“Argh! *cough* Eerrrck!” My reason started to come back as I reverted to my human form. 

I fell to my knees as exhaustion won over my body. The deeds that I have done while I was in demon form also came surging within. 

“Urk!” I almost vomited at the taste of blood all over my mouth which was indescribably nasty. 

I covered my mouth with my right hand as I tried to keep my puke within then I smelled something disgusting. I just remembered that I licked the blood all over my hand when I was still in demon form. The smell that turned my stomach upside down was the mixed scent of blood and my own saliva.

  “Blurgh!” I couldn’t hold it any longer.

 Although I was preventing it a while ago, after I started vomiting, I wanted to get everything out of my system. It felt as if my stomach was going up my throat as I released everything out. 

The bitterness of my gastric juices lingered in my tongue and so did the expensive liquor that I drank a while ago. My throat felt hot and had a stinging sensation due to the puke but it more or less helped me calm down.

I was wet with blood and sweat, literally all over my body. My jacket’s sleeves were also tattered due to enlarging my arms during battle. 

I stood up and took a look around the whole place that I thrashed over. It was filled with splotches of red. The other guests who were present were still deeply asleep even though some were already lying on the ground. They were also not saved from all the blood stains.

The crushed torso of the fox, the pierced chest of the plant, the ravaged body of the siren and the unrecognizable bits and pieces of the snake were all my doing. I did it again. They were clearly there, I can see them dead. I am the only one standing. I did this to them. 

But what could I do? They attacked me first! I was the victim! But did I have to kill them? But they tried to kill me! What should I have done then? I would have fallen in to a deep sleep as well if I have not used that power! 

I was the victim! It was their fault for trying to mess with me! It was their fault for being weak! I am not in the wrong, I am just a victim! I am not a murderer. It was for self protection. 

But was it really?

“Damn it!” I slapped my face as hard as I can to bring myself back to my senses.

This is not the time for this. If I don’t get out of here soon, someone might arrive. I don’t want to get anymore tangled with this mess. I went to Keen and the boss who were still sleeping at the bar counter.

“Hey! Wake up!” I called as I shook their backs.

“Ngh... What?” Keen gave a groan as if I was disturbing his peaceful sleep, which I did. “The fuck!?” Keen uttered as he saw my appearance.

“ What happened?” The boss who just woke up calmly asked.

“I’ll explain everything in detail later, we should get out of here first.”

“You’re right... This place...” The boss uttered as he observed the surroundings without changing his expression, I am utterly clueless right now as to what he was thinking.

“This is a fucking nightmare!” Keen said in a loud voice.

“I know, let us just go now before someone else sees us!” I told them as I make my way outside.

“Wait, going through the front door might be risky. Let’s check inside for an exit at the back.” The boss suggested as he pointed backwards using his thumb.

“The fuck, chief? You are going along with this without hearing him first?”

“We’ll hear from him later. Let’s go now.” The boss led the way to the back.

Keen glared at me first as I followed the boss before he started walking with us. I guess anyone would be suspicious of seeing someone bathed in blood after waking up from a deep slumber.

We headed at the back of the place where the kitchen was located. It seemed like a normal kitchen with a sink, cooking sets, kitchen counters, tables, and others.

“Good, it leads to outside.” The boss declared after he opened the door at the very back. “Hurry”

“Got it!” I ran towards the back door then I heard a sound of something falling. “What’s that?”

I looked around and I saw Keen looking in utter disgust at a huge stock pot he accidentally knocked over.

“The fuck!?” He was only able to utter those words as he looked at the contents that spilled on the ground.

It was a bunch of bones. Although the long bones were not easy to recognize as to what organism it belonged to, the skull which was in the mix was clearly from a human.

“Don’t mind that, let’s go.” The boss commanded as he went outside first.

“Tsk!” Keen clicked his tongue but he followed the boss anyway.

As we stepped outside, it was just a dark alley way. We were lucky that no one was around. It was quite dark and I reckon that it might be already midnight. Although there were still some people walking around the main streets, there weren’t many. 

Keen and the boss sandwiched me while we were walking to avoid others to see my sorry state. Someone might report me to the police if they clearly saw me right now. That was how miserable I looked.

  We finally reached the office without any noticeable encounters. I guess people roaming at night aren’t that keen on being very observant during the dark. I guess I can finally relax a little.

The boss sat on his chair and lit a cigarette while Keen was just standing by the entrance without removing his eyes off me.

“Now, let’s hear what happened,” the boss said after he blew smoke from his cigarette.

I explained everything, that the bar was managed by a bunch of lesser demons. That the woman who was singing had the power to make people asleep and I transformed in time before it took a full effect on me. That the lesser demons were using the establishment to eat human flesh… That I fought them all, to protect myself which ended in a blood bath.

“I see, that makes sense.” The boss said after I was done explaining.

“So those were indeed human bones, fuck.” Keen muttered as he looked away. “Usually, the possessed that eat humans work alone as based on our previous encounters.”

“I don’t think it is not that surprising for them to be an organized group.” The boss leaned on the table.

“What do you mean, chief?”

 “Look at us, we’re all Possessed yet we still work together. Even those who serve under a king can be classified as working together.”

“As long as there is a unified cause, it is not strange to find even monsters and demons work together, is that what you are saying boss?” I interrupted.

 “That’s how it is.”

“So are we done here? Can I go and wash up now?” I asked

“We’re not finished yet brat, how come that you did not fall asleep instantly like us?” Keen who was still suspicious of me asked.

“You can say that I am used to fighting drowsiness during my elective classes. I had the habit to bite my lips to stay awake.”

“Fuck, I just can’t accept the fact that I fell asleep easily.” Keen uttered as he looked at the ground then clenched his fist.

“Don’t beat yourself up on that, I also fell asleep before I knew it. We were just lucky that we were with someone who does not fall down easily.”

“Right, plus a doggy must not do my method of biting oneself! You might inflict yourself with rabies!”

“Fuck? You can spout things like that after all that happened?” Keen confusedly asked instead of being angry.

“It’s nice that you can still joke around. I was worried that you might be a little shaken up.”

“So can I go now?” I asked again as I really wanted to remove all my clothes off right now. 

“Sure, you guys can use the whole day tomorrow to take a break.” 

I went upstairs then into my room. Of course I’m not okay! Who in the sane mind would be perfectly fine after killing four people in just one night? I even tasted their blood and had fun turning them into pieces. Even though I am not myself when I transform, I knew deep within that I enjoyed it. 

It was not me but at the same time, I know it was me! No matter how I deny it to myself, I know that I did. The bursting body, the sensation in my palm as I brutally crush his fickle body, the extreme sense of satisfaction as I saw her face twisted in fear and plead for her life. 

I enjoyed it while I was a demon yet I am utterly disgusted by it as a human. Why do I even have to rely to that power? But if I didn’t, I would be dead already! Is this how hard it is just to continue living?

Thoughts surge in as the water flows from the shower to my body, removing the dirt off my skin. But no matter how I think, I am utterly confused as to what is happening to me. This maybe the dirtiest I got, which is why I felt really refreshed after I was done cleaning myself. 

Although the blood stained on my body can be removed, my sins will be forever etched in my soul.