There was a loud crash, some screams, and a lot of red. Whose it was I couldn't really say for sure. Everything just started moving so fast. Sirens were screeching at some point and I knew someone was yelling and trying to take me towards the flashing red lights. Half unconscious I kicked and yelled, unable to actually see or understand why it was that I was screaming. By the time I was held down, everything stopped.

Time ceased to pass and my world became black and motionless. I just lay there, suspended in blackness. It was comforting at first, a nice change of pace from all that noise and red that surrounded me before, but it began to feel worse.

Something shifted within my blank space and I began to struggle again. For a moment, I remember waking up surrounded by white, but it was only for a brief moment. I saw the white walls, white bed, white clothes and an outrageously loud beeping sound before being dragged back to the darkness.

This time I felt no peace. The empty space was blinding. The silence deafening. And the inability to think maddening.

"Child," a voice called out to me. I went still for a moment, not being able to locate the voice.

"Awaken," it said flatly. Suddenly, I felt some sort of control in my mind. The space quickly shifted to an empty room. For the first time in ages, I stood, walked and observed my surroundings.

"Good. Now, can you imagine a different setting? Preferably more open?" it asked rather politely. I tried to think of something, but nothing came to mind. Of course, there must have been a shift somewhere deeper down in my mind, as the room evaporated in a flurry of flower petals and was replaced with a small island covered in soft, green grass and incandescent poppies.

"Nicely done, though a bit lacking in control, I see," the voice called out once more. I turned feeling its increased proximity. A burly figure draped in black stood-or rather, floated-in front of me, emanating some sort of shadow-like aura.

I took a step back in a mixture of fear and surprise, but it simply chuckled.

"You are right to fear me. Though, you have no need to be frightened yet: I am simply here to strike a deal."

"What…what kind of deal?" I asked nervously.

"You see, when someone is in a situation where they should die, I come to give them a final chance to escape me. All you have to do is overcome my trial, and I will give you two lives-the first being your own, and the second could be anyone. Though, I cannot simply raise the dead, there would be certain restraints."

"I-am I going to die if I fail or say no?"

It thought for a moment before responding, "If choose not to take the chance, then yes, you will die. However, if you lose the challenge, you will suffer a fate worse than death-eternal life amongst the shadow dreams."

"The shadow drea-"

"I cannot say a word more," it interrupted, "You simply have to say yes or no. Oh, and you can save your friend." As these words came out of its mouth, an image of the girl who had been in the car with me flashed through my mind. My best friend since we were in first grade, dead, because of me. I had to save her at whatever cost.

It smirked, "Alright, then, you'd best be on your way." And with that, the darkness returned.