The Red Angel

f i v e

THE TELL TALE HEART

by: EDGAR ALLAN POE

1843

Paragraph 5 of 15

Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror. It was not a groan of pain or of grief --oh, no! --it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe. I knew the sound well. Many a night, just at midnight, when all the world slept, it has welled up from my own bosom, deepening, with its dreadful echo, the terrors that distracted me. I say I knew it well. I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart. I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first slight noise, when he had turned in the bed. His fears had been ever since growing upon him. He had been trying to fancy them causeless, but could not. He had been saying to himself --"It is nothing but the wind in the chimney --it is only a mouse crossing the floor," or "It is merely a cricket which has made a single chirp." Yes, he had been trying to comfort himself with these suppositions: but he had found all in vain. All in vain; because Death, in approaching him had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim. And it was the mournful influence of the unperceived shadow that caused him to feel --although he neither saw nor heard --to feel the presence of my head within the room.

•            •           •

"I know you've been standing there for awhile. You must be tired. Please." His toned arms invited me in his direction where he stood behind a withered cherry brown colored chair.

I chuckled lightly and shook my head softly. "I've been tried a long time." I dragged out the word long for emphasis.

"If you two would please leave me to be with my mate." He said dismissively.

The two attractive females quickly stride over to the double doors, walking out and closing them so gentle like glass.

We stood in an everlasting silence. Taking in each others presence.

"Would you like a drink my love?"

"Love?"

His long legs stepped toward a chest filled with drinks, brandy, wine, scotch, anything strong enough to set your throat on fire. He began to poor some of the liquor into a glass. His hands so large they made the glass look like it was sized for a child's play tea set.

"We are destined for each other." His voice was so deep, and so sexy.

"You are quite the sight." I uttered in the type of fascination a scientist has studying a rare species.

He turned around with two glasses in his hand. "I wish I could say the same."

Sighing I stepped forward until I knew he could see me in full. Carefully, watching him, his hands gripped the two glasses with much strength. For a moment I thought they were going to shatter into a trillion tiny fragments. "You're as gorgeous as they all said." He said as he reached one arm holding a glass out in my direction, inviting me to take a drink.

Nodding in response I stepped closer within arms reach. Reaching out, I carefully took the dirty yellow drink, avoiding the contact. Knowing well that it would end it for me with the first touch.