In a world where there is more to life beyond our physical universe, there lies a place. A place where creatures from the depths of one’s imagination all live and thrive together. The VOID is a place beyond the backrooms that has not yet been discovered or explored. The backrooms are a glitch between the mortal world and the afterlife, the VOID is just a depth that others may get trapped in. While it is rare for humans to get trapped in the backrooms, it’s even rarer to be taken to the VOID. Even if humans are stuck in the VOID, it is considered impossible for them to leave. Most of the creatures living there have a special appetite for humans and unfortunately, mortals do not ever make it out. Deep into the disputed reality, many theorize things outside of our physical world. Some believe it’s aliens; others believe the secret to life may belong out of our reach. New life forms take shape and thrive in their communities. Life goes on, regardless of what we know about it, or more closely, what we lack knowing of it. Still, no matter what lies beyond our known universe, what can be done about it? As far as we can tell, Humans are the only living and aware creatures on our planet, correct? Sure, there are animals and many types of other creatures but nothing one would consider ‘supernatural’. A friend once told me, “Nobody actually believes in that stuff, right? I mean, it’s something made up for like movies and shows.” At the time, I could only believe them. What proof was there that there was actually shit like vampires and ghosts and stuff, right? Obviously, without seeing it for myself, I would have never believed it. but now I do. The real question is, what to do about it?
Demonics I
The short breeze mixed with below freezing temperatures, creates an almost frigid atmosphere. Regardless of the icy-cold aura, these conversations would not be considered chilly. “I don’t know, Hayden.” Victor started, “coronation day is coming up soon. So, maybe wait until after to complain about your royal portrait.” She said, putting strong sarcastic emphasis on the word ‘royal’. An audible sigh can be heard from Hayden’s direction, a universal sign of annoyance. Sure, they had gotten his portrait wrong, and his horns were shaped all weird like, but it was only natural to tease him about it. Victor and Hayden were twins after all, regardless of being so different. Victor was a strong-willed girl, intent on becoming the next Queen. She’s always been incredibly ready to rule the Demonics, but unable to because of her parents’ overbearing personalities. Hayden, on the other hand, was in fact NOT ready to rule. He had always been a more secluded and introverted type, one that could fret over talking too loudly to somebody. Whatever it was that made them so different, it also made them such a perfect duo. Even when being the prince and princess of the Demonics, they played an active role in the community. Always striving for greatness, a demon’s whole motto.
“Never mind, Vic. Tell them that I don’t even need a portrait if they can’t do it right.” Hayden said, somewhat defeated already. “I know my horns are different, go on, I just know you wanna laugh right now.”
“As much as I would love to laugh,” She said, holding back a small giggle, “I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you’re adopted after all!” Even while telling her that it wasn’t funny, Hayden couldn’t help but chuckle a bit himself at the misfortune of his eminent difference. While most demons had straight, dark colored, horns, he had a set of beautiful curly, goat-like, horns. And it might be true to say he was adopted, looking so different from his family, but it seems hard to manage while having a paternal twin. Most demonics share similar traits, somewhat curly hair, often light in color. Hayden had about shoulder length blonde hair, usually pulled back on top and the rest left down, revealing the horns on his forehead. While for formal occasions, his hair was generally pulled up into some sort of hairstyle. He considered it a hassle for everyday life, hence why it is normally down. Victor looked very similar with lengthy, thick, and curly blonde hair, except her straight bangs in between her horns. Her MODERATELY SIZED HORNS (yes, he was still caught up on that). They still shared many similar traits like tan-almond skin and deep brown eyes, almost coming off as pure black. Suddenly, ruining Hayden’s train of thought was a gruff yell coming from a dingy restaurant across the street. Along the main roads there were many businesses open, and markets would often be set up. The twins had a routine of going through these streets just for the entertainment of their loyal subjects. However, loud disruptions and fighting didn’t happen often on this side of town, unlike what was happening right in front of them currently. They watched as the old Demon, about middle-aged, took out his broom and started swatting at something on the ground outside of their shop. Probably a family-owned restaurant showed by the old and stained wife-beater the pot-belly demon wore. Looking closer they could conclude that the older Demon was not, in fact, just swatting at the air like some drunk lunatic, but was hitting somebody.
“HEY! You cut it out there, mister! Leave them alone, now.” Victor started yelling, now making a small scene. “How would you like it if someone would hit you like that?”
“Tell this filthy ‘sapien to get off my property.” The old man yelled back, “He’s making my paying customers go crazy!” At this point, Victor was so close to starting a fight with this grungy demon. So, to avoid the eminent disaster, Hayden made the executive decision to cut in and find the point of view from the one person who hadn’t said anything at all, the victim. He gazed downward at the being that was scrunched up into a ball outside the dilapidated shop, though there wasn’t much you could see except the long black hair on top of his downturned head. Firstly, it didn’t make sense. The Demonic had called him a ‘sapien’ which is a derogatory term for humans, and it seems completely impossible that there was a human down in the VOID. That’s when he saw something he had failed to notice before. “Excuse me, sir?” He tried to sound calm. Deep down there was a bit of panic growing inside him, almost coming out through his slightly strained voice. “Where did you come from?”
An odd question to ask somebody while being the topic of argument by the princess of the demonic monarchy and a dingy demon chef. A better question at this time might be ‘are you ok? Let me help you!’, but that was not what was important. What was important was the fact that this guy was different, hence his missing horns. Yes, this wasn’t a demon. True to the shopkeepers’ disparaging term, this may really be a human. Finally, the human lifted its head and tried to speak, all that came out was an angry gasp, practically a sputter for air. With this, Victor and the Demon had stopped arguing for a second to look over at the human writhing on the ground.
Hayden now felt bad about asking such an insensitive question and tried reaching out to touch the human, maybe some physical contact would do it good? Who was he to know, as a being with ultimately no emotion, comforting someone’ was not his forte. With a loud smack, Hayden’s hand was smacked away. A light snow had started falling now, coming down as a curtain around the human and falling onto the damp cement ground. The slow falling flurries around him made the human look almost transcendent. This may have been the most ethereal creature Hayden had even seen in all his years. But, that image of him was quickly shattered by a single sentence. The humans’ first words, gritted out angrily. “Get your hands off me! Monster.”