More of Chapter 1

     "Hello." Charles answered softly.
     "Good morning." came Xation's deep Latin voice.
     "What time is it?" he yawned.
     "It is time for you to get up and go to work." Xation informed Charles as he sat up in bed dreading hearing those words come out of Xation's mouth. Saying nothing Charles wished, more so than ever, he had managed to build up enough courage to swallow those damn pills. Too late to kill myself now he thought as Xation continued "Do you remember the artist I had visit me last summer, at my ranch in Argentina?"
     "Vaguely." he replied "Why do you ask?"
     "I need you to go and pay him a visit this morning, Bengiman will pick you up in an hour. He can tell you more. Oh, and Charles, be prepared, you may have to kill this one." Xation said a little distracted.
     "How?" Charles asked upset by the news.
     "However." he said calmly "So get up out of your lonely bed and get cleaned up, make yourself presentable." Xation hung up the phone.
     Charles set his phone back down just as the grandfather clock down the hall softly chimed five times. Shivering slightly Charles sat up taking the little bottle of pills in his hand he threw it against the wall; which it bounced off of falling to the floor, then it rolled along the hardwood floor gently bumping against his big toe. Charles bent down picked up the bottle and set it back on the nightstand. He would just have to try again tonight.

Continuing Chapter 1

     So it was with much gentleness and great care the old man led the doomed, unfortunate soul slowly down the long corridor. Making their way through the tunnel the rattling of the chains echoed down the hall then back again. Furiously his heart beat against his chest, feeling as if it would surely burst as a rush of blood pulsated in his brain. He walked with much difficulty in great pain and not a word was uttered between the two men as they came to a door. It was a massive, twenty feet high, double wooden door with a large X carved into it, from top to bottom. The old man pushed it opened as it creaked and moaned under its own weight. There they stood on the threshold of a brightly lit chamber and the horror that awaited. Gazing up the chained man's eyes widened then watered,his heart sank as he beheld the sight of the shining, sharp, gleaming guillotine.
     The little man's eyes lit up like a boy at Christmastime as he smiled with a glow about his face as he stared at the newly fashioned, ultra-modern, finely crafted, killing machine. The prisoner grew very dizzy, nearly fainting and the old man had trouble steadying him on his feet. Carefully he led the condemned man over to the long metal platform where his body would lie. There the happy little fellow lay his prisoner face down, with no thoughts of releasing him from his chains, although he begged to be released if only to kneel and pray. His last request was refused with a laugh. His heart raced as he felt the cold metal brace slide down over his neck, this was to prevent his head from thrashing about, so the cut would be nice and clean. A frigidness crept up through his body to his bones as he felt the old man stroking his hair as is if to provide some last bit of human comfort. Then he whispered something softly in his ear in a language he did not recognize.
     He began to panic as he caught sight of the basket on the floor in front of him, it was just large enough to accommodate a human head. The old man positioned himself behind a long metal handle protruding from the device. A paralytic fear gripped the prisoner as he struggled to breathe, an uncontrollable trembling caused his chains to move and shake, a little. The old man shook his head placing his hat over his heart as he reached out resting his hand on the lever controlling the forty pound, razor-sharp blade. With a click the terrified, poor, unfortunate man heard the sudden rush as he cried out "Sauve moi!"
     Clutching his throat Charles awoke choking as he shot up in bed his heart racing, body aching. It was the terrible dream haunting him once again. On the verge of hyperventilating Charles did his best to catch his breath and calm down, all while a vein on the side of his skull pulsated painfully with every rush of blood from his heart, he thought surely it would burst. Drenched in sweat the silk sheets clung to his muscular thighs as he tried kicking them off with no success. Breathing in slowly he stared up at the ceiling, he was freezing. Charles looked around his dim bedroom seeing the softly billowing curtains of the window he had neglected to close last night. It was a cold Spring night here in North Texas and very early in the morning a pale blue light from the slowly brightening sky filled his room. Charles was alone. He lay there a moment longer ,fixated by the blowing of the curtains; which gently blew in the breeze causing his tension to cease. His heart calmed the pain subsided as he breathed in deeply with ease.
     "God help me." he said into thin air as he glanced over at the nightstand, where the small, still full bottle of vicodon sat next to a glass of water; which he had placed there with the full intent of swallowing the entire contents of the bottle. However, yet again, Charles had lacked the courage of his conviction and had fallen asleep whilst contemplating the dread deed. He let out a heavy sigh growing more depressed and disgusted with himself than ever before. Then the telephone rang startling him a little. He knew there was only one person it could be calling him so early.

Chapter 1 contiues

     Click,click getting closer. One step, two steps, getting closer. With each dreadful footfall the helpless man's heart and mind filled with morbid fears of a variety, heretofore, unknown to him. If only he could free himself, he would scurry away out into the empty city streets and disappear forever, but there would be no escape. Still he struggled trying to move but the heavy weight of his chains kept him always in one place. Then he closed his eyes and gave up hope as he felt the presence of someone standing over him.
"Look up." came a raspy voice in a whisper as tense as wire.
Lifting his head slowly the terrified man opened up his eyes where, to his surprise, stood a small, frail, elderly gentleman dressed in a dark suit with a wide-brimmed hat pulled down over his eyes. His complexion was as pale as a bottle of milk, with deep grooves and wrinkles etched into his face. A strange pale blue light seemed to emanate from him. His eyes were black as coal. He gave a little wink to the bound man as he stared down at him with a look of disgust mixed with pity. He smiled a wide, toothless grin as he beckoned for his prisoner to stand, but stand he could not.
The little man bent down slightly grasping him by the elbow. Smelling like Lilly's he proceeded to lift the chained naked man to his feet. This tiny old man had a huge well of strength in him as he lifted the condemned prisoner up, as easily as if he were merely plucking a weed from a garden. Now standing upright the chained man towered over his captor, and if were not for his chains he could have easily choked the life out of the odd looking little fellow, who smiled up at his prisoner with a laugh as if sensing his murderous thoughts.

Chapter 1 begins

     In the darkness of a long dank tunnel a naked man, in chains, leans against the cold stone wall. His hands are tightly bound behind his back, his head hangs low, eyes closed as water drips down beside him while a violent storm rages. Breathing is difficult as the frigid air cuts deep into his lungs like tiny shards of glass. Every muscle in his body ached from the heavy weight of his chains; which bit into the flesh of his ankles and wrists causing him to bleed slightly. The poor confused, frightened man could not recall how it was he came to be trapped down in this terrible place, with no hope of escape. When suddenly out of the blackness a loud banging of a door being slammed shut echoed down the corridor, followed by the click,click, of footsteps getting closer to his position. Panicking he stumbled forward blindly falling on his knees with a crack! An excruciating painful sensation shot up through his knees to his legs to his groin, finally settling in the pit of his belly; which churned up a bitter bile into his throat tasting of blood and sulphur as it spewed out onto the floor splashing back on his face and chest.