by Donna Cooper

Created on: October 07, 2008

Mary McCormick was going about her day as if it were like any other. Only today wasn't like any other day. It was Halloween. Mary was busy getting her four children ready for trick-or-treating later that evening. Realizing that she had forgotten an essential part of her five-year-old daughter's costume, she left the children in the care of their father while she hopped in the car to run to the store. She decided to take the scenic route to observe her favorite part of this time of year. The air was cool and the trees were colorful. There was something in the air during that time of year that filled her with total contentment.

Then, suddenly the scene faded to black. Mary was no longer in her SUV, driving to the store. She was frightened. It was completely dark, but she wasn't alone. A presence was looming nearby. She couldn't see who it was and the silence was deafening. But Mary felt the presenceit emanated an icy chill.
That was the only thing that told Mary she wasn't alone. Then it spoke, sending Mary to her knees in tears of terror. Its voice was neither male nor female. It wasn't even human.

"Hello, Mary."

Mary didn't respond. An icy blue light materialized out of the darkness and for the first time Mary saw the terrifying figure. It was as dark as night. The only thing that distinguished it from the darkness surrounding her was the light that outlined its silhouette. Her eyes immediately fell to the groundor at least whatever was in that general direction.
The figure didn't make another sound.
Mary finally found a small amount of courage and in a small voice broke the silence.

"What do you want? Why am I here?" her voice trembled. Her voice didn't carry the way she expected it to.
It was as if she was in a vacuum.void of everything. But this couldn't be. She was still able to breathe. She was standing on something solid.

Just as this thought crossed her mind, her foundation evaporated beneath her. Mary screamed for what seemed like minutes before she realized she wasn't falling.
She was motionless, suspended in midair by an invisible force. The whites of her eyes glowed in the darkness as she looked on in terror at the figure still standingjust as motionless as shein front of her.

"What do you want from me?" she repeated.

"It is your time, Mary McCormick," the voice rattled. It's breath swirling around her like a cold wind.
"But you must make a choice."

"A choice?" she asked.

"Yes. A choice."

"What kind of choice?"

"I'm giving you the option to trade," the figure said

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