6:35 am Monday morning an alarm goes off. Playing the local radio station Broncos 98.4. A voice yells up stair "Steven wake up or you'll be late." as Steven pulled himself out of bed the radio host issued a severe thunderstorm warning for later that day Hey there bronco gents and bronco ladies, there's a big storm headed our way so be sure to stay in between at least 4 and 5 pm. We will be sure to play all the hits you love and keep you updated.

Steven performed his normal morning routine of showering, making toast, and rushing off at the last minute. "Steven you forgot your backpack" his mom yelled as he drove off. Running into school at the last minute he realized he forgot his backpack and ran back to his old, beaten up station wagon. Realizing his backpack was not in there he hears the bell ring from outside.

"You're late Mr. Tannen, looks like you'll be spending after school in detention" his home room teacher Mr. Stiff said sternly. Steven sulked to his desk defeated. Luckily he sat next to his best friend, Marcus, who seemed to always have to provide him with an extra pen and paper."Where were you Saturday, man, I could have used a wingman at Gus's party," Marcus asked even though he knew the answer. Gus and Steven never got along, a grade school spat had evolved into Gus tormenting Steven every minute he could. "I couldn't make it" Steven was being short. "Next time you're coming with me," Marcus exclaimed, "there are like a hundred people at his parties he will never notice you there." "Mr. Hanson if you are going to talk through my class then you can at least answer the question" Marcus slumped back in his seat as he was not paying attention "That's detention for you too then" as Mr. Stiff gave a smirk he couldn't hide.

The bell rang and the class full of students flooded out into the hall "Hey Tansticles get over here" Steven heard from behind. It was Gus and his crew. "I thought I told you to move schools," Gus barked while his goons cheered, "but another day and you're still here, what do you think guys? Usual punishment?" His crew cheered on and agreed. Together they pulled Steven into the bathroom where they beat him. They forced him over to the toilet and tried to dip his head in but Steven resisted. Gus socked him in the stomach and he submitted. Right before he went in the bell rang for the next class. "Same shit if I see you here tomorrow, Tansticles" Gus and his goons left the bathroom. "Steve, where were you?" Marcus asked as Steven walked into class late. "Oh, never mind… Gus happened didn’t' it? I'm sorry I don't help but if I do, they'll just torment me too." Upset but slightly understanding Steven just went to his desk.

After Mr. Stiffs class the rest of the day was simple. English class, lunch, calculus, then philosophy. 4 more hours and today is over Steven thought before realizing he had to spend an hour with Mr. Stiff. Before he knew it, he was already in his last class, philosophy, with the oldest teacher in the school Mrs. Swarts. She was a feeble old lady with a mind like a diamond. She could make debating points on anything the students brought up and always shown she knew how a debate would end. She was never wrong. "Next Sunday is Halloween, class so I am assigning a project for you all. This week you are to find a news article that makes you think and question from the past, anytime will do but the older the better. After we present, I will pick one to discuss in detail next week."

The final bell rang at 3 and while all the other students poured from the building Steven and Marcus sat in Mr. Stiffs room for detention. The two sat on opposite sides of the room as was Mr. Stiffs policy. "As you two seem to enjoy being here after hours I don't see any harm in giving you the extra work you asked for" grimaced the power hungry teacher. "If you two don't have this worksheet done by tomorrow morning, I will see you back here."

Their time was almost up as they heard thunder from outside. Reaching for his umbrella Steven before realizing his bag was still at home. The two said their goodbyes and split ways running to their cars as rain came down. Marcus drove off while Steven started his car spr-putt-putt the car started smoking from under the hood. The car didn't start and shown no signs that it would anytime soon. Steven waited in his car to see if the storm would let up. After an hour it was still coming down strong. I only live a mile away I can make it Steve convinced himself. He gets out and makes a dash in the direction of his home.

Wind, rain, and thunder and lightning played like an orchestra. When He realized he couldn't see more than a foot in front of him and his directionless movement was useless, Steven found the nearest tree to take refuge. Soaked and tired he realized he forgot the worksheet in his car. He ran back as fast as he could but when he got there his car was gone, the entire parking lot was now deserted.

Standing in the rain, lightning struck the ground 4 feet away from where Steven was standing. He took off running as fast as he could to find anything to hide under. In the distance there was a flash of what looked like purple light. Running towards the location he sees an old gazebo next to the woods that connects his home with the town.

While taking rest he sees a lockbox that looked to be a hundred years old rusted all over except where what looks like lightning hit to break it open. In it was a note and something wrapped in newspaper from the 1800's. Unwrapping to find a black candle and a black match he looks at the note. It read:

DO NOT LIGHT THIS CANDLE

THE PERSON WHO SETS THIS CANDLE ALIGHT WILL BE SUBJECTED TO THESE RULES

THIS CANDLE WILL BURN FOR ETERNITY UNLESS USED THIS CANDLE WILL GRANT THE PERSON WHO LIGHTS IT WITH UNNATURAL LUCK IF THE ACT OF "LUCK" HAPPENS FOR A SITUATION THAT WOULD NOT BE HUMANLY POSSIBLE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE CANDLE BURNS. IF THIS CANDLE BURNS OUT THE PERSON IN POSESSION OF THS CANDLE WILL DIE. IF THE USER DIES BEFORE THE CANDLE BURNS OUT THEN THE CANDLE IS RESET AND FREE TO FIND A NEW SOUL TO LIGHT THE CANDLE

Written on the letter seemingly unrelated to the first: This candle does not want to burn out and will actively try to save itself from so. DO NOT LIGHT

Steven laughed it off as the storm started to let up. Gus has been pulling pranks to try and get him to leave school for a while but none of them were ever this clever and thought out. He was surprisingly impressed.

Darkness fell as Steven was walking through the woods to get home. Soon though it was pitch black under the thick brush of the trees. He knew these woods but that didn't do him any good as he can't see. Lost, Steven became desperate, convinced this candle was some dumb prank with some elaborate scheme. He takes the match and strikes it on a tree, but nothing happened. He tried on a rock and the ground but could not get it to light. He goes to clean off the tip and as soon as he rubs his thumb on the head it sparks. A very read flame he thought as he lit the candle.

Burning a faint purple, the candle lit up the woods. Just as he had hoped it would, but it didn’t' matter. When he did, he realized he was already by his house almost out of the woods. Running into the house he makes a mess of mud and debris inside the door.

"I was worried sick about you Steven James Tannen where the Hell have you been?" His mom screamed. As he walked in dripping with water. He saw his sister and father at the table about to eat dinner. "Hurry up and wash up we are waiting on you" demanded his mother not mentioning the lit candle he was holding.

Once in his room he tried to blow out the candle. The flame didn't move even as he blew harder and harder. Chalking it up to tiredness and fatigue he gave up and set the candle down which then rolled over off his desk. Quickly, Steven noticed and tried to grab it as it fell onto a stack of papers in his trash, but nothing happened. He stared, confused on what was going on, the candle was on the papers, but the papers wouldn't burn. He hovered his hand over the flame to realize it wasn't hot, in fact it was cool to the touch. Still believing he must have hit his head or stayed in the rain too long he set it on his shelf where it couldn't fall and went to dinner.

"Mr. Stiff called to tell me you got detention again" his mom said with a strict tone as his sister Stephanie snickered. "Dad, I will find the car tomorrow and get it back, can you drop me off at school on your way to work?" Stevens father stares at him confused, "if it's broke in some way you shouldn't have driven it home." Confused Steven asked what his father meant "I mean it's in the driveway." Rushing to the window he saw his Oldsmobile outside "But it, it, was at school and then just vanished" he said as he sat back down in disbelief. "You're going to bed early, mister, you're clearly coming down with a fever" said his mom as she excused herself from the table.

It all makes sense, he thought, I have a fever. I must have fell asleep in my car and drove home sometime after running through the woods was a dream, the candle was a dream. But when Steven got to his room, the candle was still burning, on his desk where he had originally set it. It looked to be a bit shorter but he was done with the day and all of this nonsense, so he just got ready for bed. Before he went to sleep from sheer exhaustion his mother came in his room "now be sure to set you're alarm" She mentioned nothing about the lit candle in his room. "Can you blow that candle out for me," he asked. His mother walked over to him to feel his forehead "You need to go to bed right now. I'll turn the hallway light off if you need but I don't have a candle lit in the hall" She was unable to see the candle, or at least unable to notice is. His last thoughts before he drifted away were to set his alarm, but before he could he was already asleep.