STANLEY THOMAS - ENTITY IN THE BOX

Stanley Thomas is a resident of Chicago and Creative Writing major. He showcases his allure for fantasy in his short series with a defining twist. 

​ENTITY IN THE BOX

​ “Bailey get the door!” papa bellowed from his recliner.
 Bailey slid down the banister of the staircase, skidding to a halt in front of the door. He grabbed his stool and looked through the peephole. No one was there, but the doorbell rang once more. Weird, Bailey swung the door open and looked around. There was no one, just a box.
“Bailey, who was at the door?” papa asked.
“Umm, nobody just a package I think.”
The box wasn’t like any he had seen before. There were vines protruding from the sides, sealing it shut.
“Well is it heavy? Bend at the knees and bring it over,” papa said, cracking open another beer.
Doing as his father instructed, Bailey knelt down to grab the box. When he did, the vines overtook his small frame. Before he knew it, he was trapped. Bailey’s heart raced as he tried to call out for his papa.
“Welcome my dear boy,” A voice rang in the distance.
Bailey tried to relax, listening closely to what the voice had say.
“I’m so glad you decided to touch the box.” the voice said.“I wasn’t sure if you would, you seemed, apprehensive.”
Bailey felt the tension on the vines loosen up as they fell to the ground. He was shocked to find out he wasn’t on his front porch any longer. The pitch blackness caused his heart to leap into his throat.
“Where am I? a- and who are you?” Bailey asked.
“It’s always the same, boring questions but, I will oblige. My name is Nahmor, I was trapped in this box millennia ago by my not so better half. That isn’t important however, what matters is I am a magical being who can grant you one wish.”


“One wish, in exchange for what exactly.”
 Bailey was only 8, but his papa taught him nothing was ever free.
Nahmor scoffed as he made himself visible to Bailey. His hair was dreaded and resembled the vines on the box. He wore a jeweled vest that lit up the area around him. He wasn’t wearing pants, rather he didn’t have legs as he glided closer to Bailey.
“What do you possibly have that I want kid?” Nahmor asked.
Bailey thought about his papa and his friends back home. He wished only to be with them. He watched Nahmor as he continued to fly circles around him. How could he not be lonely in this void with no family.
“What happened to your family sir?” Bailey asked, stepping toward the floating entity.
 Bailey’s innocence took Nahmor by surprise. He wanted to ignore the question, but he knew Bailey would only ask again.
“We had a bit of a falling out. Hence, I am in this box stuck using my powers to grant the wish of whomever is lucky enough to pick it up.”
Bailey revisited the horror of being wrapped in the vines and sucked into the box, how lucky he was.
“You said you were in this box for millennia, haven’t you granted enough wishes?” Bailey asked.
“My father will decide what is enough.” Nahmor said, the light around him dimming.
Bailey could barely see Nahmors eyes behind his hair. Each lock with a golden clip attached to the end.
“I know what my wish will be.” Bailey said.
“Oh, do you now? What will it be, candy, toys, money?” Nahmor asked, his jewels shining bright as ever.
“I wish your father would forgive you.”
“What, Why?” Nahmor asked, retreating at the request.
“If he forgives you, then we both can go back to our families, right?”
Nahmor flew around Bailey slowly. His fingers twirling his hair.
“You are one interesting mortal. I have been locked in this loop of granting mans desires for an eternity and you are the first to wish me free of it.”
“Well, can you do it?” Bailey asked, eyes gleaming.
“There’s only one way to find out.”
Nahmor flew high into the endless darkness until he looked like a star in the night sky.
“Close your eyes kid, I’m gonna have to turn the lights on.” Nahmor’s voiced echoed through the void.
Bailey cupped his hands over his eyes and instinctively crouched.
“Bailey, what are you doing son?”
Papa? Bailey opened his eyes to see he was back on his porch. He grabbed onto his father tightly.
“I thought you said there was package at the door.” papa said, patting his son on the head.
“There was it’s right...” Bailey turned to see the box and Nahmor were gone.
“You did it.” Bailey said softly.
“Who did son?”
“Oh, nothing papa.”
Thanks Kid