

“What’s the Seventh Tower? Is that like the Seventh Ring of Hell?”

I will not divulge this information to you, she hisses. Human minds cannot comprehend the horrors that await them in the next world.

“Well, my brain’s already pretty rotten and useless,” I chuckle, “so maybe some horrors would jump start it or something.”

Why has your mind become rotten? Explain to me why you behave this way.

“Why would I explain myself when you’re just gonna use it to try and take possession of my soul or whatever?”

Your living quarters are disgusting, and you apparently have not contacted family members in some time. Clearly, there is something wrong with you, for I am told that keeping a clean space and spending time with family are both important pursuits for humans.

“Yeah, well…they are important, but…sometimes you just can’t.”

Why not?

“I’m just sad, ok? But like…a really big sadness.”

I feel nothing of sadness in your soul. In fact, I feel nothing at all. No emotions. Only emptiness.

I sit up and push the hair out of my eyes. “What do you mean? Can you…feel my emotions or something?”

In a manner of speaking.

“And there’s…nothing there?”

Nothing that I can use to take control of you, as I was trained to do.

“Well,” I mutter, sinking back onto the couch, “that’s fucking ironic. Depression saves me from becoming a meat puppet for a screeching demon from Hell. Sorry, Avatar, I guess you’re out of luck.”

My name is Annoth’zagoz! she cries, leaving my ears ringing.

“Fine,” I grumble. “How about Annoth? Just please, for the love of God, stop making that sound. It’s awful, and I want to watch these movies.”

I hear what I think might be a derisive snort before she replies, Very well.