The Future
A Spooky West Virginia Folktale
by S.E. Schlosser
She was nervous and excited as she approached the psychic's store. Normally, she didn't go in for fortune telling. But her best friend had visited the psychic a few months ago, and everything the woman had predicted came true. Everything! The new boyfriend, the new job, the marriage proposal, a small win in the local lottery. Obviously, the psychic was a genius!
The room she entered was surprisingly open and pleasant. She smelled coffee in the air, and fresh flowers were on a stand by the window. She smiled to herself. Somehow, she had pictured an old gypsy caravan and a dark-haired woman in flowing robes. But the pert, crisp woman approaching her did not look psychic at all.
They sat down at the table, and the woman did a reading of her palm. The psychic frowned a bit in concentration. Then the psychic asked if she would like a Tarot card reading too -- free of charge. That was different from what had happened to her best friend. For a moment she felt a trace of unease. Then she shrugged and said okay.
The psychic studied the cards carefully. Then she looked at her palm one more time. Finally, the psychic looked up into her eyes, realized that she was feeling nervous, and said soothingly: "Your future is very clear, my dear. I've recently changed my policies, and now put my predictions in a sealed envelope for my customers to read in the privacy of their homes. It is to show customers my credibility in the psychic arts -- that I am not "reading their expressions", but have truly seen something in the palm and cards."
She blinked a bit, but was impressed. It made sense, after a fashion. The psychic had asked her no questions at all, just read her palm and the cards. So any prediction she put in the envelope would be proof of her powers. The psychic hurried into a back room, where she could hear the faint sound of pen and paper. Then the woman returned with an envelope.
"Thank you," she said to the psychic, and shook her hand. Then she hurried out to the car, eager to get home and read the predictions in the envelope. What would they be? A rich husband? A career change? Travel to exotic places?
She had just pulled out into the fast lane on the highway when a semi-truck swerved to miss a careless sedan that pulled into the lane right in front of it. She had a single glimpse of a massive shape coming toward her when the truck slammed into her car, crushing it completely against the cement divider.
When the girl's body was removed from the wreckage, the envelope was found lying beside her. It was presented to her grieving parents, who opened it. The note inside contained four words: "You have no future."
Story contributed by Jim Harold from the Paranormal Podcast. Listen to his interview with S.E. Schlosser in which he tells his own version of "The Future".
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Comments
omg its a little scary well i got to go
Posted by: vanessa rodriguez | October 8, 2008 11:04 AM
hi
Posted by: hi | October 8, 2008 10:35 PM
it was unexpected but it was ok
Posted by: Tatina Clark | October 9, 2008 01:17 PM
that was a creepy cool story! I love it! defintielt the surprise twist in the end and when it said you have no future!
Posted by: becky | October 10, 2008 06:43 AM
OMG that was freaki and unexpected.
Posted by: nicole | October 10, 2008 03:22 PM
it was really unexpected and really cool i love scary stories lol it wasnt that scary
Posted by: Anonymous | October 10, 2008 08:14 PM
oooooo....spooky....
Posted by: demi lorey | October 11, 2008 09:10 AM
omg wtf it is so omg i know dude lmao that is so wierd omg ahhhhhhhhh
Posted by: nina | October 14, 2008 12:58 PM
It was ok. This story wasnt scary but it was interesting!!!
Posted by: Sarah | October 17, 2008 11:09 PM
When she didn't open the envelope I was really curious to what was written inside, but then, it was really unexcepted! Cool Story!
Posted by: Diana | October 18, 2008 04:51 AM
the girl in the story is a complete dumb*** and doesnt know how to drive
Posted by: Alejandro Guzman | October 21, 2008 11:47 AM
Dude that is like totaly awesome!!!! very unexpected
Posted by: Robert | October 21, 2008 01:26 PM
omys that was a good story but a bit long
Posted by: coralee | October 21, 2008 04:11 PM
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL JK
Posted by: coco | October 21, 2008 07:56 PM
storie so cool might go back on it one day anyway watch out it is almost halloween
Posted by: angela .m. serrano | October 23, 2008 06:21 AM
wow that was very interesting and not so scary.....
Posted by: johanna | October 23, 2008 01:31 PM
due this is the kooliest story eva yo...lol...so...yea...wait what was i talkin bout again???
Posted by: yo | October 28, 2008 07:26 PM
I really like the story. I like that it seemed really thought out when you read it. It was more freaky than scary.
Posted by: JellyBellyEllie | October 29, 2008 12:51 PM
its not really scary but its also wierd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: jessica | October 30, 2008 08:18 AM
i dont think its that scary
Posted by: Anonymous | October 30, 2008 09:25 PM
this story was so sad but it was also very realistic!!!!!!!
Posted by: noel | October 31, 2008 11:30 AM
There should've been more to it! But it was gooood
Posted by: Anonymous | November 3, 2008 12:05 PM
not scary just weird
Posted by: Anonymous | November 16, 2008 08:00 PM