Flesh on the Grill

 Flesh on the Grill

  Drac Von Stoller

  Copyright 2011 by: Drac Von Stoller

  Charlie was sick and tired of cooking at his Uncle Sam's diner because all Sam had on the menu was the same bland stuff that had been cooked over twenty years. Charlie knew he could do better than his uncle ever could.  Charlie decided he had enough money saved up to open his own little diner in town.

  The following morning he was going to tell his Uncle Sam today would be his last day to work at the diner.  Charlie broke the news to his Uncle Sam but Sam was hurt Charlie wanted to leave the family business. Sam said "Charlie why do you want to leave, haven't we paid you well and gave you all the free meals and a nice place to stay." Charlie answered "Please don't make this difficult for us both I'm not happy here anymore. I just feel that it's time for me to move on besides I'm a man now and I need to take care of my own self and start my own diner. I hope you understand uncle." Sam replied "Yes, I do understand I just wanted to believe you would just work here the rest of your life like I have but sometimes leaving the family business is for the best. When you open your new diner Charlie could I please come by and see what wonderful things you have done." "Sure, Uncle Sam you'll be the first person I call.

  Now uncle come over and give me a big hug and wish me luck." “Ok, Charlie you take good care of yourself and don't forget to call me when the diner is finished said Uncle Sam." "Don't worry Uncle Sam you'll love my new diner, now tell everyone it's been a pleasure working here. Now I've got to get to the bank and take out a small loan to cover some of the construction costs for the new diner said Charlie." "Charlie why don't you let me give you the money you need to cover the remaining construction costs said uncle Sam." "No, I appreciate your kindness but I need to do this all alone just like you did when you started your diner said Charlie." "Well alright, we'll be talking soon Charlie said Uncle Sam.

  Charlie's diner was up and running ready to give his Uncle Sam's diner a run for their money. In reality Charlie's was a flop compared to his Uncle Sam's diner but that was to be expected since uncle's diner had been there for over twenty years now. Charlie was working longer hours than he expected to keep the place a float. Charlie started getting depressed and drinking more than he should.

  Then one night when all of his customers were gone Charlie sat down at one of the tables eating a ham sandwich because that's all he could afford since his diner was losing so much money.  Charlie could barely pay his rent on time and there was no extra money to spend on himself.  Charlie went back in the kitchen to make a fresh batch of chili for the next day since that was one of his best dishes but that wasn't saying much. 

  As Charlie was stirring his chili, he paused for a moment thinking as hard as he could to think of some way to drum up more business and bring Uncle Sam's diner customers to his place instead. Then entered a man dressed in a black trench coat with a black hat and dark glasses.

  Charlie said to the stranger "can't you see the place is closed for the night." The stranger responded "that's not why I'm here. I am here because I want to make a deal with you." Charlie said "Is this some kind of a joke or something." "This is no joke said the stranger." "Ok what kind of a deal could you possibly want to make with me because I'm not selling the diner. I just need a way to bring in more customers that's all said Charlie." "If you will just be quiet for a moment I'll tell you what I'm offering. Number one I don't want to buy you out, what I have to offer you will bring in more customers than you could dream about said the stranger." "Ok, I'm listening said Charlie."

  The stranger said here's the deal "Chili is you're specialty so why not make it irresistible and what about mouth watering steaks and chicken to die for." "Wait a second stranger how did you know chili is my specialty said Charlie." The stranger said "I did a little research before I stopped by your diner."

  The stranger said "this may sound morbid to you but I'm telling you if you do as I say you will have more money than you ever dreamed of." "When you come back in the morning open the freezer and there will be a note from me telling you how to prepare the meat and once you have done this and marinate the meat by the directions the customers will flood your diner. How's that sound Charlie." Charlie said "there has to be a catch, so tell me right now what the catch is." "The catch Charlie is simple I want you to sign over your soul to me by signing this contract. If you don't sign this contract I will burn down your diner and you along with it. You have five minutes to think it over said the stranger." Charlie responded "Come on this is a joke." "Just to prove to you this is no joke see that chair over there said the stranger."

  The stranger blew fire from his mouth and the chair turned to ash. The stranger put on his glasses and said "I believe your 5 minutes is up said the stranger." "Ok, stranger you drive a hard bargain, I'll sign my soul over to you said Charlie." As Charlie was signing his name on the dotted line the stranger touched Charlie's hand and when the stranger raised his hand off of Charlie's hand the number 666 was burned into Charlie's hand. When Charlie looked up the stranger vanished into thin air but Charlie heard the stranger’s voice say "Remember our deal you break it you die."

  Charlie went home to get some sleep. The next morning Charlie did as the stranger told him and opened the freezer and there was the note on the meat hook.  Charlie took the note off the hook and in the note the stranger said "look behind you on the meat hook is the meat and the meat tenderizer is located in the refrigerator behind the counter. Once you use this meat up you'll have to replenish the stock in the freezer." Charlie cut off enough meat to make some chili and steaks for tonight's menu. Charlie said to himself "I really hope this does the trick and brings in the customers by the truck load."

  Charlie had no idea the meat he was cutting on was human not animal and the meat tenderizer was a mixture of human blood and special herbs the stranger in black concocted. Charlie fired up the grill in the kitchen and let the meat set in the tenderizer for about an hour according to the directions. The moment Charlie placed the meat on the grill and the aroma was pouring through the exhaust pipe to the outside air cars were pulling into Charlie's diner like it was the one and only restaurant in town. Charlie couldn't believe what he was seeing, "the stranger was right cars would be pouring into his diner by the truckload said Charlie."

  Charlie was becoming overwhelmed by the customers and needed more help so he called some of his friends to see if they could help him out of a jam and before he knew it Charlie's diner was fully staffed and the money was coming in at such a fast pace he could barely fit it in the cash register. Charlie was smiling ear to ear and one of the customers asked Charlie where did you get this meat it's so tender and whatever you use for marinate I want your recipe or did you think about bottling the tenderizer and selling it in stores I believe you've got the best meat tenderizer in the state and maybe in the whole united states.  I know a friend that maybe able to market your meat tenderizer.

  Charlie was so excited that he could go to the bank and pay off his loan and quit eating ham sandwiches. Everything at Charlie's diner was going well until he opened the freezer and noticed he used up all the meat and tenderizer the stranger in black left in the refrigerator was empty. Charlie said "What am I going to do now, if I don't get some fresh meat and tenderizer I'm finished.”

  A few hours later and a lot of pacing back and forth at the diner the stranger in black appeared at one of Charlie's tables. Charlie came over to the stranger in black and said "how did you get in here I didn't see you enter through the door of my diner." "Charlie that's not important right now, how are things going are all the customers pouring into your diner like I said they would said the stranger." "Well yes, and I can't thank you enough kind sir. But I have a major problem on my
hands I've ran out of the meat and tenderizer you brought me to get my business off the ground."

  Could you please help me out and I won't bother you anymore that's a promise said Charlie." "Charlie why don't you have a seat and I will let you in on a little secret and when I tell you this secret you can't back out because you have signed over your soul and I own you said the stranger in black." Charlie nervously sat down but wanted to be the most successful diner in the state. "Ok tell me your secret said Charlie."

  "Now that I've got your attention the meat in the freezer you were cutting on was not animal meat it was human and the meat tenderizer the meat was soaking in was human blood mixed with special herbs I concocted. Before you get up and try to run out of the store or call the police I will have you thrown on your own grill and watch you cook alive and when you are done cooking I'll cut pieces of flesh from your body and dip it in my special steak sauce that is irresistible said the stranger in black." Charlie responded to the stranger in black "are you some kind of sick pervert because I've never killed anyone in my entire life and you expect me to