Author's Note

Warning
This chapter will have some elements or actions that some of you may not like. You have every right to skip over the part if you wish.
You have been warned

Chapter 20: Poor Unfortunate Souls Pt. 2

The neon sign of 'The Keg' flickered to life in the dusky evening air, casting a warm glow on the rain-slicked sidewalk. Vinyl Scratch pushed open the heavy wooden door, a bell tinkling softly to announce her arrival. The familiar scent of polished wood and aged whiskey enveloped her as she stepped inside, shaking off the chill from the autumn air.

Despite the evening hour, the bar was surprisingly subdued. Only a handful of regulars sat in their usual spots, and the atmosphere was peaceful. The tune of soft jazz emanated from an old jukebox tucked in the corner, adding to the tranquil ambiance of clinking glasses and murmuring conversations.

Buck Wild, the zebra bartender, looked up from wiping down the counter. His face broke into a warm smile as he recognized Vinyl, his Viking braids swaying slightly as he nodded in greeting as the mare entered.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite customer," Buck called out, his deep voice carrying easily across the room. "It's been a while, Vinyl. The usual?"

Vinyl nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she made her way to her regular spot at the end of the bar. She settled onto the worn leather stool, feeling the familiar comfort of the place wash over her.

Buck set about preparing her drink, his experienced hands moving with practiced ease. "So, how've you been?" he asked, glancing up at her as he poured a measure of amber liquid into a glass. "had me all kinds of worried when you disappeared all of a sudden a last week”

As Buck slid the whiskey across the polished wood surface, he noticed something different about Vinyl. The usual spark in her eyes seemed dimmer, and there was a tension in her shoulders that hadn't been there before. He leaned in, concern etching lines on his weathered face.

He spoke softly, his years of listening to customers' problems honing his intuition. "Is everything okay?" he asked, sensing that something was wrong. "Did you lose your voice from singing too much again?"

Vinyl opened her mouth to respond, but no sound came out. The unicorn took out her phone and started typing out her response, her thumbs moving across the screen. The soft hum of conversation around the bar seemed to fade into the background as Buck watched her with an apprehensive look.

At last, she angled the device towards him. The words on the screen were lit up by the phone's gentle glow, displaying the message, ‘I found the Deal Maker’

Buck's eyes widened as he read the message. Being in the bar business long enough, he'd heard about the Deal Maker—a phantom like figure who could grant your deepest desires, albeit at a price that was often more than one was prepared to pay.

"You found him?" Buck asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “He’s just a baseless rumor, Some scumbag cheating ponies out of their valuables”

Vinyl deleted her last message and started writing something new before showing it to Buck. ‘The Deal Maker is The Radio Demon’

The color drained from Buck Wild’s face as he read the message. The Radio Demon. A name that spreads fear across all corners of the globe, was now seemingly connected to this high stake mythical figure, the Deal Maker.

"No, that can't be..." He muttered under his breath, his expression darkening as his mind raced. “What did you ask for Vinyl?”

Vinyl paused. Her hands shook slightly as she navigated her phone’s keypad. She glanced up at Buck, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and regret. After a long silence, she typed out her answer and showed it to him.

‘I asked him to make Tempo fall in love with me’

Buck recoiled slightly, shock evident in his widened eyes. This was a new side of Vinyl he hadn't seen before—desperate and vulnerable. He knew about her feelings for Tempo; everyone in the bar did. But to resort to something as dangerous as a deal with the Radio Demon?

“The Radio Demon doesn’t do anything with a heavy cost” Buck said, his voice serious but filled with concern, "What did you give up, Vinyl?"

Her hands were shaking even more now, making it difficult for her to type. She hesitated, then started typing again, each letter seemingly heavier than the last. As she turned the screen back towards him, Buck felt a lump in his throat.

‘My voice’

Buck's face contorted in horror as he read Vinyl's message. His hands gripped the edge of the bar so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Your voice?" he whispered, his voice a mix of disbelief and anguish. "Vinyl, how could you...?"

The zebra bartender closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady himself. When he opened them again, his gaze was filled with a mixture of concern and determination. "Tell me everything," he said softly, sliding Vinyl's drink closer to her.

Vinyl's fingers flew across her phone's screen, her eyes never leaving Buck's face as she typed out her story. She told him about her desperate search for the Deal Maker, her encounter with Alastor, and the bargain she'd struck. As Buck read, his expression grew increasingly grim.

When she finished, Buck shook his head slowly. "Oh, Vinyl," he sighed, his voice heavy with worry. "I've heard stories about the Radio Demon's deals. They always come with a catch, something hidden in the fine print."

Vinyl nodded, her eyes downcast. She took a sip of her whiskey, wincing slightly as the alcohol burned her throat - a sensation that felt oddly hollow without her voice to accompany it.

"So, did it work?" Buck asked hesitantly. "Did Tempo...?"

Vinyl's face lit up for a moment, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. She nodded, typing out another message: 'We've been together for a few days now. It's been wonderful.'

Buck's brow furrowed. "A few days? How long ago did you make this deal?"

Vinyl's fingers hesitated over the keypad. After a moment, she typed: 'A week ago.'

"A week," Buck repeated, his voice low. Something about that number nagged at him, a half-remembered detail from one of the many stories he'd heard over the years. "Vinyl, these deals-"

He was interrupted by the sudden chiming of the bar's door. Both Buck and Vinyl turned to see who had entered, and Vinyl's eyes widened in surprise.

Standing in the doorway, looking around with a mixture of confusion and determination, was Tempo Blaze.

"Vinyl?" Tempo called out, his eyes scanning the dim interior of the bar. When he spotted her at the counter, relief washed over his face. "There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you."

As Tempo approached, Buck noticed something off about the stallion's demeanor. His movements seemed angry, his eyes hard and guarded. When he reached Vinyl's side, he gave her a curt nod before turning to Buck.

"I need a word with her," he said, his voice carrying an edge that made it clear this wasn't a request.

Buck eyed the stallion warily but nodded, pushing back from the counter. "I'll give you two some space." He retreated to the other side of the bar, pouring a customer a drink and pretending not to watch as Tempo turned his attention back to Vinyl.

"I thought I told you to stay put," Tempo snapped, his gaze stone cold and relentless.

Vinyl quickly typed a response, her fingers tapping anxiously on the keys.

'I needed a drink.' She displayed the screen to Tempo, her eyes carefully avoiding his.

"The bar at the hotel wasn't good enough?" he demanded, his voice sharp like a whip. “Or are these pigs more your speed”

Vinyl stiffened, her eyes flashing at the insult. With a swift motion, she typed out her response and shoved the screen towards Tempo: ‘They are good people, Tempo. You have no right to judge them.’

“Will you stop using that damn phone and start talking?” Tempo erupted, frustration spilling into his voice as he slapped the phone out of her hands and onto the bar floor.

The impact caused the phone to skitter away, landing with a clatter under a nearby stool. The bar fell into an eerie silence, all eyes shifting towards the two. Vinyl froze for a second, staring at her phone on the floor before her gaze snapped back towards Tempo.

“Well? Speak up!” Tempo demanded. “What, can’t even talk to me anymore?!”

Vinyl’s eyes flashed with a expression of fear on her face. She looked directly at Tempo, her lips parting slightly as if about to speak. But nothing came out. murmurs swept through the bar, growing in volume as the seconds ticked away. Tempo’s face twisted in anger and embarrassment. He gaped at Vinyl, seemingly speechless for a moment before his own words found him again.

“Answer me!” he bellowed, lifting one of his arms, his hands curled into a fist.

“Hey!” Buck shouted as swiftly grabbed hold of Tempo’s arm. “I think it’s time you left”

“Get your fucking hand off me,” Tempo snarled, his gaze flashing daggers at Buck as he tried to shake off the bartender's grip.

Buck Wild said nothing as he grabbed the back of the pony’s neck and forcefully threw Tempo Blaze out of his bar. Tempo staggered, catching his footing before he could tumble onto the pavement. He spun around, green-blue eyes burning with rage as they locked on Buck. But before he could retaliate, the door swung shut in his face with a finality that echoed through the quiet street. A few of the bar's patrons cheered as Buck dusted off his hands and turned back to Vinyl, a look of concern on his face.

“You okay, Vinyl?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry.

The Mare nodded her head before walking over and retrieving her phone, Vinyl immediately started typing out a message before showing the Zebra.

‘Thank you, Buck’

Buck gave a small nod of his head as he read her message, then started clearing away the aftermath of Tempo's short-lived storm. The atmosphere in the bar slowly returned to its usual cheerful ambiance, as the customers began whispering among themselves, their attention no longer held captive by the drama that had unfolded.

Vinyl, still shaken, moved to her usual corner of the bar, the dimly lit alcove offering her a momentary respite from prying eyes. She slid onto the worn leather seat, staring blankly at her phone with narrowed eyes. The soft hum of conversations started to pick up again, intermixed with the clink of glasses and the soft, comforting notes emanating from the jukebox in the corner. It was a familiar tune, one that she had chosen countless times before. But today, it seemed to echo hollowly in the depths of her soul.

Vinyl left the bar after a few more drinks, the world outside seeming colder and more uninviting than usual. She stepped out onto the dimly lit street, the neon sign of Buck's bar casting a glow on the grimy pavement below. She turned her collar up against the night’s chill, pressing her hands into her pockets. As she began her walk home, the cold wind howled through the narrow streets, carrying with it a miasma of grit and decay that was far too common in this part of town.

Finally Vinyl, made her way to her home/store. Making her way upstairs to her apartment, Vinyl unlocked her door and entered. Without warning, the mare was suddenly struck in her face. Vinyl would have screamed had she not given up her voice. She stumbled back, one hand flying to her face as she squinted through tear-filled eyes towards the silhouette intruding in her living room.

The figure stepped forward, a wicked grin barely visible in the gloom of the apartment. It was Tempo, his green-blue eyes gleaming with cruel delight. Vinyl backed away, but the earth pony stallion grabbed her and pulled her into the room.

His hand was firm around her wrist, and despite her struggle to free herself, she could not break his grip. Her heart pounded in her chest as she looked into Tempo's gleaming eyes.

"Thought you could get rid of me, Vinyl?" Tempo sneered, his words slurred slightly from the alcohol. His hand tightened around her wrist, causing Vinyl to wince.

Tempo forced Vinyl to sit on the bed. When she tried to look away, Tempo had his free hand to force her to look him in the eye.

“If you won’t talk, then I’ll make you scream,” Tempo snarled as he then reached for his belt buckle. “You try to run, I’ll make you regret it.”

Vinyl could only watch as he fished out his flaccid dick and pushed it in Vinyl’s face.

“Open your mouth,” Tempo demanded.

Vinyl Scratch initially refused to comply, that changed however when the earth pony punched her in the face again. Vinyl felt her vision blur, the taste of blood filling her mouth. A taste that was soon replaced with another as Tempo forced his manhood into her mouth. Her eyes burst into tears, and she squeezed them shut, the salty drops falling down her cheeks.

“Yeah, that’s it,” Temp purred as he thrusted his hips. “Suck it. And I better feel you sucking or the next one will pop your eye out~.”

Vinyl fought back the urge to vomit at the threat, her stomach twisting in knots as she forced herself to keep her gag reflex under control. She was well aware that Tempo wasn't bluffing; he had proven it twice already. The last thing she wanted was to endure any more pain than she already had. With a heavy heart, and started to follow Tempo's command, her hope waning with each passing second. Her face was numb with terror and disgust; the taste, the smell, everything about the situation made her stomach churn.

“There we go,” Temp said as he reached down and tore off her shirt, making her breasts bounce free. “These tits are too good for you.” He grabbed one of her breasts and gave it a squeeze as he forced more of his cock down her throat.

Clearly unprepared for the sudden influx, Vinyl choked, coughing violently. Her eyes welled up with tears, but she swallowed hard, fighting to breathe through her nose. She wished she could pass out, but the fear of what would happen kept her painfully awake.

"You're lucky I'm being gentle," Tempo sneered, his voice a low growl, "You should have seen how I treated that last bitch."

Vinyl’s eyes widened as she remembered the mare she saw running outside of his home, the mare with the bruise on her face…she was with Tempo before her. The memory filled her with an added layer of dread, making her feel even more helpless.

“Urf! Your throat is nice and tight~. I feel like cumming already~!” He said with sickening glee before he glared at her again. “If you spill a single drop, I’m tearing off your horn!”

Vinyl's heart pounded in her chest like a drum as she tried to obey the earth pony. She could feel his satisfaction at her obedient submission, and a cold shiver of disgust ran down her spine. She kept her eyes closed, praying for the nightmare to be over soon, but it only seemed to stretch on forever.

Fortunately and unfortunately for Vinyl, her prayer was answered in the most disgusting way possible. Suddenly, Tempo's grip on her tightened and he groaned loudly, the muscles of his body tensing as he unloaded his vile seed in her mouth. The acrid bitterness made her stomach churn even more, but she held back her reflexes as she remembered his threat.

“Aaaahhh yeah~,” Tempo groaned as spurt after spurt of his foul cum hit the back of her throat. When the last of his essence shot out, he made her slowly pull away and she was sent in a coughing fit while on the verge of vomiting.

“Don’t you dare puke!” Tempo ordered, making her flinch. “Now is where the real fun begins. Turn around on all fours.”

Vinyl hesitated for a moment, her instincts screaming at her to fight back, to make a run for it. But the stern glare in Tempo's eyes made her neck hairs stand on end, and she reluctantly complied, turning around on hands and knees. Before she could take a breath to steady herself, she felt the rough hand of Tempo pressing on her back, forcing her body down onto bed.

Tempo chuckled darkly behind her. “Good girl,” he said, his voice sickeningly sweet as he grabbed the helm of her pant. "You're going to enjoy this,”

Before she could comprehend his words, she felt a sharp pain as he jammed almost all of his cock up her pussy. A jolt of pain shot through her body, causing Vinyl to gasp and squeeze her eyes shut. She bit down on her bottom lip, doing her best not to thrash around from the intense discomfort.

“Like it?” He sneered, ignoring her silent pleas. “Think you can handle it if I go harder?”

Tempo began to thrust his hips into the poor mare. Vinyl’s eyes were leaking tears uncontrollably as she was helpless to be forced to take all of his disgusting dick.

“I wonder what you’d look like knocked up with my bastard~?” Tempo laughed as he groped her ass. “Your tits might get bigger for me to play with~.”

"No!" At least that’s what vinyl wanted to scream.

To Tempo, her suffering and degradation were merely sources of entertainment. His laughter resounded in her ears as he continued to thrust without mercy, the sound blending with his cruel taunts that echoed relentlessly in her mind.

“Yeah! Take it! Take my cock, bitch! I’ll fill you to the brim and knock you up with my foal! Then we’ll see if you’ll be quiet then!” Tempo barked as she raised his hand.

*SPANK!*

Tempo slapped her ass. The sharp stinging sensation sent tremors down her spine, intensifying the turmoil within her. Helpless tears streamed down her face, yet she bit her lip harder to suppress any sound of pain that threatened to escape.

Tempo, however, was in a world of his own. Every thrust of his body was accompanied by another slap of Vinyl’s ass, each blow giving him pleasure and giving Vinyl an increased dose of agony. The agony was unbearable, the humiliation even more so. Vinyl gritted her teeth, trying to block out Tempo's vulgar words. But they were like poison seeping into her mind, staining every thought with his touch.

"Eager, are we?" Tempo smirked, interpreting her lack of response as a silent invitation to continue his brutal assault.

Vinyl squeezed her eyes shut. She wanted to die. To let it all end so she wouldn’t have to continue this torment. Tempo laughed out loud as he kept defiling her.

The agony was an eternity. Each passing second was a relentless assault on her senses. And yet, no matter how much she wished for it all to end, time refused to move along at the speed she so desperately desired. She was trapped in an infinite loop of pain and humiliation.

Suddenly, there was a change. Tempo moved his hands from Vinyl’s rear before finding its way around the unicorn’s neck. He tightened his grip, cutting off her precious breath. A cruel smile curled on his lips as Vinyl gasped and squirmed under his hold.

“You like that, don’t you?” Tempo sneered, smirking at the helpless mare beneath him. The lack of oxygen only served to make the situation even more torturous for Vinyl.

Vinyl’s eyes slowly rolled back as the lack of oxygen made her vision blur.

“Don’t you pass out yet, cunt! I’m almost there!” Tempo ordered as his thrusts became more intense.

That cruel laughter echoed in Vinyl’s ears like the screech of a vulture, chilling her blood. Her clenched teeth drew blood from her bottom lip as she desperately hung on the precipice of consciousness. Tempo's hot, harsh breath was a vile contrast to the chill that held her body captive.

“Fuck…” Tempo moaned as he feverously thrust into Vinyl, his rhythm becoming staggered and rough. His grip on her neck tightened and the last of her air supply was cut off completely. Everything started to go black.

“Here! I! Cum!” Tempo grunted, his words being punctuated by three final brutal thrusts.

With a final series of thrusts, Tempo poured his vile essence into Vinyl, each blast of his seed filling her up, an unwelcome invasion of her body. His grip on her neck slackened as if he'd expended his energy, allowing a ragged gasp to tear from Vinyl's throat. Her vision began to clear, the pinpricks of light slowly morphing back into the grimy room around them.

Tempo released Vinyl before pulling out of her at an agonizingly slow pace, prolonging the horrific experience for her. He withdrew with a wicked grin dancing on his lips as he watched Vinyl’s body tremble beneath him, broken and defeated.

He stood above her, panting heavily as he let his gaze wander over her battered form. “That was fun,” he huffed, pulling up his pants and buckling his belt with a satisfied grunt.

As Vinyl lay there, Tempo gave her one last look.

“If I come back…and I find out…you ain’t knocked up, we’ll go again,” Tempo warned. “And this time…I ain’t stopping until you’re carrying my bastard or I tire of you.”

With Tempo gone, Vinyl soon found just enough strength to curl up and cry her eyes out. Her sobs echoed through the empty room, a haunting symphony of despair and pain. The wetness from her weeping soaked into the dirty mattress beneath her, a testament to her torment.

She could still feel the sting of Tempo’s touch on her skin, an ugly reminder of what he had done. The taste of his sweat and the raw residue of his brutal act was still apparent in her mouth, causing her to retch. The scars he left were not just physical. It was as if he had violated her very soul, that the pain was something primal and deep rooted, a stain she would never be able to wash off.

In the end Vinyl cried all night until she lost every ounce of strength and fell asleep in the gloom of her violated sanctuary.

Morning came and unlike previous mornings, the sun brought Vinyl Scratch back into the dark reality she was now apart of. The mare did nothing but cry for what felt like an eternity before the harsh realization took hold. Her body ached all over, especially her core, where Tempo's brutal assault had left its mark.

She tried getting up from the mattress, but her strength failed and she fell back weakly. finally after what felt like an eternity, Vinyl finally got up and made her way to the bathroom, her limbs trembling from the aftershock of the horror she had experienced. She wanted to wash away the events of last night, but the mirror reflected her battered form back at her, a grim reminder of what she had endured.

Hugging her bruised body with trembling hands, Vinyl slowly made her way towards the shower. The water cascaded down on her like a hailstorm of icy knives, each droplet stinging her beaten skin. Yet she stood there, letting it wash over her, hoping in vain that it might also wash away the pain and the memory.

Often, she would sing in the shower; let her voice echo through the bathroom. But now…now it was a silent chamber of stifling fear and broken dreams. The only sound was the cruel trickle of water against the tile, a chilling reminder of the isolation she caused.

As water soaked her mane, Vinyl closed her eyes, but images of last night danced ruthlessly behind her eyelids. After the hot water made the room all foggy and she somehow managed to wash herself, she slowly turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. There was one thing on her mind that she was dreading. Something that felt like a double edged sword that wouldn’t mean anything good for her regardless of the results. With a shaky hand, she reached for the counter drawer. Inside was a box that held a tool inside that would decide her fate. The broken mare reached inside the box and pulled out a pregnancy stick and just stared at it.

Her heart pounded in her ears as she fumbled with the package, tearing it open with trembling hands. Each heartbeat seemed to echo the dread and uncertainty of her situation. She followed the instructions printed on the box, held her breath, and waited.

Time seemed to stand still as she sat on the cold floor, staring at the pregnancy stick. A crippling fear took hold of her heart as the seconds turned into minutes, the wait slowly gnawing at her sanity. The blue and pink stripes started to materialize, revealing an outcome that could push her into an further into the abyss of despair, or perhaps grant her a temporary solace.

Her gaze wavered between relief and despair as a single blue stripe appeared. Not pregnant. A sigh of relief left her lips, echoing around the now steam-less bathroom. The relief was swiftly replaced with fear…fear of what happened last night would happen again.

Vinyl fell into a deep pit of despair. There just had to be a way out of this nightmare and away from Tempo’s clutches. As her mind raced with options, there was only one that came to mind. Something that she remembered taking to Buck about.

‘They always come with a catch, something hidden in the fine print.’

Though she loathed to admit it, it was in desperate need of a way out. So, with her decision made, she managed to dress herself while buttoning up her jacket to hide the torn shirt and flipping up her collar to hide the hand print on her neck. She exited the room and made her way to the one being who could either be her salvation or downfall. She ignored some of the stares she got, most likely due to her swollen black left eye. She didn’t care. How could she? Her life was already a train wreck as it is.

Vinyl spent the the majority of the day going up and down every street, every alley and every corner of the city, searching for the Radio Demon. Her hooves were aching, her body screaming in protest, but she pushed on with an unwavering determination. The chill of the night air had begun to creep in, shrouding the city in a cloak of dimmed colors and somber silence, the awe-inspiring hustle of the day trading places with nocturnal tranquility. Finally Vinyl had reached her limit and dropped to her knees on the corners of Hay Blvd. and Colt Ave.

Vinyl was on the brink of a full-blown panic attack, about to break down completely, when a familiar voice cut through the tense silence. It was soft, raspy, and filled with radio static, but Vinyl knew it instantly - it was him. The notorious Radio Demon.

Underneath the dim glow of a street lamp, he stood with all his chaotic charm oozing out like an infection. His red eyes glowed with an eerie light, resonating like tiny radios, casting an unsettling wave of shadows playing across his chiseled features. He was leaning casually against his cane, yet there was an undeniable air of danger about him.

"Well, well, Vinyl Scratch," he said, his voice crackling like an old record. "You absolutely dreadful”

The Demon poked at the bruise around the mare’s eyes. “Something like this doesn’t belong on a Mare’s face” Alastor said holding out his hand as a pair of black rimmed and magenta sunglasses appear. “Put these on”

Vinyl shook her head and clasped her hands together and looked at Alastor with pleading eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks. She wanted to scream, she wanted to beg, she wanted him to hear her anguished voice. But nothing came out. However, Alastor knew exactly what she was trying to communicate. And it only made his grin a bit wider.

“You want your voice back,” Alastor mused with a chuckle. “You want me to undo what I have done…But I did everything you asked of me”

The demon sighed, resting his cane against his shoulder and looking up at the starless sky. "You asked me to make your stallion love you, didn't you? And I obliged... what's the problem, Vinyl?" He turned his gaze back to her, the grin still playing on his face.

Vinyl pulled out her phone and began tapping away.

'It’s nothing like I imagined it would be. He’s the polar opposite of what I thought. He’s a monster. The bastard raped me, tried to knock me up. I feel sick to my stomach. This isn’t love. This isn’t anything. He treats me like property. I can’t take this. I’d rather die than to stay with him and be voiceless for the rest of my life. Please, I’m begging you, there has to be some kind of clause or loophole in this contract that can undo all of this. I want my life back. I want to sing again. Please.'

“We had a deal Vinyl Scratch,” The Demon took a step away from the mare, staring down the desolate city street. His cane echoed against the emptiness, each tap reverberating through the silence. His voice continued, unbroken, "But you asked for my help without knowing what kind of stallion Tempo was?"

Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision as she continued to type, her trembling fingers barely managing to hit the right keys.

'I was naïve, blind and desperately in love. I thought he was perfect. That he could do no wrong. But I was wrong.'

Alastor turned around, his crimson eyes staring into the abyss of Vinyl’s anguish as he read the device. "I am not a genie, Vinyl. I can't just take back what you wished for."

Her fingers hovered over the screen of her phone, and then she squeezed out one last message, each word a desperate plea. However, the device was snatched out of her hands.

“However, I will not help you” Alastor said conjuring the scroll that held the terms of their contract. “But I will allow you to discover the exit clause on your own”

Vinyl scanned the contact thoroughly and took in every word. She scanned line after line in a desperate attempt to find something. Anything to get her out of her current situation. It wasn’t until she reached near the end did she freeze up. She found what she was looking for, but it wasn’t what she was expecting. Her eyes slowly looked up at Alastor whose antlers had grown in size and his eyes glowed in the shadows.

“I take it you’ve found it?” Alastor asked his smile showing off his sharpened teeth.

Vinyl could only nod, her gaze fixed upon the clause. She tried to swallow, but her throat was as dry as a desert. The words on the scroll seemed to mock her, their spindly letters forming into a cruel taunt.

"The bonded one shall be released off this contract and have her voice returned only if the one the spell has hold of breaks off the courtship with the one bonded to this contract of his own accord."

Vinyl’s eyes panned down at the ground in despair. This was not what she expected. Not in the slightest. Just then, something shiny caught the corner of her eye. She looked to the side and saw what looked like a small broken piece of glass. With quick movements and eyes full of dread and despair, Vinyl swiped the piece of glass and prepared to jab it in her neck. However, her hand was stopped by an unknown force just as the tip touched her flesh.

"Now, now," Alastor admonished, using his cane to knock the glass out of her grasp before disintegrated into nothing, leaving only a trace of dewy coolness on her skin. "That's not the way out, darling."

Vinyl's body trembled, the despair in her soul overwhelming her senses, her hand still shaking where Alastor had knocked the glass away. She didn't dare meet his eyes, instead focusing on the cool stone beneath her.

"The way out isn't as simple, I fear," Alastor continued, tapping his cane against the concrete floor, creating a rhythmic echo in the gloomy streets. "And I don't think you want to leave this mortal coil just yet."

Her tear-filled eyes looked at Alastor as if asking what else is she to do if her tormentor aims to keep her as a toy for the rest of her life.

“It’s quite simple, my dear” Alastor said taking the scroll from her hand. “All you need to do is get him to break off your courtship…By any means necessary”

Vinyl stopped at his words. The cogs in her mind began to turn. Alastor watched as a darkness filled her eyes as she slowly rose back up to her hooves. Her despair was then replaced with negative ambition as she gently took her phone back and walked away. All the while, Alastor kept grinning as he watched her leave.

“That’s it, Vinyl,” Alastor said with glee. “Embrace your newfound confidence by staining your hands.”

Vinyl pressed her phone to her chest, feeling the cold metal through the fabric of her clothes. A deep, resolute breath fell from her lips as she squared off her shoulders.

‘I will do what it takes,’ Vinyl thought to herself

"And make sure not to kill him," Alastor said, suddenly appearing behind the Unicorn. His hands gripped her shoulders firmly as he continued to whisper in her ear. "If he dies, you'll never regain your voice."

Normally I'd place the A/N here..but...I kinda used it already.....

So...wow....Like I stated in the last chapter.....I did not expect this single deal envolving Vinyl and Alastor to extend this far...and how we're going to have a Part 3 to this deal...wow
With a Third part coming next. I leave you guys with a question. With Poor Unfortunate Souls being as long as it has been. Should I move on to the next deal Chapter or continue with the Main story?

And remember if you want to ask something go for it. I will always address your questions right down here.

And As Always, Stay Tuned Folks