• Opening:

    (Enter a young woman. She's beautiful, and frowning. She's dressed richly, and is looking around like she lost something. She suddenly fixes her eyes on the audience, and sighs.)

    Rose: (speaks softly, but with authority) So, you have found my last message. It's a warning to anyone young and stupid as I was. This is the last warning I could send. It took much to get this here. Please do not easily disregard this message. It's important. I am dead.

    (Pauses for a moment, then continues) I am dead now as I speak this last message. I only have a few minutes to relay my message before my time is up. This is only temporary, so listen carefully. This message is for anyone young enough to feel indestructible, but old enough to be able to understand my request.

    I was young before, as you are now. I stayed young for many, many years. My death came at a high price to me, but it was welcome. When I was stupid enough to feel indestructible, all powerful, when I was young enough that even a day felt long... (Pause) I sold my soul to the devil. I signed a contract. Eternal life and beauty, I could ask for death form the devil and he would release me, but I would immediately be taken to hell. Should I find another way to die, though no natural means, or violent means, or accident could kill me, I would also be taken to hell. Should I try for suicide; I would die and be taken to Hell.

    (Sits down in a nearby chair and stares at hands for a second before looking up and continues to speak) I am tired now... When I made the deal it seemed so ridiculous that I would want to die. What I didn't know is how long eternity was... I watched all my friends, family, everyone I ever knew and cared for die around me while I never changed. It was a time long enough ago that I lived in. After a while my village caught on that I was 'unnatural.' I ran away before I could be burnt at the stake, or something else equally unpleasant.

    I traveled from down to town for years and years. I've seen more then any man has ever seen. I watched civilizations rise and fall. I watched explorations of the seas and of outer space.

    With every step I took, and with every breath I took, and with every second that passed I could feel age get heavier and heavier. I was afraid, terrified, of death though. Death meant Hell. I was so terrified to die, but I suffered under the weight of insurmountable years. I would contemplate suicide, just to have relief from living... but I knew that Hell would be far worse.

    I traveled always, only staying in one place for a few years before having to relocate. I couldn't let others know that I didn't age. I faked death, or I just slipped away in the middle of the night. No one really missed me though.
    During one of these trips, when I was camping outside, a man entered my campsite. He reminded me of the devils I'd met during my years, with dark hair and eyes. I jumped up, ready to run. I hadn't died at that point, but that didn't mean that Satan wouldn't go back on his word and get bored of my fruitless running and send one of his demons to fetch me.

    The man smiled though. "Don't fear me. I'm no devil; I'm on the list, just like you." He said. The list meaning the list of souls Satan and on the way, people who'd made wagers, or who made a deals with the devil.

    "Prove it" I said. There was always a way to tell, the devils mark. The man pulled down the collar of his shirt, showing me the black mark on his chest, right over his heart. In return I unwound the bindings that hide mine, on my wrist.

    As we recovered our marks he stepped in closer to me. "May I join you?" he asked me. He was no devil, and I couldn't die, what could it hurt?

    "Fine," I said, returning to my seat. He took a seat near the patch of dirt I sat on. "What did you do to earn a spot on the list?" I asked him.

    "I made a wager with him." The man replied. "My name is Angelo, but the way." He was pleasant enough. "What did you do to earn a spot?"

    "I made a deal." I responded, watching him. "I'm Rose." I'd dropped my surname years before.

    "What was the deal?" He questioned.

    "Eternal life and beauty; when I die I go to Hell." His eyebrow rose at that.

    "If it's eternal life, then how can you die?"

    "I ask for it, or I kill my self." I responded. He paused in thought.

    "Do you want to die?" he questioned after minutes of silence.

    "I'm just tired of the weight of age." I replied, starring at the fire I'd made.

    "If I told you there was a way for you to die without you going to hell, would you take it?" He asked.

    "Yes!" I responded immediately. You would have thought my age would have kept me from such naïveté, but no. I accepted his help instantly, even though his wager could have been that he could convince someone with a contract to finish themselves off.

    He had me followed him into town. Life is so tiring, I just wanted rest; death is like sleep to someone who has lived to long, an eternal rest. I was so tired... He took me to a closest local church. I refused to go in. I was marked by Hell. I was no welcome in a church, on holy land.

    "God accepts all sinners, no matter what they have done, no matter what deals they made." He insisted. He kept insisting until I followed him in. "Let me teach you to pray. If you repent God will help you."

    He got on his knees in front of the alter and started with the lords prayer I had learned as a girl, then he lapsed into silent prayer. I watched, transfixed by what he was doing. I felt so tired by life. I just wanted it to be over. It was so over whelming I just want to sob. I was so close to tears when he rose and looked at me.

    "Kneel here." He said, pointing to the spot he'd just been. I kneeled down, clasping my hands together. "Tell God everything, repent." He told me gently and stood back. I repented. I felt my age seem to slip away with every word I said. When I finished I died.

    My soul felt fear, I saw the demons coming. I knew they were for me. It was to my immediate shock when they went to Angelo, not me. I felt more shock when I saw Angelo. My soul could see his wings, and angel.

    I didn't understand why and angel was going to Hell. "Angelo, what was your wager?"

    "I wagered the devil that I could save someone who could not be saved. You're going to go to heaven." He responded and I watched him be dragged away.

    "But you won!" I protested.

    "I traded my soul for you." And he was gone.

    (She pauses again, starring at the floor. She stays that way for a long while before speaking again.) So I'm leaving this message. I requesting that you watch what you do, and who you make deals with. You might be punished, or someone else might.... But not matter what; you never win when you make a deal with the devil.

    (End)