Meeting the Devil

Author: Matt Penfold
Word Count: 360
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Meeting the Devil

For Twisted Tales Star Twister 51
Prompt = “Shadow”
Word Count = 350

This is a true story

Meeting the Devil belongs to the following groups:

All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Atheism, Friendly General Discussion , Graphic Scratch, Masterpieces: Literary Workshop, Twisted Tales and WMG

Did I ever tell you about the time I was driving home from the pub and I saw the devil? As usual I hadn’t got lucky that night but I’d had fun anyway. It was in the days before random breath testing when weed was only thirty dollars an ounce. The wind was howling and icy sheets of rain tumbled down creating a constant distracting roar.

The Vee-Dub Beetle windscreen wiper might as well have been an ornament, though it did allow brief kaleidoscopic glimpses of the coloured lights reflecting in puddles and wet surfaces. I drove slowly, leaning over the steering wheel, nose against the cold wet glass, trying to see the road. The street lights were like giant dandelions, each had an aura illuminating the rain filled air surrounding it but not penetrating the shadowy darkness enough to define the road.

When I saw him a chill went through me, I remember it now as clearly as I remember where I was when I heard that John Lennon was dead. I don’t believe in the Devil but that gave me no immunity from the vision ahead, still distant but fair smack in the middle of the road and walking straight toward me, “that’s one tall man dressed up as a devil” I tried to tell myself.

As I got closer I realised that this horrifying spectre had no intention of getting out of my way, I stopped maybe fifty feet away from him and he just kept on coming even bigger now than what I’d first guessed. I swear I saw horns silhouetted against the gloom of the stormy night.

I jumped from the car as if drawn by an intangible yet irresistible force, with fear in my heart and trembling hands, I walked straight at him. When he issued a blood-curdling guttural growl and a whoosh of steamy fog I was transfixed, literally awestruck. I stood agog as the metallic clunk of his footsteps became audible over the storm.

Then I saw the truth, I don’t know who was more frightened, me or the horse…

Jordan Busson

Brilliant. You had me suckd in there, mate. Completely enthralled. Great bit of writing, Matt.
Matt Penfold replied

Ha.. thanks so much Jordan, glad you enjoyed it :-)
PJ Ryan

oooh ! yes love this .. totally intriguing.
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks for that PJ, much appreciated :-)
Lisa Jewell

Wonderful writing Matt, I was totally engrossed….I was not expecting a horse hehe….that must have been a totally bizarre moment…
Matt Penfold replied

LOL, I wasn’t expecting a horse either Lisa, and yes it was totally bizarre (and unforgettable). Thanks for the lovely comment :-)
H M Bascom

LOL Great short story.
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks so much Helen :-)
ArcadiaTempest

Get back in the car you drongo! Geeez I was covering my eyes at one stage….but then I couldn’t find out what the twist was…And then a horse came out and bit me! Brilliant twist Matt and great writing all round. :)))
Matt Penfold replied

LOL, I shouldn’t have got out of the car, you’re quite right. It’s like in those silly movies when they always confront the creature instead of running away. I always think that’s not realistic, but that’s what I did. Thanks KarenSue, glad you like the twist :-)
Wanda Raines

Great twist and story. Nice writing.
Matt Penfold replied

Thank you so much Wanda, I’m pleased you enjoyed it :-)
Wilparina

Matty, Matty, Matty. Another clever classic. A winner for me.
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks Andrew, it happened in Darley street in Mona Vale. It’s good to see you back on the bubble :-)
sandraellen

Matt…HELLO
This is a terrifying read, shaking in my boots, I was.
A great read Matt, truly, well done!
So where were you when you heard of John Lennon’s passing?
s&ra the predictable ;-)
Matt Penfold replied

LOL, yep it might have been Mr Ed, thanks for that S&ra the predictable :-)

In answer to your question, that’s another story for another time ;-)
Danielle Knight

Im with Arcadia, get back in the bloody car…. lol Great read Matt :o)
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks Danielle LOL, it is rather weird behaviour… I’m glad you enjoyed the read :-)
Barbara Cliff

Glad you saw the horse in time! As always a great read and surprise ending
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks so much Barb, it was in Mona Vale back when there were horses in the paddocks that are now the industrial complexes off Darley street :-)
Alison Pearce

Ah!! You so had me!! Totally brilliant!!!
Matt Penfold replied

Wow, thank you so much Alison, what a lovely comment :-)
anya

Sooooo…. how much was the weed again?? Cheap, huh? ;) nice work Matt.
Matt Penfold replied

LOL, very cheap, but pay was pretty low back then too. Thanks Anya :-)
Solar Zorra

I’m with anya….....must of been some good shiet, and you just got out of the car?.........sure! Ha ha….......good one Matt, had me going. :) SZ
Matt Penfold replied

Oh you doubting Thomas, I rooly trooly did get out of the car Janine, I’m not claiming that it was bravery though, just an example of the many foolish things we do that colour our lives, like hunting ghosts ;-)
Thanks.
Zolton

I love the build up. Was definitely on the edge of my chair. : D
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks Zolton, I was pretty much on the edge of my car seat at the time LOL
Mark Bateman

Wonderful. I like the writing style you’ve used for this.. I love some of the descriptions too, such as “The street lights were like giant dandelions” – made me think “he” was stoned!
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks so much Mark, very much appreciated, I’ll leave “his” state of mind as speculation ;-)
Elephunky

I also love the imagery, would be very neat to do a collobo with someone to make a picture to go along with this. Sucked me right in, instant fav. :-) keep em’ coming.
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks Elephunky, I did do a rough picture but I didn’t want to give away the twist LOL

I’ll post it here
Jeannette Sheehy

ha! you sucked me in and spat me out with your story…I’m loving the humour this week in so many stories. Another fantastic one Mr. Penfold! :)
Matt Penfold replied

Ahh, you weren’t the only one sucked in Jeannette, I was totally convinced too thanks for the lovely comment :-)
MrTAH

brilliant…..
Matt Penfold replied

Thank you so much Mr Tah, ta indeed :-)
Bob Fox

Nice descriptions and a good sense of immediacy. I didn’t have any trouble feeling I was ‘there’.
Matt Penfold replied

Thank you very much Bob, and thanks for reading my work, I do appreciate it :-)
Zolton

Congrats on the win, Matt!!
Matt Penfold replied

:-) Zolton thank you once again, I’m really overwhelmed by the win with so many great entries.
Thomas Simunsen

great story and congratulations
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks Thomas, much appreciated :-)
Jeannette Sheehy

congratulations again Mr. Penfold!! Looking forward to the next prompt. :)
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks a million Jeannette, I hope you enjoy “ladder”
funkyfacestudio

He he he You are bad…............I was all sucked in here. Aww great bit of writing Matty !
^{you silly}
Matt Penfold replied

LOL, me silly? that’s stating the bleedin’ obvious. Thank you Lisa, glad you got sucked in, hehe :-)
Shoaib .

awesome story telling mate ! this one gripped me from the go and made me hold on to the reigns
haha
great work
Matt Penfold replied

Thanks Shoaib, good to know you had to hang on, so did I LOL :-)
happyfeet5 26 days ago

hahahahaha. Great one. Iris P.S. Was it the weed?
ANNIESUNSHINE 3 days ago

Very good