Chosen.

The clouds rolled in as Sharon parked in her driveway. She sat there for a few minutes before going inside, pondering the immensely bad day she’d had. It started off with her being late for work, the first time in nine years. Her boss had been waiting for her reports, and her lateness made him late which made him unhappy. No, unhappy wasn’t the word. Unhinged fit better. She’d left his office feeling assaulted and ashamed at having performed so poorly, even though she had been the top sales manager for five years running. Walking back to her office she thought it all felt a bit off - too intense for being a mere ten minutes late. But before she could think about it for long, she was hit by a cart full of old desktop computers the IT guy was taking to recycle. The metal cart had ripped her nylons and left her with a bloody gash on her left calf and bruising on her thigh and hip. He hadn’t even apologized but instead glared at her as he picked up the equipment that had fallen to the ground. The rest of the day continued like that. Everything went wrong from the vending machine taking her money without dispensing her granola bar to the afternoon coffee burning her hand. The harrowing drive home topped it off, and she considered herself lucky to have just lost a fender to a drunk, uninsured motorist. Finally opening the car door, she glanced up at the sky. The clouds looked thick, but WeatherBug had said the rain would hold off until tomorrow. Not that she cared. She needed to run and shake off the day even if it poured and even if she was bruised and sore. She changed into her workout clothes and grabbed her headphones before going back outside to the road. Her usual playlist blasting a little louder than usual, she headed north to the trail. It was her usual 10 km route she ran when she needed to think - or de-stress. Her body would move on autopilot while her brain sorted everything out so that by the time she returned home she’d feel normal and relaxed. The trail into the woods looked a little darker than usual, but she thought it should with the clouds coming in. She didn’t even pause as she went from pavement to forest floor. Another half kilometer and the trees opened up onto a large pond, a swamp really except for the beavers that had built their dams to fill it up. She always slowed a little on this part of the trail to see if she could catch them working. She admired their persistence and ingenuity. The mound that made their lodge wasn’t too far from the trail, but she had difficulty seeing it. She slowed even more but was unable to focus on it - as if it were twilight when the shapes and shadows blended together. But it wasn’t that late. She looked behind her, and she could see everything just fine. Stopping, she stared at the beaver lodge and thought she could see a black haze swirling around it. Then she noticed the water. It too was black and seemed to have a dark fog floating just above the surface. Concerned more than worried, she started running again along the trail that continued into the woods. She thought she'd get a better view from the other side of the pond.

My Conclusion.

Source

The whole forest was quiet and extremely dark on this side of the pond. No sound came to her ears not even that of the crickets and frogs.

Fear crept into her heart as she remembered the fact that she was alone in the forest. It would be foolish to tempt Lady luck after all the happenings of the day.

As she turned to move back to the trail, she noticed the dark fog above the pond thicken. Then it all started as a little wind raising up dead leaves and loose dirt from the forest floor. She stood transfixed as she watched the fog take shape and become a vortex.

Then the ground began to vibrate, she shook with fear and turned around wanting to know the source of the sound.

"Could it be an earthquake?"

The sound of running feet reverberated in the forest just beyond her. At last, some company!
She made to run towards the sound but stopped in her tracks when she saw her.

Her mouth fell open in wonder, the threat to her life forgotten as she was drawn in by the smile of this beautiful creature.

Her face glowed in the dark as if it were a lamp. Sharon could see her glistening red heart shaped lips from the distance. The wind carried a whiff of the sweet fragrance of lavender. The woman was dressed all in white with a golden belt and golden sandals on her elegant feet. She held a scepter in her hand which was stretched outwards as she walked in a provocative manner towards her not in the least bit affected by the vibrations around her.

Sharon stood transfixed till she walked right up to her.

"Sharon McBride, you have been chosen! Prepare to meet your fate." The woman said in a firm feminine voice.

"Chosen? For what? Who are you?" Sharon asked confused.

"I am Vienna and i have been found you worthy to be my priestess. Have you heard of me, child?"
Sharon fell on her knees at the sound of that name. She had to be dreaming!

"Who has not heard of you in the whole of the country? Mother, why me? What favour have i found that you would give me such an important role?"

Musical laughter greeted her query.

"Enough questions. Accept what fate has prepared for you."

With that, Vienna raised the sceptre towards the pond and Sharon felt her body move towards the vortex.
"What is happening? Help me please" She cried.

"To be reborn, death must come first." Vienna softly replied.

Sharon pleaded and cried but Vienna just stood watching with a lovely smile on her beautiful face. Sharon closed her eyes and accepted her fate.

No one could save her now. She was going to die. She should have just accepted Dan's proposal. She wondered if her body would ever be found. Her family would be devastated. Tears dripped down her cheeks as she was sucked into nothingness.

The shrill sound of her phone ringing woke her up. She looked at the bed side clock and scrambled out of bed. She was going to be late if she didn't hurry.

An hour later, she walked out of her boss' office confused, wondering why it felt like she had been through this situation before. A hard shove from behind sent her sprawling face down on the floor. She looked at the IT guy who glared at her with displeasure as he pushed the metal cart past her without apology.

Written for finish the story contest hosted by @f3nix. The first part of the story as provided is in quote.