[ WP ] A cult tries to summon a demon/God but manages to summon you instead .

`` Hello, you've reached Abyss Incorporated. My name is Sharla and I'm pleased to be your customer service representative today. How may I assist you?'' 
 
 `` Uhh...'' There is a scraping on the mouthpiece and a frenzied, if muffled, debate. `` Hello? This is The Abyss, correct?'' 
 
 `` Abyss Incorporated, correct. How may I help you today?'' 
 
 More muffled debate. I catch a few words - positive, ca n't be, what, we did it - the usual. `` We want to bind a contract with The One.'' 
 
 I suppress a giggle as I read through my script. Something about the way the kid is saying things, in that dramatic, clipped way those with no power affect it - it just tickles me. I remember those days, all the eyeliner and piercings. Of course, all it got me was a job with odd hours at a call center. Should I tell him that? `` I'm sorry sir, did you say you would like to purchase one contract?'' 
 
 The kid swallows. He sounds like he's in his early teens. `` We are the true devout. We are the disciples of Ar'gthran. We summon The One true Lord of All to bind our souls in contract. We have the Book. We know the Way.'' 
 
 This time, I ca n't help but laugh. `` Sweetie, it's two in the morning. I have class tomorrow. Give somebody else the sleepover prank call, ok?'' I reach over to hang up the receiver when I hear him shout, `` Wait! WAIT!'' 
 
 I put the phone back to my ear. My cell buzzes, but I ignore the text. `` What's that?'' 
 
 `` I....'' More frantic discussion in the background. This time he does n't bother to cover the mouthpiece. I hear him sigh at his friends. `` I-I have my mom's credit card.'' 
 
 I pause, and my eyes flicker to my sales quota. My sales quota that I'm not even close to meeting. `` You got your mom's information and all that, too?'' 
 
 `` Yeah. We want the contract.'' 
 
 My fingers tingle, and I feel a lump in my throat. What the hell, I'm already in hell anyway. How much worse can it be if I con one kid? `` Well,'' I say slowly, licking my lips, `` that... changes things.'' 
 
 `` It does?'' 
 
 `` Oh yes,'' I put my best dramatic hiss into my voice. Four years of theater will do that to a girl. `` The One is pleased with your offering. Read me the card number and the security code.'' 
 
 He does, stumbling through the numbers, his voice shaking. I can almost picture his face. I almost feel bad, but then I remember middle management's faces at the last staff meeting. The One my ass, Dave is the one I'm worried about. I punch the numbers into my computer. My finger hovers over the submit button. `` You sure about this, hon?'' I ask. 
 
 `` Y-yes. We want the contract. We demand the contract.'' 
 
 I shrug. `` Your funeral, kid.'' I hit the submit button. There's a POP! and the world goes black for an instant. When I open my eyes, I'm in some suburban basement playroom, surrounded by five thirteen or fourteen year olds wearing what look like Halloween capes. Candles flicker and sputter around the room, dripping wax into the plush cream carpet. Seems like a fire hazard. An exercise bike reflects the light in the corner. I'm standing on what looks like an extra-large pizza box unfolded and painted with harsh, angular symbols. I've got to hand it to the kid, at least he did n't spray paint his mom's expensive carpet. I've seen that one before. 
 
 The kid closest to me looks up from his polyester hood, eyes shining in the candle light. He's holding an ancient book. It's bound in human skin. I look down again at the symbols at my feet, the shaky line of the circle that confines me. Got paid, get to clean up this mess, and I get dinner. Maybe Dave wo n't kill me after all. I flick my tail and playfully spit fire at the boy's face. He flinches. 
 
 `` Oh, hon.'' I say, `` That's not at all how you draw a summoning circle.''
