Death's Winning Hand

Hide me Quick my Dear for the Riding of the one that all of us Fear is nearing its End!

Oh, what a Damn Fool I Been! 

I was at my usual place at the Drunk Knaves Den being Entertained by Madame Avaline who Served Tankards of Cold Ale Frothing at the Top and Spilling onto the Tavern's Floor. Around the Table Drinking with me were my Three Companions whom I shall not name for the sake of Friendship since their Wives had Forbade them to visit the Den many times before. On our knees were our Favorite Wenches Kissing and Caressing us as we Four Drank our Ale and started Telling Tales whilst Playing a Game of Cards. As you well know my Dear that I am the most Talented and Ruthless of Cardplayers and soon I have Beaten all but one of my Friends who was Desperately trying to Conceal his Apparent and Imminent Loss behind a Face of Stone but to no Avail as I Laid down a Winning Hand and he was Force to Reveal his Losing Hand. As soon As I Collected my Winnings, Bellina the Wench on my knee Laughed in Delight at my Victory and asked me if there was anyone who could beat me at all at a Game of Cards in which I Answered No and added that not even the GRIM REAPER himself could Beat me if he was in a game with me and EVEN if my VERY SOUL was the Winnings.

At that very moment the Tavern Door blew open and outside was a Hellish Storm of which none of us Mortals have even seen Raging Outside and Standing in the Open Doorway Was the Hooded Figure of Old Death himself Wielding his Scythe in one hand and that Dreaded Hourglass in the other in  which the Sands of our Lifespan Descend from the Top to the very Bottom in which our lives are Extinguished like that of a Candle's Flame when there is no Wick or Wax left to Contain it. 

The Tavern was DEATHLY Silent as Old Death walked in but not before closing the Door Behind him and Locking it. He placed the Blade of his Scythe on the Tavern Floor as he Slowly Approached my Table and all could hear the Dragging Metallic Screeching  of the Blade as it Traveled across the hard Wooden Floor.  Finally he reached my Table and taking the Empty Seat sat down and placed his HourGlass on the Table and his Scythe on the Edge of it then Turned to Madame Avaline and Spoke in almost a Whisper like that of a Winters Breeze. 

"One Tankard of Ale."

Madame Avaline nodded and only managed a small high Pitch Yes and Hurried off almost tripping herself And falling onto her face.

Old Man Death then turned his Attention to my Companions and the Wenches on our knees.

"You all are free to Leave...except you." he Pointed one of his Bony Fingers at me as the Wenches and my Companions Hastily got up and Rushed out of the Tavern along with every other Patron as well as Madame Avaline who with Shaking Hands placed Old Deaths's Ale on the Table and ran out without waiting for the Coins for Payment. The Tavern Door Unlocked and Opened itself Allowing the Fleeing Patrons an Avenue of Escape and as soon as they all were outside the Tavern Door Slammed shut and Locked itself Leaving me alone with the Grim Reaper.

Old Death for the moment did not speak but took ahold of the Tankard of Ale with his Skeletal Hand And bending his Skull back and opening his Jaws Poured the entire Tankard of Ale in one fell Swoop. The Sounds of Ale Spilling on the Floor Caused me to look below the Table and I saw the Ale which Old Death just Drank Spilling down from the Inner confines of his Black Robes. 

Setting Down the Tankard on the Table again, Old Death then began Gathering the Cards in which just awhile ago me my Three Companions were just playing with. He Shuffled them and then began Giving some Cards to me and Giving some to himself until we both had a full Hand to play with.

"Now..."

Old Death Spoke as he looked at his Cards

"Your Soul is the Winnings on the Table if I'm not Mistaken?"

I was too Terrified to Speak and even if I tried my Mouth was Dry from the Terror of meeting Old Death in the Bones.

"Well I have to tell you this before we Begin our Game... you were not due for me to Collect you for another couple of years or so but due to your Challenge I could not just let that pass without Proving you Right or Wrong. Now if you Right and Win this Game then you can Live without the Fear of Death and be Immortal with my Blessing however...if you Wrong and I Win then as you said your very Soul is the Winnings and your Life will be Forfeit and Collected by me despite being before your Lifespans expected Deadline." 

Old Death gave a Cold Cackle at his Dark Humor then as quickly as he started Laughing he stopped and placed one card on the Table starting the Game of Life and Death. 

To make a Long and Agonizing Tale Short he beat me at every turn. No matter what Cards I had he always had the ones to Overcome them and he Could see straight through my own Desperate Face of Stone. Finally after what seemed a Lifetime of Playing he Laid his Winning Hand on the Table and  he stood up and began to Gather his Scythe and HourGlass. 

"Well that the End of the Game..."

Old Death said, Walking towards me and Reaching for my Shoulder but I Stood up and Pleaded with him but in  Truth Secretly began  coming up with  a Plan of Escape from his Deathly Grasp.

"Please... Let me have some time to go home and Kiss my Darling Wife Farewell and to put my Affairs down on Ink and Parchment before you Collect me."

Old Death Agreed

"Very Well but you must Promise that there will be no Acts of Deception or Attempts to Escape your Fate. do I have your Word?"

I said Yes and he Allowed me to leave to get my Affairs in order but the Game on him since I am here and you can Hide me so that when he comes Searching for me he will find it a Fruitless Endevour and give up and Return to his Dark and Forlorn home which is the UnderWorld.

Now Quick my Darling Wife Find me a Place to Hi... OH GOD! Your Face, its beginning to Rot and peel off. I can already see the Pale white of your Skul... 

"Your Eyes Deceive you and they don't for I am not your Wife but the very one you were planning to Trick and Escape from! The Pale White Skull you see is the Skull of Old Death himself!"

Tearing the Mask of False Flesh off, Old Death leaped forward and took ahold of my Throat with both of his Skeletal hands and began Throttling me until I saw nothing but the last Grain of Sand Descending from the Top of the HourGlass and Finally the Dark Black Void of Oblivion.