Dr. Creepen's Dungeon - S6 Ep344: Episode 344: The Book of Agony

Episode Date: June 11, 2026

Tonight’s podcast episode is ‘The Book of Agony’ by Banned In CP, kindly shared with me via the Creepypasta Wiki and read here under the conditions of the CC-BY-SA license.https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/The_Book_of_Agonyhttps://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/User:Banned_In_CP

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BetMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario. Welcome to Dr. Creepin's Dungeon. Ben thought the hardest thing he would face on his 12th birthday was learning how to move on after the loss of his best friend. Boy, he was wrong. After a tense family gathering, Ben retreats to the one place where he feels safe, a small reading nook hidden away from the world. There amongst his beloved books, he discovers something that shouldn't exist. A strange volume with a disturbing title and horrifying illustrations that seem almost alive.

But first, it feels like nothing more than a nightmare waiting to happen. Then the dreams begin. And there's so much more to tonight's story as we shall see. Now as ever before we begin, a word of caution. Tonight's tale may contain strong language as long as descriptions of violence and horrific imagery. That sounds like your kind of thing. And let's begin. The Book of Agony by Frank Phillips.

Chapter 1 Ben only wanted the party to end He became accustomed to isolation And only paid any real If distant attention to his two friends Thomas and Jay But a full-blown birthday party was Simply too much for Ben to handle

Especially since the only one he genuinely wanted to be there Would never be able to make it He a sport Ben's father a lanky dark head man By the name of Dave Ross chuckled. Why long in the face, hey? It's your birthday, let loose a little. Quit being such a sour-puss. Not every day you turn 12. He was wearing his typical white button-up shirt and tie. Ben forced to slight upwards motion from the corners of his lips and glanced down awkwardly.

He didn't want Dave to go on about his mood again. What? Should not like your presence? Let me guess. We got you the wrong Harry Potterbook. "'Damn it, I knew Penny was wrong about it being the prisoner of Casket Ben, or whatever it was. "'Yeah, I should have gone with that wizard stone.' Ben's mother, Penny, peeped her head out from behind Dave's back and gave him a disapproving look, before returning to her conversation with Ben's uncle Larry, who was a local deputy. "'No, sir,' Ben mumbled. "'It's the right one.

"'I like it a lot. "'I like to all the presents. "'It's just—' "'What?' I wish Daniel could be here. Ben noticed that Daniel's mother, Irene, should a sad glance towards him. Ah, well, he can't sport. Dave continued. And the sooner you get over it, the better.

Won't help you any to keep moping around all the time. Um, excuse me, Irene spoke, her brown eyes ablaze. But what happened to my son was a tragedy, and Ben, is going through grief. So I myself, my family, and everyone who knew him. I'd expect a little more respect from you. Dave shuffled his feet and said, Well, yeah, I mean, it's sad and all. He was a good kid, but really what uses it letting it get you out of mind, eh? Iron was about to slap him across the face, but thought better of it, and not wishing to get caught up in the middle of the altercation, as his father,

commonly tried to involve Ben wherever he was nearby. Ben quickly snuck away and went over to the kitchen to get another bowl of ice cream. Only a few weeks prior, the body of an 11-year-old boy was found in their town of Woodgrove, a suburb south of Nashville and slightly north of Maysburg. The discovery of the boy's body was shocking, as it had been discovered in a field one night by who must have been took it for road kill at first glance. It was deemed a hit and run. that boy was Daniel Mortley and was Ben's best friend out of their group of four

the news had hit hard and nothing had been the same quite since Ben had withdrawn from his previously thriving social life and chose instead to read books in the small closet attached to his playroom even at school his relationship with his other friends Jay and Thomas had grown distant

and they got along almost like acquaintances rather than good friends now hey young what was your dad seeing to you about there was Ben's cousin Mike oh um then I need to get over stuff he wiped off his glasses and pushed back his long thick brown hair Mike was a tall broad-shouldered man in his early twenties with the plethora of tattoos and baggy eyes jackass I was about to say something to him but I guess that's been taken care of for me he nodded towards the front of the living room where Dave was trying to shimmy his way unsuccessfully through the front door, blocked by Irene.

She wasn't yelling, but Ben knew an ass-chewing when he saw one. Dave did it plenty. Yeah, I heard about what happened. Larry told me, how do you feel about your dad? Ben looked around awkwardly, hoping that his mother wasn't nearby to witness such a direct question. I don't know. I don't really. I don't know him that well.

Well, you know, it reminds me. bit of my granddad. He acted nice to your face, but deep down he was a coward. I'm sorry about what happened, man. Look, if you ever need to talk about anything, I'm here for you. You know, I lost a friend once, too. It was about 14, I think. So I know how it feels. Your mom should have my number. Ben's shoulder was suddenly grasped by a firm fist, and he looked up to see the tan, gray-haired face of his grandpa Charlie looking cheerfully at him and Mike. "'You're not trying to teach the boy of physics again, are you, Mike?' Charlie chuckled.

"'Oh, you should keep Mike in mind if you ever need help in math and science.' "'No, just making sure he's okay.' "'Ah,' Charlie said, taking his hand off a bent shoulder. "'Right. Real shame. "'And even big a shame that my son is over there making a big fool of himself. "'This is a party. "'We're here to forget about our problems just for a little bit.' "'Say, where are your friends, Ben?' his grandmother Helen asked.

"'I think Granny Helga is showing them pictures of Dad as a kid,' Ben replied as he reached for the chocolate mint ice cream on the counter. Mike twirled his finger by his temple and ambled out on the back porch where Ben saw him light a cigarette. And eventually Penny somehow managed to calm down, Daniel's parents, after which was left an air of tension that was almost suffocating. Helga fell asleep, and so Ben, Jay and Thomas were left free to run around their small backyard like the old times, even if it did feel a bit lonely without their fourth member. Dave stayed hold up in the garage for the remainder of the time, not re-emerging until everyone except Helga had left. All right, Spod, he announced as he changed into his dress clothes in the kitchen.

Your mother and I are going out tonight. Helga will stay here to watch her. Probably won't be back till late. be in bed by the time we get home got that ma'am my rung my nodded ahead and ambled over to the couch and turned on the television dave sighed and grabbed penny by the arm and shuffled out of the door ben walked over to the refrigerator to grab a sprite helga was already engrossed in her unadmitted obsession with stargate this was ben's cue to leave the vicinity unless he die of boredom and already it seemed to him that this episode would be excruciatingly done grabbing his sparkling new copy of Harry Potter and the prisoner of Asgaban, Ben made his way upstairs to his playroom, which was still strewn with the Legos he still played with. The wall on the far side of the door faced the street, and looking at the room from the doorway,

on the right wall was a small door that led into a sort of cubbyhole with a light in it. It was here that Ben spent most of his time, reading books to escape into fantasies of the wonderful and macabre. For many people, there are a sort of the world. A small space littered with neatly stacked books would have induced a keen sense of claustrophobia. But for Ben it was like a comforting womb, a place where he could both be himself and be protected, and even cry if need be, as he'd done on several occasions recently. Ben had a lot of books, perhaps even an obscene amount. There was nothing he enjoyed more than living the exciting life of another.

But there was nothing he hated more than having to return to his unexciting reality, where parents weren't to be trusted and friendships sailed away faster than he could grasp onto. Time had seemed to blink by since the accident. Ben was not disappointed with his present. The new Harry Potter book was more than he'd hoped for, and before he knew it, two hours had passed, and he was already a third of the way through.

Sying, he reluctantly set it down so that he could get one last bowl of ice cream before bed and watch some reruns with the joy of painting, while his grandmother snored and drooled in the armchair, as she always did. Tucking it under his arm, he noticed a book that he'd not seen before, sitting atop a stack that had been out of view. Thinking perhaps he was left as a surprise gift,

he picked it up and furled his brows in confusion. The book's cover was made of a strange, black, spongy material. A shiny crimson set of eyes and teeth was stamped onto the cover, the appearance of which unsettled Ben. On the side, stamped in the same shiny crimson, was inscribed, The Book of Agony. Intrigued, Ben opened the book to a random page, and saw the paper was a blotchy grey.

The left page was covered in minuscule cursive, while the right page was taken up by a brownish-red watercolour painting that smelled of pennies. A small mum of shock escaped Ben's lips as he stared at the painting. Staring him in the eyes was a grotesquely realistic depiction of an old woman, with her jaw split into two, with needles stuck carelessly in her eyes. Instinctively, Ben thrust the book at the wall and began to back away towards the door. But he didn't get out of the cubbyhole before he unintentionally glanced back and saw it landed face up, turned to a page at the end. He saw for an instant the face of Daniel Motley staring up at the ceiling.

Ben didn't bother to look any further. He immediately clamped his eyes shut. Ben grabbed the book, slammed it shut and raced to his room, where he threw it under his bed. Why he decided to put it there, Ben did not know, nor did the thought occur to him. Thinking of his grandmother, he stumbled back downstairs to try and find some comfort,

but he was disappointed to see that her head was thrust back, drool and snores oozing from her mouth. Not wanting to wake her despite the terror he felt. He instead went to the kitchen and made himself a large bowl of ice cream and sat down on the couch. He knew he should wake his grandmother, but the thought made a ball of anxiety rise in his pit. He imagined it like a ball of snakes wriggling around down there. He was always wary of disturbing adults. His parents rarely took it well, even on good days.

Family is still missing. The authorities suspect foul play. an abandoned office building at the edge of Woodgrove, where they were reportedly last seen. And to add a disturbing layer to the mystery, authorities found evidence of arson as well as copious amounts of blood, a strange contraption as well as the remains of what is believed to be some kind of shrine. Stargate had turned off at some point while Ben was upstairs, and the evening news was now playing. But the last thing he wanted to see was the footage of a possible murder scene. He scanned the room for the remote, but to his dismay he found it barely sticking out from under his grandmother's ass,

and unfortunately the buttons on the TV itself didn't work. It was an old piece of shit, Dave always said, but he refused to ever save up for a new one when they had a perfectly fine one already. The built-in VCR player didn't even work. He just devoured the tape like a savage monster. Ben sat down the ice cream and tried to gently. pull out the TV remote from Helga's ass without detection, but she gave a loud snort the second he laid fingers on it.

So he resigned himself to having to suffer through the dismal news station, trying instead to distract himself with his new book. Killer of 15-year-old Sullivan Jones is still at large. The young boy was found murdered last March in the Maysburg Juvenile Detention Center under unknown circumstances. Authority suspect it may be related to the murder spree we saw last winner, though they have yet to determine if the murder spree is also related to the disappearance of the family in Woodgrove. Is Larry Ross of the Woodgrove Police Department on the subject?

Yes, he is extremely upset into the community. We're just as disturbed as everyone else about the past year's murders, but we don't believe that the same killer is likely responsible for all of them. We suspect that the disappearance is, and rest assured, we are working extremely hard to bring justice to these perpetrators. But in the meantime, exercise caution, especially when along. The news was wrapped up, and after a few minutes of commercials, a documentary about forest fires came on, and Ben was finally able to escape. Hey Daniel, you want to climb to the top of the school? Ben asked as he, Daniel Thomas and Jay, were aimlessly riding around the summertime streets on their bikes, not a care in the world.

"'Deniel said as he gave Ben a disapproving glance. "'Where the hell would I do that?' "'What?' Thomas shouted from her head as the suburban copycat houses flew by. "'The wind rushing in their ears.' "'Ben wants to climb on top of the freaking school,' Daniel yelled. "'Ah, fuck that,' Thomas exclaimed. "'Well, I say fuck yeah,' Daniel answered back, smirking at Ben. "'His dark brown hair seemed to be carried all.

way into nothing that's by the wind. Hey, what's going on? Jay asked as he came even with Ben and Daniel. We're going to climb the school, Daniel answered. Oh, sweet. Bet there'll be cool stuff up there. They rode on, not stopping until they'd reached Woodgrove Elementary, the sun still hanging in the same spot overhead. Oh man, I don't know about this. Thomas Wyand as they part their bikes behind the cafeteria. There's a couple of cars parked out front. What if somebody calls the cucks? Ah, fuck that, Daniel said. Don't be a pussy again. We've talked about this. We're going up there. Yeah, don't be a party pooper, Ben chided.

Bet you poop yourself whenever you see yourself in the mirror, Jay commented, heading over to the dumpster with the air vent above it. Is that the way up? Ben asked as Jay mounted the dumpster and put his hand on one of the slats in the vent. Well, think, don't know. Well, hurry up, Daniel cried. I want to get up there, too. All right, all right, just give me a second. Jay swiftly climbed the air vent and pushed his way over the roof, wiping the dirt off his hands and the sweat from his forehead. He really think this is a bad idea. Can we just like go get some snacks or something? Daniel scoffed loudly. "'Ah, shut up, Thomas the train.

"'I'm going up there, too.' "'Thomas crunched his face. "'That's not cool, man. "'I'm just trying to look out for you guys.' "'Then why don't you just stay down here and keep watch then?' "'Ben asked as he went up behind Daniel in case he fell. "'All right, you got it, Daniel?' "'Yeah,' his friend affirmed as he began to climb the air vent.

"'Ben stood on the dumpster. "'When Daniel was about two feet away from, the roof. Oh, dude, cops. Ben could see a panic in Daniel's eyes as he lost grip and started to fall towards him. Vaguely, Ben heard Jay yell something at Thomas, but he too was focused on making sure he could catch Daniel. Daniel seemed to fall in slow motion, and Ben too seemed to have a slow, frustrating sense of movement. Too slow to catch Daniel as his head smacked the corner of the metal lid and his body slammed into the concrete. Stumbling, Ben too fell off, his back scraping against the concrete.

Oh, Jesus Christ, there's blood everywhere, Cheye cried as he raced to Daniel's limp body. Oh God, oh God! Ben didn't move from where he was, but only stared at the splashes of blood surrounding Daniel. I didn't mean for this. I didn't mean for this. Christ, I was lying when I said there were cops. I just wanted to get out of here. Ben froze as he watched Daniel raise his face to look at him. His skull cracked open and an eye out of place. Ben awoke to the slam of the car door. The TV was still going. He noticed his body was cold and sweaty, his eyes full of tears. I tried everything. I tried Drano, coat hangers, heroin, legal abortion, nothing worked. Ignoring the

TV, remembering that he was supposed to be in bed, Ben raced into the kitchen and threw his bowl into the sink. He could wait until later to tell him about the book. Nine out of ten doctors agree that child pregnancy is even worse before puberty. Please call this number to donate today. Ben could hear the key in the front door, but he couldn't get to the stairs quick enough before his father was staring him in the face. What the hell are you still doing up? Mar! Helga gave a snort and woke up with a kind of flail, her shirt front soaked in drool. Mar, did you fall asleep again?

Helga shook her head violently and noticed that whatever was playing on the TV was something that needed to be changed before Dave noticed. Reaching under her ass to grab the remote, she tried to change the channel but only succeeded in blasting the volume through the roof. And now please join us as we discover One man contracted syphilis by sticking his whole head up a...

David grabbed the remote from Helga and turned it off himself, shooting icy glares towards her and Ben. Ben noticed that his face was unusually red, and he seemed to have trouble standing upright, and the same with Penny. Oh, God's name what you're watching, he slurred. Helga shook her head witlessly, and Ben simply tried to ease his way up the stairs, which were directly in front of the door. Dave shook his head and sighed. Ma, you've talked about falling asleep

every time your babysit. Before she snatched up her purse along with the photo album of Dave's baby photos and waddled out the door. Ben's parents stared after him for a moment before Dave waved him silently upstairs and Penny told him to go to bed, muttering about how they should take away his stupid books.

But Ben could be. couldn't get the final image of Daniel in the dream out of his mind, staring up at him, his face bloodied, his eye jutting out and staring into his eyes. What really happened that summer afternoon had been much happier. Thomas had falsely announced that cops were coming, and Ben had caught Daniel safely as he fell from above. But the nightmare had been vivid. Well, at long last he managed to fall back asleep with tears in his eyes.

and he dreamed of red rivers and burning snow. Chapter 2. Ben woke up that morning, feeling exhausted, though he didn't know why. Despite the fright he'd suffered the night before, he didn't once think about the book of agony, nor Daniel, for that matter. Not that he felt happy necessarily,

or that he suddenly became more sociable. No, in those regards, he was in a definite state of decline. His parents never know. noticed, of course, though the Sunday following the birthday party, while at church with his parents and grandparents, who on occasion would go to church with them? His grandparents, Penny's parents, that is, noticed that something was amiss. Hey, Ben, you're okay? Helen asked him, as they were standing up to leave, the church a soft cacophony of noise as people gathered their things. Ben quietly nodded his head, eyes cast at his

old Penny loafers. In each, he had placed one of the coins in the little slit for good luck. Well, how about some ice cream before we head back to your place? Charlie asked as he put on his jacket. Ben shrugged his shoulders and said, I guess so. Charlie gave him a warm smile and leaned over to Dave and Penny. Hey, Penny, we're going to start for ice cream with Ben on the way back. That okay? Well, if he'll get him to wipe that look up. his face, then sure, she answered. Charlie gave a goofy thumbs up to Ben, who forced himself to smile, and they headed out to their old truck. Hey, honey, where is it again? Charlie asked as he put the car into reverse in the parking lot. I think it's on back or bike, she said. Sounds about right, he

returned, and he gave a sly look towards Ben. We may or may not go there more than we we should. He turned on the radio and pulled out of the church's parking lot. And the high man plays the mandolin before he goes to sleep. And the last thing on his mind is the wild-eyed boy imprisoned beneath the covered wooden shaft. They went inside the sweet-smelling story about 15 minutes later and waited patiently in lines as a green-haired girl took their orders. So, how's school going? Helen asked after they sat down. at that table. Ben shrugged his shoulders and mumbled. Oh, good. Ah, that's not what your mother told us, Charlie rebutted. She said your grades aren't doing so hot. Ben could feel his face turned red,

and he stared down at his ice cream. He used to make straight A's. Ben, honey, it's okay, Helen soothed. It's been rough lately, I know. Helen rested her hand on his, and Ben looked into her eyes, to see, not disappointment or anger, but sadness. It's okay, sweetie. We're here for you. I know, he murmured, not sure how to respond. Ben, you're more than a grandson to us. You're more like a son. Charlie's voice had lost its joviality now, and we want you to be happy, and I know you're in grief. Death is a tricky thing to cope with, and we're not going to tell you to take you to

turn to God or anything, but we do ask that you turn to us if you ever need to. A tear ran down Ben's cheek, but he was too embarrassed to wipe it away and draw attention to it. Helen did it for him anyways. Ben, it's okay to be sad. I know, he said, and they both smiled at him. There's anything you want to talk about, she asked. Ben started to shake his head, but thought of the dream he'd had. "'What is it, son?' Charlie asked.

"'Well, it's just, on my birthday, "'my parents went out on a date after everyone left, "'and I had this dream. "'He paused for a moment, trying to think of the right words. "'And in it, me and my friends were riding around on our bikes, "'and I suggested we go on top of the school "'because I thought it might be fun. "'But when we got there, my friend Thomas tried to stop us

"'because he was scared of someone calling the police on us. We ignored him My friend Jay went up first Then Daniel started to climb up as well I climbed on top of the dumpster Underneath him in case he fell Then Thomas told us he saw the cops coming Daniel fell

Well that actually happened last summer Except in real life I caught him But in the dream I didn't And he He hit his head on the dumpster and fell to the ground There was blood everywhere And he wasn't moving Right before I woke up

He looked right at me. He had a hole in his head, and his eye was all popped out. I can't stop thinking about it, because that's how he looked when they... When they... When... Van shook his head and tried to stop his chin from quaking before they noticed. But Helen came around the table and held him.

And he couldn't stop himself, not even when people began to stare. Just now, it was only a dream, sweetie. It was only a dream. Hey, Ben. you want to go out to the car, I think we'll have a little more privacy. They went out to the car where Ben was comforted by his grandparents, but was reluctant to go back home and saddened when they had to leave.

The next two weeks saw Ben's humour sapped away only to be replaced by a total apathy, leaving him almost emotionless. He wasn't depressed, but simply uninterested. Even the new book you've been so excited about to become dull, being so much of chore to read that he put it away instead and chose to sit by the window in his playroom and pretend to observe his surroundings. It had been raining lately

and he enjoyed watching the fat droplets slide down the glass. Even when it didn't rain, he found he enjoyed the overcast tone the sky had taken up with the onset of autumn. Before, he would have thought it was gloomy, but now he found the cloudy skies to be much like a warm, comforting blanket. Sometimes he tried to think about things, but no thoughts seemed to be worthy of his time. The only thing of any real interest to him was an increasing sense that he was never alone,

that something was always glaring at the back of his head. Eventually he found himself thinking again of the book, but try as he might he couldn't push it under the bed of his mind. He felt that it was somehow responsible for the restless, invisible eyes that followed him everywhere. He started to become paranoid, frequently throwing his... gaze behind him only to find that nothing seemed to be amiss, but he would not read that damn book. And then the nightmares came. At first he couldn't recall what terrors kept sending him head first and shivering into the night air of his bedroom at odd hours, but as time wore on, he could remember them with increasing clarity. They weren't unlike the nightmare he

suffered on his birthday, and indeed all crouched under the same dark and brinkered. Every night, another positive memory he'd shared with Daniel would be tainted by the events being gruesomely twisted to encompass him dying or suffering in ways Ben would never have thought possible. As the days wore on, they began to creep into his daily life by forcing him into an unwilling slumber, never leaving him to rest nor live peacefully. At the same time, though, his thoughts kept being forced towards that wretched book, until eventually he couldn't stand it any longer.

His willpower had been ground away, and in Ben's mind there was no other choice but to sit down and read it to cover to cover, even if it made him sick, especially the last page. But he just couldn't bring himself to tell his parents, even though he knew he desperately needed to. It was several weeks before he finally mustered up the courage.

What in Sam Hill, have you been watching on TV? Dave demanded. during breakfast one December morning, after Bennett described a chapter about a man being drowned in his own blood. After reading it, Ben had felt as though he couldn't contain himself. He simply needed to tell somebody

to get help from someone who could set things right. Just normal cartoons, Dad, he replied. But I'm not talking about the TV. I was talking about the book with the pictures in it. Dave, his mother called from the kitchen. Did Ben steal a copy of a hustler from the school? school library again. No, honey, he's not talking about nudie magazines. He's talking about... He stopped and peered at him over an expansive newspaper. What were you talking about?

Ben stared at him incredulously. He'd been talking for at least ten minutes about something that had been really upsetting him for quite a while by this point. But instead of repeating himself, Ben simply led his parents upstairs to his bedroom so that he could simply show it to them. The only problem was that it was nowhere to be found. School that day was unusually normal for Ben. Walking home from the bus stop, his mind somewhat eased by the blissfully dull day. He could see that both of his parents' cars were parted in the driveway. However, when he went inside, there were no signs of life whatsoever.

His parents were usually busy when he got home from school, but no lights were on anywhere in the house. Confused, he tried calling themselves. from the home phone in the kitchen, it was only greeted by their curt and slightly rude voicemails. Unsettled by this point, Ben decided to check upstairs, nervously glancing in each room until he was in front of the playroom. A pit was forming in Ben's stomach. He tried to ignore the creaking of the carpeted floor as he approached the door, which was closed for some reason. The room was empty and dead silent at that. It was eerily darked.

in there than the rest of the house too. As the quickly fading winter light struggled to squirm through the closed blinds, a quick glance over gave him nothing, but there was still the cubbyhole and the attic left to check, as he'd made sure to check all the closets just in case. If they weren't there, then what? He figured he'd figure that out once it got to that point, which he had a sneaking suspicion might happen. Ben slowly eased across the room apprehensive in his state ben had forgotten to turn the light on and it was all away across the room by the door he was by the half during the wall that opened onto the attic and he didn't want to backtrack oh well he thought and then he flung open the door a great crash erupted from inside the attic from behind him

across the room, and immediately the door to the playroom was slammed shut with terrifying force, causing the walls to quake. It happened so fast that he didn't even notice the near total darkness that swept across the room. He didn't even realize the door had been closed until he flung himself across the room and frantically tried to twist the locked door-knall. And then the black silence took hold of him. The attic was attached to the left side of the playroom, opposite from the cubbyhole and was accessed by a half-door. Ben never went into the attic, nor had he ever been curious about its contents in the slightest. One of his earliest memories had always been of his father forcing him to watch a horror movie about a monster that lived in the attic, and ever since he'd

always been terrified by the thought of entering it, despite spending the majority of his time in close proximity to it. But Ben knew that there was something in the attic now, something real. Something he was locked in there with. And despite the silence, his heart boomed and thudded rapidly in his ears like a drum. And his sharp, shallow breath was a whirlwind of sound. His eyes remained locked on the door in front of him that led to the hallway. Even when he heard the door to the attic creaking slowly behind him, groaning like some monstrous demon, he stood there, frozen in place,

imagining pale, slimy hands reaching out silently towards him, ready to wrap their skeletal fingers around his throat. Instead, he heard something else. It was the sound of a woman weeping softly. The sound of his mother. Ben, Ben, I just want my baby. Please, please give me back Ben. Mom?

He whispered. But there was no answer. Ben turned around and could vaguely make out the open doorway to that long, narrow room that was somehow even darker than the rest of the room. He silently tried to flick the lights on, but to no avail. "'Mom! "'M'm!' he whispered again, though to no reply. It sounded as though she was all the way in the back of the attic.

Drenched in sweat, he finally mustered up the courage to venture into the black abyss. He forced his feet to move forward. Warden tried to ignore the goosebumps sending icy shivers down his body. He kept forcing his legs to move until, eventually, he stood just within the attic. "'Mom?' he repeated in a hushed voice. "'My baby, that's all I ask. I just want Ben.' "'Mom!' he hissed. "'I'm right here. It's Ben.'

"'Ben?' she croaked. "'Ben, is that really you? "'Oh, thank God, I—no, no, no!' He heard a short-lived shriek followed by what sounded like a large sack being slammed against the wall, then crumbled into a pathetic heap on the floor. Ben stifled a sob and clenched his teeth, eyes wide and stinging, trying to penetrate the absolute darkness. From the back of the attic came a scratchy, quiet growl, followed by a faint click behind him from the door being gently closed.

Give it to us, a high, raspy voice hissed, not a mere two feet away from Ben's face. Yes, the second voice growled from behind, gravelly and guttural. We know of the bot. Ben could vaguely sense that they were closing in on him, cornering him. Where is it? The creature in front spanned. No words or thoughts could come to Ben in that moment. He'd lost all reason and was simply in a state of pure terror.

Tell us, the thing behind him roared. Tears this gate Ben's frozen eyes in his muscles cramped as he crouched in the attic, unmoving. An ear-rupturing shriek exploded within the room, and Ben's torso was seized by powerful arms that whirled him around. He saw a blinding flash of light, and— Scared you didn't we sport! His father Gafford, idiotically, ruffling Ben's sweat-soaked hair. Ben didn't answer. He didn't even look at his father's face.

He simply shoved him away as hard as he could and stormed out of the attic and through the now-unlogged. door, slamming his own bedroom door shut and locking it from inside. Hey, what the hell, Ben? It was a prank. You don't need to act like a freaking little bitch about it. Ben shouted from the other side of the door. He heard the doorknob rattle momentarily before his father began to beat on the door again. How dare you lock the door on me? How fucking dare you? You better open this right now, you hear me. You better open it right "'Friken now.' "'Shut the fuck up,' Ben screamed,

"'hirling a baseball at the door. "'Excuse me. "'Friking excuse me.' "'I said, shut up, Dave. "'I'm going to beat that little ass when I get in there. "'Now you open this goddamn door now.' "'David!' Penny shrieked from the stairs. "'Ben thrust his fist into the wall,

"'flinching when it actually stung a little bit. He wanted to make a hole, but he didn't put enough power behind his punch. Man, you open this door, I'm going to bust it down and break your fucking jaw, you little shit. David! Shut up. Step away from the door, David. You're out of control. I'd like to see you and try and make me, you freaking whore.

I'm always the bad guy to you, aren't I? So, Dave, don't yell a band. Dave, don't scream with a telemarketer and call her a retard in front of Ben. Dave, Dave, Dave. Dave, I'm serious. There was a hefty pause outside the room, the air heavy and suffocating. Oh, fucking fine.

Ben, get to fuck the bed, I'll deal with you in the morning. Nothing more was sad as he stormed down the stairs. Ben almost expected his mother to come in to comfort him, but he only heard a quiet sigh before her softer footsteps follows his father's. Later he could hear arguing in a sharp cry of pain from his mother. Ben would discover a fresh hole in his parents' bedroom door the next morning. Ben didn't sleep that night. Chapter 3.

Dazzling winter-light streamed through Ben's bedroom window, and a cardinal sang on the tree outside, as though nothing in Ben's world was amiss. Ben scowled at the window and shut the blinds, insulted by the outward cheeriness that was in such content. contrast to the anger he felt within. He went over to his nightstand and turned off the alarm that hadn't sounded yet, eagerly awaiting the moment when he could step onto the bus

and escape the tension from the cataclysmic night before. With a yawn he rubbed his stuffy, sleep-deprived eyes, changed, and got everything ready for the day. Ben, honey, breakfast is ready, Penny called from below. His stomach did a kick-flip. Ben, torn ignore your mother. Not when it's maple-sripped pancake day. Ben did a double take.

Had his father just tried to entice him with pancakes? Knowing that if he ignored his parents any longer, he might evoke the raft displayed the night before. He reluctantly slunk out of his bedroom and drearily made his way downstairs and into the dinect. Good morning, his mother sang from the kitchen, where she was washing pans and silverware, a dark bruise on her arm.

He sat down opposite day, if who was he? hidden behind a ginormous newspaper and already dress for work. Yeah, do you sleep well, sport? He asked off-handedly. Well, Ben felt truly mocked. Well, how about it, son? He added, with a sharp look from over the top of the paper. It was a little difficult to take him seriously when the headline read,

man claims dog gave him mouth cancer, with a picture of a tiny old man holding the leash of a colossal Tibetan mastiff. Ben scoffed and took a bite from his mountain of pancreat. pancakes. Gee, I don't know. You tell me. What are you talking about, Deary? Penny asked from the sink. A fake plastic smile stretched across her face. Yeah, what are we talking about, Ben? Dave demanded. I sure don't know what you're talking about. You might want to check your memory. Ben stared at him a moment before tentatively nodding his head. So, Dave continued. How about it, Sport? Did you sleep well?

"'Yes, sir.' "'Good,' he smirked, taking a cocky sip of coffee. "'Didn't let the bedbugs bite, did you?' Penny trilled, followed by a shrill laugh. "'No, ma'am.' "'Say sport,' Dave said seriously after a moment, folding up his newspaper and leaning sternly across the table in a way that put Ben on edge. "'How about I drive you to school today? Sound like a plan?'

"'No,' Ben answered calmly. I think I'll take the bus today. But, uh, Dad, I want to ride the bus. Dave leaned back into his chair and tapped his fingers on the table in agitation for a moment, before getting up. A violent jerk of the bus yanked Ben out of his light slumber. The warm winter sunlight passing through the dusty window of the bus sent him into a much-needed doze. He glanced around himself for a moment before, leaning his head against the window and closing his eyes,

eager to fall back asleep. Well, something seemed off. He tried to ignore the feeling, but something tugged at his mind, something that shouldn't be there, or he wasn't sure what that was. Pinging his head up, he took in his surroundings more carefully, but his lungs suddenly took in a sharp breath, and his blood turned to lead.

Daniel, mortly, sat in the third row from the front, on the left-hand side of the bus, just where they used to sit before he'd been king. killed. He stared hard at Ben with features perfectly intact. No, no, it couldn't be him. Surely it was just another nightmare, and the bus would crash in an instant, and Daniel would die before his eyes for the thousandth time. His eyes became hot and wet, and when he blinked, tears rolled down. But maybe, just maybe, if he could go up to Daniel and save him from whatever was about to happen, then he wouldn't have to watch him die

again. Standing up with every ounce of courage, Ben ambled his way up the aisle and over to Daniel. But when he blinked, Daniel was gone, like a dull flame extinguished in the night. A violent jerk of the bus, Yang's Ben from his slumber. He can't eat that pork chop, Ben, or just let it rot. Dave demanded over dinner that night. Ben shrugged his shoulders and prodded at the pork chop absently. "'Well, you're not getting up until he eat everything on your plate,' Dave added. "'So I go ahead and finish it now so it doesn't get cold.' "'Ben didn't say anything. He wasn't listening.

His mind was elsewhere in the realm of dreams. He'd been in an emotional distress all day, the shock of believing for a moment that Daniel had been there gnawed at his brain. "'Ben!' Penny shot, jerking Ben out of his trance. "'Listen to your father.' "'What?' You better wash your tone, Dave warned. You've had a piss, poor attitude all damn day, and I don't appreciate it.

Do you have any idea how much we do for you? Did you even think about how we provide you with clothes, food, and a roof over your head? Heating, electricity, a bed. Not knowing how he was expected to respond, Ben opened his mouth slightly and made an unsure kind of grunting noise. Guess it's a no, then, Penny muttered. With excessive force, she stabbed a fork into her pork chop and ripped out a bite without even cutting it. "'What's your damage, Ben?' Dave asked.

His voice starting to get louder. Are you still butt-heard about that prank from last night? Christ, it's caught a fucking joke, Ben. "'No, sir,' he mumbled. "'What? It wasn't a joke. Well, I'm just flat out insulted now. Penny and I weren't the best actors in our high school theatre class,

just to be told we didn't give a good performance by some 10-year-old. Twelve. Do you know how much planning we had to do? I mean, how much we had to plan out, because we thought it'd lighten you up a little. No, I meant that what happened last night isn't what's wrong. Don't give me that shit. I don't believe it for one second after that little temper tantrum you threw about it.

No appreciation. You know, I asked off early for that. Then we had to turn off all the lights and our cell phones. Just to sit and wait around for you to come home, Penny added. In separate rooms. I had to hide in that bathroom for like an hour while your mother sat in the closet. And then when you came home, I had to switch room without you noticing when she came upstairs. I had to keep the attic door cracked without you noticing

and wait for you to open that closet thing in the playroom and knock over a box. And then I had to immediately close the door and switch off the door. lights with the fuse box. I had to change the lock on that door, by the way, just so you wouldn't lock it from the outside. Then I had to push open the attic door and get to the back of it while making any noise. And then I had to wait for your mother's cue and unlock the door and close it again in total darkness and silence and sneak up behind you. Do you see how much effort we put in? And you have the ball to say it wasn't a good joke. You know what? Give me a plate. Go to bed right now. No dinner for you until you learn to appreciate the things we do for

you. But that's not what's wrong, Dad. What is it then, huh? You're a little friend who got himself killed. You seriously freaking trying to tell me you're still upset about that? Because I don't believe it at all. I think you're just trying to get attention. Because I've lost some people in my day, and guess what? I get a little bummed out, pay my respects to the funeral, and forget about them because they're not in my life anymore. Yeah, I move on and forget they ever freaking existed. I've got it. I just, I just don't. I I don't piss and mong for three months afterwards, nor what even if it was my own mother. Bang clenched his fists and said as evenly as he possibly could. I don't want to talk about it right now.

Well, Dave threw his hands up and Penny threw her fork onto her plate. Fine. You want to be a little brat, and you're grouted for two weeks. No TV, no phone calls with your friends, no reading, no, nothing. You had to come straight home after school. do your homework right here at the dinner table, and then go straight to bed after dinner. Maybe then you'll learn some goddamn respect.

I don't know. Just get the fuck out of my sight. I'd to think we'd try to be nice to you this morning with pancakes and shit. Why are you still here? Go on, get. Get for fuck's sake. Penny, I swear to God, this kid never listens. Ben piddled around in his silent room for the rest of the afternoon.

Not going to bed until he heard Penny come up the stairs to check if he was asleep or not. When he worked the next morning, he was told he could have oatmeal, though he was reprimanded when he tried to add sugar to it. With apprehension, he climbed the stairs of the bus, 45 minutes later, desperately hoping that he wouldn't be again lulled to sleep.

And even though he was certain that he hadn't fallen asleep, Daniel appeared in the same seat, now glaring at him with a look of utter hatred. This frightened Ben, who, try as he might, could not convince himself that it was a dream. But unlike the day before, he couldn't muster the courage to go out to him, even if it had previously been a dream.

He couldn't turn his eyes away either, until when they at long last pulled into the school. He blinked, and Daniel was gone. Man, oh man, I hate the lunches here. Jay scowled a few hours later, as he cut up a piece of pork chop. Hey, you think that pork chops tastes like cheese or is it just me? I don't know.

Let me try some, Ben said. He'd gone with a barbecue sandwich. Ah, yep. Jay shrugged and said, I'm too hungry to care. True, Thomas agreed from across Ben, and next to Jay. He'd been poking at a clump of wet mashed potatoes. They sat in silence for a minute, staring down at their red, plastic trays. Well, barbecue's good. Ben mumbled as Jay aimed his spoon to hit a girl with a pee

the next table over. Nice shot, Thomas complimented, after it smacked her in the eye. Hey, you okay, Ben. You look like something's wrong. I'm fine. You sure? You seemed upset yesterday, too. Hey, Ben, what is it? Jay asked earnestly. It's just, um, I've been. I've been. I've been having these nightmares every night about Daniel. Their faces grew stony. And every time he ends up dying right in front of me, like, you guys remember when we tried to climb the school last summer, and how Daniel fell and I caught him? Yeah, Thomas said, his cheeks turning red. Well, in this dream, I didn't catch him. His head at the dumpster and... Oh, yeah. Jay sighed heavily. Oh, Jesus, man. I wonder, that'd have messed me up too, having to see that.

Like every night, I mean, God. Ben nodded his head and continued. But yesterday on the bus I fell asleep and saw him sitting where he used to sit and staring at me. I tried to talk to him, but he disappeared. God, I'm not sure if I'm maybe starting to go crazy or if... If... What is it? Osh Thomas. Ben gulped and glanced around him.

or today, this morning, I didn't fall asleep. I know I didn't. But I saw him, clear as day. I fucking saw him, but this time he was glaring at me, like he wanted to slip my throat. Neither Jane or Thomas said anything as they nervously scanned the cafeteria, scared that they'd see the same thing. Ben joined them, and his heart froze when he saw Daniel sitting at an empty table behind them,

scowling at him with utmost hatred. Ben quickly turned back to them and nodded his head to indicate to them where to look. What? Thomas asked. Ben nodded his head again, but they just stared at him in confusion. Behind me, he hissed. They both glanced at the empty table but gave him a puzzled look. Ben turned it back around himself, but, well, sure enough, the spectra of his friend was still there, still as a corpse.

Do you not see him? He asked. His hackles raising his chills raced down his body. No, Jay said with a shake of his head. Nobody's at the table, Ben. Yeah, are you sure you're all right, man? Ben nodded his head, but when he looked back behind him,

the table was empty. He was glad it was Friday, for at least now he'd be safe from more morning encounters, even if it did mean being stuck at home. But at least he'd managed to sneak the new book he got for his birthday into his room without his parents noticing. Though he was near the end of it, something he was sad to reach. However, he was distraught to see that his torment was not darn when,

on the way back home, he spied Daniel in the same spot once more. He was emotionally exhausted, running on fumes. Ben couldn't deal with this any longer and was angry at whatever the hell it was, shooting him death glares. He prepared to get up and talk to Daniel, but was taken aback when Daniel stood up first and made his way down the aisle, his movement somehow unnatural, but Ben couldn't quite place why. Why? Daniel demanded.

Why didn't you come with me that day? I... Ben was taken aback. How could he have known he was hit by a car? If you'd just gone with me to the store instead of soon. sitting in your room, and I'd still be here. That man wouldn't have made me get in that truck with him. Ben was paralyzed, and his mind was empty like an unearthed grave. Do you know how much you hurt me, Ben? How much pain I had to endure before I died. Ben slowly shook his head. He was

confused. I wanted to die, Ben, and all because of you. His voice sounded strangely. He was hollow, not quite like Daniels had been. It was as if he'd become a shell inhabited by some other entity. I'm sorry, Ben whimpered. What was he talking about? Sorry isn't enough, Ben. Sorry can't change the past. Sorry can't bring back the dead. And you're dead to me, Ben. Datter than I am to you. And you're going to pay. You're all going to pay dearly. Ben couldn't see him clearly anymore. His vision had become hot and blurry, and the muscles in his mouth were cramped. Daniel smirked. Tell me, Ben, you haven't happened to see a certain

book of mine, have you? A black book, a book with a picture of me in the back. I don't know what you're talking about. Don't lie to me, Ben. You can't. I know you've seen. I know you've seen. I don't know. You've it. Maybe you should look at it again sometime. What do you mean? He smirked again, an awful smirk that looked inhuman, and pointed two fingers at him like a gun. Only I, he said, pretending to shoot him before going back to the seat up front. Daniel once again resumed his glaring, but Ben couldn't meet his eyes. His heart had been ripped out, carved up with a knife and shoved back into place upside down. The tears flowed freely, and he couldn't make himself stay quiet.

He didn't care that the two girls next to him were staring at him in dismay. Hey, Dauweed, an older boy in the seat ahead of him snarled. Would you mind shutting up? He annoys me when I hear babies cry for their mummies. Well, Ben glared at him, but didn't say anything. He only tried to dry off his face. What were you talking to anyways? Without thinking about it, he pointed at Daniel, who was wearing his dreadful smirk again.

No one's there, dumbass. What? Is it your imaginary friend, huh? Does bitch boy McGee still play with his imaginary friends? Oh, shut up, Ben growled. Oh, baby's getting angry. Does baby need a bottle? I said, shut up. Baby want mommy. Do you need mommy? Do you need a bottle? You? Mommy, baby, bitch boy. Ben stood up and took a step forward. What's baby doing now? Is he going to tell the bus driver? No, Ben corrected, ignoring the rock in his stomach.

I'm going to do this shithead. He cocked his fist back and slammed it into the boy's nose with a loud crack followed by a spray of blood over the kid's mouth. Without thinking, he'd found that he'd imitated the way Dave sometimes hit the wall. Oh, shit, got to fucking damage. Ben didn't give him a chance to recover, but instead punched him again in the face, and again, and again. Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, a chorus cried out around him, though Ben didn't take any notice. His vision was red and his ears ringing. Hey, what's going on back there? The bus driver demanded from the front,

though this too was lost in Ben's rage as he grabbed the kid's head and smashed it into the window. He was aware of a loud, to his left, but he didn't care. He took in one last swing before he felt someone much bigger than him pulling him away. Ben whirled around and decked the bus driver in the guts. It felt too good to stop. Chapter 4

He broke his nose in three places. "'Penny screeched.' "'Only look like one place to me,' Ben mumbled. "'A lobotomized bag of piss could tell you where it broke. "'God, his nose looked like somebody put a jackhammer to it.' "'What does lobotomized even mean?' he demanded. "'Never mind,' she grumped. "'After the bus driver had poor Ben away,

"'he patched the kit up and made them sit separately "'in the front two seats after bandaging the other kid's nose "'with a first-aid kit. until they reached the school. The whole bus was furious with Ben from making them late to go home. When they got there, Ben and the other child were taken to the front office,

where the other kid was taken to the nurse and Ben was taken to the principal's office. Both of Ben's parents already there and the other's mother also present. Somehow, Ben had been led off with a two-week bus suspension and a complementary two weeks of in-school suspension. They were on their way back home now,

with the winter night looming above. Trees blitzed past on the other side, and they were taking an ill-lit backroad. Look, Dave shot forcefully from the passenger seat. You better damn well hope his parents don't press charges, or your little ass is fucking grass, you hear me. You fucked him up pretty bad, kid. But he was being an asshole.

This Dave reached around the seat and smacked him in the face. Watch your goddamn man. But he was, Ben protested. I don't care, he roared. You don't swear. Yeah, but you just... He's an adult, Ben, Penny yelled, and you're only a kid. Ben, when we get home, you might ride upstairs and wash your mouth out with hand soap.

But Dad, no buts. But... Not a word, you hear me? Yes, sir, Ben mumbled. dejectedly. And come back downstairs after you've got the soap, he added. I'm not about to sit up there for half an hour. Half an hour, Ben winds.

All right, make it an hour, he said sternly. But that, does it need to be two hours? No, sir. Good. He sighed and relaxed in his seats. Dave, his mother whispered, Do you really think an hour is necessary? I mean, it seems a little...

Absolutely, Ben's father said with relish, patting her knee and giving her a reassuring smile. He's got to learn somehow, right. He gave a wink and scoffed at Ben. Hey, honey, how about some pizza? What about Ben? She asked curtly. There should be some bologna in the freezer.

Might have some freezer burn, but it'll be all right. Fine. She sighed, but no meat-lovers okay. Well, what kind do you want? Extra meat. Deal. When a sport, he addressed Ben looking at him through the rear-view mirror. Yes, Dad?

Don't swallow the soap. It'll give you mud-butt. What's that? Diarrhea. Oh. They eventually made it home, and Ben did it, as he'd been told. He went straight to the upstairs bathroom, filled his mouth with the gingerbread-scented hand soap, kept himself from throwing up and went downstairs.

It wasn't easy for Ben to enjoy them gloating over the pizza they were waiting on, but he figured that's what he got for losing his temper, even if his parents did piss him off. After an excruciating hour, he was finally allowed to spit out the soap into the sink. Rinch your mouth out with water a few times. Dave called from the living room. I should do the trick. "'Where'd you say the bologna was again?' he asked, leaning over the sink, spitting out the last remnants of the soul.

"'Ah, it's in the freezer next to the fish,' Dave answered through a mouthful of pizza. "'Can I put it in the microwave?' "'Oh!' "'How it's frozen?' "'Though it out under your armpit. Apparently Penny found this hilarious because Ben heard a series of short, girlish giggles. "'I'm okay.' "'M damn, only this piece is.

"'The cheese is so warm and rich,' his father gloated, "'as Ben fumbled with the frozen, fishy bologna. "'Oh, the crust is so thick and soft,' "'his mother added with exaggeration. "'The cheese is so moist and gooey.' "'Ben glad at them and cursed them internally "'for their precious pizza. "'Oh, I sure wish Ben could have some,'

"'Dave taunted as he reached for a particularly tasty-looking piece. "'Do you have to rub it in?' Ben snapped. "'Ah, go away. a bed spot. And Penny giggled. He was in a wooded clearing completely alone. Looking down, Ben saw that he held a gas can in his left hand and a revolver in his right.

Somehow the gun looked familiar. He looked back up to see his parents standing a few yards away from him, the orange moon casting an eerie light on their faces. They slowly shook their heads in unison. After a moment, they smoldered away and were replaced by Ben's grandparents, who were nodding at him in sync with each other. other. Charlie's head exploded in a great gush of blood, immediately followed by Helen's chest and head. They fell to the ground, thrashing violently. Ben heard a noise behind him and turned to see a large

black brindle pit bull trolling up to him. He nipped Ben's left hand, making the gas can drop. The dog picked up the can by the handle with his mouth and strode over to the flailing bodies. The dog drizzled gasoline over them, and they started to hiss. and cough vehemently. The pit bull cast down the gas can and trotted over to a sapling that Ben was sure hadn't been there before. The dog barked to the bodies

and curled up as if to go to sleep. The instant the dog barked, flames erupted from the bodies and Ben's grandparents became silent. Ben heard an insane cackle come from somewhere and became furious, ready to shoot whoever was finding pleasure in this. He lowered the gun

when he realized that the cackling came from himself. blood oozed out of the sapling's bark kill it kill it daniel urged who was now poised on the other side of the sapling with a stiff finger pointed at it ben tried to ask why but his throat felt clogged and swollen kill it kill it kill it now he screeched ben raised the gun to the bleeding sapling the pit bull whimpered kill it kill it kill it Ben shook his hair and let the gun drop. All was quiet, save the soft crackling of the flames. The sapling gushed blood like an open artery. Daniel made a slicing motion across his neck with his finger and gave Ben a look of loathing. He reached down and picked up a revolver.

Ben looked down at his feet, but the gun was no longer there. How? Ben asked. Daniel only put his finger to his lips and put on a murderous smile. The dog was growling. Daniel aimed at the tree, and then he fired. Ben collapsed to the ground instantly, screaming and clutching the new hole in his chest. Warm, wet, hollow, he thought. Looking up, everything was total emptiness, save Daniel, who was now standing over him. He glowed a deep, blood red, and he smiled saintly. The tree

Ben gasped through his blood in his lungs Daniel shook his head still smiling You he whispered raising the gun to Ben's face Who are you He wailed in agony Names

Daniel said softly Have power And I know yours Benjamin Ross I don't think I shall tell you mine I've had many aliases in the past and right now that alias would be Daniel mortly. But it's only that, an alias. But don't worry, Daniel is safe with me, serving his purpose.

Well, I guess you could call me the Nameless, since I have no need for a proper name. Why would I when I have people like your lovely friend Daniel? What? Ben blurted through puddles of blood gushing out of his mouth. Oh, I'm sorry, the Nameless said sarcastically. cupping a hand around his ear. Where is he?

Home. My home. Ben's eyes began to throb, and he closed them tight against this imposter. What do you want? Ben sobbed at the ground. The Nameless hurled the book of agony in front of him, that crimson severed head leering up at him. You!

The nameless smirked and rolled up his sleeves. "'Why are you doing this?' Ben choked. "'Only I,' the nameless responded. "'He raised the garden and his eyes grew dark as he pointed at Ben. "'He cocked the gun. "'Ben, get up. Your grandparents are here.' Penny cried through Ben's bedroom door. Ben screamed and clutched at his chest, his heart pounding.

He checked to see if the hole in his chest was still that. that we didn't know it. Ben slumped back down into his sheets in an effort to calm down from this dream, desperately wishing to understand what it meant. Ben, come on before I wash your grandmother's dentures with your own toothbrush. Dave called jokingly through the door. Grotie, Ben mumbled to himself as he rode out onto the floor with a soft thought. Yawning with an awkward stretch that made him feel dizzy,

He shuffled over to his closet and yanked it open. "'Shit!' Ben cried as something came crashing out onto his head. "'What was that?' Dave called in a dangerous tone. "'Tits,' he answered stupidly. "'What?' "'Mits,' Ben lied frantically. "'I found my mittens. "'Ah, that's what I thought.'

"'Cursing and massaging the top of his head, "'Ben reached down to pick up what had fallen from the top of the top of shelf. But what he saw made his muscles freeze into place. It was the book of agony. Only, Ben had been trying to find it ever since he sat down and read it. He'd even scowled his closet to the point of taking everything out systematically just to put it all back. And yet it felt oddly lighter than he remembered. It was then he noticed that all the pages have been haphazardly ripped out. He suddenly felt as though eyes were upon him. and though he thought he saw something in his peripheral,

nothing was there. Ben didn't want to think about the book anymore, so he threw it under his bed in the same spot he'd put it the first time. Hey, Benny, his grandma greeted when he came downstairs. How are you? Good, he lied thickly while receiving a rib-crushing heart. Ah, that's always good to hear. Hey, son, Charlie said to Dave,

you still got that rake I let you borrow. Yeah, it's out back, he replied, pointing his thumb over his shoulder. Good, good. Never got around to raking over the fall, and I figured I might as well get it back while I was here. Would have just let you keep it, but money is a little tired of the moment. Was everything all right? Penny asked. Yeah, yeah, just had to get a new car. Engine was totally shot on the old one. Repairs would have cost more than the damn thing was worth. Dave glanced out the window. Oh, yeah, didn't even notice. What is that? Toyota?

Yeah, 1998 Toyota Tacoma. In practically brand new condition. Got it for a steel. Wow, Dave said, as Ben peeped out of the living room window as well, intrigued by the red pickup truck. What do you do with a fiesta? Dave inquired as he stepped away from the window. Charlie laughed and said, Damn thing was old enough to have a mortgage and three kids. just finally reached his limit. He kicked the old pooper. Dave nodded, and gave an empty?

Yeah. Ah, Benji, Charlie boomed, pretending to just then notice Ben as he violently attempted to break every rib he had, though his ribs are already sore from Helen. So, how you been? School going okay? Yeah, he lied.

That's not what I heard. I heard you got in a little scuffle. Did you hit him good? You're not encouraging him, are you, Charlie? Penny scolded. Ah, ahem. Charlie aggressively coughed, straightening his posture. Ben, he stated with a sudden seriousness that made him jump a little. What you did was highly unacceptable. I hope you learned your lesson. However, when his parents' backs were turned, a few minutes later,

Charlie turned to Ben and gave him a two thumbs up. A boyish grin spread across his face. Ben grinned back, a warm, feeling spreading across his chest. All right, well, ready, Ben? Charlie asked an hour later, after they'd all had breakfast. Ready for what? he asked. Did you guys not tell him? Helen asked his parents.

Dave scratched his head awkwardly, and Penny coughed and stared down at her plate. I thought we'd go out to Nashville today, Charlie explained. You ever been to the frist? Ben shook his head. Oh, it's an art museum, Helen explained, catching Ben's attention as he thought of his favourite television painter Bob Ross. He put on a lot of really interesting art shows. Think you'd like it a lot.

Penny mentioned you like to watch Bob Ross reruns sometimes. Who's Bob Ross? Dave asked. Embarrassment gone as he chewed on a giant heap of grumbled eggs. Helen smiled. Well, he's a painter on TV. "'Ah, they're going to do a show on Aaron Douglas today,' Charlie said to Ben. "'He was a Harlem Renaissance painter, really good stuff.' "'What's the Harlem Renaissance?' Ben asked,

setting down his orange juice and putting his napkin on the empty plate. "'Well, guess you'll find out. "'You ready?' "'Yes, sir,' Ben affirmed. "'All righty, then. You ready, Helen?' "'Yep.' "'Well, guess we'll see you all later tonight.' night, Charlie said to Dave and Penny.

They put on their coats and left, and for once Ben felt like a kid again. It had been so long since he felt safe to be himself that it felt strange and made him feel a little guilty. The right there was filled with the kind of light-hearted fun that made him wish that he, Jay and Thomas, were less distant. He wished for a bridge to close the gap between the islands they'd all free remove themselves to, but he didn't know how to build bridges. Ben enjoyed the art. He didn't know much about painting besides to use Odler's paint thinner and to prime the canvas with liquid white,

but the colourful buildings he saw of displayed there made him forget momentarily about his recent troubles. Afterwards, they stopped by an Italian restaurant for lunch, and as they were headed back, Ben began to nod off in the hypnotic silence of the interstate, and dreamt of demented's coming to eat his soul in Uzcabah, jabed. Ben stood amidst the ruins of his grandparents' house, now black bones that sizzled to the snow-strewn ground.

He shoveled his feet through the ashes and wondered what happened. Like the scenery? A familiar voice crooned from behind. Ben turned and threw the soot and snow flittering in the air. He recognised the face of Daniel. The only light in the night came from the persistent embers that struggled to stay alive, which cast Daniel's face in a sinister glow. Ben had to remind himself that this wasn't Daniel, but rather the Nameless.

What? Ben asked. Daniel, no, the Nameless, smirked and took a deep breath of the smoky air as though savouring the scent of Mountain Pines. What are you want? Ben asked again. The Nameless opened his eyes and picked up a black book covered in soot. You ever read this thing? It's a fun little read. Ben recognized the shiny red embellishments on the cover. Yes, he murmured. The nameless gave a soft little chuckle.

Did you look at it again after our last little chit-chat? The pages were gone. A gust of smoke blew in Ben's face and made his eyes water. Oh, that's a damn shame. I really want you to read it. Maybe I can help you if first you do a little something for me. Ben took a step back and wrung his hands. All you need to know is that if you don't do as you're told,

then you'll be a very sorry boy, a very sorry boy indeed. What do you mean? Ben asked. You don't even want to know my friend. Ben winced at the nameless calling him friend. He had desecrated the precious memory of Daniel, and that was not something Ben took too kindly. Or do you? Ben remained silent.

Kag got your tongue. An owl screeched, as if to stop this conversation. The Nameless looked a bit worried as he tried to find it, but he could not. Anyways, the Nameless continued after a moment. I need you to do as you're told Ben, and I told you to read those pages, didn't I? You didn't listen, and now they're gone because of you. you don't suppose I need to teach you a lesson, do I? Ben knew that this was going no place good.

He didn't want to answer, but the nameless grabbed a particularly deadly looking piece of wood as though to keep him motivated to talk. An enormous great horned owl flew on top of a clapped beam of wood that leaned against the wall. Get out of here, the nameless warned, trying to hide the fear in his voice. Ben somehow felt that the owl was there to protect him. The Nameless picked up a brick and heard it at the owl, ignoring Ben's cry of protest. The owl flew away. Oh, God damn it, the Nameless muttered to himself.

How the fuck did she find us? Whatever. Just one more thing, Ben, the Nameless said. Make sure to read that book when you get the chance. I'll even be nice and help find those pages for you. and you'll know when they find them. Don't you worry, you'll know. It was Sunday morning, half-past six, according to Ben's clock.

In half an hour his parents would rouse him on their weekly excursion to church, where Ben would be lulled to sleep by the preacher, and Dave would pinch him to wake him up. And then Dave would tell Ben on the way home about being godly, but Ben never listened. He was only, well, at least his grandparents would come today, having stayed the night in the guest room. Morning, sunshine.

Charlie greeted him, 20 minutes later, as he poured himself a large bowl of Count Chocula. Morning. Sleep well? Well, Ben lied and nodded his head. He hoped his grandpa wouldn't notice the bags under his eyes. That's good. Yeah, I guess everyone else is sleeping in a little.

He glanced briefly around the empty room. Yeah, I guess, Ben said. He poured himself. a cereal bowl of his own and began to munch tightly on the chocolate chunks. Oh, yeah, meant to mention yesterday, Charlie announced a moment later. I was talking to your cousin Mike the other day. He wanted to know how you were doing. Ben's stomach did a flip.

I told him about the happenings. We ought to see him sometime. He's not busy, though. I don't know how the guy does that, but he's double majoring and working a full-time job. I think it's a Dingle Burger, but... He was wanting to go to NASA someday. Not his bachelor's already. I think he's working on his masters right now.

I forget what his majors are, though. Something to do with physics, that's all I know. Just watch out. He might start talking your head off about stringing theory in multiple universes. Oh, interesting stuff, but I don't understand the half of it. Ben nodded. Yeah, it'd be nice to see him, I guess. He'd never felt particularly close to his cousin,

but for some reason the man seemed to take him. a liking to Ben. The sermon that day was just as monotone as ever. The preacher never varied his delivery and rarely looked out from his podium, save when a toddler cried or somebody stood at the wrong cue, which he would simply meet with a stern look of disapproval. His voice was dry and paper in his skin even more so. It didn't help that his parents refused to let him go with the youth groups

because that wasn't real church. And if she had born and Ben decided to count the number of people, times Ben had pinched him. Ben achieved a high score of 16 pinches. His arm was sore by the end of the sermon. Afterwards, Helen proposed that they take another trip to get ice cream, just the three of them, and Ben eagerly agreed. "'Hey, Ben,' Helen said after a few minutes of silence. "'The ice cream shop smelled sweaty and milky. Much better than the hot smell of dust and mothballs at the church, though. Is everything okay at home?' ma'am, he lied.

You sure? You seem a bit gloomy, and I know how Dave can be. I'll stick up his ass about something all the time. But Ben forced a light chuckle. He felt weak as a person. He knew he shouldn't give Daniel, no, the nameless, what he wanted. He couldn't imagine what horrors would happen to lie within those pages, and he knew that it would all be his fault when things got worse. Typical, just typical.

"'The worthless scum he was. "'Why couldn't he just move on like Dave said he should? "'Why was he still like this? "'Why was he so freaking goddamn pathetic? "'He imagined his face in front of him. "'He wanted to strangle that throat, "'to gouge out those eyes, to really teach that little bitch. "'Ben, Charlie asked.

"'You're okay.' "'And he was shaking. "'What Ben thought about lying again, "'but he couldn't lie to his grandparents, "'the two people he loved most in the world. and he knew they wouldn't believe him. Hell, might even call him crazy, but he couldn't like them. His heart was bruised enough as it was.

No, sir. Charlie blinks his eyes, clearly not expecting such a direct answer. What is it, honey? Helen asked, and he placed a warm hand on Ben's knee. He tried to look for words, but they didn't seem to want to show themselves. I don't know, it's just... God, I don't think. you believe me. Helen leaned towards him, an earnest gleam in her kind blue eyes. Ben, you've already

said enough for me to believe anything you say, but we're here for you. You're our grandson, and we'll do everything in our power to make you happy and safe. Now, what is it? Ben took a deep breath and forced the knot in his abdomen out of the way of his words. Then he told them everything. So you did make him wash out his mouth of soap for an hour, Helen exclaimed. Well, he's got to learn somehow. Dave replied irritably. But liquid soap for an hour? He didn't learn from the soap bar last time, so liquid this time.

He didn't learn from the bar of soap last time, so liquid this time. Ben heard his mother respond as though this were obvious. Plus he kept arguing with me, Dave argued. I was going to make it half an hour, but I was going to make it half an hour, but I was. I had to make it an hour. Ben nearly pushed it to two hours. He should be thanking me, I'll tell you. Charlie scoffed. And if he'd accidentally swallow it, he asked incredulously. Well, then it'd teach him a lesson even better, Penny retorted. It wasn't long past 8.30, but Ben was sent to bed early after he fell asleep on the couch. Once in bed, though,

he found it impossible to turn off his brain. Drawn by heated words, he now crows. He now crouched at the top of the stairs as he listened to the argument in the living room below. Dave, Helen sighed, did we teach you nothing as a child? Ah, not much. He had a pretty piss-poor job if you ask me. There was a pause during which Helen hissed Charlie's name as if to keep him from retaliating. Helen, Charlie muttered moodily. We need to talk about the book.

book? Ben's father asked confusedly. Charlie, what book are you talking about? David, he began with a sigh. Ben told us about a particular book that he found a little while ago, on his birthday, as a matter of fact. He said he told you about it. There was a long pause.

I don't know what you're talking about. Really? Helen scoffed. You don't remember your son mentioning a book filled with a ghastly horrors? Oh, Penny exclaimed. Ben knew that tone. She was acting. Davey, he means the book Ben said was written in blood.

That, he scoffed. That stupid thing he made up. You don't honestly believe him, do you? I expect me to remember every little thing he says. He's a freaking kid, for Christ's sake. He just turned 11. "'12,' Helen interrupted. "'Ah, twelve, whatever.

"'It's nonsense. "'It's just trying to get attention. "'I really don't approve of that kind of behavior, "'nor do I think I should be reinforcing it by giving it attention.' "'Nonsense!' Helen muttered in a dangerously quiet voice. "'What's nonsense? "'Is staging an elaborate prank, as you call it?' "'Prank.

"'What prank?' "'Peddy blurted a little too hastily. We just ignored that whole book nonsense. What's his prank business? Ben couldn't help but notice the mistake in her lie and smile a little to himself. He says you lured him into the attic and scared him. Charlie yelled.

Ben wondered if he let out his father's reaction that night on purpose or not. What? Dave laughed, disbelievingly. You don't seriously buy that crap, right? Jesus, he's claiming to have a book written in blood with people cut up and shit. It sounds like a Clive Barker novel. I, Helen stressed, I'm willing to take Ben's word wholeheartedly on this.

Ah, you're joking, right? I mean, come on, the whole thing's just freaking preposterous. There's no book, Helen. I'll be damned if I look for it, either. And if Ben mentions that shit to me one more time, I swear out. Ben heard something hard and hollow flop onto the coffee table, briefly peeking down into the living room, he could see his parents gawking open mouth at the pageless cover of the Book of Agony.

He'd given it to his grandparents earlier to prove that he was telling the truth. Ring any bells? Helen prodded. I, I... Helen? Ben heard his mother say quietly. Where are the pages? Man said he found them torn out yesterday morning.

But, but, Dave blubbered. Look, Charlie said. Bands experiences with this thing have disturbed him greatly. Experiences, what experiences? Well, he hasn't told you? No, Dave said curtly. Nightmares, every night, David. Every single night he has to watch his friend get killed right in front of him.

Oh, yeah, feels like he's always been watched too, Charlie added. Now he says there's something. I won't say what, because you'll just blow it off. Something's following him, talking to him, tormenting him, David. This is your son we're talking about. Well, I... No, Charlie stated. Don't just sit there and dribble that whole shit out of your asshole mouth of yours,

and Ben's mental health is at stake here. I'll ask you this, once. You're going to do anything about this? Something that preferably doesn't invent. over yelling at him. Oh, yeah, well, I... That answers my question, David. I can't sit here and idly watch as you neglect

and abuse my grandson. As a man who tries to live his life decently, I simply cannot do it. And I'm unabashedly disappointed that you can be fucking man enough to take care of your only son. Ben poked his head back down for a moment and was surprised to see that there were tears in his father's eyes

and that Penny was covering her own. eyes with her hand. Dave, Helen said softly but sternly. We think he has depression, maybe even PTSD. We want to get him into therapy and our medication. Think about it, Dave. One of his best friends gets hit by a car, and suddenly Ben doesn't want to talk to his friends,

doesn't want to play, doesn't laugh. When he does, he's forced. He was crying to us when we went out to eat because you two weren't there when Ben needed you most. He tries to reach out to you And you see it as an opportunity To play some sick joke on him Think it will somehow snap him out of this

Utly disgusting behavior From the both of you Penny I raised you better than that Dave was silent But Ben could hear his heavy Measured breaths Penny Golt

Well, he may have some minor depression Sure, maybe he can talk to his school Or counselor about it PTSD, oh, no way. Ben didn't see it. And he's a kid, too. They just bounced back after things like this. It's not like he went to war.

Penny, quit down playing this for your own comfort, Helen scorned. He's got nightmares. He's hallucinating. We think he may have made this boat during some kind of state, which is why Ben needs psychiatric help immediately. Well, I'm not paying for that shit, Dave grumbled. Well, Ben's... grandfather said. In that case, we think it's best Ben can will live with us. You're sure and

complete and utter disregard for his emotional well-being to the point of emotional abuse and neglect. He's coming with us tonight. For good. Get out, Dave growled. He sounded dog-like. Ben had never heard his tone of voice before. Excuse me? Helen gasped. Get the fuck out. How dare you taught us that way? I said get the fuck out of my house. Dave screamed at the top of his lungs. The coffee table banged on his leg as he shot from the couch.

There was a heavy silence, after which Ben heard the shuffle of coats and the soft click of the front door. A moment later, Ben heard the engine of the Tacoma fire up and drive away. Benjamin, Gordon, Ross. Ben winced with an understanding. anticipation as he stepped off the bus a little way down the street.

Get your punk ass in here now. He warily turned his gaze towards the house when the menacing figure of his father stood on the porch. Knowing better than to make the trip as slowly as possible, he hurried over to the yard as fear mounted within. When he approached the house, he slowed down slightly. His father stood in the doorway, his knuckles white against the wall and his eyes blazing with an insane fury

the likes of which he had never seen before. He glanced down and thought he must be wrong, but there appeared to be blood on his shoes. Upstairs, bedroom, now, he spat as a yank bent by the arm and shoved him toward the stairs. At the top of them, standing to the left, and by his bedroom door, was the irisome stare of his mother. He paused, but Dave kicked his backpack hard,

almost sending him face first into the corner of the stair. "'Oh!' he cried. "'Shut up!' Dave screamed. His voice was so distorted by rage that it was almost unrecognizable. Ben picked himself up, his body hot and stinging with sweat underneath his heavy winter coat. Inside, Penny snarled. "'Open the door,' Dave bowed. With a grimace, Ben pushed the door open.

And then he froze. His bedroom was as close to hell as he could imagine. Now to the walls, ceiling and floor with the missing pages the nameless had promised to bring him. This was not what made Ben's breath catch in his throat. Blood was splashed like grim work all over the room, and in the centre of it was where the most blood was. It was where the intestines were as well,

piled up like fetid dog shit. An intestine led up from the floor and was connected to Daniel Mortley's naked call. which was suspended from the ceiling fan by the noose, jerking grossly from the fan's rhythmic pulse. His eyes were gouged and dry blood caked the rims of his eyes, nose and mouth. His throat had been slit,

and blood dribble all the way down to where his chest had been ripped open and down to his crotch. Inside spilled out onto the floor, blood's still dripping with a wet, quiet, splat, splat, splat, split, against Daniel's disembodied lungs. And Ben screamed.

Don't you dare freaking scream, your little psycho. His father roared from behind. Do you see what you did? Do you see what you did? Ben wanted to turn around, but he couldn't. His eyes were locked upon the mutilated body of the closest friend he'd ever had that now hung in his bedroom. Answer me! Ben turned around to face the other horror in the room.

What the fuck did you do to that dog? Dog? He responded meekly. Don't you fucking play with me. Don't you dare fucking play with me. His father paused to taking a deep breath. All right, fine. It's pretty freaking clear what this is.

You don't want to live here anymore. Well, fine. You'd rather live with your precious grandparents than your own parents. Fine. You want to play a little fucking serial killer in the making? "'Ficking fine. "'But do not bring this shit into my fucking house.' "'His father grabbed him by the shoulders,

"'spun him around and grabbed him by his backpack, "'throwing her face first into the wall "'next of the hole Ben had made himself. "'David!' Penny shrieked, "'though it sounded distant to Ben. "'You know little bitch, "'why in the holy fucking hell is wrong with you, huh?' "'His father thundered deafeningly

"'as he advanced, menacingly. "'You think this is funny? "'This is some kind of sick-frikin joke.' "'Dad, Dad, Ben stammered, but he was picked up by the hair, "'and his father came within an inch of his face and then screamed, "'You're going to take your frickin' medicine.' "'Slam Ben's head into the floor, "'ripping off his backpack simultaneously.

"'Mom!' he screamed. "'David, stop, David!' "'Benny rushed in and tried to push his father off him, "'but he only let go of Ben, and decked her in the face. Oh, you bitch! They've turned around and threw Ben into the dresser. The lamp fell and bashed into his skull.

He tried to crawl away, but his father kicked him back into the dresser once more. Whose dog is that, Ben? Whose dog is that? Ben didn't understand what he meant. All he knew was that his friend's corpse was in the centre of the room, and soon his own corpse would be with it. Ben he charged back into the room with a bat and swung it into his father's ribs. He screamed, but said nothing as he grabbed it from her and swung it into her head,

her body going limp and falling into the pile of intestines. He then threw the bat down and grabbed the lamp and beat Ben in the face with it again and again, the lampshade eventually coming off and the light bulb breaking over his face, blood streaming into Ben's eyes. Daddy, Daddy, please! He said nothing as he picked Ben up and threw him into the closet, where Ben's body slumped to the ground. Through the blood, sweat and tears. Ben saw it. He saw Daniel's corpse standing in the corner, smiling at him.

And from the ceiling hung the corpse of a brindle pit bull, mutilated in the exact same way. It was him, Dad, Ben gasped, trying to point at the nameless. But he wasn't heard. In the corner, the nameless smiled. An owl cried outside the window. Chapter 6. A little over two months had passed since Ben had been sent to the emergency room. He still had scars on his face and body,

but his recovery had been remarkably quick, astonishing his doctors. Miraculously, Dave hadn't managed to seriously break any bombs. It had only been a few moments that Penny had been knocked out by the back, and while he was occupied by his merciless beating, she'd stumbled her way down the stairs to the phone and caught the police, who arrived within minutes and arrested Dave. An image Ben wouldn't be soon to forget. Immediately after getting his father out of the way,

the paramedics rushed both Penny and a son to the hospital. Luckily Ben only had a concussion and some minor fractures and dislocations. Penny was terrified of possible brain damage, but there were no signs of any. while their legal custody of him was handed over to his grandparents who were more than willing to take him in. Their house was a cosy one, nestled on the outskirts of Maysburg amidst a rather large, swive forest in the country.

It was here that he finally felt genuinely loved by somebody, and though he remained largely friendless when he started going to Maysburg Middle, he felt content. Somehow, despite the popular kids being ruthless bully machines, he managed to fly under their race. He was in therapy now too, and on medication. He'd been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, just like his grandparents had suspected. But he was the happiest he'd ever been.

Ben, your mom called today, Charlie told him one Wednesday afternoon in early February. She said she, uh, wants to talk you about something. About what? he asked. Charlie shrugged his shoulders. "'Don't know. She wouldn't tell me. "'Just that she wants to see you tomorrow. "'I told her I'd ask you about it.' "'Ben frowned.

"'There's a lot he was still resentful about towards his mother. "'The idea of her, a piece of that hell coming here to this sanctuary, "'disturbed him. "'Charlie sighed. "'Oh, I get it, Ben. I really do. "'But she's your mother. "'She might not be the best mother in the world, "'but she does care about you.

"'It sounded to me today, like she's been doing a lot of thinking. It'll be here. Well, you'd be safe. And... David won't be here to... Keep everyone down. Ben nodded his head heavily.

Okay. I guess I'm okay with it. Do you know if Dad's gonna go to prison yet? Can't say I do, son. He said. Won't talk to me. Your mother's the only one who knows right now. Well, I'm sorry, Ben.

Why are you sorry? He asked. Because... Because I feel like it's partly my fault. How is it your fault? Well, I did raise her. Sure, I wasn't the perfect, Baron. I've got to be more involved in her life.

But I don't know what I did for her to turn out this way. Geez, I'm sorry. It's not your fault. You didn't make her married dad and let him beat me up and mom. Charlie smiled. Yeah. "'You know what, Ben, you're a good kid. "'Best kid there is.

"'It's just unfortunate that you haven't had the life you deserve. "'I hope Helen and I can turn things around for you. "'Give you a good home.' "'Yeah,' Ben said. "'Not sure what else to say.' "'Oh, hell!' he cried, throwing his arms up playfully. "'What is it?' "'Charlie gave him a look of frustration,

"'but Ben knew immediately that he was just messing with him. "'I got to start saving up. up to put you in college. Already? Shit, college is expensive, man. It's only going to get more expensive every year. Ben laughed, and for that afternoon, Charlie took him out back to shoot targets with his revolver, something they hadn't done in years.

The next day dragged on. Ben both looked forward to and dreaded Penny's visit that afternoon. He wanted things to be okay with her, but he didn't want things to go back to how they were. When he came home from school, his grandparents acted as though nothing was out of the ordinary, but Ben could see a certain hesitation in their eyes. At last, the sound of tires rubbed over gravel outside, and soon to follow was a timid knock upon the door.

Ah, I guess that's her, Charlie said as he stood up and went over. Hey, Penny muttered, obscured by Ben's grandfather. Hey. There was a moment's silence as the frigid air, from outside crept in. May I come in? Yeah, Ben's right over there, he gestured as he stepped away from the door. She smiled at Ben and took off her black gloves.

Hi, sweetie. How are you? I'm okay, he returned, and he forced a polite smile. That's good. How are you, Helen? All right, she answered curtly. She didn't look up from her book. "'You want to drink or anything?' Charlie asked after closing the door.

"'Got water, coffee, Pepsi, and milk. "'Might still have some alma milk, too.' "'Oh, um, coffee would be nice.' Penny smiled. "'One coffee coming up. "'You want a Pepsi, Ben?' "'Yes, sir.' "'You set down the book they'd been reading in class.'

"'Oh, still reading just as much as ever, huh?' "'She asked as she slowly took a seat on one of the extra chairs. "'Yes, ma'am.' What book is that? A lot of the flies. Oh, that's a good one. Do you like it? Pretty good.

Got to write a paper on it, though. Oh, you're reading it for school? Uh-huh. Charlie came back into the living room and said, Hey, if you want some privacy, you can use Ben's room. Well, um, hey, how do you like your coffee? Um, that'd be great, Charlie. And black is fine.

All right, Ben's in your old room. man. Here's your Pepsi. Coffee will be ready in a few minutes. Ben got up and led her to his room, which was a little smaller than his old room, but the brown walls and view of the trees from behind the house made it feel more homely. There was an old clock on the wall that ticked softly. Helped him sleep at night. Oh, I like the room, she said as she closed the door behind them. Do you like it? Ben nodded his head and sat down on his bed. Penny pulled up an old antique dining chair from the corner that Ben liked to read in so that she could face him. They stared at each other awkwardly for a minute or so, and Penny's gray eyes scanned the room sporadically.

She coughed and pulled back her open hair. So, um, how's school going? That's good. Great's okay? Yeah, A's for the most part. She smiled. Yeah, you're a smart kid. There was a knock on the door and Charlie eased in.

with a steaming mug of coffee. Thanks. Everything okay? Need anything? No, but thank you, Penny answered. Charlie gave a dry thumbs up and left the room, closing the door softly behind him. Penny took a brief sip and recoiled from the heat.

Oh, that's hot. So, um, I'm sure you're wondering why I wanted to talk to you. I know you probably have a lot of questions about your dad. Is he going to prison? Ben asked quickly. She blinked her eyes and set down the mug. Well, it'll be another six months before he's hearing, but probably. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't.

Ben nodded and looked down at his shoes and tried to hide his smirk. She leaned over and tried to put her hand on his leg, but he recoiled involuntarily, and she retracted her hand. Ben wished he hadn't done so. It felt nice, the brief moment it should have been there. I know it's been hard, Ben. Believe me, it's hard on me too. I mean, I've known him for years, since high school.

I didn't like having him arrested, but he was out of control. He could have killed you. I could have killed both of us. Bear nodded his head, his eyes still fixated on his shoes, observing every fiber and splash of mud. And now, I've lost my son too, but I guess it's best for you here. I can't afford to pay for both of us, and besides, there's a lot of...

A lot of heaviness there. No place to be happy. But I do want you to know, Ben, that I love you. He looked up and saw his mother wipe tears from her eyes. Penny gripped her purse tightly in her lap and shivered in her black coat. Ben looked back down uncomfortably. I've been thinking a lot since everything happened. And I just want to say I'm sorry, sweetie.

I've always loved you more than anything in the world, but I guess I never knew how to show it. Oh, I should have just been there for you. "'It's okay,' Ben whispered, looking back up, this time keeping his eyes on hers. "'No,' she said with a shake of her head. "'No, it's not okay. I should have been there. "'And I was never there, not even when your friend died. "'It was just—I didn't want to admit that anything was wrong.

"'I just wanted to have the perfect family, the perfect husband, "'to be the perfect wife and the perfect mother. "'I just didn't know what that meant. what the perfect husband was, or what the perfect mother was, either. To me, the only thing that matters were that it looked like we had our perfect lives. I never wanted to think about reality. I should have made him leave a long time ago. He wasn't fit to be a father or a husband.

He never was. If he were, he never would have done the things he did. He never would have hit you or treated you the way he did. I let it happen. I went along. afraid of what would happen if I didn't. Sometimes I believed he was right. Like when he made you eat that bologna or, you know, when we tricked you in the attic.

Did Dad hit you when I wasn't around? Ben asked. The question had been on his mind ever since she'd spotted the bruise on her cheek the morning after they'd lured him into the attic, but he'd never had the courage to ask. She took a deep breath. She'd reached for her mug delicately and raised it to her lips. Yeah. Yeah, Ben.

he did. A fury rose with him, band, that he'd never felt before. A sort of protective rage. I tried to keep it from you. I didn't want to worry you. That's why I'd only argue with him in the bedroom. Usually he did a good job of not leaving marks. I'm sorry. Don't be sorry, he said. It wasn't your fault. She stared him in the eyes with a look that all at once conveyed pride, joy, and was that fear? God, you've always been so mature, she murmured. She took a seat beside him, and Ben hugged her tightly. He felt her tears on his neck, but he had none to offer himself.

I wasn't quite sure how he was supposed to feel. A few minutes later, he felt her head lift away, and he looked up to see Charlie standing in the doorway. Oh, hey, I just wanted to say we're about to have dinner, if you want. Ben's mother wiped her eyes and checked her flip phone. I wish I could, but I have to get going, she said. I had to pick up another job to keep up with the bills, and I have to be there at night.

All right, if you ever want to stop by, feel free. You used to live here after all. Thank you. I'll try and come back soon. Maybe next week? Any day. Man gets home around four, and Helen and I am both home by three. well all right ben i guess i'll come back as soon as i can is that okay with you he nodded his head his eyes heavy they all got up and ben walked with her to the car call me okay yeah she smiled and kissed him on the head and ben watched from the driveway as she drove away as he was putting the lord of the flies back into his bag for the next day before bed he noticed that there seemed to be an extra book in there

Confused, he picked it up and froze. His limbs prickled with dread. It was the book of agony. He remembered then what the nameless had told him that dark night in December, how the nameless had told him to read it a second time, standing amidst the burned ashes of what was now his bedroom. Hands trembling, he slowly sifted through the sewn-together pages. His fingers turned the pages faster as he went along.

desperate to put it away again and his twisted relief nothing seemed to have changed other than the pages were reattached that is until he reached the last page the ink bright red and reeking of pennies the painting was of ben chained to a wall trapped behind bars he was staring at two corpses on the other side chapter seven berns a large clock read 158 a.m. With the sigh, he slid out of his bed sheets and changed back into his dayclothes. He grabbed the book of agony, the leather hot against his skin, and eased his way without a sound to the closed door of his grandparents' bedroom. He put his ear against the crack and listened to their snows. The coast was clear. He crept through the back door, cringing at the loud creek of the wood. Zipping up his coat, he trudged through the light snows. He trudged through the light snows. know and went to the shed. There he grabbed a red canister of gasoline. Checking his pockets, he realized he'd forgotten the lighter. Oh shit, he whispered to himself. His breath hung in the air

like a pale ghost. There was a dirty flashlight on a counter that ran along the far wall of the shed. The amber light flickered to life as he flipped the switch. To his fortune, he found a dusty box of matches in the back. After he turned the light off and saw the light off. silently closed the door, Ben continued deeper into the woods. The frigid silence bit at his nerves. The trees thickened as he went along in the lonely February night, their bony branches tangling themselves around him. He couldn't decide if they looked like they were trying to keep him away or trying to strangle him.

After probably ten minutes or so, Ben came across a sudden clearing. It was the one. He'd come across it before during the day while exploring. The sky above was bright and clear, but the shadows were dark and preyed on Ben's imagination. Failing to suppress a shudder that had little to do with the cold, Ben gritted his teeth, shoved past the trees and stomped his way into the center of the clearing, determined to put this all to an end. He threw the book down onto the frozen earth as hard as he could and ignored the cry of an owl nearby. He set down the matches and raised the gas can. He was about to drown the book in the pungent liquid,

but then he heard movement behind him and froze. After he heard nothing else, he doubted himself that it must have been a deer and tilted the nozzle. Stop! He whirled wildly on the spot. His eyes searched frantically for the source. From behind he heard the owl cry again. For some reason it sounded as though he was saying his name.

It was hard to discern anything in the darkness, but he thought he saw a dark shadow move in the bushes. His breath scraped against the air like rusty nails. He turned back to the book as the owl screeched violently overhead. More than panicked, he fumbled around with the matches, trying to bring the dead sticks back to life. It was difficult, but he eventually managed to get one of them to stay ablaze. In the moment the match struck the book,

Ben was sent flying into the air, his body spinning violently until it slowly. slammed into the hard trunk of a tree. Dazed, Ben tried to focus his attention past the explosion of pain that ricochet through his body and onto the fire in the clearing. He did a double take. Well, Ben had been successful in setting the book on fire,

but that was all that could be said for his endeavours. While a great fire blazed in the centre of the clearing, everything about it was completely wrong. The flames rose high into the air, a black, blazing tower of the night. The smoke it emitted was thick and noxious. It raced outward past him and into the trees. The smoke burned his eyes and his nose, his mouth too.

All around the flame, the light seemed to glare with a pale hue, sucking the colour out of the forest around him. He noticed to his horror that the flames were quickly spreading outwards on a rampage through the clearing and toward the trees, towards him. He tried to stand, but a blast of hot sun. smoke shot at his face. He closed his eyes, but when he opened them again, he found that the tree he'd been pinned against was now too on fire.

The lean, shadowy figure emerged from the midst of the flames, hunched over and shimmering like a mirage. It made a noise, a noise that made Ben's hairs stand on end, and began to charge at him, long, sharp fingers extended towards him. It wrapped his claws around Ben's head. and forced him to stare into its white, glowing eyes. Ben woke with a gasp for breath and struggled in his sheets. He took him a moment to realize he was no longer trapped in the burning clearing,

and he was safe in his room. The yellow morning sunlight peaked through the frosted windows. He sighed deeply to ease his nerves and wrangled himself from his cocoon. The chilly air bit at his sweat-soaked skin, and Ben hurried to his closet to change from his pajamas. "'Wait, pajamas. "'And he'd changed back into his clothes the night before. "'The memories of the dream washed back over him,

"'and he checked all over his body. "'He's all no burns, cuts, nor scrapes. "'Surely it hadn't been a dream. "'God, it seemed so real, "'more real than any nightmare he'd had with the nameless. "'It was branded into his skull. "'He laughed at the situation and realized it must have been a dream. "'But his relief was short-lived because,

it was then that he realized that, if it had been a dream, horrible as it was, and the book still survived, lurking in the shadows in wait of the right time for him to stumble across it. But had the fire truly destroyed it? No, of course it didn't, he thought to himself, because it was just a dream. But where is it now? He nervously glanced around the cosy bedroom, scared he might see it lying on his bed, or was it possible that he'd something somehow dreamt finding the book, too. No, he'd been haunted by that wretched thing, and the nameless, for months now. There was no way he'd dreamt all that.

But, perhaps he hadn't dreamt it. Maybe he'd simply imagined the whole thing, a delusion brought on by grief. The thought that he was crazy made Ben's heart skip a beat, though sooner calm seemed to wash over his body. Because if it hadn't been real, then there was nothing to be afraid of. He almost laughed with this newfound relief. And yet, there was an odd empty feeling in his chest, as though it had been carved out by the knife of a butcher.

He felt a peculiar sense of loss that had nothing to do with anything he had experienced yet. It was as though, well, as though a piece of me died. I shook his head. Stop it, he commanded himself. Just stop it. "'You're being crazy!' He giggled at this thought. He embraced this newfound identity,

Ben, the crazy kid, who knew what kind of stories he might come up with next. Giggling uncontrollably, he changed clothes and went into the bathroom. As he grabbed his toothbrush. He froze. In the mirror, there were leaves in his hair. "'Garly, gee!' he mused lightly, waving his initial fright away.

Those twigs must have been in there all day yesterday. Why didn't anyone tell me? Ben ripped the twigs from his gnarled hair, wincing. That Friday was wonderful. He was talkative to just about everyone he sat next to in class, joking and goofing around as though he didn't have a care in the world. And why shouldn't he? He lived in a home that actually felt like a home,

and he'd come to realize that the nightmare he'd suffered the past few months was merely a grim fantasy. but deep down he knew that the grim fantasy was a reality he knew that he was just too terrified of the reality to face it head on and it was because of this that he finally let slip a glaring hole in his denial that afternoon when he came home if the whole thing had been an invention of his mind then how had he been able to show his grandparents the book or for that matter how could he explain the dog that had been strung up in his bedroom causing his father's to inflict the injuries that still made his movement stiff. No, what was he talking about? He clearly imagined giving the book of agony to his grandparents, and obviously no dog had been hanging in his bedroom. Ben must have done something else to upset his father.

He just had to figure out what it was. His dad probably didn't even beat him. Ben probably imagined that too. Reaffirmed in his insanity, Ben drifted off to sleep that night with ease. "'No, no, no, take me back. I don't want to be here anymore.' Ben wailed. "'Be quiet, you,' the nameless snarled.

"'And get a move on.' The nameless kick Ben smartly in the bag of the head and sent him face first into the rough snow. The rocks and twigs scraped against his face. Ben's memory of what had transpired after the shadowy figure charged at him was foggy, he'd suddenly found himself lying in the snow of the clearing. Both legs broken, with the nameless scowling from above. You fucked up, kid, he said.

You fucked up. The nameless had then picked Ben up and threw him into the snow, ordering him to crawl. Ben didn't dare cry. Not once, that whole day he was forced to crawl on broken legs, and especially not now, even though the night air bit harder than ever. Why? Ben whimpered. "'because you're slower shit, you worthless scum.' "'No,' Ben corrected.

"'Why are you doing all of this to me?' "'A nameless leaned down and grabbed Ben by the hair and growled in his face, breath drenched in iron. "'Because I fucking can. "'Now move!' Ben didn't argue but instead resigned himself to keep crawling at his snail's pace. The night grew darker. Ben, the Nameless said quietly after what must have been hours.

If you want this to end, then you must come to us. Start by going to the clearing. But we just came from there, Ben gasped. He didn't know how much more of this he could take. I'm not talking to you, the Nameless spat. What? The Nameless stared into Ben. eyes with a cold glare and said,

"'Open your eyes, Ben, and wake up.' Men awoke and turned to his alarm clock. It read that it was eight. Well, and I think we're out of Count Chocula, he heard his granddad rumble from the kitchen. "'Oh, hey, Ben,' Charlie said from the breakfast table when Ben came into the kitchen a few minutes later. "'How'd you sleep?'

His voice was groggy, and his eyes were puffy. "'All right, I guess,' he lied. He didn't like lying to him, but he didn't know how he could possibly tell his grandparents what had happened. He was afraid it would be too bizarre for even them to believe. Ah, good, good, Charlie mumbled as he munched noisily on a piece of toast. Ben peered into the cereal cabinet for a moment without really looking. You okay, Helen asked, and Ben was jerked from his trance. Oh, yeah, he said.

Are you sure? Ben didn't respond immediately, but instead thought carefully about his words. "'Do you remember that book I showed you a couple of months ago?' He asked tentatively. "'The book of agony?' "'Yeah.' His stomach plummeted, distraught by this blazing hole burned in his delusion. "'How could you remember if it weren't real?'

"'Why, yes, I do, Ben. Why'd you ask?' "'Oh, just wondering,' he muttered. They tried to press him for more information, but his tongue was tied. Eventually he retired to his room and closed the door quickly behind him. It was just a dream, he thought, as he paced around his room. Just a dream, just a dream, just, it was just... A clump of snow fell from above and smacked him in the head. What the hell am I doing? he asked himself.

I'm not going to find anything. I should just stop and turn around, right this in. instant, young man. But his feet wouldn't listen. They ploughed stubbornly through the slushy snow. He should have been there by now, but he tried not to think about it. It was stupid, pointless, just a stupid dream. And yet here he was, blunding around in the woods getting his feet wet. And even though it was February, he was sweating profusely under his coat. The son had decided to blaze on like it was May, but Ban didn't feel like carrying his coat, so he endured the notoriously inconsistent Tennessee weather nonetheless.

God, this is stupid. This is stupid. So fucking... He stopped in his tracks. He hadn't quite reached the clearing, but he knew he was close because every tree was burnt to a crisp. The trees towered over him and stretched out their long black fingers towards the clearing ahead. He crept forward until at last he was behind the bony bushes that surrounded the clearing. He sped a dark stain in the center. Warily, he stalked forward with the apprehension of a cat. Alas, there, atop the stain was the black gooey remains of the plastic gas can, with the ashes of the matchbook next to it. But completely untouched, in the center of the stain on the ground, was that wretched fiend,

the stalker of his nightmares. The book of agony. His head felt light, and his blood pumped heavily through his veins like a war drum. What do you want? Ben shrieked to the trees around him. He picked up the book and hurled it at the nearest one. I never did anything to you. Ben stomped his foot into the melted gas can, smushing the solidified remains into an undistinguishable pulp.

He went over to where he'd thrown the book and punched the tree as hard as he could. He recalled from the pain and cradled his bloody fist. Oh, he'd never felt rage like this. The closest he'd come was when he beat up that kid on the bus. But I didn't even closely compare to this. He wanted to break, he wanted to tear, he wanted to kill. You stupid piece of fucking shit! He screamed, ripping out a page with each word.

How's your stupid book now, asshole? Ben yelled to the air around him. He kicked the book again, and pages flew around him in a blizzard of, torment. He put his fists to the trees again and again, at first ignoring the pain, but then letting it fuel his rage. It was all he knew to do. But eventually he grew tired and gave the book one last kick before storming back to his grandparents' house. God, how could he have been so freaking stupid? God, to think he was so pathetic as to actually think that none of it had been real. He punched himself in the jaw a few times, hot tears prickling his eyes.

The blood from his knuckles stained his face. What was wrong with him? Jesus, freaking Christ, what a goddamn scum-sucking piece of shit. There was nothing he could do, absolutely nothing. Because he was too weak, too pathetic, too stupid to figure it out. The only thing he could possibly do would be to roll over and expose his belly to the grisly claws of the nameless like an obedient dog. Because that's all he was. A freaking dog.

He fell to his knees and sobbed, though he had no tears. This was it. This was what his life had become. Ben was scared. He'd been reduced to nothing. All Ben knew was that he was somewhere dark, chained to a wall. The skin of his wrists prickled beneath the tight choke of rusted shackles. He could see nothing.

The broken bones in his legs felt as though they might break even more, but the damp, stony floor helped to numb the... pain. He had no idea how he got there. All he knew was that somewhere along the way, in that expanse of black, wintry woods, he'd passed out from a combination of pain, exhaustion, hunger, and thirst. And now, here he was, alone. Well, now, this isn't right, is it? A voice chying from the darkness. Let's get some light in here. A faint orange light appeared as a figure slid open a slat in a window beyond Ben's reach. Bars blocked them from the outside world, letting in just enough light to illuminate the cold dungeon he seemed to be in.

Every inch of the cell was covered in dirt, mud, mould, and grime. And in front of Ben, there were bars dividing the room, rusted green and orange. Ben noticed that blood also seemed to be splashed haphazardly across the room. Directly across from him was a dark wooden door. "'Come now, old buddy. "'Don't just lie there all crumbled up in a heap.' The nameless stepped from the shadows. Daniel's features distorted into a terrifying shape. Ben asked the first question that came to his mind.

"'What are you?' The nameless laughed, the sound that his ears were not prepared for, and he recoiled from the monster before him. "'You know,' he said, I've been following you around for a while now. He cast his eyes to the ceiling as if lost in thought. Oh, how well I've come to know you, Ben. We're like old friends, you and me.

Why, I'd say that I know you better than you do. Ben gritted his teeth. Perhaps you still think I'm the ghost of your old pal, Daniel Martlier. Daniel was never cruel like you are. The nameless laughed again. Well, I'd know, you see, I got to know him a bit myself before I came to you. He was a good kid. I can see why you two are so close.

That's a shame I had to kill him. You what? Oh, yes, I most certainly did. It was no accident like everyone in that stupid town thinks. No, my fun with him was over. I needed to move on. Wouldn't it just be my luck that you, my good sir, was such a bride candidate? The name aside and grabbed the bars.

He slumped his face against them. I like you, Ben. You've got a lot of sand. Well, maybe like wouldn't be the right word. I fucking hate your guts, but I respect you. It's taking me a long time to wear you down. Is Daniel here too? Ben asked, afraid of what he might hear.

Oh my. There's a lot of people here. A lot of sad little souls like you. You'll never get to see them. No, not ever. Never, ever, ever. Alone, forever. He eased himself up, hands in his pockets.

Suppose you'd like to know why I'm doing this. Ben nodded. Hmm, well, I suppose I can grant you that. Feeling a bit generous at the moment. Though I don't like what you did to my friend, the book. I was found it amusing that people think if something's cursed, then an easy fix is to just burn the damn things. No, the book can't be destroyed like that.

It takes a lot more. All you'll do is piss it off, which you did. Then it cuts right to the chase and ends my fun. Because that's why I do it, Ben. Because watching people suffer is the greatest joy I can ever experience. I could easily just find somebody and immediately get what I need from them. But that kind of life just sounds miserable. I like to grind people down to their cause.

It's amazing what people can do if you push them hard enough. That's all you are to me, Ben. A toy. I'm like a cat. S! Ben jumped, which caused the nameless to grin maliciously. Now, to what I need from you. The nameless straightened is,

back and resumed in a sudden business-like tone. Anyways, chit-chat aside, Ben. Let's cut to the chase. I need you to do something for me. Just one little small favor. Well, if you do it, I might even let you go. Let you be free and leave you to do whatever you please with the rest of your life. What is it?

Ben asked. His heart racing. He'd come to expect nothing but the worst. Well, you see, because you tried to burn my book I can't really have much fun with you anymore but I'm still hungry hungry for more

hungry for blood what Benjamin Ross if you want to walk out of free man and not stay here for all of conceivable eternity then you must do me this one last favor you have to kill your

grandparents Chapter 8. Ben, Ben, what is it? For a moment Ben still thought he was in the dungeon, trapped with the nameless. But then he felt the warm, comforting embrace of his grandmother rocking gently. Hey, you're okay, Charlie asked from the doorway, still in his boxes. Can't breathe, he cried, gasping for air, his lungs seeming to constrict within him. Helen pulled away and put a hand on his head, calmly stroking his head. "'Sh, it's all right, it's all right. "'We're here. We're right here. "'Nothing can hurt you.' "'Charlie sat at the foot of the bed "'and put a reassuring hand on Ben's thigh.

"'You're fine. "'Just a dream, right. "'Now, deep breath, Ben. "'Deep breaths. "'Ben began to calm down "'and followed his grandfather's instructions "'and focused his attention on the tick of the clock. "'Yeah, he choked.

"'Just a dream. "'It's all right,' Helen's, soothed. It's all right, see, you're home. You're home where you're safe. Nothing but us, and we'll protect you. Ben's breath slowed, as did his heart. He took in his surroundings, the dim glow of the moon through the blinds, the red glow of his alarm clock, the two comforting figures beside him. I'm home, he told himself. Are you better? Helen asked after a moment. Yeah. She looked him in the eyes, concerned, written all of her. over her face.

Do you need to sleep in our room tonight? It's okay if you do. No, he said. No, I'll be fine. You sure, Ben? Charlie urged. Nobody'll think less of you. I'm sure.

Okay, sweetie. We'll be riding our room down the hall if you need us, okay? Okay. All right. Good night, then. Good night. We love you, man. I love you two

"'Gon-night, Ben. "'Gon-night, Grandpa.' Charlie smiled at him as he exited the room, leaving the door cracked. "'No,' Ben thought. "'I won't do it. I can't do it. I'd rather die.'

"'So that's the final verdict, huh?' The Nameless demanded. He stood inside the bars towering over him. Ben hawked a luggy on his shoes and said nothing. The Nameless raised a friend. foot and observed the wad of spit. He leaned down and put his face level with bends. Now, I really think you should think about your decision before things get ugly. Ben hawked another, Lugie, right in the bastard's eye.

Hmm, I take that as a no. Very well, you've stated your position quite clearly, and now I'll state mine. You pulled out a long, needle-like knife, with sharp prongs and held it in front of Ben's eye. Oh, you know what they say? An eye for an eye. He jabbed the object through Ben's eye, immeasurable pain blasting through his skull. Hold still, or else I'll slip.

Ben could hear muscle ripped behind his screams of pain as his right eye was pulled away from his skull, blood, muscles and nerves dangling out of the empty socket. Oh, you think that was bad, huh? I got news for you, buddy. There's a lot more where that came from. Like I said, you've got sand. I'm starting to think you have too much sand.

Ben could feel the device being stabbed into him again, flesh tearing down his arm. Please, he screamed. Make it stop. Then rethink your position, Ben. The nameless snows. ripped open Ben's right forearm. No, please, anything else.

Then maybe I ought to make you listen. The knife swiftly sliced off Ben's left ear, and the nameless held it before him. You can't pass out from the pain here. I can go for eternity like this. Now, what do you say? You're going to listen from here on out? Okay.

Ben gasped as he hung his head in resignation. Okay, what? Okay, I'll do it. I'll do what you say. I just want the pain to stop. Very well. You can wake up now. You'll know what to do. Ben awoke for the second time that night with tears

stained down his face and his sheets wrapped around him like a mummy. He'd never felt so much physical relief before. No broken bone. could compare. I thought of what might happen if he didn't pull through was more than Ben could comprehend. It was enough to drive him mad. Well, it had to be now.

He unraveled himself from the sheets and put on his jeans, boots, coat, hat and gloves. Outside, he could hear the wind how furiously, and snow swirled past the windows. He picked up his bag and emptied its contents onto the floor, stuffing a few extra clothes into it, as well as a book or two. He snucked to the bathroom and, in the dark,

grabbed his toothbrush and toothpaste as well. He thought for a moment before, going to the kitchen, where he grabbed some food as well. He saw his grandmother's purse lying on the counter and grabbed the cash that was in her wallet. Ben hid himself more with everything he put into his bag. With a sigh, he put his backpack in his closet

just in case he failed, and someone found it. He soundlessly snuck over to his grandparents' bedroom down the hall and heard the quiet sounds of peaceful sleep. Oh, he couldn't let himself feel. Not now. He wiped the sweat from his eyes and put his hand on the door of the hallway closet. He stopped and listened to the deafening silence.

Nothing. With another sigh he swung the door open as fast as he could, which gave only a brief and quiet squeal of brook. protest. Oh shit, he thought, I can't reach the tub shelf. He noticed that on the floor was a plastic tub, and so he pulled it out just enough for him to grab a foothold and eased himself up. His feet rocked on the lid, and he hoped that he wouldn't.

He had a snort, followed by a, honey, wake up. In panic, he climbed inside the tub and closed the closet just as the bedroom door opened, followed by the sounds of his grandfather's feet as he slunk past. Ben's head throbbed from where he'd hit the floor, but the empty tub was too cramped to move. It was hot in there, and his breath rang in his ears like the memory of a ghost, deformed by death. Oh, I thought I heard Ben scream, he heard Helen whispered from the doorway.

Hold on, Charlie answered. I'll grab the gun. Ben's heart jumped and thundered as he heard the close, closet door open. I didn't help that he thought he felt something cruel on his arm and tickle the hairs that stood on end. After a moment, the door was closed again, and he heard Charlie make his way into Ben's room. Ben, Ben, where is he, Charlie? I don't know. Ben, do you see him? Helen asked a few minutes later. A sweat trickled freely down Ben's temple. No, I don't. Call the police.

Helen raced to the kitchen where Ben heard her dialed the phone. Oh, Jesus Christ, Charlie whispered to himself. Oh, God, Ben. Yes, Helen said from the kitchen, loud and clear. Somebody just broke in our house and kidnapped our grandson. No, we don't know where we went. We heard a grandson screaming, what sounded like something break. When we investigated, our grandson was gone.

Yeah, yeah, no, yeah. Okay, thank you. you. Are you coming? Charlie croaked. Yeah, they'll be here in ten minutes. The band didn't hear them say another word, but only their footsteps. His body was limp, and his eyes focused on nothing except the dark void in that plastic bin.

He didn't think. He didn't feel. His mind was numb. Eventually he heard the approach of tires, followed by voices. He knew that he only had moments to act, so he quickly scrambled out of the top and escaped the closet. He leapt up and grabbed the string to the attic door in the ceiling and pulled down the ladder. Quickly, he climbed up and pulled the ladder back, gasping reflexively at the carcophony of noise it made.

mere seconds later he heard the front door open as heavy boots stormed the house. Luckily, they never thought to check the attic. He stayed up there the whole night, trying not to fall asleep and venture into that torture chamber with the nameless. God, it was the longest night he'd ever experienced. The next morning he heard his grandparents get ready to leave, and, with his head pressed against the floor, he gathered that his grandparents were headed to the police station for a few hours. This gave him some mild relief, as his stomach was on fire from hunger, and his mouth was parched. They finally left at long last.

Ben's impatience made his legs itch. He waited a few more minutes, just to be sure, and then made his wife. way down the ladder. He made himself a large bowl of cereal that he couldn't finish and watch some TV. He wasn't really aware of what we played. His mind was so far away. He could barely comprehend what he'd become anymore, or what he planned to do. But eventually he heard the tires approach the house early in the afternoon, so he quickly turned off the TV and raced up the ladder. He brought his empty bowl in case they'd noticed. Eventually, Ben dozed off to sleep, tired beyond believe. But for once, he had no dreams. The air was frigid when he awoke, despite the heavy

coat wrapped around his body. Outside, the wind howled furiously, and Ben couldn't help but shudder. His eyes were bleary, and his face felt bloated. He didn't have to remember where he was, nor what had transpired previously. It was as if somebody had paused a videotape and had then pressed play again. So silently, he headed over to the last. and pressed his ear against the floor. Nothing. Suppressing a cough, he eased the ladder down. It creaked slightly, but not so much that he thought it would wake them.

Their bedroom door was closed, but not locked. He eased his timid body through. The warmth from the portable heater they placed in the corner brought flexibility in his muscles, as he observed the two peaceful bodies. There was no sound save the blizzard outside, and the warm click of the heater. Ben heard his grandfather mentioned to Helen earlier

before he fell asleep that he would keep the gun in his nightstand just in case the intruders came back. With apprehension, Ben carefully made his way over. The sounds of his boots were slow and coldly methodical. He felt like a disgusting creature of the night, but he had no time for such thoughts. He reached the nightstand and eased it open.

A dry wood scraped. against itself, but not so much to wake the bodies. He looked inside. His eyes adjusted enough to the dark to make out the shape of his grandfather's revolver with its polished cherry handle that glinted in the night. He wrapped his fingers around it and felt the familiar weight. He thought back to what his grandfather had taught him. No, no, he didn't need to think about that.

He couldn't. He needed to be single-minded, devoid of emotion, devoid of humanity. Ben checked the chamber and raised the gun. The iron sight was pointed at his grandfather's oblivious face, peacefully unaware. This was it. This is what it had all led up to. The moment Ben would become a pawn, a shell stripped of the very essence that made him who he was. He flicked off the safety, his finger on the hammer.

A soft click resounded around the quiet room. Then Charlie opened his eyes. Chapter 9. Ben, his grandfather whispered. Charlie rubbed his eyes and made a motion to lean upwards, but he saw the gun and froze. Ben, why'd you have the gun? he asked. The window panes were clattering against the windows. Helen groan next to him.

Northern Helen, go back to sleep. "'Did you say something about Charlie, Ben?' "'Oh, just go back to sleep.' "'Ben's hand shook and his breath came in jagged gasps. "'What'd you say about a gun?' "'Nothing, Helen. Are you just dreaming?' "'Ben swallowed. His feet as heavy as lead, his eyes hot as a furnace. "'How could he possibly have agreed to do this?

"'These were the two people who single-handedly pulled him out of that dark abyss. They'd done nothing but opened their arms out to him and show him the kind of unconditional love he'd never experienced before, and it had been wonderful. Helen rolled over and saw the scene then. She didn't say a word. We only stared, eyes glazed in shock. Ben, where do you have my gun? Charlie asked again, more forcibly this time. Then wanted to answer.

He wanted to put the gun down, but his body wouldn't allow it. He could feel snot run down his face And silent tears try to pry free Ben He made me Ben blurted His mouth acting without permission What do you mean he made you

The heater clicked loudly and hissed I'm sorry Ben You don't have to do this Charlie said His hands slowly crept to his chest "'I don't want to—I don't want to,' Ben gasped. "'You don't have to, Ben.

"'You can put the gun down, and we can forget all about this.' "'Oh, that was all Ben wanted to do. "'But he couldn't. "'His arms were completely unresponsive. "'He made me,' he choked. "'His gin quivered and snot trickled into his mouth. "'Ben, just put the gun down. I can't. I can't.

Why not, Ben? My arms won't let me. Ben blinked and two tears rolled down his cheeks and fell to the floor. He looked in the window and saw the pale face of the nameless leer through the frosted glass. He whimpered and started to hyperventilate. Ben, just put the gun down. I can't, I can't. I can't. Ben just put the goddamn gun down and we can talk about the...

Blood and bits of brain and skull exploded back and splattered across the wall and all over the bed. Ben was vaguely aware of the sound of his grandmother screams, the brains of her husband on her face. But Ben couldn't think. He was locked. He could only react. Well, he couldn't. Could he do it again?

He looked back to the window and saw that the nameless was in love. laughing. Ben began to lower the gun, but the nameless pulled out the torture device from before and ran it up his arm. No blood came out. Ben didn't care to keep looking. God, he had no choice. The bullet pierced his grandmother's chest, and she rolled onto the floor in a fit of gurgled screams as blood filled her lungs. Ben slowly walked around the bed with the gun pointed at her. Ben, she blubbered. Her chest. Chess twitching. Why?

I love you, Grandma. She looked deep into his eyes. Her lifeless corpse slumped to the floor and leaned against the nightstand. The wind was screaming outside. The gun dropped to the floor. Ben didn't know how long he kneeled there, staring at the hole in Helen's head, her glazed eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling, her flesh turning cold.

The panels of the windows Clashed against the side of the house And snapped Ben out of his trance He picked up the gun Turned the safety back on And stuffed it in his jacket He walked out the back door As if he were a corpse

There were two gas cans Left in the shed Without thinking he grabbed them both And went inside He didn't notice that he left the door open And snow had begun to pile in the house Ben made his way into their room and doused the bodies in gasoline.

He then poured the gas around the bedroom, followed by the rest of the house, using every last drop. He grabbed his bag on his way out and stepped out of the back door. He lit a match from the shed and threw it onto a small puddle he'd made in the doorway.

The flames grew quickly, but he didn't care to watch. He wanted to leave as soon as he could. Ben didn't know how long he'd trudge through the raging snow, stumbling and slipping along the road before he saw a pair of headlights approached from behind.

He had no idea what he was doing. His plan only reached this far. Desperate to get out of the cold, he turned around and flailed his arms on the right side of the road. After a moment the headlights turned into a truck and the passenger window rolled down to reveal a man in a cowboy hat.

Come on, boy, you're gonna freeze them ears off out here. For a moment, Ben thought he saw a second figure in the truck. It was just a trick of the light. Eager to escape the cold, Ben clambered into the truck and put his bag by his feet. He made sure the gun was secure in his coat pockets. Oh, mighty cold out to be walking along, the man said with a sovereign draw. You'll ask for something? Yes, sir. Ben gasped that he stuck his hands out to the vents. Well, what's your name, kid? Charlie, Ben said. It's the first name. he could think of. Probably not a good one to go with. His stomach sank, but it was too late now.

He had no choice but to stick with it. Where's your appearance, Charlie? Ben scrambled around in his head trying to think of an answer. I don't know, he said. I haven't seen him in a long time. The man shuffled in his seat and glanced in the rearview mirror as he grabbed a wad of dip. You homeless? He asked with thinkers in his mouth. The truck bounced up and down violently. I guess so, Ben replied. At this point, he was just trying to follow along with whatever the cowboy said. Oh, I see. Well, my name's Teddy.

He stuck out his right hand, and Ben shook it tentatively. Where are you headed? Teddy asked. Ben shrugged his shoulders. Don't know. I'm visiting up from Texas for a few days, staying at a buddy's house. I reckon you can stay with him. with us for the night until the blizzard passes through. Shoot, ain't this summon, though.

I ain't seen nothing like it. Hell, do you see that house back there? The thing was up in flames. Good thing somebody called 911, because the firefighters was already down there trying to put it out. Yeah, I saw, Ben answered. He stared at the sea of white in front of them.

You hadn't heard the sirens. Hey, you're from here? He asked. Yes, sir. Teddy nodded. Yeah, I lived up here a few years back. Got homesick, though, so I went back home. He pointed to a wooden crucifix that hung from the rear view.

See that there? Yes, sir. How's my old man's? He was a pastor down at our church. So was his dad and his dad before him. But I never really cared that much for preaching. What do you do instead? Ben inquired, trying to keep his mind away from the darker process.

suspects. I work with cattle, he sighed. Work for my cousin, or were at a slaughterhouse. Don't let that make you turn your head. We're as kind as we can be to those cows. I mostly run them through the div. Hey, I think this is the turn right here. It turned right onto a gravelly path that went deeper into the woods.

About five minutes passed by, according to the clock, before they arrived at a run-down-looking shack. Van was observing the dilapidated building. when he heard a faint click. I felt something cold pressed against his head. Well, you say a goddamn word or try to run. I blow your goddamn brains out, kid. He got it? Teddy snarled in his ear.

Ben didn't answer. I said, you got it? Yes, sir, he gulp. All right, he hissed. Now unbuckle that seatbelt and climb out of the truck on my side. Slowly. Ben nodded his head a fraction of an inch and did as he was told. Teddy climbed out of the truck and kept the pistol pointed at Ben's as he grabbed a lantern from under the seat and lit it.

Ben thought about using his own gun, but he knew there was no way he could outdraw him. See, Teddy said after Ben's feet hit the ground, wasn't too bad was it i get the hell inside boy ben shuffled his feet towards the door every warning about strangers who wanted to hurt him he'd heard as a kid firing off like alarms in his head god how could he have been so stupid if he just kept moving if he'd never tried to get the driver's attention now move it Ben hurried inside, painfully aware of the gun pointed at him. His feet tripped over some debris. Looking down, he saw that trash and rubble covered the floor like moss. All right, Teddy leered as he closed the door behind them. For a second, Ben had an opportunity to shoot the man, but he missed it.

Now, take off your clothes, boy. What? I said, take them off. As Ben began to take off his coat, there was a sound of an owl overhead. Teddy jerked his head up for a moment, and Ben seized the opportunity. He grabbed the gun from his pocket and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. Teddy heard the click, and Ben realized that the safety was still on.

He unc clicked it, but right as he fired, Teddy did too. The side of Teddy's face exploded onto the third. wall and Ben was knocked violently to the floor. He wasn't even aware of the pain at first, but then his chest erupted into flames of agony. He became aware of something warm trickling down his chest. He stuck his hands under his shirt. The bullet had pierced Ben's lung. He pulled out his fingers to look at the blood and thought of his grandparents, and then Ben thought of Penny and wished that he could see her now. He wished to wish that she could be there to hold him, to tell him that everything was all right. But he knew

now that the last time he would ever get to see her was when she told him to call her before driving away. But he never had, and now he never would. And then his vision faded to black, been awoke in darkness. There was just enough light to see the silhouette of a figure behind the bars. You're all mine now, Ben, the familiar voice said. He felt the cold metal around his wrists and ankles. He blinked, his single eye adjusting to the darkness. On the floor beyond the bars lay the dead bodies of Charlie and Helen Ross, their glassy eyes staring right at him just out of reach. And Teddy's face came into view.

Oh, my. And so once again, we reach the end of tonight's podcast. My thanks as always to the authors of those wonderful stories and to you for taking the time to listen. Now, I'd ask one small favor of you. Wherever you get your podcast from, please write a few nice words and leave a five-star review as it really helps the podcast.

That's it for this week, but I'll be back again same time, same place, and I do so hope you'll join me once more. Until next time, sweet dreams and bye-bye.