**October 10th, 1920, 02:35 Hours**
The Man stood before me, an impossible figure of horror that seemed to absorb the light around him. My heart raced, pounding in my chest like a war drum, each beat a reminder that I was still alive, still breathing in a world where nightmares roamed free.
“Do you remember?” he repeated, his voice low and gravelly, laced with a sickening sweetness that made my stomach churn.
I could feel his gaze piercing into me, that terrifying black void with the glowing yellow pinprick at its center. It was as if he was searching for something buried deep within me, something dark and primal that I could not name.
As he stepped closer, the stench hit me like a physical blow—a putrid odor reminiscent of a wet dog carcass drowning in corn liquor, resting in a moldy barrel. I fought the urge to gag, my senses overwhelmed by the sheer horror of his presence. It was a smell that spoke of decay and death, a scent that lingered in the air long after the source was gone.
“Why do you come here?” I managed to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper.
“To remind you of the choices you’ve made, Charles,” he replied, his grin widening, revealing teeth that seemed too sharp, too numerous. “To prepare you for what’s to come.”
**October 10th, 1920, 02:40 Hours**
My mind raced, desperately trying to comprehend the reality of the situation. The darkness in the room felt alive, wrapping around me like a suffocating blanket, whispering of impending doom. I couldn’t back down—not now. If I wanted to protect Elizabeth, I had to face this monster head-on.
“What do you want?” I asked again, forcing my voice to sound steadier than I felt. “What kind of game are you playing?”
He leaned in closer, the stench intensifying, and I fought the urge to recoil. “A duel, of course. It’s only fitting, don’t you think? Two men, armed and ready, each fighting for their lives.”
“A duel?” I echoed, disbelief washing over me. “You’re insane!”
“Am I?” he replied, tilting his head slightly. “Or am I simply offering you a chance to prove your worth? After all, what is a man if not the choices he makes? The lives he touches or destroys?”
**October 10th, 1920, 02:45 Hours**
As the words hung in the air, I felt a surge of anger rising within me. “You’re a monster,” I spat, my fists clenched at my sides. “You don’t care about anything but yourself.”
“Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong,” The Man said, his voice dripping with mockery. “I care deeply, Charles. I care about the stories we leave behind. I care about the memories that linger long after we’re gone.
“Tell me, do you remember the ten duel commandments?” he asked, his grin sharp and knowing.
I froze. The Ten Duel Commandments. My heart raced as I recalled the lessons learned from history and the tales shared in hushed tones, filled with bravado and terror. Each commandment a reminder of what was at stake.
“Do I run or fire my gun?” he continued, his voice a chilling whisper. “Or let it be?”
The air crackled with tension, and I felt the weight of his challenge pressing down on me. I knew what I had to do. This was no longer just a fight for survival; it was a battle for my soul, for Elizabeth’s future.
**October 10th, 1920, 03:00 Hours**
“I accept your challenge,” I said, the words spilling from my mouth before I could second-guess myself. “But on my terms. We’ll meet at dawn, in the park.”
The Man’s laughter echoed through the room, low and sinister. “Ah, a brave choice! But tell me, do you truly believe you can defeat me? I am death incarnate, a specter that haunts the living.”
“Maybe,” I replied, my voice steadying. “But I’m fighting for something worth living for. I won’t let you take her from me.”
A flicker of something—perhaps admiration or annoyance—crossed his features, but it vanished as quickly as it came. “Then we shall see, Charles. We shall see.”
**October 10th, 1920, 03:05 Hours**
He stepped back, his form melding into the shadows, the stench of decay lingering in the air like a ghostly reminder of his presence. “Prepare yourself, for this duel will be unlike any you’ve faced. When the sun rises, it will mark the beginning of the end.”
With that, he was gone, leaving me standing alone in the kitchen, the weight of his words heavy on my heart. I could still feel the echo of his presence, the haunting laughter lingering in my mind.
**October 10th, 1920, 04:00 Hours**
I stumbled back to the living room, my thoughts racing. I had accepted the duel, but now I was filled with dread. I had a few hours left before dawn, and I needed to prepare—not just physically, but mentally.
I glanced at Elizabeth, still sleeping peacefully on the couch, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing outside. I knelt beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. My heart ached at the thought of what could happen.
As the first light of dawn began to creep through the window, I knew I had to face The Man. It was now or never.
**October 10th, 1920, 05:30 Hours**
I gathered what little courage I had left, my hands trembling as I tied the strings of my old coat around my waist, checking to ensure I had the flintlock pistol I had inherited from my father. It felt heavy in my hand, a relic of the past that now seemed to pulse with an energy of its own.
I took a deep breath, reminding myself of the ten duel commandments, the weight of each lesson echoing in my mind.
This was it. The final embrace awaited, and I had to confront my destiny, for Elizabeth, for myself.
YOU ARE READING
The Final Embrace
HorrorIn the year 1920, Charles Bourdreaux, a dedicated radio broadcaster, leads a quiet life with his young adopted daughter, Elizabeth. On the cusp of his birthday, their simple world is shattered when a mysterious call introduces him to The Man-a monst...
