The Red Box

Oscar closed the boot of his van, pulling a strange box with him that had caught the young man’s attention. "Uncle Oscar, what’s in the box?" James, Oscar’s nephew appeared close by. Something about the box seemed familiar, it gave James an odd, unshakable feeling that he could not describe. He would have helped his uncle, except he knew it was best to stay clear, Uncle Oscar hated it when James would get in his way. "I am going to teach them alright. Starting with that fucker Charles." James watched his uncle drag the strange looking red box into the house and up the stairs. The room was burdened with the smell of burned wax, the walls painted with various sigils. The room looked starkly different, he could not remember when all this appeared and alongside uncle’s ranting, it began to scare him. "Uncle Oscar, what is going on in here?" But his uncle was fixated on that box.

“Uncle, please answer me. This is becoming creepy, even for your own standards.” Yet his uncle just stood there, running his hands on the smooth wooden lid. Lost in his own mind. "Help me." A soft voice echoed, except James could swear that the voice came from within his own mind. "No, I am just losing it." A fear crept within him. As he stood there staring at it, his thoughts had become twisted, his fear had boiled into something. “Uncle OSCARRRRRR!” His screaming had done nothing. He had lost his patience and grabbed anything that was close to him, he just wanted his uncle’s attention. He gripped the lamp tight and swung it to the ground with all his fury. Oscar slammed his fist against the box. “STOP IT! Now is not your time BOY!” James stood frozen, feeling the shock from his uncle’s fist. Reminded why he would not dare tempt Oscar, who could never control his temper and was never scared to hand out a beating. All James did was stare back at his uncle.

That very night he was restless, unable to drift off to a peaceful sleep after all the events of the day. His uncle had never truly ignored him the way he did, yes Oscar was not the best caretaker for James. Anything could set him off and James would find himself at the end of a belt, fist or shoe. Despite this, he still did love his uncle, and they had their good times too. He remembered a strange day, where Oscar did not lose his temper at all, he remembers genuinely laughing with Oscar while they went fishing. On that day he was allowed to watch any films he wanted, no matter the age restrictions. Best of all, Uncle Oscar made his famous salmon pasta, James's favourite. He does not fully remember the entire day though; many parts were missing but it did not matter to him. Instead, he found his mind drawn back to his uncle’s office, to the box, to how everything had changed, and it seemed that his uncle was becoming worse. He had lost a lot of weight overnight; he started to look sickly. The thoughts scared him, he did not want to think how much worse Oscar could get, he was all he had. “I am trapped! Help me!” He got up and looked around the room. A shadow moved in the hallway. James ran toward it, peeking his head out the door to see if an intruder was in the home. He did not see anything but heard the strange chanting coming from the office, he stepped outside his room and made his way to the door. He could hear the stamping of feet as someone was dancing, the flickering candlelight through the door. “Help me!” He heard the voice once again coming from the very back of his mind. He recognized it, he was not sure from who or where, but he felt a connection to the voice that dragged him closer to the door. He felt a magnetic pull, moving closer to the door as though he was floating. He grabbed the handle and just stood, there frozen in space. His head was heavy with what to do next. He felt his body in state of limbo, the hairs on his body stood straight as poles, a cold numbness washed over him, as though all his blood was drained from him in that second.

He turned the knob, stepping from the dark void of the hallway he found his uncle covered head to toe in a red robe. The smell of sweat, blood and burning candle wax overwhelms James’s senses. He watched the flames of the candle dance and move around the room. He felt a strange energy develop around him. In the centre of the floor was a 7-pointed star with 7 black candles, being held by iron candle holders. In the dead centre was the red box. On the west end of the wall he noticed a circular dark mirror, he could barely notice it. His uncle’s chants grew louder, as he danced around the star. He held a dagger in one hand and a chalice in the other.

James felt the energy rise, as his uncle’s chanting grew stronger. He watched as the candle flames exploded from the wick like a rocket. He felt the heat rise. He began to get dizzy, except he could not run away. He was stuck in place, just watching everything.

He slowly walked towards the box. Except it was not him. He did everything he could to stop, but it was as if something had taken hold of the boy’s body. He became fixated on it. "COME HERE AND OPEN MEEEE!" the voice was getting louder. As he reached the centre, he raised his hand to touch the box. "Yes James... closer... OPEN ME!" James was helpless, he wanted to move away, no matter what. It was like something had taken over his body. Until finally, he touched it.

The energy in the room had died. His uncle stopped and stood still. James could not move anything, he was trapped. His limbs cold, he felt a rise in his chest. A guttural instinct deep in his body. His fingertips tingled, his breathing became heavy. All the energy in the room disappeared. A figure appeared before him. James was only able to shift his eyes, moving it slowly, uncertain of what was in front of him. As his gaze adjusted itself in the dark room. The candle flames were almost dead. A figure covered in a black robe that matched his uncles except it was older and dirtier. It was a man or at least he thought it was, his arms were pale blue, his long beard flowed out of his hood. His wrists had large thick shackles with rusted chains on their ends. A scythe in his hand.

"Oh, great Saturn. I welcome you and wish you great harvest and abundance!" Oscar proclaimed to the Deity, genuflecting as low as his body was able. He had wheat in his arms and presented it to the ancient being. It turned and acknowledged him, staring down at him. "Oscar, my old friend. What a pleasurable harvest you give me. I am pleased that you never once forgot your oath, every year I am pleased to see you."

"I have come to ask you for something Lord. I ask for your help once again." Raising his head up slowly towards the deity. It was the one time he had seen his uncle terrified, even needy. Oscar never took anything from anybody, big or small. He was an angry and self-centred man, but not always, there was a time he smiled and laughed. James could never understand what had happened to him.

"Speak your wishes Oscar, no need to be petty. You need not fear me, have I ever said no to you through these years. You are my most loved and respected follower, speak and tell me what it is that you need." Its words flowed through James's mind. Could this be the voice from his head the entire time? Guiding him towards the box.

"I have issues with a business partner, a fucking idiot named Charles. He is always undermining me, constantly berating and hating my ideas and thoughts. Taking my half of MY fucking money that I deserve! I want him gone. I want him to disappear and never come back! I want him to suffocate like a fat fucking pig." His anger spilled out into the room; his fury was overwhelming. " I want you to summon him to me again! Oh, lord Saturn, years ago I had promised you a slave. My endowment to you. Show him to me, please, lord!"

"As you wish my old friend." The old deity slowly turned toward James. The God’s gaze fixed on him. James did not know what to do, why did it turn to him? What is going on? His eyes moved sporadically, doing all he could to get his uncle’s attention. His muscles locked across his chest. The God turned toward his uncle and nodded. Oscar walked over to the box, stepping carefully into the star. He knelt and produced a key, gripping the thick lock on the box, he unlocked it. James's mind had completely stopped. He looked inside the box. Shock ran through him as he stared at the human remains. He recognized the clothing. His eyes blinked in rapid succession trying to comprehend the fact he was staring at his own dead body. It was his casket; it was his voice calling him. Tears formed in his eyes as everything made sense.

He watched as his uncle pulled his tooth from his skull. James shifted his eyes toward the God that stood beside him. Saturn motioned him to stand and with no thought James followed. The deity stepped aside and James caught his reflection in the mirror. He watched as Oscar faced him, tears ran down the boy’s face.

Oscar whispered into the tooth, staring dead into his nephew’s eyes. James could have sworn he was smiling at him. "It's time, James." Oscar placed the tooth into a chalice, along with hair and other ingredients. Turning toward Saturn, he genuflected once again. James watched as the God accepted the chalice and turned to James. He placed his right hand on his head, lifted his hood up. James caught himself staring into the God's eyes.

James had found himself in a new room he had never seen before, it was very luxurious and large. A tv hung on the wall, amazing red curtains. A giant bed in the middle of the room. A man and woman lay in the centre, sleeping soundly. He was unsure of how he had arrived here. From the corner of the room Saturn appeared, he gestured to James to walk toward him. James complied; the deity now turned and faced the man. James somehow knew what must be done. Jmaes placed his hands around Charles throat. He stopped for a moment and considered that he did not have to go through with this. He knew he did not want to hurt this man. For a split second he thought he could run away, run away from all of this, but Saturn placed his hand on the back of James's head.

In that moment all he could feel was rage. All James could see was his uncle’s betrayal. He remembered the very day he ate some of the best salmon, got to watch all his favourite films and the laughing between him and his uncle on a small fishing boat. How Oscar had forced him into that box. He remembered that he had been tricked by someone who was meant to care for him. He remembered his uncle’s hands wrapped around his throat. Tears came once again and slowly trickled down his face; he felt his grip tighten around the man’s throat. Charles woke and he did all he could to fight back, but it was futile. Charles struggled, staring back at the figure before him. Confused and scared, James watched as his eyes rolled back and his body just gave up. Once James had let go, he stared down in shock at the act he was forced to do. He turned to face the mirror on the dresser; he could see his uncle’s reflection. Oscar’s face contorted into a horrid smile. He watched as his uncle turned toward the casket and slowly closed it. Then everything was just black.