The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!

Death’s Embrace
by Bailey Hunter

Jimmy has been by my side nonstop since it happened.  At first I was happy about it, but not anymore. Jimmy is not the sweet, gentle man I knew before that day. It changed him. He’s become so aggressive and violent to anyone he sees as a threat to me. 

When I was in the hospital, there were loads of strangers handing me cards for lawyers, mental health, home care, etc., all under the guise of support.  Except one old man who didn’t really offer anything. He simply said, “for when you’re ready,” and handed me a card with the name Heman Black printed on the front, and an address scrawled on the back. 

I guess I’m ready. I’m at the place now. Jimmy is with me, as always. Part of me is glad. The place is plain, like the card. Just a door, and a sign that says “Knock Three Times” tacked to it, which I do.

A soft shuffling can be heard, then the door opens just a bit. The thin grey man, smiles kindly and gestures with a frail hand for us to come in. 

As we step through the door, the room seems to unfold in front of us, shadows dance in corners and over old books, and Heman… he changes too. I am frozen. My brain tells me I should be terrified, but my heart is calm as I watch his metamorphosis from old man to Death itself. 

He speaks no words, but I hear him in my head. “It’s time, Jimmy. You don’t belong here any more.” Death’s voice is calm, almost serene.  

I feel Jimmy’s cold hand grasp me so tight it burns, and I yelp, “Jimmy please, you’re hurting me!”

His fingers release as if on spring. Jimmy looks at me with those sad eyes I could never stay mad at.  Death wraps Jimmy in his cloak, and I am alone in this abandoned room, only the quickly darkening bruise on my arm where Jimmy grabbed me as proof of Death’s embrace.

Fiction © Copyright Bailey Hunter
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

More about Bailey Hunter:
Bailey is a publisher with Dark Recesses Press.

Dark Recesses Press is a publishing house dedicated to providing high quality dark fiction in its many forms to the reader. Our end goal is to impress and entertain, no matter what dark recesses we dare shine our light on.

DarkRecessesPress.com