A dark, inky shadow sits waiting in the corner of your bedroom. He smiles when you notice. With a chime, your clock strikes midnight. Time itself seems to freeze. Your room becomes cold, the world frozen.

The shadow speaks. "Play a game with me, child."  

A shiver crawls up your back slowly, as if your own body isn’t sure how to react.

His voice is cloudy, a sharp and rough whisper that carries itself. An inaudible hiss, that forces you to feel the darkness behind it. It was as if you felt it more than you heard it.  It created a black mass you could drown in.

The figure moves toward you. Reaching a long, spider-like hand at you.

“Child I would like you to answer a question of mine…”

The hand outstretched toward you sends out a small light. A spark of electric energy.  It touches your forehead vanishing instantly...

A warm memory plays. Cheer and laughter fills you. The image is of you and your younger sister. You are just talking. Simple and innocent. Nothing in that moment felt wrong. Your emotions are calm and smooth. Filled with love. This memory suddenly goes black.

“Or…” The creature wheezed, sounding like the scratching on a chalk board.

Again the spark appeared.

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A memory of you and your older brother comes to your mind. Swinging together you giggle. Joy and excitement fill you. Higher and higher you swing. Your brother smiling next to you. Both of you enjoying yourselves.

The memory fades…

"Which one will you save? Which one will you leave?"

Your eyes widen. Trying desperately to find words.Praying it was just a nightmare.

The shadow continues.

“Or will you lose all your friends, family, and everything in between. No one will be able to get close to you. you will be alone forever. A forgotten memory that saved your family.”

Your mind goes blank. A hurricane of emotions flood you.

Hatred, disgust, and pain.

How can you choose?

A chime echoes throughout your room earily.

“Hurry child, or I will kill all of them…” A devilish smile appeared on the shadow.

Gasping, you look around the room, looking for a way out of this nightmare. A loop hole of any kind.

Another Chime...

“Choose!” It screamed becoming impatient. Its voice reaching the pitch of a train whistle.

“I choose!”

***

You flinch...

Your words bring tears to your eyes. The Shadow grabs your hand.

“Deal.” It hisses

You scream, cursing yourself, wishing you could take it back.

“Have fun kid.” These were the last words you heard before the monster faded before your bloodshot eyes.

Click.

The hands on your clock moves forward.

12:01.

You breathe letting out a hot and sticky breath.

“What have I done?”