The Bargain Hunter

by

Kathi Deavers  

 

        The crossroads were deserted, just as Tommy had hoped.  He figured they would be since most motorists steered clear of this particular crossroads after “the incident” that had occurred here over two year ago.   Five people had died of mysterious causes late one November’s night . . . had died in a most gruesome manner.  They were found the next day, burnt to a crisp, with crosses stuck through various parts of their bodies.

         Naturally, murder was the first assumption, but the coroner’s report stated that the burning was a result of internal combustion and the stab wounds were self-inflicted.  A second opinion revealed the same results, so their deaths remained an unexplainable mystery, one that most people weren’t comfortable talking about.  The few who did, only said, “It’s the devil’s work!  Stay away from them roads.  Evil doings is all that happens there!”  

        That’s what Tommy was counting on.  That’s why Tommy was there. 

         Tommy Warr was a twenty-year-old nobody.  At least, that’s how he felt about himself.  He was 5' 10” and 145 pounds of skin and bones.  He was average in looks, still wearing his teenage acne, and was a delivery boy for the local grocery store.  He felt like he was a complete and total loser in life and he wanted better.  He came to the crossroads hoping that the rumors were true.  He wanted to strike up a bargain with the Devil, his soul in exchange for rugged good looks and happiness.  He wanted to feel like he was somebody.  He wanted to stand out in a crowd.  Desperate and depressed, this was his final hope.

         Mowery’s Crossroads were located two miles outside of town.  They were way back in the country so the only traffic before the deaths were a few of the local farmers in their pickup trucks or on their tractors.  Now however, being very superstitious, the farmers took alternate routes, leaving the dirt crossroads completely deserted.

         Weeds now covered the area where the connecting roads used to be.  Tommy barely recognized them once he’d reached them.  He stumbled over an overgrown tree root and ended up face down in the middle of the crossroads.  It took him a few moments to realize he had arrived, and once he did, took a few minutes to catch his breath.  Not wanting anyone to know where he was or what he was doing, he had parked his Gremlin at work and walked the whole way, all four miles of it.  His legs felt like rubber and his feet felt very hot.  He took his shoes off, and stretched out in the shade of a huge oak tree.

        The birds were chirping above him and there was a gentle breeze softly swaying the branches of the trees.  Unaware of just how tired he was, he soon fell asleep.

        An hour later, he was awakened by the sound of an approaching vehicle.  He scrambled behind the oak tree, watching for the car.  Then, before it reached him, it turned off on a side road, leaving him by himself once again.

        Tommy looked around for his backpack.  Finding it, he pulled out a bottle of club soda and drank it.  While he was enjoying the soda, he saw something shimmering underneath the weeds by the side of the road.  He walked over to the object, picking it up to examine it.  It was a black crystal shaped like an octagon, pointed at each end.  It was an inch in diameter and three inches in length.  Looking closely at the crystal, Tommy thought that he saw a darkness pulsating from within it.  He noticed that it was warm to the touch, but not the kind of warmth generated by the sun.  It was an evil, menacing warmth that was filtering into his body.  He could feel its power and he liked it.

        “Well, well, my little crystal, are you here for me?”  Tommy asked while staring deep into its ebony abyss.

         The darkness in the middle of the crystal pulsated.

        “I see.  Tell me crystal, just how powerful are you?”

         It immediately became so hot that Tommy dropped it on the ground, leaving a red imprint on the palm of his hand.  For a brief moment, it angered him, but when he glanced over at it, he saw that the darkness inside was growing and it was now larger than the circumference of the crystal itself.  Inside his head, he heard something in a deep voice ask, “What is it that you desire?”              

          Thinking that he had imagined the voice, Tommy didn’t respond.  It spoke again, “You are not imagining this, so I’ll ask you again.  What is it that you desire?  You came to seek me out, now is your chance to speak.  What do you want?”

         Realizing the crystal was speaking to him, Tommy replied, “I want you to make me good-looking.  I want to be happy.  I’m tired of being a nobody.  I want everyone to notice me.”

         “And what do I get for granting you this wish?”

         “I’ll give you anything you ask.  What do you want in return?” Tommy asked without hesitation.

         “The price is quite costly.  It will cost you your eternal soul.  Are you willing to give that to me?”

         This question made Tommy shudder.  It wasn’t the question itself, but rather the hunger and greed that he could sense beneath the surface.  But, he was desperate and willing to pay any price for a taste of a better life, so he agreed.

         “Yes, I will give you my soul if you grant my request.”

          “So be it, then,” it said and a dark ray came out of it, completely covering Tommy’s body.   The blackness enshrouded him for a few minutes and then disappeared.  The crystal vanished, and in its place was a large mirror.  Tommy ran over to it, gazing at his new reflection.

        Tommy was amazed at what he saw looking back at him.  All of his pimples were gone, leaving a smooth, flawless complexion.  His hair was a bolder blonde, and the blue in his eyes were now two shades darker and much more brilliant.  He noticed his arms and legs and how much stronger they were now.  His shorts that were once baggy were now cutting off his circulation.  He couldn’t believe the change.  He was everything he had always wished himself to be!  For the first time in his entire life, he was overwhelmed with happiness.  He was jumping around in circles, yelling when he heard a voice behind him.

        “Well, I don’t guess I have to ask, but I will anyway.  Are you happy with the changes I made for you?”

        The voice startled Tommy.  He jerked around to see what or who was talking to him.  Standing before him was an odd-looking man, holding a bone cane.  Tommy noticed that the man had six fingers on each hand and pointed ears.  He also noticed two small bumps protruding out of the top of his forehead.  In the blink of an eye, it occurred to Tommy that he was now talking to Satan, himself.  He was dumbfounded.

        “Speak up, boy!  Cat got you tongue?”

          “I…..you…..are…,” was all he could say.

          “I am who you think I am, Satan.  I can tell by your expression that I’m not quite what you expected.  Nevertheless, you knew very well whom you were dealing with when we made our little bargain.  Why are you now acting so surprised?”

         “I…well…I….just….thought that the deal was finished.”

          “Oh it is, young fellow.  I just need to know if you are happy with the way that you turned out.  Are you?”

        “Yes, I am very happy!  You gave me just what I wanted.”

        “Good, I’m very glad to hear that.  Since you are pleased with my work, I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain.  Now, it is time for you to fulfill your end.  I’m here to collect.  Are you ready to pay up?”

        “Wha….wha….what do you mean it’s time to collect?”

        “I mean just what I said.  It is time for you to pay me for my services.  You asked me to do something for you, I did.  I gave you exactly what you wanted; you said so yourself.  Now, it’s time for you to give me what I want, or should I say, what you owe me.?”

        “This can’t be!  This just isn’t fair!”  Tommy was starting to get nervous.

          “Have you forgotten who you are dealing with?  I’m not exactly known for my fairness.  Besides, this has nothing to do with being fair or not being fair, we had an agreement and you must abide by it.” 

          “I know we had an agreement and I’m willing to pay up, it’s just that I haven’t had enough time to enjoy my new appearance.  I want more time!”

        “I’m sorry, well actually, I’m not, but giving you time was not part of the agreement.  You said you wanted to be good-looking and happy.  Now, you are both.  My end of the bargain has been fulfilled, just as yours is about to be.  Come, it’s time to go.”

         “Wait!  I also said I wanted to be noticed!  That part of our agreement hasn’t been filled!”

         “It will be soon enough.  It will be soon enough!” Satan said, and laughed a hideous laugh.  It made Tommy shudder.  “Enough of this idol chatter!   I’ve been here too long already,” he said as he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

         A strong odor of sulfur filled the air, causing Tommy to cough.  After the smoke cleared, he surveyed the area looking for any traps.  Finding none, he sighed.  Just as he began to relax, he noticed that his body temperature felt like it was rising.  Sweat started running down his face.  He picked up the mirror and saw that his skin was turning red.  His hair began to smoke and the blood vessels in his eyes were exploding.  Smoke was coming out of his ears and nose.  He was on fire, but not on the outside of his body, he was burning from the inside out.

        Dancing around in circles, he felt his internal organs giving out one by one.  His skin was tearing open, leaving long, dry gaps, turning a crisp, black color.  The internal pressure caused his eyeballs to pop out of his head.  They were swinging around the bottom of his nose, held in place by the retinal artery and the optic nerve.  He was still very much alive and in excruciating pain.  Each breath came harder and harder, until finally his lungs exploded, leaving Tommy dead.

        The next day, a farmer happened to notice smoke rising from the crossroads.  When he investigated the smoke, he found the charred remains of Tommy Warr.

        The authorities were called in and an autopsy revealed that Tommy had died from spontaneous internal combustion.  For a few weeks, he was in all the newspapers, as well as headlining the evening news.

        Tommy went on record as being the sixth mysterious death at Mowery’s Crossroads, and for a time, he was a household name.

 

The last part of the bargain had been fulfilled.  He had been noticed.

 

The End

 

 


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