The Body Swap Charm

It was a late Thursday afternoon and John Doe walked through the bustling flea market, he often liked to come here after his college classes just to meander about looking at various things to unwind and take his mind off whatever he had going on that week.

John had spent about 20 minutes at the market and was about to go back to his car and head home, when someone pulled on his sleeve beckoning him to stop. John turned facing the way his sleeve was pulled from but there was no one there, 'hmm odd' John thought turning back to continue walking to his car when his sleeve was once again pulled this time harder as if urgently trying to get his attention. "what the fuck" John muttered under his breath, trying not to freak out or cause a scene in the crowded market. John decided whatever was messing with him clearly wanted him to go the opposite way and it didn't seem like it would stop so John trying to remain cool turned and walked back into the centre of the market.

"Mr Doe" a shaky voice called out sounding almost like a whisper but there was too many people around for someone to whisper audibly for John to hear. 'Ok this is fucking creepy' John thought wanting to leave and go back to his car and forget about this. Unfortunately whatever this was wasn't letting him leave, John decided to follow this whisper being drawn into one of the side paths. John continued down this path till a very real hand grabbed his arm, "AHH" John exclaimed, his general feeling of being on edge and the sudden contact spooking him quite bad, this initial burst of fear quickly dissipated when he saw that the person who had grabbed him was a little old lady sat at a small stall? it looked like a stall but it had nothing on offer and no text on the headboard. "Sorry lady, you scared me there" John apologised, "it's ok Mr Doe I can imagine it was a shock" the old woman replied. "How do you know my name?" asked John, starting to feel somewhat alarmed by the whole situation, "I know a great many things" the woman replied, 'Ok that doesn't answer my question' John thought. John looked over this woman and she must have been about 80 years old, "do you believe in the idea that we have souls Mr Doe?" the woman started up.

'Ok I see what's going on here' John thought 'someones fucking with me', his friend Sam knew he liked to come here to unwind he must have set this up. Rationalising it in his mind John began to feel like a real fool, there's so many people someone could easily tug my coat or whisper near me then blend into the crowd and Sam could easily have told this old lady who he was to mess with him, 'I can't believe I was actually creeped out by this prank' John thought. "Well Mr Doe" the woman croaked, reminding John that while he was piecing this together he was still stood not answering her, "of course I do" John replied deciding to lean into the harmless fun of the prank. "Then I have the perfect item for you" she said producing a small charm and placing it in Johns hand, "this charm will allow you to exchange souls with whoever you desire just think of who you want to swap souls with rub the charm at midnight while thinking of them and you will swap souls". "Ok look I'm not actually here to buy anything.." john started up, going along with this prank was fine but he wasn't about to get scammed, "no no you misunderstand I don't want anything the charm is yours" the woman replied. "oh ok thanks" John said not sure what to make of the whole situation, he looked over the charm it looked somewhat like an hourglass but made of wood and only about 2 inches in size, 'probably some cheap tat Sam bought for the prank, I mean why would it look like an hourglass when it does nothing with time'. "Well I really should be going" John said "thank you for the charm, Maam" John said pocketing the charm and heading back to his car.