#TheWritingProject

Have you ever had the feeling that someone was watching you? It’s not a feeling you can describe if you wanted to. It is just an inner knowing, as if there are invisible fingers that are flying from their eyes and gently grazing you, teasing you. When you quickly feel the area as if there is a bug crawling on you, yet there is nothing there. It’s almost as if there is a heat signature left behind, but you just can’t quite prove any of it happened or that there was anything at all. Only what I could describe as the feeling of devil eyes burning your skin. You quickly look around in a panic. Is there anyone looking at me? Will anyone lock eyes with me? Will I catch someone staring at me? Am I going crazy? At this point everyone is probably staring at me, who am I kidding. No one is looking at me, perfect. Time to just carry on.

I just got off of work, so maybe it’s all the nerves of the day at the office that is making me feel uneasy. I am taking the bus, it’s kind of uncomfortable as it is, right? There’s a lot of people on here, I am sure someone was looking at me. This is probably just a big joke to them at this point. Ok, scan the bus, don’t make it obvious. I am on the middle left of the bus, start with in front of you all the way to the driver. Slowly turn your head, no one is looking at you. Alright Richard, I think you are playing games with yourself. Look all the way behind you, ok no one is even paying attention. Wait, who is that? There he is, just staring at you. At the back of the bus, opposite side.

Maybe he’s not looking at you, look around, is there someone or something else he could be looking at? Nope, he is definitely looking at me. I knew it. He’s just staring, with a smile. Dressed very nice, in what seems to be some sort of designer suit, every bit of it black except the shirt is a deep red. He has neatly combed hair parted to the side, its black with a few grey streaks. Mustache and goatee perfectly groomed with what looks like a sharp point coming off of his chin. He has an eerie feeling about him, creepy. This is even more uncomfortable now that I noticed him. He won’t take his eyes off of me even though he knows I know he’s looking at me. I am going to get off at the next stop, I don’t care, just nod, smile and look away. Here we are, next stop, perfect, right at the shopping center. I could really use going to Barnes and Noble. Grab a coffee and try to just relax and look at a magazine or something.

I didn’t see him getting off of the bus, in fact I am sure I am the only one who got off. Man that was really weird, why was that guy just staring at me? Alright, let’s get over this, first step Starbucks.

“Welcome to Starbucks, what can we get started for you?” asked the barista.

“Hi, can I please get a venti white chocolate mocha with almond milk? That will be it.” I replied.

“Your total will be six dollars and thirty six cents; will that be cash or card? Can I get a name for the order?”

“I will pay with the app, thank you. My name is Richard.”

“Thank you Richard, your order will be up shortly and called out over at that counter.”

Time to find a magazine, how about classic cars, there is something relaxing about a nice American muscle car. Alright, now let’s go find a table to sit down and relax.

“Richard, venti white chocolate mocha.”

Perfect, I’ll go grab my coffee and look at all these nice cars. Sit down, open up the magazine, wow! That is an amazing sixty-nine Pontiac GTO Judge. Matte black, with matching matte black rims. So beautiful, what I would do to get one of those.

“What would you do for one of those?” A deep raspy voice says in front of me.

I look up and I see the man from the bus. This can’t be! I’m in shock, I don’t even know what to say.

I respond shakily, “What? Did you follow me off the bus? How did you get off the bus? Are you following me?”

“Never mind all that, I am Samael, but I just go by Lou to make it easy.” He sits down at my table without asking and continues, “I saw you on the bus. I could tell there was something special about you. You have some deep desires and dreams. I am able to help you with them.”

“What, what do you mean? Listen Lou, you are really starting to freak me out right now.”

“Richard, stop. I promise, I will be able to fulfill every desire you’ve ever had.”

“How did you know my name was Richard? What do you mean you could fulfill every desire I’ve ever had?”

“I know everyone’s name at a Starbucks. All you have to do is look at their name written down on their cup. Ha ha, or what if I told you I know everyone’s name anywhere? Ok, I’ll stop with that. Let’s get down to business. What is your every desire? What is it you really want out of life? Nothing too big, nothing too weird.”

“Ok Lou, I’ll play along. Let’s see, I want this car on the picture here. I want a big mansion. I want twenty million dollars in my bank account so I can quit my job. Oh yea, I want a beautiful wife who is so in love with me.” At this point I have a huge grin on my face. There is no way he can fulfill any of this, right?

“That’s its Richard? Easy, all you have to do is sign this paper, go home and go to sleep. When you wake up, your dream will be reality.”

“What? Are you serious? What is this paper?” I look at the paper and realize I can’t read it. “What does this say? I can’t read it.”

“It doesn’t say much. It’s more of a type of memento for me. See, I am capable of imaginable things and it makes me very happy to help others. All I ask is for a signature.”

“Fuck it, I’ll sign your paper, Lou. What’s the worst that could happen anyway? I get what I want?” I proceed to sign the paper and slide it to him across the table. There was a weird noise behind me so I turn around to look, nothing. I turn back around to talk to Lou some more, he’s gone. Where did he go? How did he move so fast? Especially without me hearing. This night has been weirder and weirder. I am just going to go home and get some rest. I am sure I will wake up to all of my desires I sarcastically thought. I chuckle to myself while throwing my cup in the trash on the way out. Now I make my way home and when I finally get there, I am beat. I rush to bed without hesitation or doing anything else. I take off my clothes and plop down on my bed and pass out willingly.

I wake, slowly start to open my eyes. Wait, where am I? What is going on here? I seem to be in a big house of some sorts. How did I get here? Don’t panic, just get up, get dressed and try to figure out the situation. Alright, leaving the room and walking down the hall. Here is a huge staircase, follow it down. I am sure it leads to the front door. Maybe I can leave without being noticed. I get to the front door and I hear, “Honey, is that you? Don’t leave yet I have breakfast for you.” A gorgeous brunette comes walking in from what looks like the kitchen. Wow, she’s stunning, and she is wearing very small pajamas that doesn’t leave much to the imagination.

She says to me, “Well, are you going to just stand there or are you going to come join me for breakfast?”

I respond, “Oh, of course. I don’t know what I was thinking. Weird question, or questions. What am I doing here? Who are you?”

“Ha ha, very funny. Like you don’t know your own home and your own wife. Get out of here silly.”

“Right, ha ha, I was just playing of course.”

“Are you going in to the office or just calling to let them know you quit? I am so proud of you for finally doing that. I know you’ve always wanted to.”

“I think I will go in, thanks.”

What in the actual fuck is going on? It’s almost as if Lou was telling the truth about granting my every desires. Oh my god. He did. Let me check my bank account, twenty million dollars. Holy shit, he did it. How? What? I am so confused. I guess I shouldn’t complain, right? I can’t believe this is happening. Wait, let me go outside, I do need to go quit my job anyway. Now for the last bit of it, let’s see if my car is there! Run back upstairs and let’s check out my clothes. Something to wear, something that will make a statement to my boss when I quit. I go into my bedroom and find the closet. Wow, all of these clothes are mine? Holy shit! Its some real fancy stuff I have here, apparently I have really good taste. Just then my wife walks in, she’s wearing nothing.

She says to me, “Hey baby, how long do you think you’re going to be gone? I don’t want to wait too long for you to return. I am not going to put anything on while I wait either.”

I reply shakily while looking her up and down, “Really shouldn’t take long. I promise I will hurry back as fast as I can. Trust me, I don’t want to keep you waiting either.”

I need to find Lou; I can’t believe that this is really my life now. I run downstairs and go out the front door. I don’t think I’ve ran this fast since running during PE in high school, now I am a little out of breath. Oh my god, there it is. That sixty-nine Pontiac GTO Judge, matte black. Oh shit, I forgot to grab the keys. I run back inside as giddy as a kid in a candy store with twenty dollars. I yell to my wife, “Hunny, do you know where I left my keys to the GTO?” She comes walking down the stairs still in her birthday suit holding them. She doesn’t say anything but hands them to me and gives me a big kiss, winks and smacks my ass on the way out the door. Wow, I can get used to this.

I get into my amazing car, sit there and just take in the ambiance. The smell is of old leather. The feel of the steering wheel, everything about it is amazing. Turn the key, the sound of the rumble, the feel of the engine shaking the entire body of the car. The smell of exhaust, but the specific smell only old cars give. How is this real life? Put it into drive, slam on the gas as I peel out of my driveway. Down the street, the menacing sound of my engine roaring like the demon it is. I just realized I have no idea where I am. I pull over and pull out my phone so I can GPS my way to the office. Ok, now I know where to go, wait, pin where I am at so I know how to get back. Slam on the gas again and take off to the office while screaming with joy the whole way.

I arrive safely to the office somehow when I could’ve been arrested for reckless endangerment for how I was driving. I walk in and walk to my boss’s office. He looks at me up and down and says, “Richard, why are you in normal clothes? I heard you didn’t show up on time. What is going on?”

I yell back, “I quit mother fucker! I don’t give a shit! I made it big time, so fuck you!”

At that moment I walked out of his office without any other explanation. I didn’t even look back to see the befuddled look on his face. Now I want to hurry back home and have a great time with my beautiful wife. I wonder if Lou was actually just God in disguise. I still don’t understand how he made this happen. Oh well, I hope I can see him one day so I can thank him.

I pull up home, get out of my car and run inside. “Hunny I’m home.” I yelled out as soon as I walk in the door.

She yells back, “I am in the living room.”

I go through the door where the kitchen is and walk through it to the living room. There she is, sitting, still wearing nothing. I smile really big and then notice that there is someone in the recliner seat. Its Lou, sitting there with that big smile of his.

“Hi Richard. How are you enjoying your most desired life?” Lou said.

“Hi Lou. I don’t know how you did it. This is incredible. How could I ever possibly repay you?” I replied.

“You see, that’s the thing, you signed my contract. That means that you will have a year to live to the fullest. After that, things will start to deteriorate. Your wife here, she will cheat on you. In depression you and her will do lots of drugs which will spend all of your money. Then you will have to sell your house and your precious car. Normally people try to fight for longer time in the fun stages but you were so quick to sign I only had to give you a year.”

“What, what do you mean? I don’t understand. How could this be?” I have a feeling on complete disgust in my stomach.

“Well Richard, that’s what happens when you make a deal with the devil. Come on, Samael, Lou, I am Lucifer Morningstar. I am the devil. You really didn’t think about my names I gave you? Or how I had you sign something and gave you everything? You might be stupider than I thought. Well, I just wanted to let you know that your year starts today. Enjoy it while it lasts.” At that moment he snapped his fingers while laughing and disappeared.

In shock I look around, what did I get myself into? Holy shit, how am I going to live my life knowing that in a year everything is going to come crashing down? What the fuck do I do? Oh my God, why is this happening to me? I look up and my wife looks at me and says, “Hey, where did Lou go? He was telling me a cool story. Oh well, want to meet me upstairs now?” She smiles real big and runs upstairs. What the fuck did I do? I guess when they say things are too good to be true, it really is. I walk over to the kitchen, open up the drawer and grab a kitchen knife. I proceed to slit my wrists. I whisper out loud as I bleed out on my kitchen floor, “See you in hell Lou. I won’t give you the pleasure of watching me suffer for a year knowing it will go to shit anyway.”


© VTK BROTHERS ™