An amber flame dances before me. So much beauty, power and potential. This little flame could light a fireplace to warm a home, or start a wildfire, ravaging everything in its path.

Me, I choose destruction. Before the flames begin to lick at my fingertips, I bring the match up to the edge of the cigar and a take a few deep draws. With a flick of my wrist, I extinguish the flame, but the spark lives on. Probably kill me someday, if I’m lucky.

“No, didn’t cause me any problems Joe. Got the stuff right here. I’ll drop it round tomorrow.” The voice on the other end of the line offers thanks, then compensation.

“Forget it kid. This one’s a freebie. See you tomorrow.”

I hang up and lay down on my bed. Joe’s a good kid, straight arrow. Hell of an arm on him too, coulda gone pro. Became a lawyer instead, and soon he’ll be just like any other member of his family. Damn shame. I liked him.

Smoke curls up towards the ceiling, creating monsters and memories above me. I blow smoke rings at them and try not to think.

Keep smoking and you’ll be dead before you’re sixty, that’s what Doc said to me. Doc, I says, I ain’t planning to be around that long.

Course, Doc copped it a few days later, so what did he know? He was a good man too, deserved better. I shoulda…

One in the Chamber is the final short story in The Red Book by contributing editor Paul Anderson. We share part two with you tomorrow. All comments of two lines or more go into the draw at the end of the week for a limited edition (electronic) Red Book Reversed.