[ WP ] You made a deal with the Devil , and now he 's come to collect .

I hear the knock at the door as my room goes cold. The fire still burns but it now does nothing to help the chills in my soul. The light flickers and dies, leaving my room in almost total darkness. I know who is at the door, and stumble towards it. The door opens by itself; I do not know why I even bothered getting up. He finds his way in invited or not. An unnatural red glow illuminates the silhouette of the man in my doorway. He is too tall to be real, stooped over with eyes pitch black and emotionless. He has come to collect on the promise that I made him. That stupid promise that I wish I could take back. 
 
 He walks through confidently into my living room. He does not have to stoop to get through the door; it somehow seems to grow as he reaches it. Shrinking again once he sits down in my armchair. I fetch a pot of tea, I can ’ t help it I ’ m English okay. I have to offer everyone a cup of tea whether I like them or not, that ’ s just basic manners. He takes both the biscuits when I offer him the tray. I think this is rude and almost let out a quiet tut before I realise who I ’ m looking at. He raises an eyebrow at me as if he knew what I was thinking. 
 
 I close my mouth and watch him warily, waiting for him to say what I know he will. But he remains silent, slowly sipping at his cup of tea. My mug sits on the table, I know it will go cold but I am not able to bring myself to drink it. He watches me back. They seem to look through me and at me at the same time. He finishes his tea and opens his mouth to speak, showing his sharp and pointed teeth which seem to be stained a deep red colour. 
 
 “ You Know Why I Am Here ” He speaks abruptly, each word seeming almost like its own sentence. 
 
 “ Y-Yes, Sir ” I reply, hardly able to speak the words. 
 
 “ I Am Here To Collect The Debt I Am Owned ” 
 
 “ Y-yes, I-I have it h-here, l-let me go, let me go fetch it ” I stammer, but I stay still not daring to take my eyes away from him. 
 
 “ GO! NOW! ” He does not shout but the anger is clear in voice. 
 
 I leave to collect the prize I owe him. We had a bet, you see, I had one year to achieve my goal and I failed. A stupid bet, one no one in their right mind would have accepted it. One year to find true love, a fool ’ s errand, but I was drunk and I could not help myself. Who doesn ’ t want to get one over on the devil? But I failed, and now the time has come for him to collect his prize. So now I must give it to him. 
 
 “ Here ” I say and I hand him the gold watch that is now his and not mine, the last object I had to remember my sister. The only memory I had of her. 

