(OLD) Short Story 2: Alternate ending - The Lady or the Tiger

"The Lady or the Tiger" is an original short story by Frank R. Stanton that was published in 1882. I find his writing amazing, and I have written an alternate ending to Frank's work.

Although this is inspired by Frank's story, the alternate ending below is my own original writing.

[ I highly encourage you to read Frank's story before reading the ending I wrote for it; out of context my ending doesn't make any sense ]

The man opened the door. Everyone was quiet, the only noise was the creeeeek creeeeeek of the door. He heard a slight Hissssssss, and that was hint enough about who was behind the door. He frantically turned around and ran away, his back pressing hard against the arena wall. The tiger lunged out, and ran in a full sprint towards the man. The man was no match. The tiger stopped him. It was blazing hot outside, and he was already dusty from the arena dirt.

He took a last look at the arena, the stands containing an uncountable amount of people, the frail wire fence that segregates the stands from the arena. Worst of all, the royal stands. He bawled tears inside, but he had to soak up every last moment, every last feeling. The sun beating down on him. The stinky stench of the arena. The exhaustion and despising feelings from this decision. Every single feeling before he departed from this world. In a moment's courage, sadness, and fearfulness he went. He moved.

Yes, he ran. Ran from the tiger, straight to the doors. The tiger? Mocking him. Slowly stalking his prey in a game. Swish. Swoosh. He opened the opposing door to the lady. The lady looked, confused at the tiger, a few steps behind him, settled down, peering at them. The tiger seemingly went to sleep, and suddenly lunged. The man grabbed the lady's arm and pushed her into the tiger's sharp, gritty jaws.

The lady's screams cut off way after a gust of wind came, which was so string and loud, no noise could be heard other then the wind.When the wind settled down, he heard the people in the stand's screams. Their screams echoed across the arena, while the tiger finished tearing the lady into shreds. Her eyes and mouth dropped open, speaking silent words. Her chest, ripped in half, was blood ridden. Both the lady and tiger were in puddles of b and her eyes, bawling tears. The one innocent lady, who didn't do anything to deserve this, was sacrificed. By him. Sacrificed by him. It was his fault. All his fault.

He looked over at the tiger, who threw her into the air playfully. The King seemed sad, but there was something awful about his expression, almost as if he was faking it. He kept on hearing the screams, on repeat, over and over, and over again. The wreaked voices of the elderly. The cries of the young. The teens, the adults, everyone. He even saw some people leave. He truly was a monster. A criminal. One to not be trusted.

People had experienced something they'd never forget in their life. No matter what would happen. within a few seconds, the arena was seemingly empty. The only ones left was the king and the princess. The king was surprised, outraged and confused all in one emotion. The tiger abruptly stopped, as the man climbed to the top of the door, the door that used to contain the lady. The tiger growled, and only looked at him. He put his hand out. The tiger stared, and didn't do anything. Not because the tiger wasn't hungry, but for a different reason. The tiger was no longer the 'beast of blood and death', but he wasn't a 'pet or friend for mankind', he... he was him. This 'ordinary' man had unlocked the key to the tiger's lock. The tiger was now free.

He looked up to the king. He understood. He understood that the arena should not be for death and bloodshed, or rings of marriage, but for hope. For the audacity of hope. Hope, that one could change. The princess was open-mouthed, her eyes wide. She went down the stairs, past the feeble wire fence that used to segregate the arena and the people. She came. She came... and hugged him. Not because he didn't die, or didn't choose marriage... but because he influenced change. To let him know that he changed something...big... today.

Even though nothing could've changed in the future, and that was a possibility, he still made an impact, a ripple through the people, and that was all that mattered. He opened a closed door, both figuratively and literally. He changed the King's perspective. It was such a simple action. Yet, such a meaningful message. Now tell me, how can you do that? How can you get such a deep message across, and still use such simplicity? How?