Our teacher was at the front of the class with horns sticking out from her long blond hair and a knife in her hand. She told us that she was a demon tasked with killing the youth and perserving the most delectible parts of our flesh. We didnt believe her, of course, then she called tom to her podium as if to prove something.

He walked from the back of the class with wobbly legs and sweat dripping from his hairline. I barely knew him but as he passed my desk I grabbed him and tried to volunter to go up instead. Very few things scared me and i was willing to put my body on the line, but I didnt even get the chance. As soon as I stood there was a pressure in the air that I couldnt fight and in an instant I was slammed back into my seat and forced to let go of tom while the gravity of the room shifted. The rapid change threw my body into a shock and i coughed blood onto my uniform. It hurt, a lot, I couldnt even lift my head to look at my friends for comfort. I was forced to face the ground, hunched over myself while huffing in an attempt to get some air. Watching as the blood I spit up sank into the blue hue of my skirt, transfiguring it. I shook as the cold liquid reached my thigh, and I didnt stop, I kept shivering until tears fell below me and my bravery was drowned under fear. For the first time in my life i wanted to run away.

Even when Ms.Loran told me to stay seated I flinched. She didnt sound any different than she did before except there was something sinister behind her words this time. Like she was threatning me. It was scary and still the pressure didnt let up, I couldnt have stood if i wanted to. And i realized that with me restrained, Tom was left to his fate.

As i said, i didnt know him that well, but he was a classmate and we had spent the year together so I tried thinking of ways to help as he stood beside me petrified to go forward; but my lunges were wearing out. I wanted to tell him to run like i would yet the words wouldnt leave my throat. I could barely breath let alone speak. It was irritating and I huffed in annoyance while hoping that he would get some courage and do it anyway, but he was a timid guy; and when Ms.Loran beckoned him forward again, he went.

I gritted my teeth, “Dont.” I whispered, im not sure if he heard me though but to be honest its not like it mattered anyway, Tom was not a fighter. He continued his unsure stride to the front of the classroom like a good student as I tried flayling around and fighting the pressure on my head. Nothing but my chin moved. The force kept me seated and all I was able to do was lift my head with incredible strain and still i was happy to at least get that far. Then, I quickly recognized that though i had managed to move, i really shouldnt have. It was a mistake.

I knew it was a mistake because people were screaming and as quickly as tom was alive, he was dead. We watched in horror as our classmate and friend get his head biten off by a woman with beauty comparable to eve, yet that wasnt even that bad of a death compared to what ive seen now.

As a 15 year old girl though, things were different, seeing someone die like that was traumatizing. But the worst part was how she chewed. She switched his head around in her mouth and we heard the crunch of bones and the pop of viens and eyeballs. The only thing she didnt eat was Toms teeth. Instead she threw them up and they scattered across Ms.Lorans podium as blood dripped from her mouth. It was disgusting.

“See? Im a demon.”

I spoke and said that she couldve proved that a multitude of different ways and she agreed, but as I felt her gaze on mine she clarified that this type of proof was more fun. Then she smiled, her pearly white teeth reflecting off the tears of my classmates, and she told us that she liked us. That she couldnt bring herself to kill us so she would be killing herself now.

She released the pressure keeping me down and i inhaled deeply as people rushed to my side and her grating voice continued.

“Tom was the exception. I never cared for him, much too cowardly.”

“Yet,” I huffed, standing and getting words out slower than i wouldve liked. “Yet he still went up to you. He wasnt cowardly when he stood in front of you when he couldve ran.”

She smiled wider, it wasnt a human smile at all. I wondered as her lips stretched how she fooled us for so long.

“See thats what i like. Youve always been my favorite Rata. Youre strong and that will serve you well against us.”

I glared at her as she lifted the knife and stabbed herself through the heart without hesitation or change to her terrifying gaze of indifference. Then she addressed the class.

“Always aim for the heart. I love you all, do not mourn me.”

I wanted to ask her why she thought we would but as she disentigrated it seemed that i answered my own question. Flashbacks of our year played in my mind. She had started a garden in the school courtyard and named a plant after each of us, even tom. She stood up for us, protected us when that earthquake nearly had us crushed under stone. She was evil and she was kind and i found myself hoping all demons werent like her. I wanted them all to be evil so i could live without the guilt of me killing them.

Even after i went home that night and sat at my bedroom window i asked the universe to give me strength and convection so that i would never faulter, so i could protect everyone i loved; but then the memories flowed in again. I felt myself remembering every good thing Ms.Loran had ever done for us and my voice drowned in uncertainty as i spoke. It annoyed me. I wanted to want this, i wanted to want them dead, and i begged for some kind of sign, some kind of approval that i was following the right path; but the world stayed silent as i stared at a blank sky. The street laps were on and even the galaxys dark blue hue was hard to catch. Eventually i sighed and gave up, deciding to find convection myself.

Honestly, Its weird to think about now. I mean i was so naive. I shouldve known better than to make a wish on stars tainted by humans. And maybe i shouldve just made a deal with the devil instead of being a hero. Maybe then it wouldve been worth it. Maybe.