The darkness came back.

It returns about once a month or so, usually just in time for something really important. I never know what's going to happen in those two or three days it's here, but I always know it's going to be bad.

Now be quiet while I tighten these ropes.

I don't want to hurt you, I really don't. But I can't help it. That's what you must understand. None of this is my fault. Blame the darkness.

It's a simple concept, really. The darkness comes, I do bad things. There's really nothing you or I can do about it. I tried to fight it at first, but eventually I gave up. Fighting was pointless, and my loss of control was inevitable. I consider myself lucky that it only comes for two or three days a month. Otherwise I'd probably either be in jail or dead. This way I can hide and lay low for most of the time. I'm just sorry you crossed my path in the bad time.

Don't look at me like that. How many times do I have to tell you? It's not my fault. Blame the creature who cast this spell on me, if you believe in that. Blame God, if that's what you believe. Actually, blame whoever you want. It really won't help your situation. What's that you say? The ropes are hurting you? You want me to loosen them?

I may be crazy, but I am definitely not stupid.

Do I need to bring in the duct tape? I have plenty. The darkness supplies me with whatever I need. Duct tape, rope, and one time it even gave me a gun. Bullets included. Why, you ask? Because the darkness likes me, that's why. I guess dark forces are just attracted to me, which explains my past three boyfriends. But that's all behind me. I'm actually with this really nice guy now. And no, he doesn't know about the darkness. He thinks I'm at the gym right now. But this is so much more fun than working out.

Enough about me. Why don't you tell me a little about yourself? From what I've learned about you, you're twenty-seven, single, and your birthday is April 19th. Care to tell me more? No? That's alright, we can talk later. We have plenty of time.

Well, by the looks of the clock, we've already been here for two hours. If this continues much longer, I'll have to tell my boyfriend I went out for ice cream. Yes, I know that ice cream would kind of defeat the purpose of the gym, but trust me, it's something I would do.

Oh, stop crying. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's crying. The sniffling, the moaning, the wheezing, basically everything about it. If you keep crying, I'm going to need that duct tape. And since your nose will be all stuffed up, you'll probably suffocate. Who knows, maybe you'll be able to breathe through the tape, or your nose will magically clear up. But I doubt it. And you dying so easy like that would take out all the fun for me. So if you stop crying now, we'll both be better off.

Well, at least I will.

No, I don't know how long this will go on. It all depends on the darkness and what it wants me to do. I might let you go, or I might kill you. But that's not my decision.

Yes, I know I'm crazy, you really don't have to point it out. Actually, if youthink about it, I'm really not all that crazy. I realize the whole "the-darkness-takes-over-me-and-there's-nothing-I-can-do- about-it" sounds pretty weird, but it's not all that hard to believe. Think about it. Haven't you ever felt a little, well, not yourself? Haven't you ever wanted to do anything a little...bad? Don't lie, I can tell by the look on your face that you have. Well, that's all the darkness's doing. It's everywhere, and in everyone. Some people just have a little more inside than others. I'm one of those people.

Hey, I've got an idea. Let's play a card game. I think I've got my tarot cards with me. Want me to do a reading? No? Eh, too bad. Now I'm going to need you to shuffle these cards. Here you - well that wasn't very nice. I was going to do a tarot card reading, not play however-many-cards-in-a-tarot-deck pick up. See this card? It's the Death card. I would definitely pay attention to the Death card. And in case you're thick, that's a hint.

Do you watch television? I do. Quite a lot of it, actually. Probably more than I should. What's your favorite kind of show? Mine's the gory, gruesome crime ones. Maybe if you're lucky, they'll use your case as a real live inspiration for one of them. Or maybe if you're unlucky, you'll be released unharmed and become a passing fancy on the nightly news, finally disappearing into the oblivion of past case victims. Or maybe you'd switch those two around. I've already figured out that we have very different viewpoints of the world.

Ah, the darkness calls. Look, there it is in the window. You don't see it? It's that ever so subtle hint of black creeping into the corner. See, it's spreading now. You still don't see it? Maybe only special people can see it. People like me. It's deciding what to do with you now. I can tell. It's contemplating the value of your existence. That's a little phrase I made up with my last victim. I think it sounds very elegant. Do you like it? Then again, you wouldn't. No one likes thinking about how much they're worth. At this very minute, you're adding up everything you've ever done into plus and minus columns. Now the only question is which one will come out ahead? And which one does the darkness want to come out ahead? Think of this as Judgment Day, only God and the darkness are judging two completely different things. Oh, wow. It must really like you. It's coming into the room. It's never done that before. Don't look so scared. That's not necessarily a bad thing. No one's ever lived before either.

Okay, this is starting to creep me out a little. It's heading over this way. Can't you see it now? All the others could by this point. Why can't you see it? It's getting closer. It's right behind your chair. Any second now it's going to crawl up the legs of the chair and wrap itself over your body. Closer...closer...what the hell? No, nothing's wrong. Everything's fine. I'm sure it's just toying with you. Because now it's headed towards me. I don't like this. It's almost at my feet. No, darkness. Your prey is over there. I am not the one! Iam not the-

Wow. That was bizarre. I think it's over now. What? What are you looking at? Why do you look so confused? Why are you looking around? Hello? I'm right here! Wait. Why can't I move my arm? Where is my arm? Oh...oh no. I think I'm part of the darkness now. So that's what happened to all the others...a little help here...something's happening to me...the others are inhere...oh wow, they’re pissed off...get away...no, stay away!...I can't breathe...I can't breathe...I can't br-