By Cliff Duncan

Picture if you will a millionare.His money stacked all around him, as he counts his treasure.He is smiling, as the number grows and grows.He is taking account of that which he considers valuable.

He pictures in his mind the yacht that he is going to buy with that stack over there. He sees himself tanning on the deck, his beautiful wife there looking good in her string bikini.He sees the bottle of Dom Perignon, and the crystal champagne glasses. He sees the man in the white jacket, and black tie, as he pours the refreshments for him and his lady.

Then he looks at another stack of bills, and his mind goes to the Corvette that he has always dreamed of driving. He sees the bright red paint gleeming in the sun. He pictures the chrome, all polished and shiny. He imagines himself cruising downtown, all the ladies turning their heads as he roars by.He sees himself pulling into the country club, all the guys grinning and patting him on the back.

Then his attention falls onto yet another stack of bills. His mind is suddenly in front of a beautiful mansion.The millionare sees the manicured green lawn, The fountain that is the centerpiece of the yard flowing crystal clear.As he imagines stepping inside the house, he sees with his minds eye the beautiful sculptured marble staircase, that leads to the upstairs portion to the house. He smile to himself as the butler of this imaginary fortress comes and takes his hat and coat.

Suddenly, the rich mans attention is snapped back to reality, as their is a crash, and the door bursts open.In walks a man. He is a pleasant looking man, not at all menacing, or imposing. He has a demure manner about him, and he strides into the room as if it was he that was the owner of the treasure that the millionare is counting.

The stranger that has just interupted the rich mans dreaming steps up to the desk, a small smile creasing the corners of his mouth."I have a proposition for you, my friend." He states matter of factly, with only a hint of amusement in his eyes."Oh, yeah," the rich man answers, intirgued by the strangers flamboyance,"what might that be?"

"Well," the handsome young man starts,"You see all this money that you have here?" The millionare looks around at the piles of cash, and his dreams flash in front of his eyes. The boat, the car, the house, all pass in front of his minds eye as he scans his loot."Yeah, What about it?"

The stranger, that so boldly entered his office smiles his warmest smile, walks around to where the wealthy man is sitting behind his big desk, and put his arm around his shoulders."I am gonna make you an offer that you just won't be able to refuse."

The millionare looks at the handsome stranger intently, as he wonders what in the world this young man could have that would be worth all this cash."Go ahead." he says, really interested in what this man might have to say.

"Well," the stranger smiles,"I am willing, for all the money you have, to give you a few hours of pleasure, where you can forget your problems, and be free from the burdens that you face every day."

The handsome mans face suddenly begins to change as he continues his proposition."Now, please note, that I not only want your money, but, eventually, I want your life as well."

"Now also understand," The young man continues, as his coutenance darkens, and the smile is completely erased from his face."I will not take everything at once, but, as I administer this good feeling, your need for it will grow, until finally, you will no longer be able to function without me. You will require me more and more, until I am a constant part of your life."

The rich man just stares in unbelief, as the once handsome young man transforms before him into a hideous creature, eyes aflame with hate and anger.

"In the end," the stranger continues," after I have taken all you have, I will require that you give me your life. That is my proposition. What do you say?"

Suddenly, laughter fills the office. The rich man is sitting at his desk, holding his sides, and roaring with laughter at the proposition that has been laid before him.He looks at the once stunning figure, now ugly and grotesque, and points his finger in his face, as his laughter suddenly ceases, and anger replaces it.

"Do you take me for a moron?" the millionare asks, as the creature cowers under his stare."I would have to be a complete idiot to even consider such a deal. Now, get out of my office, and I don't want to see you near me or my treasure again."

Now, picture if you will, another rich man. This man hasn't got stacks of money piled around. Images of yachts and mansions are only far away fantasies. But, he too is counting his treasures.

His eyes fall onto his wife, standing at the stove, cooking the evening meal. In his mind, he sees her as she was on their wedding day. He envisions the congregation rising, as this vision of beauty walks slowly down the aisle, coming to promise herself to him forever. Then, his minds eye moves to the birth of their first child. The joy and happiness that they had shared at the arrival of their little bundle of joy. He sees his wife, as she glows with pride, as she presents him with their son. Then, he pictures the future, and sees he and his wife, sitting together in their living room, as grandchildren scamper around their chairs, the sound of Christmas music playing softly in the air.

The man then turns his eyes to his boy, sitting in the high chair, throwing cereal everywhere.He can't help but smile at the pure joy his son seems to be getting out of doing this.His minds eye sees his son, as he is handed to him by his wife for the first time. He looks down into the face of this little extension of himself. Then, his imagination takes him once again into the future, as he sees his son pitching his first little league game. He sees himself stand up and cheer, as the umpire says "Steeeeerike ONE!!"

Suddenly, as in the previous story, there is a sound that brings him back to reality.

The same handsome young stranger enters the modest home of this man and his family.The man doesn't resist the strangers entrance, in awe of his almost majestic appearance.The stranger saunters in, and has a seat right between him and his son.

"What can I do for you, sir?" the man of the house asks, as his wife looks on, not liking what she is seeing.

"No," the stranger smiles,"it is not what you can do for me, but rather, what I can do for you."

The man looks intently at the handsome young stranger, wondering what he is about to say. "Ok," he says, "Continue, please."

The suave young man rises to his feet, and spreads his arms wide, "My friend, I am about to make you a proposition that you can't refuse."

"I am here to offer you freedom. Freedom from your cares, freedom from your worries, freedom from the world that you call your life." The stranger proposes, his face glowing with pride at his presentation.

"Now, understand," The young man continues, as his figure once again starts to change, and his expression darkens, "This freedom is only temporary, and it comes at a great price. As you go along, your need for this feeling will increase, and so will your dependance on me. Eventually, I will require that you abuse your family, and that you cause them to lose the love and respect that they now hold for you."

The man sits stunned, the proposition that this young man, now transforming in front of his eyes into a hideous repulsive creature, swirling in his mind. The pictures that he had just been seeing with his minds eye also flash before him.

"Also," the creature continues,"In the end, you must realize, that I will own you, and I will require of you your very life. I will take all that you have, and leave you alone and worthless, and then, the final payment I will extract, your life. In return for these things, I will, for brief periods of time, give you an escape, a release from the real world, and freedom from your problems."

The man sits.He is thinking hard about the deal that he is being offered.

His wife, his son, his hopes, his dreams, everything he holds dear, for a few moments of freedom from worry, for feeling good temporarily.

The creature sits a container in front of the man. The man looks at the dark liquid in the glass bottle in front of him."Drink this," the creature hisses, and freedom is yours. Don't worry about the price right now, I will collect when I am ready."

The man looks at the creature, once again the handsome young man he was at the start. He looks at his wife, standing and watching, waiting on his decision. He looks at his son, oblivious to the whole thing, playing with the bowl that once held his cereal. The pictures once again play in his mind.

And the man reaches for the bottle...and turns it up....

Since writing this story I have been asked by several "Whats in the bottle?" Well, acctually it is up to the reader to decide. For some, the bottle contains alcohol, for others, drugs. For some the bottle may contain gambling, or adultery. Whatever that thing is that one would allow to destroy their family, THAT is what is in the bottle!!