Shorts

Death

He cried out as he saw a hooded figure before him. Then, realizing who it was, he screamed more, becoming hysterical with every passing minute. And still the creature watched, not moving, not making a sound. Slowly, he calmed enough to look directly at it. It's face was not monstrous, as he had expected, but ethereal, beautiful, with large black eyes and high cheekbones. Still it watched, waited, but he was not frightened of it now. He was fascinated by this creature that all seemed to fear and dread.

He tried to draw closer, wanting to see it clearly, but his body would not obey. He willed himself forward, but he remained where he was, unable to move. Panic started to creep back in. His breathing quickened, and he asked that creature, "What has happened to me? What is wrong? What have you done to me?" But still the creature did not speak, and he grew terrified once more, until he was shouting at the figure, demanding to know what spell had been put on him, why had he become suddenly paralyzed, until his voice was raw and painful. But still the hooded figure only looked at him, not saying a word, and he was sure he could see amusement in those enormous black eyes, and he was shouting again, but still his body would not move, and he felt trapped like a mouse in a cage, but he could not move, and he screamed until exhaustion overtook him and he slumped to the floor, unconscious.

When he awoke once more, the figure was standing over him, but he did not have the energy to be frightened anymore, and when it reached out a glowing hand he found himself able to move, and he took it, and stood, and the hooded figure led him away into a blinding white light, until he could neither see nor hear nor feel anymore.