Untitled story (The night was damp, misty, the air possessing a certain . . .)

Introduction

UNTITLED STORY (The night was damp, misty, the air possessing a certain . . .). 1400 words, incomplete.

In an unnamed, damp, misty night in London, a startling encounter unfolds in this untitled and unfinished story by Robert E. Howard. A solitary man’s evening is disrupted when a terrified woman bursts into his room, fleeing an unimaginable horror.

Summary

The story begins on a summer night enveloped in a sea fog that lends a mysterious air to the London streets. The protagonist is alone in his room when the silence is shattered by the sound of desperate running footsteps and panicked breathing. Suddenly, a woman bursts into his room. She is terrified, pleading for protection against an unspecified horror she claims is pursuing her.

As the protagonist tries to calm the woman, she alternates between moments of sheer panic and resignation, suggesting that no one can help her. The tension escalates when another set of footsteps approaches. The protagonist’s neighbor, known as Falcon, appears at the door. He is described as a dark, imposing figure with an air of mystery and barely concealed power.

Despite the protagonist’s reservations, the woman seems to trust Falcon, who suggests he might be able to help her. Falcon’s actions are peculiar and ritualistic—he uses a dagger with a curiously chased hilt to draw a symbol on the woman’s chest, hinting at arcane practices or dark magic at play. The protagonist is torn between suspicion and the desire to help, confused by the bizarre and possibly supernatural elements unfolding in his seemingly mundane world.

The narrative cuts off abruptly, leaving many questions unanswered and the fate of the characters hanging in balance, a characteristic feature of many unfinished manuscripts.

Characters

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