Benny Bones by Brian Hogan

Chapter 2 What Lies In Waiting

At church, Jessie watched as the priest addressed the mass. Bored, he lost interest and looked around to find Ariya and make faces at her. One time she laughed so hard she snorted, disturbing all the old folks around. Her embarrassed parents had later scolded her. At school the scoldings Ariya got were promptly forwarded to Jessie — he didn't care — it was fun getting her into trouble and pulled Jessie out of the church boredom.

But tonight, he didn't see her.

"And so Jesus entered the desert to be tested by god. There, the devil tempted him for seven days — yet Jesus did not stray. So too, must we not stray and be tempted within the desert of our suffering but be ever vigilant; for the kingdom of God awaits those that resist." The priest proclaimed, white robes draping his arms as he waved them about to accentuate the sermon. Their silver inlays glittered under hanging lights and thick candles — wax dribbled down from pools, heated under the solitary fires.

While the priest continued Jessie feigned slight interest, resting chin on a propped up hand. The priest began preparing for communion and Jessie wondered, for the umpteenth time, how long is left in this bore-fest?

Back home Jessie put aside the nagging question of where Ariya was tonight and ran to watch Tv.

"Jessie, it's time for bed, no tv tonight." His mother said, strutting in and pressing the power button, dashing all hope that he could stay up. Jessie groaned. The Tv blinked off and, with a pat on his back, he was ushered up to his room. "Come now. No non-sense, let's go." His mother said behind the boy as he marched.

In Jessie's room, the boy curled under his Triceratops basketball blankets. "Be a good boy and go to sleep Jessie." His mother said, smoothing the sheets above the boy.

"But what if I can't sleep?" Jessie asked, his fear edging closer, as he glanced to shadows stretched by the spilled light of the hall.

"If you can't sleep dear then think of something happy."

"Like what?" Jessie asked, clutching his blanket.

"Like candy or you're favorite toy."

"Okay."

"Sleep tight sweetie, I love you."

"Love you too."

His mother leaned down to kiss Jessie's forehead. Jessie peered over her shoulder. On top of a dresser stared the white mask Benny Bones had given him. Jessie pulled the covers further up, muffling his scream. The smiling face stared down at Jessie from its perch. His mother walked away content, for her little boy was all tucked into bed. Her body shuttered the light as she shrunk back. In the doorway she smiled and, slowly, closed the door shut. Darkness fell over the waiting mask — a black veil, draping over its countenance.

Somehow, between the terror of his mind and the exhaustion of the day, Jessie drifted off to sleep.

Jessie found himself inside a forest covered by snow. Tree branches, weighed by white powder, splayed over a dark sky — their still statues standing before a frozen world. Jessie looked around Where am I? He was about to turn back when Jessie heard a strange sound:

Squish. Squish.

He weaved through the forest, following the noise as it called again,

Squish. Squish.

Fingers gripped the snow covered tree trunk. Jessie leaned over, revealing a small figure feasting greedily on a bloody corpse. Drawn by morbid curiosity he approached — and felt the snapping of a branch under his foot. The figure flicked it's head to the sound: a boy, the same size as him, looked at Jessie with hunters glare, wearing Benny Bones' mask.