Ronald stood unwavering as a mountain, awaiting his death, yet he decided to make it distinctive. He lit a cigarette and smoked slowly, as if savoring the moment. They began stabbing him cautiously, and he endured the pain without falling or screaming, continuing to smoke as if on a ordinary break.
A few minutes passed, and they stopped, turning their gaze toward the eight gates—still closed.
The First Man (in astonishment):
"What happened? The blood flowed toward the gate!"
The Second Man (confused):
"Is he truly the chosen one?"
Ronald fell to his knees, laughing bitterly:
Ronald:
"You wretched fool… Is this your final gift?"
The Demon (in a faint, fading voice):
"Yes… Did you like it?"
Ronald:
"Yes… but it hurts."
The Demon (weakening):
"Every beginning has an end, and this is mine. All you have to do now is await your own end."
The Demon began to emerge fully from Ronald's body, materializing in a spectral form that slowly turned to golden dust. It collapsed in front of Ronald, its body dissipating gradually.
Ronald (reaching out with a trembling hand):
"Wait… don't leave like this."
The Demon (in a calm tone Ronald had never heard before):
"I thought I was punishing you, but I discovered I was punishing myself. All those years… I was trying to prove I wasn't alone."
Ronald (with tears in his eyes):
"You're not alone… You were my friend in my worst moments."
The Demon (with a sad smile):
"And that's what made it more painful. Because a true friend doesn't push their friend into the abyss."
The Demon's body dissipated faster, becoming almost transparent.
Ronald:
"Will I see you again?"
The Demon:
"In another world… at another time. Perhaps we'll meet as true friends, not as jailer and prisoner."
Ronald (trying to grasp the Demon's hand, but it fades away):
"I'll miss you… you damned friend."
The Demon (in a final whisper before vanishing completely):
"Farewell… you wonderful human."
The Demon disappeared entirely, leaving behind a faint golden glimmer. Ronald collapsed to the ground, surrounded by his blood, yet he was smiling. The eight gates finally began to tremble, but it was too late. The true sacrifice wasn't Ronald's blood—it was the Demon's soul that had redeemed him.
From afar, Ronald heard a familiar sound… the footsteps of Aona and the children running toward him. The end was near, but it wasn't the end anyone had expected.
Suddenly, the ground split open in the middle of the hall, revealing a magical portal emitting a poisonous green light. Strange creatures began crawling out—beings with multiple eyes and tangled limbs, moving like nightmares brought to life.
From the portal emerged a blond man wearing an elegant black suit, holding a decorated cane, with a cold smile on his lips.
Johnny the Blond:
"Enjoy your meal, ladies and gentlemen. I've been waiting a long time for this moment."
With a single gesture from his hand, the creatures lunged at the members of the Baba Raga organization. The scenes were horrifying—the creatures tore through flesh and devoured it greedily, the sounds of crunching and ripping filling the hall. Within minutes, not a single member remained alive.
Johnny the Blond approached the dying Ronald, while Aona, James, and Jenny were seen running toward him from afar.
Johnny the Blond (bending down to Ronald):
"You would have been a perfect fit for my prison… but unfortunately, Jack the Great got to you first. However, these creatures didn't come just for them…"
He points to the torn corpses around them.
Ronald (in a weak voice):
"Why… why intervene now?"
Johnny the Blond (with a mysterious smile):
"Because death is not an end, but the beginning of new contracts. And you, Ronald, are the key to more than just gates."
Johnny retreats toward the magical portal, the creatures following him one by one.
Johnny the Blond (casting a final glance at Aona and the children):
"If you ever decide to abandon that house… come visit me. You might find that the underworld holds answers to questions you haven't even asked yet."
But Ronald, with his last strength, was crawling toward Aona. The closer he got, the farther she seemed, like a mirage. Suddenly, the ground beneath him cracked open, and a massive hand emerged from the depths, grabbing him forcefully and pulling him downward.
Ronald (looking up at the fading image of Aona):
"Aona… James… Jenny… know that all of this was for you."
Aona (screaming from afar):
"No! This isn't the end! I'll find a way to bring you back!"
Johnny (shouting from within the portal):
"Remember, Ronald… the underworld doesn't release its victims… unless the price is paid!"
Ronald (as he sinks into darkness):
"Here… ends the story of Ronald… who died before he was born… but perhaps another story begins."
Darkness envelops him, and the echoes of Aona's and the children's screams fade, but suddenly… a strange tattoo glows on Ronald's wrist—the demon's final gift.
From the depths, Ronald hears a familiar voice whispering:
"The game isn't over yet… my friend."
To be continued