The Devil Lives on 8th Street: Part Three of Three

Sasha, Joe Barcelona and Mitch drove to the Devil’s house, but not until the game had ended. To Mitch’s relief, or complete dismay, the Barracudas had lost the game. Sasha’s feelings were reverse. And she was considerably more hesitant to go the Devil’s place as she wasn’t quite ready to lose her soul--even after the incredible season her Gorillas had played, fulfilling her wildest dreams.

The Devil was again polishing his Guitar Hero skills when the trio came into the empty bottle-occupying, poster-lined living room. In fact, the Devil kept playing when inquired about his contradicting deals. The Devil calmly explained that he received far too many “soul offers” on the game, like all big sports games, to bother taking a side. It simply wasn’t worth changing fate--and he wasn’t alone in that thought process.

Like the eternal, infernal bookie that he is, the Devil just lets people make their bets and collects his debts. If the Devil “fails” to deliver on his end of any bargain, the deal is void and people keep their souls. But the Devil doesn’t forget when he wins, so he’d like Sasha Madison to stick around a little longer.

“If you don’t change fate, how about another bet?” Mitch challenged.

Mitch laid it on the line. One game of Rock Band. Double or nothing on Sasha’s debt. Joe Barcelona offered his own soul, too. Three souls. One song. Played twice.

The Devil accepted the group’s gauntlet drop. And with that he called up his band from Hell, named “Holy Carmelsauce.” The Devil himself would play lead guitar. At bass there was Sid Vicious. Keith Moon was behind the drums and Ron Jericho at vocals.

“Ron Jericho?” Sasha questioned.
“A 1940s singer who hunted only cute animals in his spare time.”
“Bastard.”

But Mitch’s band needed a singer, so they requested, and instantly received, Paul McCartney. Paul wasn’t too confused by the Devil’s tomfoolery, as they had met in 1966 when the Devil saved Paul from a deadly car crash.

Holy Carmelsauce went first, as decided by a coin flip, and rocked pretty hard. Really hard. In fact, they got a 97% on the Expert rating. Meanwhile, Mitch and Paul tried to teach Sasha and Joe Barcelona how to play. When it came to their turn, Mitch held his breath and started the song.

For reasons defying any Earthly logic, Mitch, Sasha, Joe and Paul executed the entire song perfectly. Everybody, including the first-timers, freaked out and rocked out just enough to randomly hit every single note. When the final tune had been strummed, the Devil knew he had been beat and everybody was free to go and spend the rest of their lives failing to explain how they had achieved such unexpected greatness and to an audience so small.