The Ghost's Meaty Request

The rain had been relentless for days, pounding the tin roof of the old inn until it seemed to seep into the very bones of the building. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of damp wood and the distant hum of a television, its volume too low to break the silence. At the end of the bar, a solitary figure sat, a solitary drink in front of them. They were an anomaly in the sea of worn-out travelers, the kind of person who never seemed to leave.

His name was Elias. He was a man of few words, a man whose eyes carried the weight of secrets too heavy to share. His presence was like a shadow, always there but never quite a part of the world around him. The bartender, a grizzled man with a twinkle in his eye, knew Elias as well as he knew his own name, but the man was as much a mystery to the townsfolk as the rain that never seemed to stop.

One evening, as the last of the patrons stumbled out into the storm, Elias turned to the bartender. His voice was a mere whisper, but it carried the weight of stone.

"Give me a glass of whiskey," he said.

The bartender did as he was told, his hands steady despite the storm. He placed the glass in front of Elias, who raised it to his lips and took a sip. The bartender watched him, his gaze piercing through the man's stoic exterior.

"You here for the festival?" the bartender asked, breaking the silence.

Elias nodded, but his eyes did not leave the glass. "Yes," he replied, "but there's something I need to do first."

The bartender leaned forward, his interest piqued. "What's that?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of fear. "I need to speak to the ghost," he said.

The bartender's brow furrowed. "The ghost of the old inn? They say it's been dead for decades."

Elias nodded. "Yes, but it's more than that. I need to ask it something."

The bartender's curiosity was piqued. "Ask it what?"

Elias took another sip of his whiskey. "I need to know if the ghost will accept my offer."

The bartender leaned back, the gravity of Elias's words settling in. "Your offer?"

Elias looked up, his eyes meeting the bartender's. "Yes, my offer. I'm willing to give up something of great value in exchange for the ghost's favor."

The bartender's gaze narrowed. "And what is it you're willing to give up?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "My soul."

The bartender's eyes widened. "You're willing to sell your soul?"

Elias nodded. "Yes, and I need to know if the ghost will accept."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "How do you know the ghost even exists?"

Elias's eyes were fixed on the bartender. "I know because I've seen it."

The bartender's eyes darted around the room, but there was nothing out of place. "Seen it? How?"

Elias took another sip of his whiskey. "It came to me in a dream. It asked for my soul, and I agreed."

The bartender's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why would it want your soul?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a hint of pain. "It needs my help."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what does it need your help with?"

Elias took a deep breath. "It needs to leave this place."

The bartender's eyes widened. "Leave this place? But why?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "Because it's trapped."

The bartender's curiosity was now outright concern. "Trapped? How?"

Elias took another sip of his whiskey. "It's tied to the inn, bound to it by some ancient curse. It can't leave, and it can't die."

The bartender leaned forward, his interest piqued once more. "And you're willing to help it break free?"

Elias nodded. "Yes, but there's a catch. I need to know if it will accept my offer."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what is this catch?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of fear. "I need to know if it will accept my soul."

The bartender's eyes narrowed. "And if it doesn't?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "Then I die."

The bartender's eyes widened. "You're willing to die for this?"

Elias nodded. "Yes, and I need to know if the ghost will accept my offer."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And if it does?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a hint of hope. "Then I live."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost if it accepts your offer?"

Elias took a deep breath. "It's free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of pain. "I become something else."

The bartender's eyes narrowed. "Something else?"

Elias nodded. "A ghost."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of fear. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender's eyes widened. "Die? How?"

Elias took a deep breath. "The curse will spread, and it will consume them all."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's forgotten."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the people of the town?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "They die."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to you?"

Elias's eyes met his, and for a moment, the bartender thought he saw a flicker of hope. "I become free."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the ghost?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It becomes free."

The bartender leaned back, considering the man's words. "And what happens to the inn?"

Elias's voice was quiet, almost a whisper. "It's destroyed."

The bartender leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And what happens to the town?"

Elias's voice was