Rodeo by Rob Garbin
 (2 ratings)
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SUMMARY: Rejected for Flashspec The massive beast stirred beneath him letting out snorts of hot steam as its' impatience grew and it's corded muscles quivered with barely restrained fury. Tall and lanky he settled his grip tighter on the single rope that held him to the crazed beast, his eyes glowing with an inner fire. This time will be the last he thought stubbornly. Begged might have been closer to the truth. The beast bucked high arching its back and smashing it's rider's left leg against the gate before settling down to regroup for another go at destroying the soul perch upon its back. Fiery red eyes gleamed inside the stall and were reflected off the pitted metal of the gate.
Pain coursed through his leg and was added to the countless other agonies he had endured during his eternal tour of this cursed circuit. He breathed deeply the smell of singed flesh and brimstone that were the only fragrances on the searing winds of this realm. The stall rattled as the beast kicked its' hind legs, ripping out a cross beam in the process. Soon the rider's gloved hand grew hot where he gripped the rope. He wondered how much longer he would have to wait.
A deep gong filled the air shaking the ground beneath beast and rider. Long before the giant bell stopped ringing, the gate of the stall flung open allowing the beast's pent up fury to explode outwards. Smoke rose from the riders glove as he gripped desperately to the cord holding him to the gyrating creature. The beast flung its hind legs high into the air and threw its' mammoth head to the side casting a baleful red stare at the tall figure on its' back. Instantly, the raging demon swung around and leaped, again kicking hard with its' rear legs. Fire erupted where the rider's vest touched the back of the behemoth. In fact, all of the rider's clothing had been smoldering on the edge of flame; the vest was the final catalyst.
Fire covered him from head to toe; yet he did not let go. He knew he had to ride the beast until the end to pay his penance. Pain filled all of his thoughts. The determination in the rider's eyes shown forth even through the flames that engulfed his body. Seconds turned into minutes then into hours. The Massive beast never lost any vigor for the attack.
Without warning he lost his grip and was flung high into the dark hazy air where the smell of brimstone overcame even the scent of his own burnt skin. He landed in a broken heap. Still the end did not come. From his ground level view, the rider could see the demon bull charging toward him with determination. On the bull's left flank, he could see the burning brand that drove the creature wild. Sin! The bull trampled the hapless rider until his agony was finally broken by cool blackness.
The massive beast stirred beneath him letting out snorts of hot steam as its' impatience grew. The rider knew he had failed again. How many times had he found himself back upon the bull of his sins? Memory failed him. His body ached as smoke began to rise from his clothing. A sonorous ring sounded from the great bells of hell signally the release of another demon rider. The satanic bull burst forth with the fury of hell behind its' powerful frame. With fierce resolve the tall rider held on for hours then days. Soon time blurred for the suffering rider but his grip never loosened because he was prepared to pay the price for his sins. The night he gave in to his sadness and forsook the lord became the crux of his determination. He was not going to fail the lord again.
Incandescent flames illuminated the dark smoldering char pit of hell where the rodeo was held. The pain had long since gone beyond anything describable to mortal man but the sinner held on for dear eternal life. His eyes shone like white-hot stars amidst a glowing nebula. Suddenly the flames vanished and darkness fell. The rider felt no more pain then joy entered his soul as his wife's face appeared before him. Her sweet graceful hand lay cool upon his brow.
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