*Entry for a story based off of picture*

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Evading Death

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Bang

The cell door being thrown open.

Clank

A guard yanking my chains.

Clink

The keys on his belt.

Thump

My pounding heart.

A rough hand grabs my shoulder and shoves me forward, I stumble like a child in an attempt to regain my balance. The chains that bind my ankles make movement difficult, hindering my natural grace. Another shove from behind gets me moving again.
"Hurry up," the guard orders in a low voice, "I want to get this over with."

He almost sounds sad, or perhaps that is fear I'm sensing. Whether that fear is caused by myself or the one whom I am to be brought before I cannot tell, all I know that blood will be spilt this night.

We begin our trek down a dimly lit hallway. The cold, stone floor chills my bare feet and my wrists ache from the cuffs that bind them together. My dark hair is grimy from my days spent chained to a wall in that filty cell. I cannot recall how many days it has been since I was captured, or how they had managed to take me in the first place for that matter.

Perhaps it was pure chance that I'd crossed their path when I was too weary to fight, or Fate was playing her games once again. Whatever the reason was does not matter now. I am here now and I am ready to face what lies in my path. We soon arrive at a door that is guarded by two armed men. They open the door and let us pass without a word. One of them smirks at me as I pass but I ignore him. Sometimes the best way to irk someone who is trying to get a reaction from you is to look forward and keep your head down.

Inside the room four torches are lit, hanging on the walls, illuminating the wooden table where my captor sits. His hands are clasped together in front of him, resting casually on the table. His narrow, snake-like eyes meet mine, his lips are curled back in a sneer.

The guard shoves me into the empty chair that sits across from Snake Man, as I have come to call him. I do not know his name, only that he hates me and wants to see me dead. I notice that a long knife, a whip, and a club are lying on the table. My eyes linger on the whip the longest and I can't stop the shudder that runs down my spine. Snake Man notices and his wicked smile grows. He motions for the two other guards to leave the room. Leaving himself, the guard who brought me here, and myself.

I let my eyes wander to my chained wrists, the metal has rubbed the skin raw, fresh as well as dried blood covers my hands.
"Are you afraid?"
My captor asks, his voice smooth. Sighing, I force myself to look up and meet his gaze. Instead of responding I simply stare at him. My blue eyes never blink, and despite the tightness in my chest and the pounding of my heart, my cold gaze seems to nerve him.

When he accepts that I won't speak he reaches over and grasps the hilt of the knife. Lifting it up my eyes follow the blade as he tosses it into the air before catching it again in his hand.
"I have been waiting a long time for this," he continues after a moment of silence, "to have you in my grasp, killing you with my own hands, no longer having to worry about you ruining my plans."
That last part catches my interest, though I keep my face impassive. Snake Man looks at me, studies me, tries to figure out what exactly it is I'm feeling.
But I will not let him.

"Well," he begins slowly, "I should not keep you waiting any longer than I have. And since you are not going to speak there is no reason for me to prolong your death any longer."
Hands grab my shoulders and yank me from the chair. The clanging metal from the chains drowns out the sound of my heart, which is beating so fast that I feel like it will burst right out my chest. The guard with the keys leads me over to Snake Man, who is now standing and holding the whip in his hand. For a brief moment I let my guard down as unwelcome memories flood my mind, and for a brief moment fear flashes in my eyes.

"I plan on making your death as slow and painful as possible," he says with a dangerous gleem in his eyes. He is eager to begin my torment, my death. I manage to pull myself back into the present and push the memories far to the back of my mind.

I do not show fear

Snake Man coils the whip around his hand as the guard marches me over to where my hands will be chained to the ceiling.

I do not allow weakness

The guard's eyes meet mine as he strings me up by the chains. My toes barely brush against the floor.

I do not beg for mercy

Snake Man comes forward, the guard goes to stand behind him, the whip is in his hand ready to be used. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

I do not die

My captor's mocking laughter fills my ears before he speaks, offering me one more chance to speak.
"Any last words?"

Dead silence fills the room. Only I can hear the sound of Snake Man's breathing, the beating of my heart has lessened as calm overtakes my body. Lifting my head, I open my eyes and smile. Snake Man looks at me, confusion written all over his face. He was not expecting this which is exactly what I wanted.

"I have met Death before," I begin slowly, "I have looked into his eyes and scoffed, laughed in his face, and have danced out of his reach."

Snake Man scoffs, clearly unimpressed.
"It's a shame that you are going to die in chains then, after you have managed to elude death for so long."

"I'm not finished," I glare at my captor in a way that must have been unsettling, because he takes a step back, watching me warily as I continue.

"I have evaded Death for far more years than you could
count."
My voice drips with malice.
"I know all his tricks, I have blocked every blow he has dealt me."
An unseen threat is laced in my words.
"I do not fear Death."
A threat he does not see.

My eyes lose their fire once my words are finished and I relax from where I hang. Snake Man looks around warily, as if expecting some unseen foe to appear and strike him down at any moment. When nothing happens, and I am still hanging helplessly from the ceiling, he laughs.

"You may not fear death, but I swear that before the night is through you shall come to fear me."

I offer him another smile while tilting my head to the side.
"Do you want to know how I have managed to escape Death for so many years?"

Snake Man scoffs.
"Please, enlighten me."

But he never hears what I have to say, and he never will. For his narrow eyes have widened, and his expression will forever remain one of shock, as the last thing he will ever see is the bloodied tip of a knife sticking out of his chest. The whip falls from his hand and his body crumbles onto the floor, revealing the guard with the keys.

"Come on now, we don't have all night."
I say impatiently. With shaking hands he reaches for the keys that hang around his belt and soon I am standing on the floor, rubbing my raw wrists and relishing my freedom from the chains.

"Alright, I did as you asked." The guard rubs his hands together nervously, trying to avoid looking at the pool of blood forming on the floor.
"Let me live and I'll escort you out of here."

I cease massaging my aching wrists and casually walk over to Snake Man's body. I yank the knife out of his back and look over at the trembling man.
"I can find my own way out of here, your services are no longer required."

The guard's eyes flood with terror, a smile appears on my lips.
"Y-you, you promised not to kill me!"
Sweat covers the man's brow and I can see him eyeing the club on the table. I shrug and take a step forward, spinning the knife in my hand as I go.

I wait until the man has his fist curled around the club before throwing the knife. He screams as it becomes embedded in his shoulder. I continue to walk forward as he staggers backwards towards the wall, his hand frantically tries to yank the knife.

"Correction, I promised that I wouldn't harm you,"
I stop in front of him, I grab the hilt of the knife and yank it out of his shoulder, "but I never said that I wouldn't kill you."

His eyes are so big you would think they were about to burst out of his skull. He doesn't try to fight back, he knows it's useless. That doesn't stop him from trying a different tactic in his desperate plight for survival.
"T-the others would have heard me, they'll be coming for you!"

To his dismay my only responce to his threat is a chuckle.
"We will see about that."
Before he can say another word I plunge the knife into his stomach, watching as he looks down in shock and pain.

I turn away from the man to let him bleed out alongside his master. I head for the door and without hesitating I open the door to find no guards; but two twin swords and dark, blue cloak the color of midnight. I smile as I drape the cloak over my shoulders and strap my swords to my back.

I look down the hall and can hear the faint footsteps of retreating men echoing in the distance. I pull my hood over my head and follow the sound. If they think they have escaped Death, then they have never been more wrong in their lives.

For he has just donned his cloak, and he is coming for them.

The End

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Word Count: 1757

Here is my entry, BananaBam03 Ithildaeforever GadSul

Sorry if it's kinda "dark"
I just looked at the picture, started writing, and here's what I got.

Anywho, I hope you liked it.