The Bargain

Digging The old man was alone in a slightly lit cabin, with candles flickering against the damp wooden wall. Outside, the wind blew like a wounded animal and rattled the shutters. Nathaniel had seen many storms in his year, but no one had made him uneasy. I felt something was wrong at night.

He poured a glass of whiskey and trembled the fingers he had as he raised them to his lips. Three sharp knocks were then punched into the cabin. Nathaniel stiffened. No one has ever entered the mountains. It's not this weather.Slowly, he rose and opened the door. A high figure in a black coat stood at the threshold, his face covered in shadows. But it was not a stranger who sent the cold on Nathaniel's spine - it was an unnatural warmth that oozed him out as if he was setting fire under his skin."Can I come in?" I asked the man. His voice was smooth and polite.

Nathaniel hesitated, but stayed aside. "I don't have much to offer," he said, closing the door behind the guest."That's fine," the man replied, taking his seat in the fire. "I couldn't eat or drink. I came for you, Nathaniel."

Nathaniel's breath was caught in his neck. "I don't know you."But I know you," the man said with a slightly smile. He leaned forward, his eyes shocking the light of fire. "I know you from the day you first cursed the sky, from the moment you lost everything and prayed for revenge in place of mercy. Because you whispered that you would trade your soul for another chance. "Nathaniel's hand hit his fist. He was a young man at the time, and was burning with rage.

The man laughed. "Nathaniel. You know who I am."Nathaniel swallowed hard. "If you are here to steal my soul, you will waste your time. I will not give anything."Ah, but you will," the man said. "I still live with you for years, and I offer you something.Nathaniel Mocked. "A deal with the devil?"I'll call you what you want." The man leaned back, his expression unreadable. "I can give you young people. Prosperity. performance. Even those who have lost them will come back when it is their wish. "Nathaniel's breath trembled in his heart. He mourned for decades. The idea of ​​keeping his wife again and hearing her daughter laughter - it's almost impossible to bear it." And what do you want? "It's easy to fall," the devil said. "There is a man in the valley. Preacher. He will interfere with my problems. You will descend and free me from this nuisance."Nathaniel's stomach twisted. "Do you want me to kill him?"

The devil twitched his armpit. "Only if you want to accept my offer. Otherwise, I will be in my middle, and you will be able to return to your lonely little life. "Nathaniel closed his eyes. He lived long enough to know that luck was a fleeting illusion. He watched good men suffer and bad men thrive. If there is no justice in the world, why should we not provide it? His voice was barely a whisper. "I'll do that."The devil smiled. "wonderful."

The next morning, Nathaniel climbed into the valley. The church stood on the outskirts of a modest structure of stone and wood. He saw the preacher through the window - a man in the 1950s kneel in prayer. Nathaniel hesitated. The preacher was just a man. A man who probably didn't know he had attracted the attention of Hell. Nathaniel's belt knife. He was able to finish it right away. Slash. A moment of violence in exchange for eternal happiness.

He entered. The preacher turned and smiled warmly."Good morning, friend," he said. "What did you do?" Nathaniel's neck gets stronger. "I... came to ask you something."The preacher nodded. "Of course. What are you worried about?"Nathaniel's fingers convulse into the knife. "Do you believe in redemption?"

The preacher studied him for a while. "I will," he said. "No matter how much it is lost, I don't think the soul is saved." Nathaniel's vision is blurred. He thought of his wife, his daughter. Are you proud of him now? Or is it scary? He turned around and ran away. The devil returned that night, when Nathaniel was sitting on the fire and knocking on the door for himself. The devil entered, and his expression was unreadable. "You made me fail, Nathaniel." Nathaniel came out. "No. I saved myself." The devil sighed. "Do you have it now?" Nathaniel drives himself, expecting fire, rage, damage. But the devil just laughed. "I don't think that's a problem," he said, getting up from his chair. "In some way, all men will finally come to me." He turned around and entered the storm, disappearing at night. Nathaniel slowly trembled, putting his body in. He had no illusions about what awaited him after his death. But over the years, he felt peaceful. And in the morning, when the sun rose on the mountain, he kneeled and prayed - from mercy, for forgiveness and the power to truly take the time he left.