Harrison Gapinski Coon - December 13, 2024
2024 Spooktober Contest - 3rd Place
Artwork: Ren Bond
I awoke, cold sweat dripping from my brow;
A vision struck my mind last night
I knew it was more than just a dream
It felt so clear in its sounds and sight
In this vision I was not myself,
For I did things I would never do awake
A corpse lay down beneath my feet
These vile thoughts, I couldn’t shake
It will happen soon, If I hesitate
I can’t ignore this feeling of dread
I will stop this act. For if I don’t,
I would find myself with hands stained red
Whatever it takes, I will avoid my fate
I won’t follow Death’s command
I must not break, lest I fall prey
To the will of Fate’s cold hand
I left my bed to take a stroll,
To ease my troubled mind
The vision, it still plagues my thoughts
I tried to leave it behind
My nerves had started to get to me
My eyes were darting to and fro
I picked up my pace, ignoring the crowd
That was staring at me from the road
I broke into a sprint, ignoring them all
I just had to get away,
To stop myself from hurting that man
Who I dreamt about today
Whatever it takes, I will avoid my fate
I won’t follow Death’s command
I must not break, lest I fall prey
To the will of Fate’s cold hand
I laughed, for these voyeurs were driving me mad
Their peering eyes were burning my skin
“They’re waiting,” I spat, and I tore and I screamed,
“For me to commit my foretold sin”
I could feel each one of them watching me,
They knew what I was destined to do
Their terrible eyes pierced my brain
It split my failing mind in two
Their watchful eyes like needles and pins
I couldn’t take their judgment further
I took out my rage on the evil specters,
And fulfilled the prophesied murder
I chuckled to myself at the irony
For the attempt to avoid my fate,
Is the very thing that brought me here,
And brought this man to heaven’s gate
After some time I came to my senses,
And realized what I had done at last
My grief and guilt were overwhelming
“What had I done, in the hours past?”
My hands moved slowly to my own neck
I needed to stop my unholy breath
I had to right the evil I did
The final laugh belonged to death
Despite my attempts to avoid my fate,
I still followed Death’s command
I lost. Now I stroll towards Hell’s gate,
Guided by Fate’s cold hand.
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