The streetlight dimmed, the wind grew a tad bit colder, and the air seemed to go completely dry. Off in the close distance, a curious shadow, unfamiliar to man, appeared on the dirty brick wall. The figure seemed to stand about 6 feet tall and looked like it was wearing a bowler hat; yet, the mysterious figure looked like it had 1 leg – An extremely abnormally skinny one at that. The figure moved in such a way that one would immediately think it was some sort of robot or extraterrestrial. “ What kind of person is SHAPED like that? “ Seth thought to himself. After the thought, he immediately sat all the way up from laying down on those smelly rags he had been laying on for the past few hours. Now, intrigued by the mysterious shadow that had been threatening to invade his private alley, Seth struggled to pick his five-hundred and sixty pounds of weight all the way up on two feet and boldly headed towards the the mysterious figure. Seth began mumbling out of the right corner of his mouth, “ I'll be damned if someone come in my alley, interrupting my sleep. I bet it's those spoiled little rich brats from over in East Manhattan. They get their kicks messing with folks my kind, but they'll get theirs one day. “ Seth continued towards the figure and the figure surprisingly, continued towards Seth as if it were just as bold as he. All of a sudden, Seth felt that him and this figure might be on one accord and he suddenly got scared and stopped dead in his tracks. Fear consumed him from the outside in, first with his face. His eyes grew beady, filled with the looks of fear; then, he felt his knees beginning to tremble and his stomach beginning to turn. “ I can't believe it! “ Seth thought. “ Normally those pesky kids would run the opposite direction giggling if they...If they knew I was...a mean old grump like myself...They would...Who is this and what does he want? “ Seth picked his courage up off the ground and continued stepping forth carefully. As Seth got closer, the 1 legged figure became thinner and thinner. Finally, Seth made it. He had been relieved to find that the mysterious figure that had been threatening his alley and perhaps in Seth's mind, his life, was just a curious 6 foot tall purple floor lamp with a black hat tossed on top. “ Thank God, “ Seth thought. “ Those rich folk are going to get enough of throwing their junk in my alley! “ Seth grumbled. Seth grabbed the black top hat that was making the lamp look most mysterious in his eyes, and put it on. He then, grabbed the lamp and began to drag it in the direction of the largest dumpster to the left. Seth stopped. “ Wait – This is my favorite dumpster. I don't want to dump this junk in there, I don't need it. “ he thought. He then changed direction and began to the far left towards the smaller dumpster where he had dumped all the items he did not have any use for. Just as Seth was about to toss the newly bought looking lamp over the dumpster he heard what seemed to be a young lady's voice yell, “ Wait! Wait!” Off in the distance, Seth saw what seemed to be a young woman running toward him from the dark opposite alley, flailing her arms about as if she was really frantic about him throwing away that lamp. Panting and out of breath when she got there, she leaned over gasping for breath and put her hands on her knees. As she stepped towards Seth in the light, her big almond shaped blue eyes and bright chin-length hair appealed to him. He studied the freckles going across her cute little slopped nose and her petite shape. He had wondered what could happen to such a fortunate looking young lady like herself. Seth crinkled up his face as if to be disgusted. “ May I help you? “ Seth said as he switched back into grump mode as if irritated by her stopping him from tossing that no good expensive lamp over in the dump. The young freckled faced red headed girl stood up straight, and looked Seth straight in the eyes. Her big gorgeous blue eyes seemed to pierce through him as if she saw something in him that he couldn't see. Seth didn't want to show any signs of interest as he was getting along great making others believe he was some dirty and angry tyrant. “ Hello Sir. That's my lamp and you're wearing my hat. I've been looking all over for it. “ The young lady said in the softest most sweetest voice possible. Tears began to develop in the young lady's eyes, then she looked up at Seth. Seth glanced at her noticing the tears developing in her eyes and began to feel a bit sorry for her. He showed some hint of sensitivity and regret. His grumpy face soon completely vanished and he turned all the way to look her deeply in the eyes. “ I'm sorry young lady. I didn't mean to make you tear up. “ He extended the lamp to her as if he expected her to take it right away. She didn't. “ Well?! Aren't you gonna? – “ “ My mother gave me that lamp. They stole in from me and I guess they put it out here Mr. “ the young lady interrupted in a low and more stern voice. The young lady grabbed the lamp completely as Seth completely let go of it. “ Who put it out here? Was it those slimy rich kids of east Manhattan? “ Seth asked in a stern and grumpy convincing voice. “ I don't know Mr., I was sleep and – “ “Seth. You can call me that. “ Seth interrupted. “ Okay, Seth. Hello, Seth, I'm Sarah. Sarah Jane Carey,” the young girl said as the most beautiful smile spread across her face revealing the most gorgeous white teeth Seth had ever seen. “ I don't know who really took my lamp. I just know someone broke into the garage and....it was gone....” Sarah said looking down at the ground. Why are you out here all alone and in those....” Sarah stopped her question immediately because she would go onto say something that would hurt Seth's feelings. “ What!” Seth yelled. “ These WHAT?! These RAGS?! Is that what you were going to ask me?! “ Seth began to get that grumpy and crinkled look all over again. He didn't look too appealing when he did it. His gray and black beard covered most of this top lip, and would look a tad bit darker and grayer when he'd get angry. His nose would get slightly bigger and point down like an arrow and his eyes weren't that brilliant either; especially compared to Sarah's. Seth was frantic now, with his arms in the air as if angry and ready to pound on something. Sarah slightly backed away and worry began to cover her face. Her big almond shaped blue eyes went into slightly droopy sad eyes. “ I'm so sorry sir. This is why I stopped myself. I know you probably don't have much to wear and I – “ “ You WHAT?! You're probably one of those spoiled little rich – “ Seth interrupted, only to be interrupted himself. “ I'm middle class going into to the lower class! “ Sarah yelled, interrupting Seth. “ Say wha, say what? “ Seth stammered. “ I'm becoming poor! “ Sarah said as tears began to develop in her eyes again. Grief, sorrow, and sensitivity to Sarah's yelps were covered in Seth's face. He still didn't look charming to Sarah, but Sarah felt something else in her heart. Sarah looked up right into Seth's eyes like she'd had before. She pierced into them as if she was reading him and his life, as if she knew him in a past one, as if, she had felt connected to him. “ Seth, it's really cold out here and you look like you could use... “ Sarah paused. “ A bite to eat. You wanna come over to my place and I'll fix you a warm midnight snack? she went ahead and asked. “ Seth was tempted to make a snappy comeback to her, but he realized she was just as helpless as he was. They were both standing out there in the cold, her life was going downhill as his had already been, so he just decided to give in. “ Okay, but just this one time, okay? “ Seth grabbed the lamp from Sarah. “ Here, I'll carry it for you. “ He smiled revealing gray and yellow teeth. He had them all, but both of the two front teeth were chipped. Sarah smiled back and replied, “ Thank you. “ Sarah and Seth headed North down the alley until they disappeared into the distance, becoming to figures in the shadow of the night. “



The cold had settled in for good and for the first time in 3 years, Sarah was bound to be alone for Thanksgiving. “ Sarah pranced around the cottage, home alone, clearing dishes off of a table that barely had anyone over for dinner at all. “ I'm 26 these days and I'm still not married, my boyfriend's been missing for 3 years, I feel so helpless, what am I to - “ Sarah's thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock at the door. “ Just a minute! “ Sarah screamed in the most decent way she could. She wiped her hands on the red and blue towel that had been hanging on the oven bar since Seth's disappearance and hurried across the dining room to open the front door. “ Hello Mrs. Sarah, I'm officer Ben Carol. I know how hard you and officer Ken have been working on this case for the past few years, but I have to ask you a few more questions regarding your boyfriend's disappearance. “ A 6 foot tall and chubby police officer stood in the doorway with a carton of milk and donuts waiting to come in and make himself at home. " Sure officer, come on in, " Sarah politely said while wavering her hand toward her, making him feel welcomed. Gloomy clouds began to fill the sky and shortly following that, it began to get really hot out. Before the officer could even sit down, the lights went out; every last one of them. It was very dark in the house and it was nearing 7 o'clock pm. “ Oh, it must be this stupid light fixture. It creates a shortage in and throughout the whole house. I told Seth to fix this before he – “ Sarah was cut off by her own pain. Any memory of Seth made her depressed and speechless. She then turned away from Officer Carol and toward the hallway where she would play with the switches to get the lights to come back on. Officer Carol sat his donuts and milk down on the dining room table, then he sat down and studied the inside of the cottage carefully until his eyes met the dining room window. He noticed a figure in the sky looking in the window at him, cloaked in black, with no face apparent to the human eye. “ What the - “ Officer Ben Carol thought. Soon after he acknowledged the dark cloaked mystery peering at him through the dining room window, he found himself on the floor. Clash! The chair had broke. Sarah heard the noise. Frightened, she immediately ran in to see what the matter was, bumping into different items on the way. I can't see you Officer, are you okay? “ Yes, madame, just please...will you get me a band-aid and some peroxide if you have it? I think I'm bleeding. “ Officer Carol replied. Sarah looked a little harder to see if she could see any blood or any paramedic-worthy injuries and she couldn't see beyond the silhouette of the situation. “ Just mam, go get the band-aid please. It's just a little boo-boo” Officer Carol said in his intolerant country-like voice. While hurting and on the floor, Officer Ben tried to continue carrying on conversation about Seth. “ So, Mrs. Seth, what did your boyfriend do for a living? “ Sarah grabbed a flashlight and headed into the nearest bathroom. She began grabbing some first aid items out of the bottom cabinet as she spoke back. “ Ummm...Officer... Well, you see.. “ Officer Carol grabbed his backside and softly said, “ Mhmm, take your time. “ Sarah got finished grabbing the first aid items out of the cabinet and headed back slowly into the dining room where Officer Carol had been at, stuck in the same position as he was when he fell. She flashed the light on him, and suddenly all of her lights came back on. “ Wow” Sarah replied back to the incident aloud. “ Anyways, officer, he was a professional beggar. " Officer Carol turned over as Sarah began mixing ingredients, peroxide and water together and dipping q-tips in them. “ Professional? “ Officer Carol chuckled with a twisted look on his face as if he were confused. “ Well, yeah, see...He lived here with me, but he thought it would be a good idea to teach rich folks like you a lesson if he'd go out and make it a point to beg them for what he knows they wouldn't give. “ “Well that's a silly thing you got there, Mrs. Seth. “ the Officer said in a sarcastic manner while laughing. “ Well ,I think there's a good lesson in it, I – I think it teaches people not to be so snobbish and, well... Sorry, " Sarah apologized, feeling bad about what she had insinuated. Silence fell upon the cottage for a while as Sarah went to put the q-tip mixed with peroxide and water on the small location where the Officer had been oozing blood. When the q-tip touched the officer's backside, it began to sting and burn. “ Ouuuuuch! Ouchh! You cranky little brat! “ the Officer had screamed. “ What? I am only trying to help heal you! “ Sarah screamed confused. Sarah let go of the q-tip, but the q-tip seemed to have a mind of it's own. The tip of the q-tip turned sharp and deadly and dug itself inside the officer's backside, then launched itself back out. “ Ahhhh haa haaa ! Ouch!” Officer Carol screamed in agony. It felt like a needle was going in and out of his body as he sat embarrassed in pain and in agony. The q-tip then pulled itself out of Officer Carol's backside and launched itself into his right eye as if there were some kind of invisible force behind it. His eye socket began to bleed and tear as if some flesh eating worm was inside of it. Officer Carol continued to yell in agony as Sarah watched in disgust and shock. “ Ouuuch! Ahhh Ahh HELLLP!” Sarah ran to pick up the telephone, but as she picked up it, she realized there was no dial tone. When she looked back at Officer Carol she had realized that the small q-tip had somehow launched itself into his heart and somehow her dining room table fell on him and he laid there dead. There was no breath, just the cold wind blowing outside; only blood oozing down every part of his body; only a brutal death; and she felt like she was responsible for it.

Sarah, panicky and frightened, ran out to her raggedy red Toyota and got inside. Her hands were trembling so bad she almost dropped her car keys. “ I'm going to be accused of murder, I'm going to go to jail and rot, I'm going to... Where is my husband.. I can't.. “ Sarah's thoughts were all over the place, poor Sarah. Sarah drove to the east side of Manhattan to find help from the people her husband despised most, the rich folk. She had hoped that one of them would be so kind and generous and understand, that they would let her stay with them temporarily to escape the fatal scene back at her cottage. However, when she got there, it had been complete mayhem. She saw people being tossed from their cars by some kind of invisible force; houses were catching on fire without any apparent cause, the rain was shooting up from the ground, there were isolated tornadoes picking people up and tossing them, but they weren't bothering her. Nope. Not cute little doll faced Sarah. Sarah covered her eyes, filling with tears and yelled in fear and sorrow, “ What's happening? I miss God. It's almost as if he never existed, now! “ and she wept. Soon, she heard a loud clap of thunder! BOOM! It sounded like a large bomb that had gone off on the entire Earth. She looked up and saw a cloaked individual floating in the sky in which appeared to look like Seth, the man she had fell in love with a little over 3 years ago. Sarah squinted her eyes a little more and became frightened. After seeing that Sarah was afraid, the cloaked Seth look alike, crept down to the ground. It seemed to glide across the ground and make it's way to Sara’s car. Sarah couldn't move, nor did she want to. She was frozen. Her car window rolled down by itself as if it were inviting the creepy cloaked mystery inside to get to her. She turned to the cloaked figure and realized it was her boyfriend. Once the cloaked Seth realized Sarah recognized him for who he was, he leaned in and said in his raspy voice “ Remember when Freddy raped you a few years ago when I went out for my jog and you thought you were pregnant? Well, I want you to know that back then you weren't with child. Your stomach has chosen to burden you with a child, now that you've lost everything. “ Sarah looked down and watched her belly grow larger than life and she began to look angry, sad, and fearful all at once. Tears began to flow down her eyes shortly after and she yelled, “ WHY? WHY? WHY Seth? Why have you done this to me? “ Seth grinned and replied “ Freddy did this. If I could get rid of any rich guy in the nation I could, it would have been him, and I was successful Sarah. Iwas successful. “ Sarah wept and screamed, “ What did you do Freddy?..What did you -.... “ Sarah's weeping interrupted her as it often did. Seth moved in closer and reached to get a ball flickering of all colors out of his black cloak. “ I did nothing with Fred. “ Seth grinned. “ He destroyed himself through all of his arrogance and wealth. You see, rich folks leaned helplessly on objects. Material things. Money. They don't really work as hard as we did, digging those ditching, dumpster diving, getting our rags even more raggedy. He used his inheritance to bully us honey.” Seth then, extended the flickering ball out to Sarah, leaned in and whispered , “ Here. It needs your dependency, Sarah; It depends on you. “ Before Sarah accepted the ball from her boyfriend, she glanced over into her side-view mirror at the catastrophes that were going on and only acknowledged the statement written on the mirror, “ Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. “ Sarah then came back into focus and slowly took the ball of light from the cloaked and eerie Seth. Everything ever made in the world was now in her control.