Satan Said Hi

By Omar El Kadioui El Idrissi

A guy named Chris meets whom he calls Satan. Will the latter change him or simply reveal the hidden?

“Though I wonder. Does time change us or reveal our true selves?”—Chris.
The novella raises an important question about time and change. The story follows Chris, the protagonist, and his everyday experiences and conflicts through which he discovers who he really is. Chris is not an ordinary guy. His past was lost. His present is dark. Is his future going to be bright? After all, don't the stars shine the brightest in the darkest nights?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Omar El Kadioui El Idrissi
• Release date: Nov 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9780463893364

Omar El Kadioui El Idrissi

Just an ordinary guy who enjoys writing.I mostly write general fiction books with a strong emphasis on psychological, social, and existential themes.I promise you won't regret reading one of my works :)

Book preview

Preface

It’s been over a year since the idea of this book occurred to me. However, procrastination and lack of determination seemed to win in the beginning. I doubted that I could actually write a novella. At first, 10,000 words—the goal I had set—seemed impossible. I had no way of writing such a long, good story. I’d barely thought about the main plot. I didn’t have any events in mind. And my biggest problem was that I wanted to write my first book before I turn 20. Not until the last few months did I start seriously working on it. I ended up writing almost 40,000 words. Writing this book was a long journey, a journey in which I faced some challenges, but I enjoyed it very much. I put my all into this book, and, thankfully, I wasn’t disappointed by the result. Honestly, I’m very proud of myself for finishing this book. I’ve never been prouder.

CHAPTER I

I MET THE DEVIL

We close our eyes every night, having in mind that we’re just going to sleep, that we’ll wake up again, but in reality, we don’t even know if we will be able to open them the following day, if the last time we close them is, indeed, the last one.

Yet I opened my eyes that morning.

Crap …

The sun rose, and the birds were singing. A new morning had begun. The world hadn’t ended yet, unfortunately.

Another boring day of my life has just started.

Yawning, I got off my bed, went to the bathroom, and then I found myself gazing into the mirror for a few seconds. Although I believed I was ugly, I couldn’t help but stand in front of the mirror every once in a while. People often liked my short dark brown hair, they said, but it didn’t really matter to me. I was tall but skinny, which made me look even skinnier, and that kind of annoyed me.

I wish I had black eyes, I complained as I looked uninterestedly at the reflection of my brown eyes.

I opened the fridge, and it was empty, just like me. A cup of juice could have been nice, but I learned not to let my hopes up. After all, life and I had never been on good terms.

I wanted to make some coffee, but there wasn’t any left.

I’m sure today is going to be awesome.

I should probably write a note or something and stick it on the—oh …

There was already a note on the fridge. I didn’t remember writing it, and I certainly didn’t remember to check it.

After I had put on my clothes, a black suit, specifically, I wore my earbuds too. I had a classic taste in both fashion and music.

I took another look in the large mirror in the hallway before I went out to work without having breakfast, as usual. I wondered when the last time I had breakfast was, but I couldn’t remember. To be honest, I couldn’t even remember how I spent the day before, or the one before it.

Huh, I sighed, amnesia. Just what I need!

I went out. I looked across the street, and my eyes fell on my neighbor, who had put his house on sale, talking to a girl with blue-dyed hair.

She turned around, and her amber eyes met mine, but I turned my face away.

I’ve never had a good relationship with my neighbors anyway. Why would I start having one now?

There was something that had been bothering me. Heading to work, I felt like I was being watched. I didn’t know who or what was watching me, though.

I laughed at myself because I knew well that no one would waste their time spying on someone like me, but the feelings of worry remained.

I hope I’m just hallucinating.

My guts told me the worst possible scenarios, but eventually, I chose to believe it was just my paranoia.

I got to work, sat at my desk, and started working on my laptop. To be fair, the salary was great, but it wasn’t worth it.

Why do I have to spend my life like this? Do I even have to? Working, eating, and sleeping. Every day, every week, every month. It’s only been a year and a half, but this cycle is driving me crazy! I wish I could—

Chris! shouted a young girl.

She was standing at the door. It was Becky, a French coworker who had been acting as if we were friends, whereas I didn’t give the slightest damn about her.

Here we go again, I murmured. Then, Hello, Becky, I said, cheerfully, or at least, I tried.

She always seemed happy with that silly smile of hers, but I never really got to know why.

The older I grow, the maturer I get. The more I think, the less I become happy. We spend our lifespans seeking meaning for our lives, but we forget to live … Well, not her. Dummies live happier.

"Bonjour! She smiled. I just wanted to say hi. Am I annoying you?" she questioned with an annoying French accent.

Of course you are.

Of course not, I replied, with a fake, warm smile.

I know, I know, she said, proudly. The thing is ⸺

Then I lost track of what she was saying. I, honestly, was staring at her freckles, her ginger hair, and her small-sized body. Scanning her, precisely.

You’re just the type of woman I dislike.

⸺ And that’s why I was thinking th—

Hey, Becky, I’m kind of in the middle of something here. Maybe we can talk later?

And shouldn’t you be working as well?

Okay, sure. See you later! she said, then she went out after smiling and waving at me.

God, finally! What’s with her? She never gets annoyed. I mean, she’s not that stupid not to notice that I don’t want her around.

Maybe she is?

Having her as a coworker was a nightmare, but, unluckily, I could do nothing about it. What made it even worse was that I suspected she got her eyes on me, but I hoped I was wrong.

I don’t want to be the reason for someone’s misery, even if they mean nothing to me.

That was one of the few times I wished I was wrong.

I knew exactly what made her interested in me, and I wished I could change it.

It happened about six months ago when she was new to the country. I was in my office, minding my business, as usual, when the boss come in with her.

Chris, I would like you to meet your new colleague, Becky. From now on, she is going to work in the office next to yours.

Hello, Chris. Nice to meet you, she said, holding out her hand.

I shook her hand. Hi. Happy to have you around here.

My very first words to her were lies.

Thank you … she mumbled, her eyes down.

I’d like you to show her how things work here. Maybe a little tour around?

Yeah, sure.

And I was stuck with her. I thought she was more of a shy person, and that made me feel reassured, since it meant there weren’t going to be any conversations between us. But of course, life didn’t want me happy. She turned out to be the most talkative person I’d ever known. She just couldn’t stop talking. I wanted to slam my head into the wall over and over until it cracked open.

That day, she told me everything about her from soup to nuts, starting with why she had left Grigny and finishing with the name of her pet that had died three years before. Of course, all of it went straight to the trash folder.

She suddenly started sobbing. I … I’m scared. I don’t know anyone here, and …

Tears do not solve problems.

I tried to knock some sense into her without being the emotionally-supporting guy, so she wouldn’t take it the wrong way.

She wiped her tears. I only have one dream … I came from a poor family. I want to make a lot of money then go back to my home … I want them to have an easy life. I want to buy them a big house. I want them to taste delicious food. I want them to wear nice and clean clothes. They were there for me, and they even supported me when I wanted to come here. I just want to make them happy. That’s my dream.

Why call it a dream when you can call it a goal?

She looked straight into my eyes, hers full of hope. You’re right … But … what if I fail? What if can’t do my job well? What if I get fired? What if takes me a very long time? What if—

What if you stop saying ‘what if’ for a moment? The fear of failure will always drag you down. If you’re not ready to put anything on the table, you won’t get anything in return. Believe in yourself. Work on your goals. Achieve them.

And so, things I’d never thought I’d say, never even thought they were there, kept coming out of my mouth.

Right … And even if I do a mistake, it’s okay. I will just learn from it. We all do mistakes, right? she wiped a tear from her eye.

It’s actually make, but … Ah, the irony.

Right …

"… You’re very wise, Chris. Merci beaucoup," she thanked me, while holding my hand.

I knew very well that wasn’t a sign of something good. And I was right. I somehow ended up being the emotionally-supporting guy without even realizing it.

When I noticed she was smiling at me, realizing that she might be the clingy type, I calmly panicked. I smiled back at her while damning myself for eternity.

I went to the café to meet my two and only friends. They were not just some friends. They were the only people I felt comfortable talking to. When I arrived, they were already waiting for me. And when I got close, they got up to greet me, cheerfully.

On the left stood my dearest friend, Matthew, a well-built young man with light brown eyes and hair, who was the reason why I was still alive, literally. And on the right stood the girl I cared about the most, Alyssa, the second prettiest girl I’d ever seen.

Those blue eyes of yours make my day every time I see them, Alyssa. I wish you knew that.

I took a chair, then I asked them why they invited me to such an empty place.

We were almost the only ones sitting there.

At least we have all the place for ourselves, said Matt, smiling.

I couldn’t agree more because I hated crowded places.

I ordered a cup of black coffee, then I looked toward them only to see that they hadn’t ordered anything for themselves yet.

Won’t you order something, Matt? I asked.

No, I’m cool.

What about you, Alyssa?

I’m not really in the mood.

Is there something wrong? I said, unhappily.

Is it about today …?

No, it’s nothing. She smiled, innocently. Don’t think about it. I came here to have a good time with you two.

Is that so? I showed a smile, a real one, and took a sip of my cup.

We talked for hours. They seemed like minutes. While we were chatting, I

Reviews for Satan Said Hi

[DarkPool · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best novellas I have ever covered, gorgeous .