Um...I'm sort of madly in love with this. It was some English assignment to write a piece of Gothic literature, which was way different than what I normally write, but I like what came out. Yay English! Tell me what you think...

The Ride Of Your Life

While telling this story, the phrase ’be careful what you wish for’ comes to mind. Though it is terribly cliche, and perhaps over-used, it is something that Reinhardt could have benefitted from learning. Unfortunately, upon exiting his place of work, providence was not at the forefront of this young man’s mind. The building loomed above him. Its darkened windows and dilapidated doors seemed to smirk at him, mocking his obvious misery. Thoughts of escape clouded his consciousness as he stepped down the porch stairs. It was the same building that he had returned to every day without fail for ten years. Desperately he wished to break the monotony of his life. He felt that some sort of adventure was his only ticket to happiness. He contemplated this as he began his trek

He lived in a small town, a village really. It was the kind of place one might imagine when thinking about the past. A time after the age of mighty nobles, where princesses and knights in shining armor held a monopoly over stories told. Yet, it was also a time before the modern world as we think of it, before electricity and other such contrivances. It was a village stuck in that in between time, a place nestled in the twilight before our common era.

Within moments, the cold night air prickled his skin. The moon hung low and large, its ghostly face criticizing the earth. Street lamps lined the cobblestone road. Flames flickered behind the glass, barely managing to illuminate the world in a hazy glow. Clouds of fog clung to the ground, completing the eerie setting. Breath escaped from his mouth. It hung translucently before his face, giving off the appearance of his soul escaping from its confines. Stiff legs controlled even steps as he made his way further along the road. The sounds of his footfalls atop the cobbles were his only companion. A few minutes passed before he began to hear the distant echo of a hollow sound. He recognized the noise as belonging to a horse carriage. His weary body begged for him to purchase a ride home. Shivering slightly, he took a seat upon a low lying stone wall and waited for the carriage’s approach.

It was an impressive and ominous sight. The carriage’s startlingly crimson body was covered in intricate carvings, prominent enough to be seen in the dim lighting. Two black stallions stood side by side in front of their driver, a man who emitted a shuddersome air. A lantern hung by his side, the flames of which cast sinister shadows upon his face and gave the scarlet fabric of his clothing a haunting iridescence. The almost shine of the seats’ fabric hinted at their luxurious, sable velvet. Perhaps made to seem as the acme of transport, the cab instead came off as being highly intimidating. Surely, Reinhardt could not afford such a grandiose whim. Then again, being that he lived in solitude, he did not have much else to spend his modest earnings on.

Reinhardt was disappointed to find that one of the carriage’s seats was already occupied. You see, Reinhardt was a particularly shy man and thus, decided that he would rather walk home alone. Despite this, the carriage came to a stop a few feet in front of him. The cabby did not turn to face Reinhardt, but spoke to him ambiguously. “May I offer you a ride? Pay your fee and step inside.” The man’s mouth turned up into a smile that was anything but humorous. With trepidation shown clearly on his face, Reinhardt shook his head in response to the man.

“No thank you, sir. I can see that the carriage is already occupied and I would hate to inconvenience your other customer.” Reinhardt always spoke with this practiced politeness. Cynicism and sarcasm were tones confined strictly within the fittingly gray matter of mind. He expected the man to move on, but the carriage did not budge.

“Nonsense! Don’t be silly, traveling stranger. Inside Kaiser’s carriage, you’ll find no danger. Do not resist. I can tell you are tired. I promise a seat that is highly admired.” The man was correct about one of his statements. Reinhardt was in fact, quite tired. His feet were taxed and his mind was fatigued. One of the ebon steeds whinnied and shook its great head. The other stomped in apparent response to its companion. Both seemed to be luring Reinhardt in, pressuring them man to let them guide him home. He timidly relented, cautiously boarding the hackney after handing the driver several silver coins, emptying his wallet in the process.

The other passenger was a woman. Reinhardt sat as far away from her as physically possible. Upon getting a closer look, he had to cough in order to hide the gasp of surprise that escaped his lips. He knew her. She was a frequent customer of his employer. He had watched almost every afternoon as she had arrived at the dreaded gray building. He had studied the way her dress hung perfectly off of her frame. Her hair flowed in beautiful golden curls, framing her face gloriously. Her skin seemed painted by summer even in the dead of January.

Reinhardt’s cheeks tinted pink and he was glad for the cold biting wind for which he could blame it on. The girl, he had yet to learn her name, looked different tonight. Her heavenly curls were in disarray, daring to hide her sapphire sparkling eyes. Her radiant skin was now an almost sickly pale color. He gave her a concerned expression but did not posses the courage to question her apparent illness. The coachman seemed to have read his mind. “You must excuse Ivy, she’s feeling a bit weary. She’s usually lively, but tonight she seems dreary.” Reinhardt did not respond to the man’s peculiar statement. Instead he sat silently, staring at the object of his infatuation.

The coach started on its journey. The sound of wheels and hooves upon cobbles resumed and the vehicle rocked slightly as it moved. Great ashen billows soon rolled in, hiding the moon and diminishing its celestial light. Lamps still lit the side of the road and the cabby had his lantern. The fire from both sources was barely enough to allow Reinhardt to see his surroundings. He wondered how the man in front of him was able to detect where he was going. They passed naked trees, rattling in the breeze and strolled through fog banks.

Within minutes the driver spoke up once again. “We must stay on task. We must not roam. Lead me to the place that you call home.” Despite how drab he was, Reinhardt was actually quite a clever man. He was also known to be somewhat paranoid. Because of this combination, he was wary of leading the man to his place of residence. There was something obviously off about the driver and it scared Reinhardt terribly. Being quick witted as he was, he simply told the driver to pull over at the next house. The man however, did not acknowledge his request and simply drove past. “Oh no, oh no you must not go. We haven’t had enough time yet to get to know...”

“No! I demand you let me off of this devil’s ship this instant!” His sudden obduracy surprised even himself. He looked toward Ivy, perhaps she could aid him in talking sense into this loon. She did not say a word, merely stayed slumped in her seat. He began to question her vitality. He inched closer and closer to her until their bodies were nearly touching. Kaiser began to laugh, a small chuckle at first. Soon it grew and grew, eventually reaching an ear splitting level. He cackled and howled, the sound echoing hideously while being carried toward Reinhardt on the wind. Ivy had yet to respond. Reinhardt reached a hand out to her, something he would never normally do, but she did not flinch. He began to shake her small body frantically, wishing desperately to deny what he knew was fact. With sheer terror he realized that there was no curling cloud in front of her face, no breath escaping her body. He let go of her and the body, rather corpse, fell with a thud to the carriage floor. “You madman! You menace! What have you done? What have you done to this beautiful girl?”

Kaiser’s laughter began to die down. Regaining composure, he responded in his teasing voice. “You seek an adventure? Come find me at night! Your darling Ivy barely put up a fight! The ride of your life, you’ll have in my cab. The others are dull, the others are drab. Oh, you should have seen the souls I’ve amassed! For me, a grand experience. For them, their last.” Reinhardt gasped, a wild look filling his features. This must have been a nightmare, some hideously macabre creation of his mind. He silently prayed for that moment of salvation. Any minute now, his eyes would reopen to the world and he would find himself covered in a cold sweat but no worse for the wear. As agonizing seconds passed, impenetrable faintheartedness mounted, diminishing all hope. He was not lying unconscious in his bed. He was sitting upright, shaking due to both the bumps of the road and his own anxiety.

Laughter could be heard again, throaty and wicked. The crack of a whip and the huge black beasts picked up speed. Their whines combined with the stomping of hooves, clicking of wheels, maniacal laughter, and rushing wind filled the air. It suffocated Reinhardt in a deafening blanket. His heart raced in time with the beating of the horses’ feet. The lantern shook under the great speed. The world flew past, monstrous trees, flickering street lamps, and houses with families nestled safe and unaware.

Another crack and the coach was turned sharply. It veered off the main road and onto a dirt path. The carriage shook due to the uneven ground as the equines kicked dust into the air. The street lamps began to vanish and soon the lantern flickered and died, unable to stand the erratic swinging. Laughter, more laughter was all that he heard. “Careful what you wish for, Reinhardt dear. Perhaps you’ve found boredom is better than fear. Enjoy the ride! Take your last breath! You got your excitement, the cost was death. ”