He welcomes the night’s blanket of darkness with an open mind, sitting alone watching the ember of his cigarette smolder down to a tar stained filter. Empty bottles lying around tell of the days welcoming, attempting to forget the loneliness in his heart.
The ocean beckons to him with its thunderous calls, while hypnotic pulls tempt him in promising sweet satisfaction. With a kiss the wind passes him on its way by keeping his body at bay, but his intoxicated mind continues to wonder. Millions of celestial angels only belittle him in his insignificant existence. Frogs sing to the night continually awaiting a kiss from their princess to set them free. An ironic smile crosses his face for he also awaits the same kiss. Sadly, a star falls and is reverenced with a wish. How he wishes he could hold her tonight.
As if awakened by the wish the darkness grows silent and a demon spreads its wings. The stars seem to cry out in an awe struck horror as the demon takes flight. Sorrow seems to be the air under its wings, pain seems to give it speed, and death seems to give it life.
The demon appears only as a shadow in front of the man as another bottle drops to the ground adding to the existing collection. The demon tucks its wings and everything goes still. The air seems dead, lifeless at its presence. The light from the cigarette reveals its ghost like skin. The embers dance off its demonic eyes in such a fashion any man would have no choice but to be captivated by them. While it speaks, its voice comes only as a whisper, trapped within a melancholy melody.
Transfixed in the demon’s words, lost in its endless melody, the man began to cry. “I can take you to her tonight.”
To his poor Emily? The same Emily that was found swinging from tree on Christmas morning, her face as white as the snow that lay upon her shoulders. Such a cold passing into the fires of hell. Her eyes too bright to be trapped in such darkness. A place too far for him to follow.
The man finds himself upon his feet even though he knew not how. With every step an angel weeps as he moves toward the demon’s hand. Above another star falls but there is no wish, not this time. To his right a moth is caught in its keeper’s web, never again to know the freedom of flight and the man moves forward. The frogs below, in their jealousy, serenade him to the beat of his racing heart and yet he moves closer.
Ocean air burns his lungs in desperate warning but he’s almost there.
His trembling hand sweeps the water from his eyes because for this he’ll want to see.
The demon’s touch is cold, cold as his Emily. Its breath is sweet and oddly familiar. His eyes move upward toward his demon’s face, the last face he will ever see. No words can find the man’s tongue, nor will he use them if they do. For in that moment, the demon smiles the smile of his Emily.
©2009 Joshua Day
August 27th, 2009 at 7:15 am
That was amazing! Hopefully soon there will more from Mr. Day.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Great story! Very well written!
III
August 27th, 2009 at 8:54 am
That was beautiful! It was like a song singing in my head. Really nice work. Thank you.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Excellent story - the poetic prose builds the atmosphere wonderfully
August 27th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Thank you! this is my first flash and your kind words mean a lot!
August 27th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Brilliant and very poetic. What a great talent. Looking forward to reading more of your work.
August 29th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Totally awesome piece!!! I really enjoyed this piece of literature and cannot wait for another piece t obecome available soon, via internet of book. I LOVE IT!!! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
August 30th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
great story! please keep publishing this writer! very ‘capturing’ words… nice.
September 5th, 2009 at 1:57 am
Poetic horror…
September 14th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
wow…Brian was right, I’d be intimidated to follow this story too, very well written for a first story!
August 4th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
You are so talented! Never quit writing please
This was amazing.