Gateways and Promises

The vagabond is at the entrance, to what he's not sure, but he has decided that he wants inside...

It hits with a clink

Sliding through the predefined slot

 

The grooved edge disappears

Into the dark

As this silver piece

Is consumed by the inner workings

Of the machine

 

A small jovial tune is played

While the brass face lights up

All bells and whistles

Dramatically enthusiastic

Having consumed his pocket change

 

As the whistles subside

The bowels of the device clatter

And a small strip of ticker tape

Is spit from the top

 

The message reads

‘Your right hand for the time of your life,

Satisfaction guaranteed’

 

How could one resist?

 

The brass box

Set atop the post

Marked the entrance to

Something

 

Such amazing sounds

Leaked from this something

Sounds of laughter and fun

Music and festivity rose from the structure

In thick clouds like exhaust

 

Any person who was in this place

Need never fear

 

Satisfaction,

If not absolute safety,

Were indeed ‘Guaranteed’

 

This is what the pseudo face

On the brass box was telling him

 

So the mouth on the box

Opens

And our vagabond

Slowly slips his right hand in

 

A rubber ring closes

Tight onto his wrist

And releases just after a pinch

 

Releasing him before

He even had the chance to protest

 

And as he rubs his

Palm ever so gently

The large double doors slowly

Swing open

 

And the sweet sounds

Roll out to meet him

 

He has no idea what waits for him here

No clues present themselves

Other than the blinding white light

Just inside.

04/14/2012

Author's Note

written at 0240 am

Reviews

[...]

Very intriguing premise.
The detailing is excellent.
One is transported to the scene instantly.

[Mockingbird]

this is so suspenseful. it brings to mind a person who is in an arcade on the boardwalk and just puts his quarter in it just for the hell of it. then his curiosity is piqued. the door opens and we have no idea what lies beyond. it could be a metaphor for what happens after death and the process you have to go through to get into your afterlife, but this is only conjecture. you really leave us with a cliffhanger.