Page 80 of I Accidentally Summoned a Demon Boyfriend

“What is it?” I poked him. “Tell me now.”

“Maybe you don’t have to go back to Earth,” Metice offered.

“What?” The nervous laugh caught in my throat. The idea of not going home led me to thoughts of where I would be if I didn’t, and those imaginings all involved the demon who sat across from me.

“We’re bonded now. Maybe your life can look different when this is done.”

“You imagine me living in hell with you?” It might have been better to tiptoe around the question, but I chose the more direct option.

“Living in hell? No.” Metice shook his head. “But I imagine you exploring the universe with me. I can’t see you going back to being just another human toiling around on Earth, not after everything you’ve been through.”

“Oh.” I hadn’t thought of that. This new power would open me up to new worlds.

“You know now, your body will acclimate to just about any world. You can see and experience things even your amazing imagination couldn’t concoct.”

“That’s something to think about.” I stared up at the night sky.

“It’s nothing we have to discuss now. That’s why I said never mind. I know you’re uneasy about this metaphysical marriage between us.” He handed me another bottle of water. “Drink as much as you can. Tomorrow, we’ll go a little further. It’s best if you’re properly hydrated. Eliminates cramping.”

A day later, and we stood in a world that smelled like strawberry bubblegum. There wasn’t much to see. The ground was a great expanse of grey mulch, with yellow fuzz balls covering nearly every inch.

“What is this place?” I frowned. “It smells sweet, but it looks like death.”

“We call it a dekoti.” Metice sighed. “This is dekoti 768. Sad to see it this way now.”

“What’s a dekoti?” The word felt foreign to my mouth, but the meaning settled in my stomach like bad milk.

“A world that was once vibrant with life and is now a shell of itself. Some ecological disaster happened and wiped out everything that once lived here. Funny enough, we’ve classified your Earth as a dekoti world many times, but life keeps finding its way there,” he explained. “You know, there are scholars on other worlds studying your home? They hope to be able to use whatever phenomenon happens there to be able to save and restore worlds like this one.”

“So it’s true, all the theories of what Earth has gone through?” I’d watched enough natured documentaries that spectated about the many ecological disasters our world had survived, but it was something different to have it confirmed.

“Absolutely.” Metice nodded. “It’s a resilient place. I think it will even survive you humans.”

“I always questioned if science was right. I’d love to pretend to be offended by what you said, but humans are the ecological disaster. It’s nice to think there’s a chance it will recover when we’re gone.” I smiled. “Why are we here?”

“You’re right: we should leave. Okay. Take us back to Earth 2.0.” He smiled. “I’m your passenger. I will not change your path, so get it right, and please don’t drop us into a volcano. Stretch your senses and return to where we just were.”

“Seriously?” I scoffed. “You know, mentioning a volcano right now was a terrible idea. If it happens, it’s your fault for putting it in my mind.”

“Same principal, greater distance.” He rubbed my shoulders. “You got this. Don’t think of the distance. It doesn’t matter. In your mind, millions of miles are crossed in a matter of steps. All you need is a clear view of where you’re trying to go.”

“Okay.” I brought to mind our campsite, the firepit and Piko. Even the weird little yellow bush that wasn’t a bush. The bridge slowly formed. I held my hand out to him, and when I felt his palm press against mine, I started my slow skate across the path. When I opened my eyes, I was there.

Metice stood beside me, and Piko jumped into my arms. At least that time, the little guy acted like he missed me. Of course, there was no meat to distract him. He moved to lick my face, then stopped and chose my hand instead.

“First try!” I cheered and jumped around, then started twerking. “Take that. Uh. Uh.”

“Great job.” He backed up and watched me. “You should do that every time. Shake your ass like that. I like it.”

“Oh yeah?” I pointed my ass at him and shook it playfully. “You enjoying the show, big guy?”

He bit his lips like he wanted to do anything but continue our training. “Now, go back to where we just were.”

“Back to the desolate place?” My celebration ended.

“Yes.” he nodded. “Take us back.”

“I…how? I didn’t focus on it.” My mind raced trying to recreate the image of the world, but it felt impossible. “I didn’t get the signature.”

---