Short Stories
When The Deal Is Done
It was the smell that woke me. That putrid stench that filled the nostrils and made the back of my throat burn like I'd just taken a swig of battery acid. The smell of death.
I had almost forgotten that stench. It had been many years since it had permeated my dreams and awoken me in much the same state that I found myself in now - sweating, breathing heavily, the feeling that his heart was slowly being ripped from my chest.
"Hello, old friend"
The smile held no warmth, he stood staring, like he could see right into my soul.
'It probably can'
"Has it been twenty years already? It seems like only yesterday we made our deal."
The figure standing over my bed made no sound. Instead he just pointed at the window, as if wanting to show me something outside.
"Can I not have a small extension? Say another five years? I'm not finished yet."
I knew it was pointless, but I asked anyways. A deal is a deal, and when signed in blood and paid for with your soul, there was no arguing, no changing the terms.
The figure stared at me, if stare is the right word, for he had no eyes to stare with. But I could tell he was staring at me. I hoped that he was considering my request, but I knew deep down that he wasn't. He was probably wondering who I was to dare ask for an extension.
A few moments passed, the silence in my bedroom was deafening. Even the regular background noise of the city had gone quiet. It was as if the whole planet was holding it's breath, waiting for this creatures response.
He pointed again at the window, but this time he also raised his right arm and pointed at me. I knew instantly what he meant. This was it. Time had finally run out. The deal was done.
I pulled on my nightgown, it was mid February and damn cold. I wasn't about to let myself freeze to death. The window was stubborn and refused to open with my first attempt. The cold weather had caused the wooden frame to shift, wedging the lock tight. After two more attempts it finally lifted, and I shoved the window as far up as it would go.
As the icy cold wind rushed past me, biting into my very soul and numbing all my senses I had visions of what my future held. What was it really like? Did we really show it as it is? I hoped for my sake not.
Eternity is a long time.
I had almost forgotten that stench. It had been many years since it had permeated my dreams and awoken me in much the same state that I found myself in now - sweating, breathing heavily, the feeling that his heart was slowly being ripped from my chest.
"Hello, old friend"
The smile held no warmth, he stood staring, like he could see right into my soul.
'It probably can'
"Has it been twenty years already? It seems like only yesterday we made our deal."
The figure standing over my bed made no sound. Instead he just pointed at the window, as if wanting to show me something outside.
"Can I not have a small extension? Say another five years? I'm not finished yet."
I knew it was pointless, but I asked anyways. A deal is a deal, and when signed in blood and paid for with your soul, there was no arguing, no changing the terms.
The figure stared at me, if stare is the right word, for he had no eyes to stare with. But I could tell he was staring at me. I hoped that he was considering my request, but I knew deep down that he wasn't. He was probably wondering who I was to dare ask for an extension.
A few moments passed, the silence in my bedroom was deafening. Even the regular background noise of the city had gone quiet. It was as if the whole planet was holding it's breath, waiting for this creatures response.
He pointed again at the window, but this time he also raised his right arm and pointed at me. I knew instantly what he meant. This was it. Time had finally run out. The deal was done.
I pulled on my nightgown, it was mid February and damn cold. I wasn't about to let myself freeze to death. The window was stubborn and refused to open with my first attempt. The cold weather had caused the wooden frame to shift, wedging the lock tight. After two more attempts it finally lifted, and I shoved the window as far up as it would go.
As the icy cold wind rushed past me, biting into my very soul and numbing all my senses I had visions of what my future held. What was it really like? Did we really show it as it is? I hoped for my sake not.
Eternity is a long time.