"Is this it, grandpa?" Kevin wiped his forehead with his arm and attempted to bat some of the dust aside.
"This is it, boy," the decrepit man was dried up like the dusty the road they stood in the middle of. He pushed hard onto Kevin's shoulder for support and took a deep breath. "This is The Crossroads."
Kevin rolled his eyes.
"And we're supposed to find what here, exactly?"
"Why the devil himself," he smiled.
"Grandpa," Kevin said. He felt sorry for the old man. He never really knew his grandfather growing up, but he knew he was successful enough and whenever the family needed help he was always there. Once Kevin's parents passed away his grandfather took more of an interest in his life, maybe making up for lost time? He wasn't sure.
"Kev, take me to the middle of the road," the old man said.
Kevin helped his grandfather hobble toward the dry, dusty crossroad. There was nothing for miles. Just them, the sun and the barren landscape.
"Sit down with me, boy. Come on, sit," the old man said. Kevin gently say the old man down before reluctantly joining him.
"Grandpa, the devil isn't going to show up. This isn't some old blues song."
"No, boy, this is real life. And besides, why do you think they wrote those songs in the first place? Everybody has help from somebody, just sometimes you gotta pay tribute," he smiled.
"So, what happens now? We just sit here and wait?"
"That's right."
"For how long?"
The old man closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Until I die."
Fortunately, or unfortunately, that didn't take long.
Kevin got over his distaste for the dust and plopped down on his back in the middle of the old road and wound up drifting off. His grandfather's body slapping against the dirt woke him up. Kevin's eyes shot open and sat up and saw his grandfather's lifeless body.
"Grandpa?" Kevin shook the old man.
Nothing.
"Grandpa, wake up," he yelled.
Nothing.
"Grandpa...," Kevin's eyes got blurry. He raised his head to the sky and saw the sun setting off the in the distance, but still saw the sun high in the sky, darker than before.
"What the...," Kevin stood up and realized the dust was gone. Under the dark sun the sky was crystal clear. He could clearly see what appeared to be other planets, galaxies, but none he recognized from school or anywhere else. Fear struck him like a cold wind. Kevin whipped around, trying to get his bearings. The old trees that dotted the previously dotted the landscape where gone. Everything in all directions was flat and it was impossible to tell where it end. He scanned the landscape for something anything, when he saw a flicker on the horizon.
"What is that?"
A black dot appeared miles away. It appeared to "jump" closer with every breath Kevin took. Eventually, the black dot took form. A tall, perfectly manicured man was walking toward him barefoot, wearing an equally manicured black suit. Kevin held his breath, and in an instant the man traveled 100 yards. Kevin fell back onto his butt in the sand. The man was standing right over him, his face emotionless. He spoke in a calm, overly articulated tone.
"You must be Kevin," he said.
"Ye-yes, sir," Kevin said.
"Don't call me sir. Makes me sound like my father," he smirked.
The man extended a hand. Kevin reluctantly took it. The man's hand was strong, his grip firm. He lifted Kevin to his feet with inhuman ease. Kevin glanced at his hand and noticed the man's hand left a slight imprint in his own. He nursed it slightly and stepped away.
"What do you want?"
"What's mine," the man said. He leaned down and kissed the old man on the forehead. "Isn't that right, John?"John's eyes popped open and he took a deep breath. He was alive.
"Grandpa?"
The man helped John to his feet and the two embraced like old friends.
"Grandpa, what's going on?" Kevin asked.
"I told you, boy. Gotta pay tribute," John said.
"Tribute? What the hell are you talking about?"
The man in black interrupted John before he could explain. "John, your grandfather, made a deal with me 65 years ago. In exchange for success I get his soul. Simple contract, simple terms."
"What? No. That's not fair," Kevin said. "This isn't right."
"Kevin, it's fine," John said. "I always knew this time would come, boy."
"Are you insane? You're about to hand your soul over to the Devil! The Devil! I won't let you do that," Kevin said, stepped in front of his grandfather. "You can't have him."
"I can. And I will," the man in black's eyes narrowed and his face became angry. "Unless, of course you have a counter offer?"
"No offer! He's the only family I have; you can't take him," Kevin cried.
"Kevin, boy. It's okay," John said.
"No, it's not. You're all I have left. What am I supposed to do?"
Kevin was tears now. John embraced him.
"I know I wasn't there for most of your life, boy, and I'm sorry for that. But having you in these last moments has meant the world to me," John said.
"Grandpa, you can't..."
The man in black watched without reacting. Kevin made eye contact with him and he broke the embrace.
"You want a counter offer, right?" Kevin said. "Take my soul instead."
"Kevin you can't--"
"No! This way we can catch up and finally have the relationship we both wanted. And when I die... well...," he motioned toward the man in black. The man in black smiled and extended his hand.
"Kevin, I can't let you do this," John said. Kevin looked at his grandfather and smiled. He pushed past him and grasped the man's hand. A searing pain shot through his entire body, like being dipped in fire. Kevin fell to the ground in agony.
"It's a deal, then," the man said. He turned to John and clapped. "I"m impressed, John. Rarely does a mortal fulfill his end of the deal."
Kevin was shocked. He looked down at his hand and saw the imprint start to fade.
"Grandpa?" Kevin lurched at the pain in his stomach. He doubled over and fell to the ground. He could feel his body changing. His hands shriveled, his back hurt. His breathing became labored and felt tired, he felt old. He looked up at his grandfather and watched as the old hunched over man straightened upward. He was getting younger. In mere moments he went from a dying man in his 90s to a strong young man in his 20s.
"Grandpa, why?" Kevin spoke in a harsh, tired tone. John smiled and leaned over to Kevin.
"Why? Because I don't wanna die, boy. Hell, I never did. But you, you were so willingly to die. You're a stronger soul than me, boy. And he knew it. Which is why I brought you here."
John stretched his new legs and beat his chest triumphantly.
"I thought you loved me," Kevin asked.
"Kevin, your grandfather made a deal with the Devil. Why would you ever think he could love anyone other than himself?" The man in black said.
Kevin wept on the ground. Through blurry eyes he could see his grandfather smile.
"Thank you, boy."
John nodded to the man in black and started to walk away. With renewed vigor he walked briskly away from his grandson and the man in black. The dust started to kick back up, and he could see the stars. He turned back one last time and watched the dust devour them. And just like that they were gone. John took a moment to mourn his grandson, then back up at the stars and the full moon. He took a deep breath, the best breath he'd had in over 50 years.
"Beautiful night for a stroll."
