The Devil and Thomas Storm

   The Devil and Thomas Storm

Suzanne Marsh

Thomas Storm sat silently, contemplating where life was leading him. He had made some crazy boasts about being president and the wealthiest man on earth, but like everything else, he was nowhere close to his objective. Bars were his forte these days, sooner or later he would find the financial backing he needed to change his career from dishwasher to president of the United States. A gentleman entered Rosie’s Bar and Grill, his eyes green, tall and handsome in a sardonic way. Tom studied the man with fascination, this man looked as if he were very wealthy. His suit appeared to have come from an exclusive men’s shop. Tom sauntered over to where the man sat down.. Tom, approached him, his right hand extended in friendship:

“Hi, my name is Tom Storm.”

The man seemed to exude a smell unlike anything Tom had ever smelled. He wondered if the man was actually a firefighter because of the odor. Burning bushes, perhaps was the best to describe it. Tom knew he had found the patsy he was looking for, but how was he going to approach this odd man. The sardonic looking man motioned for Tom to sit down. Tom smiled, yes, he was going to make a proposal and hope this man was very wealthy indeed.

“Please have a seat Tom Storm, my name is Jack Haunt, I actually have many names. What is it

you seek?”

Tom, was taken aback:

“I want to be president of the United States and have great amassed wealth.”

“Are you prepared to give me a piece of you that should not be for sale?”

“What does that mean? What do you want? My hands or feet?”

“Neither I want your soul.”

“Who are you?”

“Please lower you voice.”

Jack went on, I have many forms are you willing to make a deal with me?

“Yes,” Tom stammered, “you can have soul, I don’t really care. I just want to be the wealthiest

man on earth and president of the United States.”

Jack smiled; he was smitten that he had found this Tom Storm.

“Very well then, we have a deal. In twenty years, I will return, your soul will then be mine.”

When they shook hands, Tom felt as if fire were spreading throughout his entire body, he didn’t care at twenty-five the word was at his feet thanks to his chance meeting with Jack...

Several months later Tom, was approached by a man who had heard him speak, the man was the head of the Democratic Party. Tom never thought, even dreamed that this was happening. He was asked to run for Congress, at twenty-five that was unbelievable. His life was finally coming together, just as he had planned. Congress was the fast track to the White House, at least in Tom’s mind. His speeches, at first were like most politicians, talk but no action. Tom, as he grew into his speeches wanted to make his promises come to fruition. That of course was not exactly what the party had in mind. Tom was elected. He was beginning to amass the wealth he sought.

Tom joined a leading stock brokerage company, it seemed as if everything he did was worth millions to his firm. He had a niggling feeling that Mr. Haunt was more than he had indicated. No matter, Tom was on his way to wealth and happiness, or so he thought.

Tom did well in congress, most of the bills he was associated with passed on the first try. His constituents were amazed at what he was accomplishing. He ran for the Senate and was elected. Once in the Senate, he did some remarkable wheeling and dealing, he got the bills he wanted passed. The democrats knew it was only a matter of time before they could run him for president. His fame and fortune were limitless.

Tom’s forty third birthday, marked the highlight of his desires, he was nominated for President. He was amazed at how quickly he rose to fame. He and his wife Hannah went out to celebrate his nomination. They were seated at a small cozy table, the ordered champagne, everything was wonderful in their small but prosperous world. Suddenly there was a cold flash, followed by a red-hot flash, Tom grew jittery, the heat he had felt once before years ago in Rosie’s Bar and Grill, where he had met Jack Haunt. He felt a strange sensation, then noticed Jack sitting at a corner table, a sardonic look on his features. Suddenly he vanished; it seemed as if into thin air. Tom did not think anything of this, tonight, he was running for president. It seemed as if he had been waiting for this all of his life. It was hard to believe that at twenty-five he was underpaid dishwasher, now he was worth almost a trillion dollars, he had a beautiful wife, with three super looking children, his life was all he had dreamed of. Hannah had finished ordering when a small voice inside his head replayed his promise to Jack Haunt.

November, the elections were right on spot, Tom won the election. He began by once again celebrating, this time with the entire democratic party. Life was fandamtastic, Tom was not sure exactly he would do after eight planned years in the White House. His first year all the reforms he required were passed on the first round. The country was on sound feet for the first time in decades. Tom was euphoric that he was living the life. That was until one cool evening in second year of his election. Things were going well, he sat near one of the fireplaces reading a Tom Clancy novel, when once again cold air came upon him, then what felt like molten lava raced through his body. He punched in 911, he screamed for Hannah, there was something radically wrong. The sardonic stranger appeared in a cloud of black smoke, a voice from what seemed another world spoke:

“Tom Storm, I am here for your soul. It is time for my payment.”

Tom was terrified, his heart felt as if it were going to explode in his chest, he felt as if he were sizzling from the inside out. What had he promised? He remembered the sardonic stranger telling him he wanted his soul. Had Tom somehow made a contract with Lucifer? He had no idea however his thoughts had been read when the voice in the black smoke spoke with a grizzly tone:

“You made a pact with me, I am Lucifer. I want your soul. Tonight, you will die and your soul

will go to hell. You will never leave hell.”

Tom was gasping, he wanted to stay, why had he ever made a pact with the devil, he thought back to when he had made the pact, he did not care for what it was going to cost him or that he would die at forty-five. He had forgotten the force of the pact he had made, how the cold and then feeling of being boiled. He closed his eyes, wondering if this was hell that he was experiencing. Lucifer appeared then; he was the sardonic man that Tom had met twenty years ago. Lucifer smiled at Tom:

“Your place is with me; you were a fool to think I would not come for you. From this day

forward, you will roast in hell.” He cackled as Tom drew his last breath. He had paid the devil his due.