"I....I really don't want to, dad."George looked down at his son with irritation, his thick brows raised as he sighed. "Ben, you've been putting this off for weeks. I don't have time for this today. I need you to do your chores before I get home from work.” “But dad…”“ I don't have time to argue with you. Get. Them. Done."Ben's shoulders immediately slumped as his father walked out the door with an air of finality.Ben prided himself on not being scared of much. He had been twelve by the time he had fully grown out of the monster under the bed, been too old for myths and legends for plenty of years now. He wasn't afraid of the dark, or spiders, he didn't mind snakes, or zombies; honestly, he wasn't scared of much. He knew most of these things were harmless or just flat out weren't real. So when something managed to spook him, it frightened him to the core.And as his gaze fell on the garage door, wh

“Alright, you can come out now. I’m sick of putting up with your bullshit!”Ben stalked into his garage with vengeance, planning his confrontation exactly ten minutes after his parents had safely left for work. The quiet slumber of his house ate at him, the silence loud in his ears as he traversed through the chilly air to the mirror.Ben had told himself that he would be brave. Reaffirmed to himself that he wouldn’t let the entity (he spitefully refused to use his name) get under his skin anymore. And as the apprehension grew in his stomach, Ben recalled how warriors of the past went into battle without fear. Granted, most of them had weapons and armor. So considering the fact that he was sporting a worn down T-shirt and a pair of alphabet kitchen magnets in his pants, Ben felt his slight nerves were justified.Knuckles tap once on the wooden desk of the vanity, and then he’s waiting. “Are you coming out or not?” &n