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A/N: Hoo! Well, it's my first story guys! Wait, no, don't run away! Sigh...well, for anyone still here, yes, this is my first story on the site! I think this is a joyous occasion for me. Anyway, it is slightly short, this prologue AND this story, but I hope you enjoy it.
Snake Eyes
Chapter 1
CRASH!
"Oohh! Why!?"
Joy's ears perked up as the cry of anguish pelted the frosty January air. She turned abruptly, almost slipping one the wet sidewalk as she beheld the sorrowful form of an eldery woman slowly trying to gather the belongings she dropped.
"Wait, let me help you!" Joy said, jogging over, picking up the several bags of groceries. The older woman sighed.
"Thank you, dear," the woman said. "I hope nothing was crushed...I'm so clumsy..."
Joy glanced into the bags. "No, it's okay." She grinned comfortingly, brown eyes shining brightly. "It's this winter! Crazy snow, really." Joy brushed a long dirty blonde locke of hair behind her ear, glancing to the house beside them. "Is this your house, miss?"
"Ah, yes, it is," the woman said. She rummaged through her purse and pulled out a worn, silver key. "Thank you again..." she said as she opened the door. Joy handed her the bags, and the elderly woman eyed them forlornly. Joy's smile faltered. "What's wrong, miss?"
"The tomatoes were crushed..."
"I didn't notice them..!" Joy mused. She peered into the bag, and saw a splatter she hadn't seen before. "Oh no..."
Without another word Joy began to dig through her pockets. "Let's see...ah!" she said triumphantly. She held out bills adding up to twenty dollars.
"Oh, I couldn't! Tomatoes aren't that expensive!" the woman exclaimed.
"It's all right, really!" Joy said. Before the woman could protest further, she dropped the money into her bags. "Bye now!" she waved, walking off.
A small smile creeped up on the woman's face. "So there are good people still in this world..." she mused.
"I'm home, Adam!"
Oh...well, he supposed, that helped.
Joy hung up her coat as she entered the house. "Hoo! It is cold out there!" She bounded up to him, giving him a peck on the cheek. "How was your day, hun?"
"Annoying," he said reflexively. "My boss is has a god-complex, my co-workers are assholes, and I hate insurance with a passion now."
"Mm...poor Adam..." Joy said sympathetically. "How about I make your favorite tonight? Some nice steak, hm?"
Adam would be lying if he said that didn't perk him up, but only for a few moments. "That would be great."
She beamed. "I'll start dinner." With that, the energetic woman bounded off.
How does she do it? he mused. She's thirty-five and still has the energy of an elementary student. While I...
Tik-tik...tik-tik...
"Honey, I keep hearing a clattering noise, and I've checked everywhere except the attic...can you check if it's a branch or something?" Joy called.
"Fine." Adam got up from his seat on the couch and trudged upstairs, ignoring the din of the television.
I live in a bland house, my life just consists of work, work, and work...there's never any action. It's like I've been living in doldrums for years now. If something doesn't happen soon, I just may scream.
He coughed as he opened the door to the attic. It was musty and dark. He lit a light and shut the door, glancing around. Sure enough, an annoying clank came from within the room. Adam checked around the nooks and crannies of the room.
A sudden chill ran down his spine, as if someone was watching him. "Hello?" he called. "Is anyone there?"
He about-faced, glancing around the room. I...don't see anyone...
Tik-tik...tik-tik...
He turned back around just to jump back and scream in terror.
"Heh heh, a rude human, aren't ya?"
He stared wide-eyed at this...this...thing. It looked on the feminine side, with shining human-looking purple eyes, and long...not-exactly-hair framing a light brown diamond shaped face. Her chest area was thinner than a usual supermodel's physique, filled with gashes and scars with a raggedy cloth covering what needed covering. But by where her stomach should've been came something vaguely spider-like, with four legs with no skin, just muscle tendon. Everywhere there were scars: she looked absolutely gruesome.
"Ha ha, you should see the look on your face, pansy boy. You probably pissed yourself!" she cackled. "Humans are such wusses. Ignorant, too. Ah, well."
"Wh-What the hell are you?!" he yelled. How did Joy not hear him?! Must've been the television...
"It is polite to say 'who.' And was that a curse? Ah, I can sense I'll be seeing you in hell sometime soon!" she cackled. "Of course, considering my beauty and status, you'd never get anywhere near me. I am a demon, and a damn awesome one. Call me Epoh."
"...Tell me I'm getting punk'd," he prayed.
Epoh suddenly raised a leg, and mightily kicked down Adam. He lost is wind for a moment, feeling immense pain in his stomach. Finally he coughed, gasping for air.
"That was your solar plexus, by the way. A proper blow to it can make your diaphram spasm, which is why you couldn't breathe for a few seconds. Now are you convinced I'm a demon, stupid?" Epoh smirked.
He didn't reply, fearing she would do that again, just nodded weakly.
"Good. Anyways, I've been watching you for a while. And I have a deal that might interest you. It has some action that you haven't found in your life for quite a while...hee hee."
"D-Deal?" sputtered.
"How would you like to get out of these doldrums, human?" she whispered enticingly. Her neck suddenly elongated to the point the two were face to face, her mocking purple orbs locked with his fearful blue ones. "Have you ever gambled, Adam...?"
