Scrooge was trembling with fear as he entered the dark and damp cave, the only source of light being the single candle he held in his shaking hand. He was led here by the Ghost of Christmas Present, and he was not ready for what was about to happen.
As Scrooge ventured further into the darkness, he heard a faint snoring coming from the back of the cave. He peered around a corner and gasped in horror at what he saw.
It was the very third spirit that he was supposed to see: it was draped in a long cloak as black as midnight, save for it's pale hands with sharp claws. The spirit was sleeping peacefully, it's back slowly rising and falling in rhythm as it softly breathed.
Scrooge was terrified, but he knew that he had to wake the ghost if he wanted answers. He reached down with his trembling hand and gently shook the ghost's shoulder. "Spirit? Spirit? Are you awake?", he asked, his voice quavering with fear.
The spirit stirred and opened it's glowing red eyes wich shone right onto Scrooge. It was clearly angry to have been disturbed, baring it's sharp teeth and snarling at the intruder, it's teeth glinting in the candlelight.
Scrooge braced himself against the cold cave wall in fright as he watched the ghost rise from it's slumber, his heart pounding in his chest. It's eyes were fixed on his shaking body, studying his every move. "Please, Spirit!", he begged, holding up his hands in surrender. "I'm an old man! Have mercy on me!"
With those words, the spirit seemed to calm down. It then walked up to him and proceeded to sniff him. Scrooge watched, still quivering, as the ghost sniffed his entire body, from his waist up to his head, testing his fear. It then finally gave Scrooge a chance to speak.
"A-Am I in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come?", he nervously asked. The ghost remained silent. "A-And you will show me the shadows of things that have not happened but will happen in the time before us?". Still, no reply. "Ghost of the Future, I fear you more than any other spectre I've seen.", Scrooge continued, "but I know that your only purpose is to do me good, so I ask you to lead on." The spirit pointed onward with it's hand, ready to show him the consequences of his greedy actions.
