Spookyness

The Skeptic

"...I'm glad you asked that question." Stated the speaker in front of the auditorium, half-filled with people. "As you, and we all know as well, there are unexplained and unexplainable, phenomenon and situations that have occurred throughout history and occur even now---"

"That's total crap." the loud voice from the audience interrupted with venomous derision. "You can preach to the gullible, and talk your nonsense, but I live in the Real World..."

"First of all, sir, I ask that you keep the dialog civil and to not use profanity. Okay? With this in mind, I actually appreciate skeptics. How about a demonstration? Would you agree to believe your own senses, your own experience?"

"For sure, bring it on, you got nothing."

"Okay. For the other members of the audience, let me ask you a few questions. Have we ever met before? Do you have any prior experience of any sort regarding the supernatural? Are you a true skeptic?"

"This is stupid."

"Sir..." the speaker looked at the heckler with grave seriousness. 

"Fine. I'll play along. No, I don't know you - don't want to know you - and think this entire thing is a scam."

"Okay, perfect. A you are willing and you agree to participate, again of your own free will, in a demonstration? "

"I am not coming up on stage, that's not gonna happen. "

"No problem at all. How about if you stay seated in your chair, willing then?"

"Sure, whatever. Bring it on."

"OK, good deal. So, just to clarify, you, of your own free will, accepting the consequences, agree to participate? As long as you stay seated, and do not have to come up on stage?"

The audience is stirring and their attention is rising in anticipation; they can sense something is building. A tension in the room is growing. A hush begins to spread over the auditorium. 

"Okay, let's start slow. ..."

"Screw that, get on with it already. This is a damn farce - quit stalling."

The speaker on stage, straightens and stands more erect, as a smile spreads across his face. He points a long thin index finger at the loud member of the audience. 

"You agreed to be civil - and broke your word. Check. You agreed of your own free will to participate and accept the consequences. Check." The lights in the room seemed to dim as the speaker's smile widened.

"One more thing. A small thing really..."

"Whatever it is I agree, get on with it."

"You're sure about that, agreement with out knowing what the specifics include, or the risk, or the consequences?"

"Yes, I agree. This sucks. I accept."

"Okay then. Please reach under the seat on your chair and find an envelope. Retrieve it please. But don't open it. Not just yet."

The loud-mouthed man fumbles around briefly and pulls out a crisp, sealed envelope. 

"I ask that everyone in the room check under your seats to see if there's any other envelopes. Go ahead, I'll wait." The speaker invited the audience to check, hiding his smile. People's confused, fearful glances scanned the room to see if anyone had found any other envelopes. When the room was full of shaking heads, hushed murmurs and pale faces, the speaker continued.  "No, none. You're sure? Very well, then."

The tension in the room seems to build. The silence grows deeper. The shadows seems to increase in darkness. A sense of foreboding - almost a shared sense of panic - is felt. 

"So, the conditions are met and witnessed. Please open the envelope, sir."

The room is deathly quiet. The sound of the envelope being torn open can be heard across the entire auditorium. The momentary pause is felt to stretch on and on as the man studies a photograph. 

"What... no. No way. This can't be..." The entire audience focused on the formerly-skeptical man as he dropped the photo. He stumbled over seats, pushed his way between gasping viewers and ran from the auditorium, babbling and shaking.

After the shrieking sound diminished and grew faint, the speaker clears his throat and asks: "Any other skeptics care for a demonstration?"

Silence.