Jonas was lying on his bed, the last minutes of his life slipping away from his body as easily as the curtain flittered in the wind. His family stood outside the room and Jonas could hear muffled crying. Jonas had tried to consol them, to tell them not to cry, that he was going to be with God soon and he was happy. They had not been as understanding about Jonas's looming death as Jonas was himself.

 

'Oh well.' Jonas thought.

 

Jonas smelled something acrid wafting from his left, causing his nose to cringe. For a moment Jonas worried it was his own body. Prying open one eye, Jonas surveyed his body although it was covered in thick blankets. To his surprise, a being now stood beside Jonas, black smoke dissapearing silently. Jonas couldn't make the man out and it was not for his failing health. The man was simply nondescript. He was black, pure black except for two glowing red eyes. Jonas fixated on those eyes and immeaditely knew who he was in front of him.

 

'Evening Jonas.' the Demon said, pulling a chair beside the bed and sitting down.

 

'Begone demon!!!' Jonas yelled causing him to hack and cough.

 

'Jonas, where are your manners?' the Demon scolded, taking offense. 'Here I am, come to help you and you yell at me before I get a word in edgewise.'

 

'Begone! You shall not tempt me!' Jonas yelled again. He tried to move his arms to swing at the creature but found them stuck beneath the covers.

 

'Well, yes I am here to tempt you Jonas. But really, temptation is such a lousy term. Really, I'm here to show you that there is more in this world then what you have given up because trust me, heaven? It's not that great.' the Demon began, relaxing in the chair.

 

'Trust you? You lie and deceive. You are a demon. I'll never trust you and my faith in God will see me through.' Jonas spit and managing to get a hand free, crossed himself.

 

The Demon sighed. 'Heaven's really not that great. But I guess you'll find out that soon enough. So without further ado, let me try to dissuade you that dreary prospect.' The Demon moved his arm out a snapped a finger. Gold and riches began to fall on the bedroom floor. Jewels so bright they hurt Jonas's poor, aging eyes.

 

Jonas scoffed. 'You will not tempt me with riches. My life is rich with my love for God and my family. I want no material coin.'

 

The demon shrugged and snapped his finger again. A beautiful woman appeared beside him.

 

'Now before you say anything Jonas let me say this.' the Demon started, 'Sex is great and we both know you haven't indulged. Sex isn't that big in heaven and I think it would truly be a shame if you left this earth without experiencing this vice. The things this woman could do to you, I mean can you imagine...well no, I guess you can't . Well, let me put it this way. You know how everyone says their first time was the worst? Well then trust me. With this woman, that won't be true at all."

 

'The sins of the flesh do not tempt me. Begone demon!' Jonas cried, trying to roll away.

 

The Demon begins to snap his fingers once more but stops seeing Jonas's lack of interest.

 

'You're really not interested?' the Demon says, a bit depressed.

 

'No.' Jonas calls over his shoulder.

 

'Really?' the Demon asks. 'Heaven's not all it's cracked up to be.'

 

'My heaven is with God. Leave me demon. You shall not twist me around your finger.'

 

'Suit yourself.' the Demon said 'Can't blame a demon for trying, eh?' Jonas merely grumbles. The Demon shrugs and looks at his watch. 'Times up.' he says.

 

Jonas looks up, finding himself now standing in a barren land, completely gray and lifeless. Jonas can not even feel a comforting breeze. He no longer feels pain but then he no longer feels anything.

 

'Am I dead?' Jonas asks although he knows he is. The Demon is still standing beside him.

 

'Looks like it.' the Demon answers him.

 

'Is this heaven? No. Take me to heaven demon! I command you!' Jonas cries, turning on the Demon.

 

'Sorry mate. This is it.' the Demon says, not moving.

 

'You lie!' Jonas yells.

 

'Can't. I don't control where you go after you die. Couldn't stop you from going to heaven if I tried.'

 

Jonas opens his mouth and then shuts it again. Finally he says 'You mean, this is really it?'

 

'Yup, this is it.' Demon answers, looking unhappy and dejected. 'Not what you were expecting was it?'

 

'So you weren't lying.' Jonas asks, fear starting to creep over him.

 

'I think we both kinda hoped I was. But sadly, no I wasn't.'

 

'Oh.' Jonas says feeling quite small.

 

'Yeah.' the Demon agreed, looking around. 'Not much to look at is it?'

 

'So what do I do?' Jonas asked the Demon.

 

'Up to you really. If you want my advice, and you haven't so far so I wouldn't be offended if you didn't take it, but if you wanted my advice, a lot of people have gone that way.' Demon points off into the distance to nothing in particular. Jonas looks in the direction he's pointing but see's nothing of interest.

 

'What's there?' Jonas asks squinting.

 

'Dunno. I'm here with you.' the answer came from behind him.

 

Jonas takes a hesitant step forward and proceeds to walk away, the Demon staying where he is.

 

A small puff of smoke appears beside the demon and  another demon pops into the dreary land.

 

"You know Ri.." the newcomer begins but the Demon pushes him away.

 

Jonas turns around but doesn't see the newcomer. The Demon waves at him with a helpful smile. Jonas returns the smile and walks on till out of sight.

 

"I was going to say, you know Rick, you're a real asshole." the second Demon says coming back.

 

The scenery changes to a lush landscape much to the expectations of Jonas. Both demons change into angels.

 

"If he had really wanted it, he would have gotten in." Rick says to the other angel.

 

"Bullshit Rick."

 

Rick sighs "Fine. There's too many of them in here already."

 

Both look at each other, laugh, and fly away.

 

~fin