So it seems I have a touch of writers block. Willow scratches her head as she tries to think. I can't get the ending right. Maybe someone out here wouldn't mind helping out a bit. Willow shrugs.

I am putting up an offer of $500,000 to the person that can give an ending to the short story I have written. The only requirement that I have is that it must tie everything in together and have a reason as to why I am so scared.

The contest will start now and will go until July 7th at 00:00 game time. That gives you just under 4 days to give me something good. I will be personally judging the endings given and will make an announcement of the winner at that time.

Happy writing and good luck.

The winds bellowed at the shutters as the candle light flickered in the dark room. The crackle of thunder could be heard as the storm began to approach. Shadows danced along the walls as the speck of white light flickered now and again through the cracks that protected the window from the hail and winds that battered against them. Sitting alone in the room Willow watched the clock hands tick by. Second after second seemed to last minutes and the minutes seemed to last hours.

Hmm.. She tapped her fingers on the table. The storm is getting worse.  The loud rap at her door startled her as she stood up shaking. Slowly walking to open it she peered slowly out of the peep hole. No one was there. What the hell. Pulling the clasp on the door tighter to make sure that it was locked she heard the knock again. Trying not to scream out she stopped and stood motionless. All her friends knew to call before coming and she hadn't received a single call that day. Her heart beat inside her chest rapidly.

Willow.. The voice on the other side was raspy and low almost not audible. Hey Willow..

Still unable to move or speak she stood stupidly staring at the door, thinking to herself what or who was on the other side. Finally feeling her strength again she stepped up on her toes and peered out the peep hole again. Nothing but the hallway to the corridor was there not even a shadow.

Aren't you going to open the door for me? The voice seemed to bellow through the door as wind would conquer even the largest of trees.

Still staring out of the small hole in the door she looked and still saw nothing. Stop it. She screamed out. Knowing her imagination always played tricks on her she tried to push the sound of the voice away.

Stop what? I am simply wanting to see you. The voice sent chills up Willows spine and she could feel goose bumps crawl up her skin. It's me just open the door.

Leave me be! Go away. She covered her ears as she almost sank to her knees. Her legs seemed to be useless at keeping her body up and she found herself collapsed on the floor.

Willow.. The voice grew louder and then she felt the door bend to the hard knock. Open up NOW.

Her knees pressed to her chest she rocked to and fro. I don't hear this, I don't feel scared. She tried to tell herself over and over again as the knock came again. Suddenly a flash of light filled the room and she winced as the loud crack of lighting illuminated the room brightly.

The storm Willow it's coming. You know what that means.. The voice seemed to be right at her ear as she was leaning against the door. Her eyes stood frozen at the shudders that didn't block out the flashes of light from behind them well enough.

Shut up. Willow screamed and then stood up suddenly and darted across the room and grabbed her gun. LEAVE ME ALONE.

The wind howled at the window she stood near and the sound was nearly deafening. Slowly making her legs move she stepped closer to the door.

Willow put the gun down you know that you won't use it. That's not your thing. The voice seemed to giggle at her as she again halted her movements.

Not my thing.. Willow looked down at the gun and pulled it up in front of her. Not what I do.. Seeing the candle light dance around the shadows of the room her heart raced.Her hands shook with fear from the stranger behind the door that she couldn't see. 

Laughter filled the cervices of the room and Willow covered her ears still with her gun in her right hand.

NO NO NO. You aren't here you aren't real. She lowered her right arm and slowly faced the gun towards the door. GET AWAY...

Still the laughter continued as Willow felt her face go white with fear. Her muscles clinched and her teeth pressing together. She told her brain to pull the trigger and slowly her finger moved pressing a little harder with each move she whispered to herself. The winds still beat against the shutters and the lightening still lit up the sky as Willow finally was able to pull the trigger. A loud bang rang out as she dropped to her knees and she saw the hole in the door from which the bullet had passed through. Suddenly the rain seemed to pour down from the heavens as she found the courage to crawl back towards the door. Slowly rising from the floor she undid the lock that had held the door shut against the person on the other side. Her gun still hot from the bullet that had passed through the chamber she pulled the door towards her and peered out into the hallway.

Emptiness was the only thing that was there. A black nothingness that consumed her and she sank to her knees. Her heart beat furiously against her chest as she tried to calm herself. 

Nothing there. Nothing but the storm. She mouthed to herself as she looked down at the floor and then  suddenly screamed.

"That wasn't very nice Willow, not like you at all, and to think I have'nt even been with another woman since the last time we were together, just like you asked." The love of her life said as he picked himself up off the floor and came inside.

<em>The well dressed man brushed past her, she could smell the decay as he lingered near her, then took a seat at the table his back to the wall.<e/m>

"What's wrong darling?" He said as he made eye contact.

"Aren't you gonna offer me a drink? You know how i like it dont you?" He said as a smile touched the corners of his mouth but never his eyes.

<em>She was speechless, paralysed by fear she couldn't turn her gaze from his vacant blue eyes<e/m>

"You changed it up for me last time remember? after our little fight we had, tasted like almonds.."

"Johnny I'm SORRY!" She screamed "I'm so so sorry!" She fell to the floor clutching her left hand.

"I only found it after!, If only you told me."she sobbed as she gazed at the the engagement ring holding her favorite stone, an emerald that was of the most vibrant green.

"I got it 'cause it matched your eyes doll."

<em>She burst into tears rocking back and forth.<e/m>

"Shh, its gonna be fine darling." He said as he knelt beside her and brushed the hair out her eyes. "Just take a sip."

"Damn it, Willow.  If I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times.  Lock up your gun when you drop acid!"

Deadpool shook his head disapprovingly and sighed as he took the gun from her hand.  This had been a particularly bad trip and he expected that Willow would, once again, swear off the LSD.  He helped her back into the room as her body convulsed and drool began to escape her mouth.  It would be another hour before she would come down and deny everything.

Willow smiles and claps.

So far you guys are doing great. I look forward to seeing what others can give me to contend with you. Keep it up.

~Gasping for breath, and gurgling in a pool of His own blood, lay a man in a drenched trenchcoat. He was holding His stomach where Her bullet had entered, and trying to speak.~

" **gurgle**spit** ... Wiii... Willl... Willow, **cough**...**sputter**... I can't believe..., and I was coming to **gulp**...**spit**... tell you, You've been promoted... "

~The last words of the dying Man rang through Willow's head like an echo. She slumped forward, the gun slipping from Her hand. As the gun hit the floor, another flash lit up the sky and barely a second after the thunderous roar deafened Her. She remembered seeing the same man twice before today. She had thought she was being followed; that someone had put a hit out on her. Now She understood why He had followed Her. Now She was frightened for another reason. She had murdered Her Crew Leader's Right Hand Man.~

~She tryed steadying Herself, but it was no use. Her life was over. Promotion or not, no one would understand why She had killed Him. She saw the glint of the gun that had fallen from Her hand in the next flash of lightning. The thunder crashed ominously as She grasped it again in Her hand. She looked down at the dead Man once more before turning the gun towards Her temple.~

"I guess the promotion is out of the question now."

~Closing Her eyes tightly, She tryed breathing in and out slowly to calm Herself as She slowly squeezed the trigger. The last thing She saw was a bright white flash. Who's to know if it was from the muzzle of Her gun, or the lightning. But there was no thunder. There was nothing.~

As Willow stared out into the empty hallway she began to feel relief roll over her. There was nothing there, and it was only her imagination and fear of the storm. She released her gun and let it fall to the ground. As soon as the firearm hit the floor a large shadow appeared from around the corner.

Stop! She screamed trying to close the door before the shadow could reach the opening.

She pushed as hard as she could to get the door closed. It was like a tug-of-war with the wooden door as the rope. It moved back and forth, and she finally found the strength to slam the door shut.

You shouldn't have done that, the man screams from behind the door.

She screamed at the top of her lungs for him to go away. The door came flying open as the man's leg came down from the kick, sending Willows gun across the room. She rushes over to grab the gun to defend herself, but she didn't reach it in time. The man had her, and was holding her still by the hair. She screamed for someone to help.

She finally found the strength swing her leg back and hit the man in the crotch. He released her shouting in pain. She ran for the gun and reached it before he could recover. She turned around and let a bullet loose.

As the bullet rang she awakened from her horrible nightmare. She was sitting in her recliner next to the radio as the storm raged outside.

It was only a nightmare...thank God, she sighed with relief. He looked outside, and the storm actually began to calm her. She laid her head back on her recliner and relaxed to the mellowing sounds of her radio.

She screamed so loud, and for so long, that the storm seemed meek in comparison. Everything was starting to close in again, but she had to be strong. If she'd heard it once, she'd heard it a million times. You never sample your own supply. If she didn't beat it here, right now, then she'd be the victim. And with a warm gun in her hand she knew she didn't play victim very well. She walked back inside, closed the door, and returned to her chair. The flames in the fireplace did nothing, being no comparison the the scorching she felt beneath her skin.

Just one more hit. That's all I need then i'll be fine.

Empty promises made to a desperate psyche, nearly splitting under the weight of a chemical withdrawl. The storm raged on outside. To be honest she couldn't know for sure if it was real, or all in her head.

Willow...

The voices had returned.

Willow there's a way to end this. You can feel better again. You can feel happy again.

But Willow knew better than that. After being a part of this...thing of ours for so long, she knew when she was coming out on top. It was a determination that had won her plenty of trust, a trust that unfortunatly had come with equal parts pressure. And there had been a readily available, easy way to forget all about the pressure. When it came down to it, Willow knew she didn't need the stuff any more than her dealers needed her. Buyers, Dealers, Users they were all a dime a dozen. And Willow was determined to be more than a dime a dozen.

Get. Out. OF MY HEAD!

She screamed as the last remnants of a storm shook her house, beating it's chest in a frigtened tantrum as it died out and became only a slight wind. Exhausted, Willow retired to her bed. She'd won the war for her mind; for her body. Willow slept soundly, knowing was a victim no more. She'd weathered the storm.

It seems I will defiantly behaving a hard time picking out the best one. Keep up the great work. I look forward to seeing what will come in the next few days.

Willow sits back and smiles.

A scream full of anguish, suffering and pain. Then silence, complete utter silence, like time itself has froze. Willow hears a whisper of movement behind her and turns around but sees nothing. She walks over to the kitchen, and from the corner of her eye she sees a reflection off a mirror of someone standing in the lounge room. Willow spins around pointing her gun where the figure was only to see empty space once again. Tears start to roll down her cheeks, she knows now what is happening, and she knows what is to happen.

"Please, leave me alone, I don't want to go, please, I'm begging you!"

Willow screams, she walks over to the mirror to see yet again the reflection of the figure in the lounge room. But this time she does not turn around but looks at its reflection, its whole body wrapped up in a black cloak, a hood covering its head and face with only two bright red eyes shiny through the darkness staring straight at Willow

In a deep voice, sounding like it was right next to willow the figure says,

"You knew your time was up, you know why I am here, why do you want to postpone the inevitable. Fate has decreed it and I am here to collect."

Willow looks out the window noticing the storm has passed......no...not passed but completely stopped, rain drops frozen in flight, people on the streets still as statues. She looks up at the sky to see the beauty of the storm, frozen in time. She looks back at the mirror.

"I can't leave, I don't want to leave, please, why are you doing this to me, it is not fair"

The figures voice gets louder,

"I am not doing this to you, each man, woman, and child, makes their own fate, it is you who has determined for yourself that your time has ended. I am only the collector, nothing more."

Willow bows her head,

"I need more time, I don't want to die, please, I will do anything, just give me more time"

"Why are all you mortals so petty, you have lived a full life, longer then many others, yet you whine to me that you need MORE time......."

The figure pauses in its speech, like it is contemplating something.

".....of course I can give you more time if that's what you really need?"

Willow looks back at the mirror, renewed hope in her eyes,

"Yes, I would give you anything just for more time, anything!"

"In ten years I will be back to collect, in ten years I will have what is mine, remember you said anything, and I will have what I want."

Willow turns around, but the figure is not longer there, a whisper of wind passes her ears and she can hear the last words of the figure.

"Enjoy the rest of your life, I shall be watching you from now on, and when your ten years is up, I shall come to collect, and this time I won't leave empty handed."

Willow wakes up to the sound of thumping, she gets off the couch, but stumbles and rubs her head. Hearing someone banging at her door Willow loads her gun and goes to open the door. She opens it to see her good friend Hades.

"What the hell happened to you? I have been banging at the door for a while now, I heard you screaming, was about to break the door down till you answered."

"Sorry, I must have been having a bad dream, please come in."

Willow moves aside to let Hades in then closes the door. Hades turns to Willow,

"You should hurry up and get ready; we are already late for work"

Willow heads to the kitchen

"Yes, yes, be patient, would you like any tea or coffee?

Hades sits down on the couch while Willow is busy in the kitchen

"Tea please...."

He says then looks in the direction of Willow his eyes blazing red and whispers in a soft voice,

"....and I can be very patient."

Willow looks over the entries and grins

Ok last day to get your entries in. Less then 24 hours and then anything else submitted to me will be considered late to late.

"You're going to pay for that," a voice growled.  "It's coming out of your deposit.  I tell you, let me in to fix da roof and you shoot gun at me?  I should throw you out.  You're the worst tenant I have, except for that Deadpool guy.  Now, you three weeks behind on rent and I need to fix you roof."

Oh, how Willow hated her landlord.

The scream was short lived as she regconized the man laying on the floor in a pool of blood. It was the same man who had followed her the day before she had walked through back alleys and went into back door shops but the man stayed glued to here following her every move. WHO ARE YOU SHE SCREAMED. Suddenly feeling more fury she didnt feel that firing the next shot would be as hard as the first. He grinned a toothless wicked grin and grabbed her leg. she tried to pull her leg away but his grip was strong despite his frail appearance..she fired two rounds into him and his hand loosened. she pulled it away and asked again...who are you?!?! he cackled and coughed blood and he pointed to the refridgerator. she walked over to it and noticed a note that had been left there. "Willow i found a very rich man hes a little insane but he will give you all he has for just a kilos of drugs" -Your Best friend

Aw damnit willow thought to her self as she threw the man in the dumpster and took the money out of his pockets

Willow looked down to see the translucent figure of a midget.

"Jacob?  Jacob Marley?  But y-y-ou're dead!"  She was right about that, Marley was definitely dead.

"That's right Willow, I'm dead.  I'm here with a warning for you!  Take heed!"

"Did you just say "take heed?"" Willow looked slightly puzzled. 

"Ghosts say shit like that, Willow, don't you ever read?  Anyways, shut your mouth and listen.  You've taken the mafia for granted.  Tonight, you'll be visited by three ghosts who will try to get you to change your ways."

"Change my ways?  But I've been giving to the poor.  I haven't killed a bum in ages.  I even stopped dealing drugs to children."

"Exactly.  Remember when I died and I left you money for my tombstone?  What did you do?"

"I had you buried at sea."

"Excellent.  Remember when I used to rob widows and swindle the poor?  And all in the same day?  That was class.  That was what crime is about.  Not this "caring" crap."  The little ghost lit a cigar and puffed on it, causing smoke to come out his ears.  "Now listen.  You're gonna get these little visits from three ghosts, so prepare yourself.  I gotta run."  Then, the midget ghost faded away, leaving nothing but a cigar butt on her floor.

Willow smiles as she reads the latest entries.

Well there isn't much more time and the winner will be announced. Any last entries?

Willow steps up with all the endings and looks over them one last time.

I must say that this has been one of the hardest decisions I have had to make. After looking over the submissions I have decided that the winner of the 500,000 dollars will be Hades. Congrats!! And to all a job very well done. I am extremely please with all the entries. Congrats to all on a job well done.

Willow smiles as she sees Your accountant makes note that $500,000 has been wired to Hades from your account.

~Ubar offers His hand in congratulations~

"Congratulations, Hades, for a great ending. You gave us some great competition. I'll be looking forward to any more of these contests. I must say it was very exciting."

"Also thank you Willow, for starting such a great story, and making it into a very fun contest for all. Well done everyone."

Hades approaches Willow and gives her a hug

Thank you very much Willow, I'm glad my story was able to entertain you that little extra then all the other great entries.

Hades turns to Ubar and shakes his hand

Well done to you sir for your efforts and to everyone else, i shall be looking forward for any more such competitions in the future