A favor

 Writing prompt: You sold your soul to the Devil some years ago. Today he gives it back and says, "I need a favor."
                                                                                                                                                                      


How many years have already passed since my wish was granted? Five, six years? I don't know anymore. However, that day was still fresh in my memory, as if it has just happened a few hours ago. I was already past midnight, I had awoken because of a nightmare which I don't remember anymore. That night I refused to fall asleep again, fearing the nightmare would repeat itself.


I was sixteen, maybe seventeen at that time, a girl that wanted to be known across the world, a girl that wanted recognition, to stop being a ghost and start being someone. I wished to have someone by my side forever.


That night I made the worst mistake I could ever do. I sold my soul to the Devil himself so I could get my wish. Oh, how I've regretted that decision. The price to pay was too much, and little naïve me couldn't begin to understand it. I gave the Devil my soul and with them everything I ever was disappeared too.


Yes, I did get recognition, everybody knew who I was, but I didn't know anymore. My feelings, my thought, were they really mine or were they the invention of some twisted mind? My body felt so empty, everything was so cold, so distant.


And now here I was, the same face I saw so many years ago was in front of me, holding my soul in his hands carefully. His body was trembling slightly, and he kept looking everywhere as if he expected someone or something to appear.


"I need a favor," he said, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine "I-I didn't know who else I could ask" His voice cracked for a second "I'll give your soul back" He extended his hands towards me, voice full of hope, waiting for me to grab the soul.


I looked him over, was this the same man-Devil that took my soul? I remembered him a fearless creature, full of power and dignity. But the man in front of me looked powerless, defenseless, broken even.


I approached him carefully, observing him. "What do you get out of this?" I asked keeping my distance. "Nothing! I just need your help with something, nothing more" He sounded so desperate that I couldn't help it "Okay" I finally said, "I'll help you".