thedeformedman

There were bloodstains on the carpet.
   Beside the stains lay the body of a man. Grown hair, full lips. No eyebrows. The man fought for every breath. He was losing.
   "Help me," the man cried, "My eyebrows! They took my eyebrows! I need my eyebrows!"
   Bradford looked upon the sying man. Tear drops ran down his cheeks. His heart pounded. This was the man he had been searching for, this man with no eyebrows. The Deformed Man. He had finally found him.
   Bradford took a broen paper bag from his coat pocket and placed it by the man. He wiped his tears away and said, "I've traveled many miles to bring you this package. In it you will find your missing parts. I ask for no reward. I hope you will be one with yourself now."
   The man managed to pick up the paper bag and reached inside.
   "The bag's empty!" the man shouted. "You lied to me. You don't have my eyebrows. You lied!"
   Bradford smiled.
   "Oh I had them," he said, "but on the way here I decided to get rid of them. They're of no use to you."
   "PLEASE!" the man pleaded. "I need them back!"
   "Suffer you old fool."
   As if on cue, Allison entered the room. She gazed a moment at The Deformed Man and then to Bradford. She went to him, took his hand. She looked deep into Bradford's eyes. His eyes were empty. No life. In her heart she knew he did not love her.
   Allison released his hand and whispered softly, "This isn't right."
   "Isn't right!" Bradford exploded. "This man is nothing. Nothing! He's falling apart. I didn't make this journey for him, I made it for me! I don;t give a damn about his eyebrows. This man... this man that legends are man of... is the devil. Don't you know that?"
   Allison backed away, heading for the door.
   "You're wrong," she said. "You're the devil."
   "Maybe you're right," Bradford replied. "I am the devil"
   He was holding a gun.
   "Where do you think you're going?" he asked. "You belong to me."
   The Deformed Man stood up.
   "Eyebrows!" he screamed, "I want my eyebrows! I've waited years and years. No longer! I want them back and I want them back noiw! Bradford! You'll burn in hell for this. I'll see to that!"

   Suddenly, the room was engulfed in darkness.
   A gunshot rang out.
   A scream.
   Confusion.
   The roar of the beast.
   "Oh God... Oh God..."
   Another gunshot.
   "Bradford," a whisper.
   A baby crying.
   Breaking of glass.
   "My eyebrows! I found my eyebrows!"
   Flesh ripping.
   Light.

   Allison looked at the aftermath. The Deformed Man was gone. A broken mirror lay by her feet. She cast no reflection. She saw Bradford laying on the floor. He was coverd in blood. His eyebrows were gone.
   Allison screamed.

   "I saw him," Bradford moaned. "I saw the devil. He gave me his mark. I know the secrets, Allison. I know the secrets of death. I will be legend."

   Allison fled the house, never looking back.