Welcome to Tremorphonic audio stories. Tremorphonic - the sounds of fear - is a collection of original horror stories presented in audio format. Today's story, Dance With The Devil, was written as a project of passion and is free to listen to. Please visit Tremorphonic.com follow our @tremorphonic social media and podcast accounts, and share our posts and stories to a wider audience. You can find us on Patreon
if you want to support the development of future stories. This is Dance With The Devil. "What brings me here?" The salesman pondered as he looked around in awe. A darkened landscape, cracked and black, a dust cloud covered floor. Before him stood two vast iron gates with intricate woven thorns. As he looked up... and up, they wound and grew emblazoned crests of horns. "What is this hell?" The salesman spake as he began to tremble.
"Exactly that! At least, beyond. This is just where we assemble." The voice came from a gaunt cloaked figure, he towered ten feet above. His horns augment him further still, a scroll in hand, his fingers - bones degloved. "The gate is mine, and here I see inscribed why you fell before me. Your life is forfeit, prepare yourself, this journey will..."
"wait, wait, wait, hold up! Stop with the grand impression that this is my fate and completely unchangeable. I know how these things work, I spent my life convincing people of things that they never thought they'd believe, there must be something I can do? I've seen those movies... let's play a game! If I win, I get another chance to better myself!" Unflinching, the gatekeeper bent down to the man, "Your arrogance astounds me,
but here is your chance. If you can best me in a battle of wits I will reconsider." "So if you win, my soul is yours here in the depths of this torrid place, But if I win, you take me back to where I was before so that I can try again to earn my place above? The gatekeeper paused and nodded once agreeing to the terms. "What puzzle could you possibly give me that I cannot solve?" The salesman thought long and hard, these words could be his only salvation.
Suddenly a grin crossed his face as a moment of inspiration hit. "Once it begins it has no end, but all that begins will reach this end." The gatekeeper took a few moments before he accepted defeat. "Alas, my fellow, you have succeeded. I am baffled and have no response. Pray tell, what was the answer?" "Death! a topic so close to your heart! Death ends when it begins and ends all that begins. I've won! I've earned my second chance.
Take me back." With that, the gatekeeper waved his bony clawed hand. "With pleasure." "So if you win, my soul is yours here in the depths of this torrid place, But if I win, you take me back to where I was before so that I can try again to earn my place above? The gatekeeper paused and nodded once agreeing to the terms. "What puzzle could you possibly give me that I cannot solve?" The salesman thought long and hard, these words could be his only salvation.
Suddenly a grin crossed his face as a moment of inspiration hit. "Once it begins it has no end, but all that begins will reach this end." The gatekeeper took a few moments before he answered, "Too easy! The answer is Death. Death ends when it begins and ends all that begins." The salesman's jaw dropped, the color ran from his face, "Wait! How did you...? I can't believe it!" The gatekeeper stood aside as the thorny gates slowly opened,
"You seem to think your abstract rules have meaning here. Your soul is mine! No GAME will undo that!" The salesman did not move but found himself screaming silently as an invisible force dragged him into the darkness beyond the gate. His skin grew sickly pale, his eyes grew black, his bones protruded his fragile frame, his hand reached out as if despairing at his own demise, but in this place death has no beginning... and no end.
Thank you for listening to Dance With The Devil, presented by Tremorphonic. Dance With The Devil was written, performed, recorded and edited by Richard Wilson with music samples from Fesliyan Studios. Don't forget to follow Tremorphonic on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Tremorphonic.com and keep an eye on podcast channels for our upcoming stories.
As a self-funded project we would appreciate any support you might be willing to give us on Patreon.com/Tremorphonic. Thanks for listening.