THE CHAIR

There are lots of mysteries in the great ride that is life.

Everyday, something pops up and once again, the old grey matter has to get to grips in an effort to sort out said problem..

Unexpected bills, juggling the incomings with the outgoings, a long lost relative suddenly turning up but not wanting to leave, you get fired, a moron whilst using a cell phone crashes into you but insists that its all your fault!! 

I suppose its what makes us human, being able to deal with the day to day multitude of potential calamities that can quite literally pop up out of nowhere…

But what if one day a problem arose and it wasn’t your normal common or garden problem?

As in not supposedly natural? Does the human brain still work the same way? Millions of complicated neurons all behaving like problem solving nano-bytes desperately trying to work out what in the heck is actually going on!!

Well ladies and gentleman, this is exactly what happened to Tom Banks one sunny October afternoon in downtown Salem Massachusetts. 

*****

Tom Banks slowed to a halt and then after leaving the midnight black Dodge Nitro SUV in gear, jumped out and stretched.

It had been just over three hours in the seat driving all the way from New York and Tom hoped it had been worth it..

Tom Banks worked for Sotheby’s, the internationally renowned auctioneers and Tom was “their” man for the North Eastern United States area.

Even though Sotheby’s usually sold/auctioned other peoples goods and took the obligatory commission, Sotheby’s employed its own team of experts who were obviously more than capable of spotting a bargain or two if the situation should present itself..

Tom, along with his other esteemed associates, would scour areas across the US looking under every stone if possible for “that” certain golden nugget..

Of course the bigger the nugget, the bigger the commission and Tom would be paid quite the handsome fee if he found anything worthwhile, as well as already earning a sizable salary.

Tom armed the alarm on his pride and joy and then headed off down into the main downtown area of Salem where all the usual antique shops were situated.

Tom smiled, he was a card carrying Christian, so though he didn’t believe in any type of hocus pocus, he was still absolutely amazed at all the various displays and paraphernalia pertaining to the infamous Salem Witch trials..

After several hours poking about in various antique emporiums, Tom decided he would call it a day. 

He was bitterly disappointed, he figured if anything and in of all places, surely he would discover a trinket or two in Salem Massachusetts? 

Tom disconsolately headed off back to the dodge and so begin the three hour trip back to the big apple when he spotted something!!

There, tucked right away down at the bottom of a small cul de sac, was a tiny little antique shop.

Tom hesitated for a few seconds, glanced at his watch, sighed a little, then said, “oh what the heck” and trundled off down the small cobblestone street toward the shop..

Tom stopped outside and duly peered in through the window, he murmured to himself that he wasn’t gonna go in there if he didn’t see anything worthwhile in the window.

Suddenly Tom got goosebumps and a weird feeling came over him, like an invisible wave, he couldn’t work it out, but the feeling was telling him to enter the shop..

Tom felt like something was calling him. “nuts,” he suddenly said to himself aloud and as Tom turned to leave, the door of the shop opened!!

“Hello young man, is there anything I can do for you this fine October day?”

Tom turned around to see who it was and there, standing in the doorway, was a little old lady wearing what Tom thought appeared to be an old black shawl..

“Errm, well I was just sorta curious Ma'am, but,” Tom showed the old lady his watch, “Time’s a gettin on and I have a long journey ahead of me,” Tom smiled genuinely when he said this.

This however didn’t put the old dear off, no no, in fact it made her even more determined and almost insisted that Tom enter the shop, even it was for only a few minutes. 

Tom couldn’t explain it, but as soon as the old lady said those words, he felt compelled somehow, to do exactly as he was told and he did!!

The old dear smiled back at Tom, but though Tom’s smile was natural and genuine, this particular Lady’s smile seemed to be more knowing, almost wanting!!

Tom Banks entered the tiny little shop following the little old lady and as he did so, he wondered to himself on what a strange name the shop had…

*EVERYTHING HAS ITS PRICE* shouted the rather ornate gold lettering above the shop front.

Tom stopped as the old dear, who by this time had introduced herself as Martha Brown, invited Tom to have a look around.. “Feel free to touch and examine anything you want,” she shrilled.

Tom still in a befuddled state of mind, turned around to stare at what seemed to be just bits of old junk, he glanced back in the direction of Martha but much to Tom’s consternation she wasn’t there..

Must have disappeared into the back thought Tom to himself, he also thought she was a rather a strange old bird too.. What with that funny accent, wonder were it was from mused Tom, it seemed like a British accent, but he wasn’t absolutely sure.

Tom lifted a few items up to examine them, an old copper pot, the odd painting, there was even a collection of handmade broomsticks, “strange,” murmured  Tom, “never quite seen anything like that before.” 

“Like em son?”

Tom spun around the see Martha standing there again, how in the heck had she managed to appear so quick like that without him spotting her?

He glanced back at the strange broomstick collection and replied, “Well I have to say, what would anyone want with a collection of old broomsticks, people use vacuum cleaners nowadays and not aware of anyone who collects them as antiques?”

Martha grinned an almost sinister smile when Tom said that last bit and replied by saying, “What makes you think they’re antiques son?”

Tom glanced momentarily back at Martha as if to fathom an answer, but he just couldn’t and anyway his eyes had been drawn to another object, right at the back of the shop… 

Whatever it was it was covered completely in a sort of black sheet, a dust sheet thought Tom to himself.

He didn’t quite know why, but Tom, almost mechanically, mesmercaly if you like, reached over to touch the sheet…

A gnarled old hand suddenly and with alarming strength grabbed a hold of Tom’s outstretched forearm.

Martha almost hissed, “best ya don’t do that son.”

Tom stared in utter disbelief at Martha and then down at the iron like grip Martha held him in, Martha slowly relaxed the grip and gently pulling Tom’s hand away from the covered object she began to smile.

“It’s the owners prerogative to unveil any 'covered 'objects inside the premises, you understand?” 

Again and mechanically, Tom nodded that he did, though rather dumbfounded none the less. 

Martha, satisfied Tom was far enough away now from the object, drew back the cover!! 

Just as the cover was being slowly removed from whatever was under it, Tom could have sworn he saw what appeared to be strange markings on the black sheet, indeed if Tom hadn’t known any better, he would have believed they were some kind of hieroglyphic, or rune??

Tom Bank’s breath suddenly left his body in what seemed like a giant whoosh, as though someone had suddenly stuck a vacuum cleaner pipe down his throat and sucked all the air from his lungs!!

There, in all its glory, was the most beautiful antique chair Tom had ever seen in his life and Tom had seen some of the best looking antique furniture in the business, but never ever quite seen anything at all like this incredible piece of art.

Tom glanced toward Martha as if telepathically asking permission to touch this beautiful object, Martha smiled that strange grin again and slowly bowing her head, waved a gnarled hand toward the chair. 

“Like I said, feel free to examine and touch anything you want, cover’s excluded,” Tom could have sworn he saw Martha wink when she said that.

Tom slowly walked around this incredible, well he would say chair, but it would probably appear to be some kind of throne, like ancient kings or queens would sit upon..

It was obviously very old, that bit was easy to figure out, but what Tom couldn’t work out is where it had actually come from and from what period in history? 

Martha appeared to have read Tom’s mind because she gently interjected. 

“That chair has been in this shop for at least 300 years, no one knows how and no one knows why, its just always been there, beautiful ain’t it?” 

Tom didn’t respond to Martha, he were so lost in the sheer beauty of this thing and couldn’t help noticing all the strange markings carved into the chair.

In fact these markings were all over the golden brown coloured chair and if Tom was correct, they weren’t dissimilar to the same strange markings on the cover!

After several more minutes examining this incredible artefact, Tom popped the question..

“How much?”

Martha cracked yet another grin and slowly getting near to Tom, she gently reached out a hand to hold Tom’s left wrist, albeit this time a heck of a lot more gently.

She pulled him closer and stared Tom directly in the eye whilst talking, 

“Ya sure you wanna take this chair home with you Tom Banks?”

Tom, who it has to be said was becoming a little unsettled with this strange old woman and nervously looking back at this beautiful chair nodded that he did indeed 'want' the chair..

“How much are ya prepared to pay Tom Banks?” Hissed Martha, this time almost nose to nose with poor Tom.

An extremely disconcerted Tom had decided he wanted to leave this crazy old crone and this spooky old shop, but he wasn’t going anywhere without 'that' chair.

“Anything,” gasped Tom, “name your price, I just have to have that chair.”

Martha’s smile was now blazing like a bazillion candle watt bulb and she repeated word for word what Tom had just said…

Martha suddenly let go of Tom’s hand and slowly stepping back said, “and so you shall Thomas Banks from New York city, so you shall, and yet the only thing I want off you in return is this.”

Martha led a somewhat relieved Tom over toward the chair, gently turning him around, the old dear then asked Tom if he wanted and freely of his own will, to sit in the chair?

Tom, without any hesitation at all, slowly lowered himself onto the beautifully sculpted golden brown chair…

Tom immediately felt it!!

Tom’s whole body appeared to be locked into the chair, as though he were somewhat becoming one, with the chair!!

Tom screamed and tried to get up, but he couldn’t move a muscle.

“What have you done to me?” Again screamed Tom..

Martha appeared to be changing too, a sort of amazing metamorphosis was taking place directly in front of a disbelieving Tom. 

Martha it appeared, had changed into a beautiful young woman and leaning now toward what seemed to be a slowly disappearing Thomas Banks she said..

“You  fool, you were so easy, like a little fly caught in a spider's web, well just before you go forever, please allow me.”

Martha, or what was once Martha gently leaned over and sensually planted a wet kiss upon the lips of a now terror stricken Tom Banks..

Then the beautiful creature stepping back spoke again for one final time…

“Like the sign outside says, everything has its price, mine was your soul for my immortality.

Tom gasped for the last time and asked what did she mean?

The chair was forged in hell by my master’s slaves and possesses all who freely strike a bargain with anyone of the master’s daughters.”

“You mean, you’re a witch?” 

Martha cackled demoniacally and stepping back from Tom said, “not anymore, I am immortal and you were the last human sacrifice that ensured my complete freedom, its taken 330 years, but it was worth it.”

At that point Martha flipped a bunch of automobile keys up in the air.

She’d unbeknownst to Tom picked his pockets earlier and so now owned everything Tom had owned previously…

Martha then blew a now nearly faded Thomas Banks a big fat kiss and cackling even more, disappeared out of the shop front door forever..

As soon as Tom had faded into nothing, the chair itself spontaneously combusted into flames and as a result.

*EVERYTHING HAS IT'S PRICE* completely burnt to the ground leaving nothing behind!!!

What became of poor Tom?

I’ll let you good folks figure that one out…….

THE END