“Sh*t,” I cursed, my breath ragged as I reached the cliff’s edge. Below, the wild, crashing waves promised a swift, unforgiving end. No escape. Nowhere to run.

Footsteps crunched behind me. I spun around, my heart hammering against my ribs. It was Michelle, but not Michelle. Her eyes gleamed with an alien malice, her smile stretching too wide, too cruel.

“You can’t run anymore, silly girl,” she rasped, her voice a grotesque mockery of my best friend's. My Michelle was gone, consumed by the evil using her as a puppet. Tears welled, hot and bitter, blurring the horde of zombie-like figures that surrounded her, a hundred pairs of dead eyes fixed on me.

“Aww, my best friend is crying, poor baby. Why? Don’t you want to join me?” the demon taunted, its true form beginning to emerge. Its face contorted, revealing sharp teeth and glowing red eyes. “Do you want to be a God? Do you want immortality? I can give you a kingdom full of servants and gold, everyone will praise you.”

I gripped the ancient book hidden in my hands. “No, thank you, demon. I do not need anything from you. You see this book? I’m gonna take this to death.” I waved it provocatively, a sarcastic smile tugging at my lips as I saw their anger flash. This game, I decided, would be played by my rules. And I would rather die than let them win.