Devoured by Chocolate

It all started innocent enough, I was up early having my first cup of coffee and was stirring the cream and sugar when it hit me...

I have been going about this all wrong. I knew that I was in trouble and the only thing I could think of was to save myself, but couldn't think of a sly yet innocuous way to do it. The problem with that is I had to be subtle, yet convincing enough to pull it off.

I have been baking for pleasure for years and have concocted the best tasting, devilish looking chocolate/cherry cake with a side of chocolate and cherry macaroons as a topper. It has gotten rave reviews by the local papers and I had a chance to take it further, but was holding back, for I was extremely shy and the publicity would be too much.

I wanted to keep experimenting with this, but felt I could take it no farther and decided to settle on this as my latest creation. The only thing I could do at this point was to admit I was done. I am a perfectionist and will never stop trying to better myself with my work. I have amassed hundreds of delectable desserts over the many years I have been researching, but this was the tops for sure.

It was still reasonably early, and I was getting my second wind, when I heard a commotion outside my window near the kitchen door. I slowly raised up and peered outside and heard what sounded like a howling. That is quite possible as I live near the woods on an off beaten track and wild animals do tend to visit from time to time. I keep myself well prepared in case a stray bear also happens to stop by unannounced.

This day though, seemed and felt different from all the others because I had a premonition that was stronger than I ever felt before. I knew that I would have a visitor later today and they would try to do me harm. I was trying to devise a way to welcome this person over with open arms, yet entice them over to join me for an afternoon delight of coffee and cake, my specialty which I call, "Devoured by Chocolate". This includes my delectable deep chocolate/cherry cake with 6 layers of the tastiest butter cream frosting and cherries on top along side my cherry/chocolate macaroons. I add a bit of extra flavor to the coffee as well, but that is my little secret and people have been trying to figure this out for years.

So, as the day wore on, I was busy working in my small, yet handy kitchen when I heard someone at my door. I walked casually towards the front door and before they knocked, I opened it and what a surprise! Standing there was none other than my old friend, Joe. Joe and I have known each other for more than 20 years from an old job working together in a kitchen for a mom and pop diner. We were good friends once, but time changes and we went our separate ways.

I welcomed Joe into my kitchen for a while and wanted to hear all about what he has been up to for the past 20 years. He seemed to be relieved that I was home and sunk deep into my kitchen chair. I offered him a glass of water which he readily accepted, but wondered what the real reason he was here since I rarely get any visitors other than the stray animal or the lost commuter. Also puzzling was how in the world did he track me down and how did he think I might react after our last encounter?

He started to spill out his story and I was a rapt listener and he said that after I had left the diner 20 years ago, he felt lost without my guidance and persuaded me from leaving, but I was adamant and wanted to spread my own wings so to speak and have my own business and not answer to any others and knew I had the experience. I remember us yelling and screaming at each other after the diner was closed for the evening and he had been saving this up for what seemed like a very long time.

He didn't want me to take off and just leave him as he said, I would be ruining what was a great partnership, but I felt differently. He started to threaten me and I just laughed if off at the time, knowing he was upset but also deep in his heart he knew I was right. Now, all of these years later, he spent most of his time trying to get by working odd jobs to keep his head above water. He never married and was not responsible for any other as far as I knew. He used to talk about a woman, but that name escapes me now as he was focusing his attention on only me at the moment and I decided that he needed to relax, so I put my plan into action.

He said he left the diner shortly after I had gone and wandered aimlessly around town and couldn't find his passion anymore. He blamed me for what he lost or thought he did. I tried to reassure him, but he wouldn't hear of it. He was getting overly anxious and stated to raise his voice and I knew that I had to work fast.

I offered him a slice of my sweet and sinful chocolate/cherry cake with a cup of my tasty yet deadly coffee for his nerves. He didn't want any, but I forced it upon him and watched him take up a fork and cut into the slice of cake and once he tasted it I noticed his reaction immediately. He closed his eyes and the biggest smile came across his face and he sighed with pleasure. He picked up the coffee, took a few sips and sat back and relaxed.

I was waiting to see how long it would take for the combination to take affect and wasn't surprised that within 5 minutes he started to lose consciousness and slipped off the chair and fell the the kitchen floor. I was expecting it, but hadn't used this on anyone and my reaction was terror with a mix of delight.

I waited at least another 10 minutes to see if my plan worked, and it did. He stopped breathing shortly afterwards and I noticed that he was still smiling and I think that he would have approved since prior to his demise, he was a lost and anguished soul in need of repair or enlightenment which I gladly offered.

I knew right then and there that I would never have to worry about him for the rest of my life and was happy to make both of our lives happier in the end.

My only regret was, what a pity it was to have to use my best recipe ever on an old, tortured soul to get the best review I will ever get for my hard work, which paid off handsomely in the end.