The free spirit sketch – Pen and Promise

Harrison puts the key in the lock. Then does a double take. In fact, he pauses to scrutinize. The note is pinned to his door, and it is addressed to him. Curious. He turns the key, and unlocks the door to his apartment. The cool air of his living room rushes out to greet him like a free spirit. With a quick motion he unpins the note and shuts the door behind him. He is still shaken from his encounter earlier. What the hell was that all about?

The apartment is chilly and a welcome change to the heat of the day. He sets the note and his keys on his kitchen table. Then he gets a beer from the fridge, and sits at the table to muse. He doesn’t know where he got his gift to draw the things he draws. In fact, he is stunned every time he completes another drawing. Sometimes more stunned than the people he sketches. Like the last encounter with the police lady.

The Free Spirit Sketch

He was finishing up for the day. And the last of his things were packed, when the stranger appeared. From the first moment, Harrison could feel a menacing vibe from the stranger. He was tall, and wore a heavy overcoat, despite the heat of the day. When he spoke, the sound was raspy, like rusty nails dragging across tin.

“You still selling drawings?”

The pause draws out as the man glowers at Harrison. Furthermore, the man seems to be studying Harrison, as though sizing him up. Now Harrison begins to feel the first twinges of unease, as he observes the stranger more closely. It is clear the glowering man anticipates a response. The unease Harrison feels seems to grow, but he has never been one to shy away from his path, so he responds in kind.

“Yes, I still sell drawings.” Harrison picks up his sketch pad as he answers. Furthermore, his hand is already fast at work. In fact, Harrison feels stunned at the speed of the drawing. It is as though the pen has a mind of its own. He glances at the brooding stranger, and his pen fairly well dances across the paper.

Pen and Promise

As the drawing takes shape, Harrison’s unease, becomes fear. Another quick glance at the glowering man, reveals that he is grinning now. The grin is showing a lot of teeth. The drawing is a confusing picture of chaos. As though it is something straight from the story Dante’s Inferno. Harrison watches in horror, as the drawing comes into being.

As he finishes the drawing, the unsettling stranger holds out a wad of paper money. Something about the money causes Harrison’s skin to crawl. He hands the drawing to the menacing stranger.

“Keep the money. This one’s on the house.” Harrison then packs his sketch pad away and turns to leave. The stranger is gone. Not just walking away, but gone. As though vanished. Harrison feels relieved. He finishes packing up while trying to forget what he saw in the drawing. Chills race up his spine as he remembers the malignant grin of the stranger.

Free Spirit

Now, as he sits at his table, the encounter is still fresh in his mind. So many of the people he meets everyday, are searching. So many drawings that amaze, and in some cases, change lives. However, there has never been one like what he drew earlier. It was almost as if the glowering man had exuded evil, and poured it upon the canvas.

Now Harrison can’t seem to shake the feeling. He spies the note on the table and begins to examine it. He didn’t have anyone that would leave him a note so this was curious. As he examines it a business card drops from within. It is from the lady police officer he had drawn earlier that day. He frowns. How did she know where he lived? Furthermore how did she know his name? He feels certain he never told her.

However that isn’t what freezes his blood in its tracks. That comes from the note which reads: Harrison, your life is in danger. You must leave the moment you read this note. Contact me as soon as you have left. Hurry!

Harrison rereads the note. Twice. His heart is pounding and he can hear it in his ears. Was this some kind of joke? He thinks of the glowering man, and a fresh wave of fear washes over him. Then a loud, and forceful knocking, hits his front door.

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Free spirit