“Order Up” I yelled as I slid another cheeseburger under the hot lamp. I grabbed the ticket off the wheel, spinning it to next order and stabbing the ticket though the check spindle. Another slow Sunday night. I was stuck on the graveyard shift, I act like I hate it but I actually don’t mind it. Plus the extra dollar twenty five an hour bump really does me good.

I had about twenty more minutes left in my shift, with only two more tickets left on the wheel. Working at the Lucky Star Diner was never my dream. When I was young growing up in Las Vegas I had always dreamed of working at one of the 5 star restaurants or learning from some celebrity chef. But instead I flip burgers for drunks and chase out the homeless.

The bell over the door dings as a man in a long black coat and hat walked in and sat at the bar. I always found it strange when sober people who looked like they had a place to stay came in at this hour. Usually I assume they are here to spend the last of their money on a cheap meal before returning home.

“One burger.” he said in a gruff voice not looking up from the menu. “No sides.”

Man this guy must be down bad, cheese is only an extra 10 cents, I thought to myself.

“Order Up.” I called out again as I pulled down the next ticket from the wheel. Stacy slid the man's new ticket onto the wheel, and turned away without saying anything to me.

I threw the plain old burger onto the grill and flipped the other burgers. I pulled the fries in the deep fryer out and threw them into the bin, sprinkling salt over them. As I turned around to put the metal basket back into the deep fryer something moving across the kitchen caught my eye.

“Fuck!” I whispered out loud. The Lucky Star can’t deal with another rat problem. I thought Gus the owner had taken care of them. “I really need to get out of this shit hole.”

I was about to call over when Kevin bursted in through the back door and punched his time card.

“I’m not late, get lost.” Kevin said in a gruff voice. Kevin worked the morning shift. He really hated being around the late Night Shift crew, understandably. I had been told that he is a really nice guy after five am. But whenever he takes over for me he sure is rude.

“Whatever man.” I replied. “Let me get my shift meal and I’ll get out of here.” I punched my card into the time clock and stuffed my time card back into the board. I grabbed the strange man’s burger and walked it to the front and sat it down in front of him.

“Thanks” He growled. Still not looking up from the bar.

I took off my greasy apron and tossed it into the dish rag bin at the end of the bar. I poured myself a glass of iced tea and sat a few seats down from the strange man who was devouring his burger.

“Shit” I thought “Looks like we have a dasher, whatever I am off the clock.” I turned and waited for Kevin to finish my cheeseburger.

As I sipped my iced tea, I couldn't help but glance at the mysterious man out of the corner of my eye. He devoured the plain burger with an intensity that seemed unusual. The bell over the door chimed again as the door swung open, and a gust of cold air brushed against my face. I turned back to see Kevin approaching with a bag containing my cheeseburger.

"Here,” Kevin grunted, handing me the bag without making eye contact. Kevin never seemed to be in a good mood, but I didn't care; my shift was done, this place was no longer my problem.

I grabbed the bag and made my way toward the exit. Just as I reached the door, the mysterious man looked up from his meal. His eyes, obscured by the shadow of his hat, locked onto mine for a moment. It sent a shiver down my spine, but I brushed it off. I must be more tired than I thought.

As I stepped out into the cool Vegas night, I took a deep breath. The neon lights of the Strip flickered in the distance, and I felt a strange mixture of relief and unease. The Lucky Star Diner was none of my concern now, at least for tonight.

I strolled down the quiet streets, the distant sounds of the city echoing in my ears. The streets seemed emptier than usual for Las Vegas, but I shrugged it off. My mind was still on that mysterious man and the feeling I had felt when our eyes met.

Turning the corner, I caught sight of a figure in a long black coat and hat. It couldn't be the same guy, could it? I quickened my pace, my curiosity getting the better of me. As I approached, I realized it was him. The man from the diner.

He stood in the dimly lit alley, staring at a flickering neon sign. When he noticed me, he simply nodded and gestured to the bag in my hand. "Enjoy your meal," he said, his voice less gruff than before.

As I continued down the quiet streets, the dimly lit alley where I had last seen the mysterious man loomed in my thoughts. I shook off the strange encounter, chalking it up to the weariness of the graveyard shift. The city's shadows seemed to dance eerily around me, but I pressed on.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me, echoing through the emptiness of the night. I quickened my pace, glancing over my shoulder. There he was again—the man in the long black coat and hat, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

"Nice night for a stroll, don't you think?" he remarked, his voice now surprisingly smooth. I hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

"I noticed you're not too thrilled with your job at the Lucky Star," he continued, as if reading my thoughts. "I can offer you a way out, a chance for something more."

His offer hung in the air, shrouded in mystery. I stopped in my tracks, skepticism and curiosity battling within me. "What do you mean? Who are you?"

He stepped closer, the dim light revealing a face obscured by shadows. "Let's just say I can make your dreams come true, but not without a cost."

The air grew colder, and the distant sounds of the city faded into an unsettling silence. I felt a chill run down my spine, but something in his offer intrigued me. The monotony of flipping burgers for drunks had worn me down. Maybe this was my ticket out. My chance to make it.

"What do you want in return?" I asked cautiously, my voice barely above a whisper.

He grinned, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Oh, just a small favor. Nothing you can't handle."

With those words, he handed me a small, nondescript package. "Deliver this to a place called The Haven. You'll know it when you see it. Your dreams will come true once the delivery is complete."

I hesitated, the weight of his proposition settling over me like a heavy fog. The package felt cold and mysterious in my hands.

"What if I refuse?" I asked, trying to maintain a semblance of control.

The man's grin widened. "You don't want to find out. But remember, the Lucky Star Diner won't be the worst place you've ever worked."

The alley seemed to close in around us, and the shadows whispered secrets that I dared not comprehend. With a nod, he disappeared into the darkness, leaving me alone with the package and a choice that would change the course of my life. As I stood there, the echoes of his footsteps faded, and the city's symphony resumed, unaware of the fortunate bargain that had just been struck.

"What kind of deal had I really made?" I asked myself as I headed to the address on the package. I stopped and decided to look into the box to see what I was carrying, just in case the police stopped me.

I opened the box slowly under the flickering glow of the alley light. I squinted as I read a small piece of paper. "Your soul" was written on the slip.

Right then and there, I understood what was being asked of me. I closed the box, tucked it safely under my arm, tossed aside my bagged cheeseburger and walked into the darkness of the alley. I had been waiting for this, praying for this moment, my chance to make a deal with the Devil.