The devil is real.

And he's not a little red man with horns and a tail.

He can be beautiful — because he's a fallen angel and he used to be God's favourite.

Until the past came crawling back, destroying everything he started to love — ruining his dreams and making his life hell. Right where he belonged. Where he always belonged.

Maybe being God's favourite took a turn, maybe he was never cut out to be an angel. His soul was made for the darkness of this earth, but he was pushed out into the light by the people who cared about him the most.

Showing him everything he wasn't good at, pressuring him into trying out things he didn't like. He thought it was teasing.

It was like dangling meat in front of a tiger, so he took it out on them.

Slamming doors, yelling insults, throwing glass, drowning in the voices that whispered lies — rumors — about what people said about him.

Rafe didn't know how to make it stop. Every hour of every day, he sat in his room, the shadows taking him in until the sun rose up, scaring them away.

He hated how his mind repeatedly showed him the ways he ruined peoples lives. He thought he was done for — until a light, too strong to be eaten under the shadows, appeared, so bright Rafe needed to take a closer look.

Kind-hearted and full of love — looking like a sculpture made from summer flowers and spring trees — you looked like the person he wished for to make him change, his saviour.

You made a clear difference from the cold, dark night. A warm smile and a laugh so soft, Rafe was enchanted. Watching you with admiration as he stood behind Topper and Kelce. He blinked, and realised what he was doing. He couldn't love you. You were too sweet, too kind.

But he had to at least speak with you, just once.

Rafe tossed his empty, red solo cup behind him and tapped Kelce on the shoulder. "Who's she—that girl near Sarah?" He asked, his eyes indistinctively drifting back towards you.

Kelce looked over his shoulder, his eyes easily catching you from the way you stood out. "Her? Oh, Rafe, my man, she's—y'know what? I won't even tell you, man, go get her." Rafe stumbled as Kelce pushed him towards you, annoyance quickly seeping through his expression.

His hands were ready to shove Kelce back — or worse — before he heard the gentle sound of your laugh, which made him feel the weird, angry voice in his head disappear.