Alternate Ending For The Masque of the Red Death

The Masque of the Red Death

Screams echoed down the halls like bells in a church. Prince Prospero awoke, panting as though he were a dog, checking if he was in a dream or the real world. Fear struck his heart as it would strike any man’s heart if he were to obtain a visit from Black Knight on his boned horse with his enormous scythe drawn over his shoulder. The prince knew that he had to do something about the plague, but if he didn’t, it would eclipse the land in the same way that it had came, in silence, covering all in darkness and decay.
Two-thirds of Europe was already silenced from this so called “Monster”. His kingdom was already starting to go to ruins as though an army was in it slowly killing off his people with no mercy. The Black Knight was the sole rider of this army of darkness, creating chaos, pain, misery, grief, sickness, and his personal favorite, death, the claiming of the soul. His disciples, his servants, his followers were always dressed for this occasion, dressed in blooded-red, dripping profuse amounts of blood, enough to fill a bucket if their clothes were to be rung out. Their chants were that of moans and screams from the pain and their eyes were whiter than the moon.
The prince contemplated for hours, days, as to how to contain this creature of death. He couldn’t sleep at night because of the thoughts that had been running rampant through his torn mind. There was banging day and night on the door to his palace as though the door were a drum and the people were the sticks, pleading, begging for help, for a savior from the horrid beast. Many couldn’t take refuge in Christ at the church since the priest had died anointing the sick, the same death followed him just as it had done to his followers. The ones that were still alive, that is if they hadn’t lost their hope, turned to Prince Prospero.
“Send some men out, gather the healthy, leave the sick or potently sick for we have to leave this blood stained kingdom that has had Death staying for far too long. We will take refuge in the mountains, start a new kingdom there, wait til Death has taken his collection of souls and til he is satisfied.” and so with that the battle with the beast had finally started to see some light as though an angel was slowly descending.
The people were dazed and confused as to why they were “invited” to the palace, that is until what prince told them what he had in mind. Many didn’t want to leave their dying loved ones, possessions, and the land that they have known all of their lives. This was the only way that they knew that they could live and continue their lives, even thought it would never be the same. They set off from all that they have ever known, never to return, only to return to the to the ashes and dust that they once were. The Black Knight followed them to the mountains, eclipsing the land, the kingdom in a dark sleep, never to wake from, claiming his souls, even though he never has and never will satisfy his hunger for souls. His dark army will continuously grow that is until he has absolute rule over all and sees all. It is a perpetuating cycle of never ending taking, never giving a second chance because all roads lead to one path, eternal sleep and silence.