Temptation
By Seth Todd
“Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers—of my sagacity.”—The Tell-Tale Heart, Edgar Allan Poe
I was given a blessing. As I look at my life before that fateful night, I hated myself. I, also, pitied myself for being weak.
I heard the shrill cry of an alarm clock, jolting me out from the dark wonder of sleep. I hope you know that I neither hallucinated nor did I still slumber. Would you say what occurred next evolved from a dream? Vexed about where I sat. I presumed a warehouse. I walked towards a black window—perhaps I could tell where I stood, but no! I felt the chill wind as I looked through the charred window; I peered through broken glass high above a city of ash and ember. I must ask, do you know where I found myself? The city itself existed in the abyss of ruins.
I suddenly collapsed—you must think of awe—and started to cough until a red liquid landed upon my hand.
How was it that I was sick? I clawed at the floor.
“No!” Death’s hand toyed with my heart. I looked up and I saw a woman in a scarlet dress—a woman with, oh, such beauty. She relieved me of my pain; it was like Death itself was admiring her.
She spoke silk words that caressed the very soul, “A cure is here, so near for you. One sip and you’ll be better. What ever is your life’s true desire will come true. I can help you get to the cure.”
I hearkened to her words that spun me around; do not think she deceived me like a snake, she only wanted to help.
“My dear love, I will follow you,” I smiled at her and she bowed to me. I lifted my weight from the floor and she beckoned me.
Step, step, I saw nothing that passed by me. It was all a blur and the woman was the focus of my eyes.
“Tell me your life’s true desire?” the woman asked.
Now, men may say money; I, however, longed for infinite knowledge.
“I desire knowledge… knowledge that surpasses the limitations of man. Knowledge that would expand across the universe,” I replied in a choked voice. The woman angelically smiled to me. At last we stopped and I collapsed on the floor with spasms. She gave me a pained look.
“Oh, my dear, are you all right?” She helped me up. I nodded. “Do not waste your energy. I will get the cure.”
My response was a hoarse cough that nearly drew the red liquid. Do you not know how the sweet woman intoxicated me? She drew me in like Eve, holding the white, sweet fruit; she was an angel that she was.
At last, she brought a glass vial. I grabbed the vial and drank. At once, I felt cured. At once, knowledge filled my mind.
“Thank you!” I cried.
“I never meant to save you. I wanted to see what you truly wanted. I wanted to see how selfish you were. Knowledge kills. I kill.”
Her words sounded true. Perhaps the knowledge, I once longed for, possessed me with Eden-like deception.
“Ask yourself, who are you?”
I thought about it, but I drowned in knowledge of light and darkness. Of all the knowledge, my own self disappeared. Hearken! No less had I thought about who I was, I felt like I was choking. Alas, I died by the knowledge that men would glorify. My brain could not handle the very question; nor the sorrow filled answers.
You must think it was the woman who killed me, the knowledge didn’t exist, and most of this was lies. But you must hearken to my words: the knowledge did choke me like a rope strangling my throat—not the woman.
I must warn you though. As I explored my mind for the answer, I saw you. I do not know you, not in the least of all possible ways. I wanted to face you, face to face. I cannot anymore for now I live among the dead and cannot give direct revelations. But, the three words that came to mind were: “You are next!”
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