Poppy Love Meets the Devil (extract)

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OMG – that’s all I can say! No one and I mean no one is going to believe what happened almost as soon as I finished my last posting. I’d just logged off when my phone started, unknown number and it’s got to be him or whoever it is. It’s just a single word – TEMPTED? Like he’d read my post and knew what I was thinking and what’s even freakier is he seemed to know what I’d written. I know I shouldn’t have but I texted back – might be – I should’ve added – depends on what’s on offer – but I didn’t. Something made me stop. 2

And he replied straight away – want to discuss it- so of course I wrote how I might be interested in a discussion or registration and that’s all he needed.3

Next text is longer, again he tells me to look out of the window and again there’s a hooded figure with a phone. Next minute I know he’s here, in my room. Just standing here with his back to me. Skinny little figure clutching a blackberry and wearing Converse All Stars. He didn’t say anything at first, think he was waiting for me and or course I can’t think of anything to say. Not a single word. For the first time in my life I haven’t got a clue. We just stood there, me completely gobsmacked (I suppose that’s the best way to describe it) and this, this thing (?) staring into the darkness. Finally I had to find something to say, otherwise we’d have been standing there like a pair of melons all night. 4

‘Hello?’5

‘Hi.’ He has this really odd voice, like he isn’t used to it, kind of raspy yet quiet at the same time.6

‘Who are you?’7

‘Whatever you want me to be.’8

‘Are you who I think you are?’9

‘Yes.’10

Can you believe I actually believed I’m speaking to a devil – Mephistophilis – grand demon and Lucifer’s right hand man (well devil)11

‘What do you want?’12

‘Question is Poppy, what do you want?’13

‘I think you know that.’14

‘And what are you willing to give me in return? You’ve read your Faustus, you know what the terms are.’15

‘Hang on, I’m not cheap you know. I want more than a poxy twenty-four years. I mean I’d only be Mum’s age. She’s not old, she could still have more children if she was mad enough. 43 isn’t old and she’d kill you if you said different.’16

‘You’ve thought about this haven’t you?’17

‘What do you think?’18

‘Knew I had you hooked. We can always tell. We always know whenever some, well, one of you appears a likely customer, shall we say.’19

‘You’re telling me you’re always on the look out then? I mean, people like you are all around us?’20

‘I’m not a person Poppy. Thought someone as allegedly clever as yourself might’ve worked that one out from the start.’21

I felt such a prat when he said that. Well I suppose I can call a demon a he as it did look like a male from the back. I hate it whenever anyone questions my intellect, but I suppose an immortal entity is bound to have seen a thing or two in his time.22

‘I know, ok? I’m not stupid. So is it just you then? Where’s your boss? Don’t I get to meet him?’23

‘You won’t need to. Let’s just say he has an interest but if we conduct our business appropriately there should be no need to involve the Big Man.’24

‘Big Man? What is he, some sort of gangster type? You’re not seriously telling me you call him that.’25

‘It’s his title, amongst others. He’s my boss. He owns me.’26

‘Owns you?’27

‘As I said. So, do we have a transaction Poppy?’28

‘Depends on what you’re offering.’29

So then we had this really convoluted conversation, and it was just so weird talking to, well negotiating with is probably the correct term, someone who didn’t seem to have a face. He wouldn’t turn round and let me see him, said his real form would send me insane and I’d be no use to anyone barking mad. Said his boss wanted me fully compos mentis and I had to make a rational decision. How could I make a rational decision when I didn’t even know what I was talking to?30

After about twenty minutes of this, and getting nowhere I told him I’d have to think carefully about it before I came to any sort of decision. I mean, at the end of the day (cliché alert here) it’s my soul we’re talking about isn’t it? Then he tells me he’ll give me twenty-four hours to think about it and no more, but I was also to remember he could give me absolutely everything I wanted for thirty years. Well you can imagine I told him where to stuff that, as I’d only be 48. Must admit he didn’t sound too pleased and said he’d have to consult the Big Man (just can’t believe he does call him that, whatever happened to the Prince of Darkness?) So then I said I wasn’t in the mood to bargain but would make a list of my requirements and then we could maybe consider the possibilities of our negotiations. 31

‘Twenty-four hours Poppy. I know you’re tempted. I always know. Laters.’32

And then he went, just sort of dissolved into the proverbial thin air you might say. Couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t asleep, it definitely wasn’t any sort of dream because he left behind this very faint whiff. Hesitate to suggest sulphur because that’d be so clichéd and I’d hope after all this time they could’ve come up with something slightly more original. Apparently not.33

So, what do I do? I’m going to post parts of this and see what my buds make of it. 34

IM: from Unknown35

Don’t even think about it.36

Bloody hell! How did that happen? Can’t I have any peace?37

IM: from Unknown38

No.39

So it seems he knows everything I do. Can’t I even think then?40

IM: from Unknown41

Oh yes.42

You’re reading this?43

IM: from Unknown44

As quickly as you’re typing. Nobody else needs to know anything yet. The Big Man wouldn’t like it, believe me, and you don’t want to wind him up. He prefers a more exclusive service. That’s how we work. Tell anyone else and you’ll upset him. Trust me, you really don’t want to do that.45

I can’t believe I’m having cyberbullying now. Are you threatening me?46

IM: from Unknown47

No, it isn’t a threat. Just a fact. I’ll see you later. X48