Rowan was sitting at his bed quietly and gazing at the calendar. His eyes closed weakly as he saw it was his turn. His family had a tradition when a child reached 20. They were sacrificed to the demon Paimon. Rowan felt how burdened he was but he knew his parents won’t take no for an answer.

He walked down to the living room of their manor. He gazed at the clothes and the veil that was prepared for him, he sighed deeply as he brought them to his room. Passing by his sister Elizabeth for a moment.

— “Hey sis…”

“Yea?”

— “Is there an exemption for the ritual?…”

Elizabeth gazed at him with confusion, he shook her head with a sigh. “No, you know those lunatics we have for parents always ranting about—“

Rowan covered her mouth quickly as he saw their parents walk by, he sighed with relief knowing that his dad didn’t hear her or they would’ve been in trouble. “We could've been in trouble, idiot!” He said as he walked into his room, sighing deeply as he placed the dress on. He felt annoyed but he knew he can’t deny his fate anymore.

Rowan  followed his older brother Alex out now that the veil covered his eyes, he stood in the dandelion field silently. His parents instructed him if there was a man, follow him. Rowan waited for hours… his gaze lifted as he saw a man in a black suit, gazing down at him, he felt like he had frozen the moment the man appeared.

“I see… they already prepared someone for me…” the man uttered as he gazed down at the boy.

— “Who… who are you?…”

“It’s not important… follow me kid” the man said as he guided Rowan towards the forest, away from his parents’ manor.

Rowan was obviously afraid but he knew if he had panicked, it would only make it worse. They reached a clearing in the forest, a pentagram made of blood was sprawled across the ground, it smelled putrid to him… Rowan was pushed into the pentagram’s center. He felt more afraid as the dark figure tied his hand behind him.

— “S-Sir?…” he called out as he saw the man grab something from a tree. It was hard to make out in the dark

“You’ll be fine kid…” his voice sounded both calm and malicious as he approached Rowan, he was holding what looked like a butcher’s knife in his hand.

Rowan stiffened even more as he saw the knife reflecting the moon light. He stayed still as if a silent plea for it to be as painless as possible but he knew it won’t. Everything went dark as the knife hit his neck. everything looked… dark and starry?… the floor rippled like water as he wandered around. “Hello?…” Rowan called out weakly as he wandered around. The starry void was endless, his wrist felt heavy as if he was bound to be there

— “Please… Lord Paimon… set me free…”