Misery Box

"Have you heard of those guys who got a bloody knife sent to them?" Jake asks. He sits by the computer and turns around. Everyone looks up from what they're doing. Me, sitting on the mattress on the floor, staring at my phone going through Instagram. Next to me my boyfriend, Justin, holding a controller, playing some weird game on the PlayStation 4. His friend Stan who's playing the same game continues his story. "Yeah.. strange right. Apparently they didn't want to tell the police how they got it. But of course they were investigated and guess what they found," he leaves no time for anyone to actually reply, "they ordered a mystery box on the dark web!" that got my attention so I put my phone away, I do not fuck around with the dark web for multiple reasons but I also know that a lot of people order these fake boxes from the dark web. "It's probably all a hoax to get YouTube views." I tell them while rolling my eyes. Justin nods his head. "yeah I can't believe it can be that easy to even get on the dark web so.. they probably did fake it like Deidre says." Jake swings around facing the computer again. He mumbles a few words I cannot understand.

It's quiet for a while I am getting tired and bored and try to get Justin's attention to let him know I want to leave. He does not seem to notice so I brush my fingertips over his neck, knowing it'll tickle him. He slaps my hand away and looks at me with a grumpy look on his face. I smile back at him and fake a yawn. He pouts at me, letting me know he does not want to leave already, but respects our deal. He gets off the couch, his white T-shirt rolled up his back so I reach out to tug it back into place, scraping his throat to catch Jakes attention who turns around with a devilish grin on his face. "Well, it's getting late Jake, I think it's time for us to head home." The sinister grin does not falter and I have to admit that it gives me the chills so I stand up quickly to make sure we get out of here fast. Jake chuckles, "already? Not so quick, I actually have a little surprise coming our way.." before he gets to finish his sentence there is a knock on the door we all look at each other. Looking at Jake who looks just as puzzled as us. He walks toward the door and looks through the peephole. I doubt he can actually see anything. The apartment building might be secure but it isn't very well maintained and most of the hall lights are not working.

Jake looks back at us with his hand on the doorknob, he must be feeling the same creepy tension as I do, before opening the door. I don't see anything because Jake barely opened the door he looks through the small opening he created before opening it wider. No one is in the hallway. Jake bends and picks something off the ground. It's a box couldn't be bigger than a regular movie cardboard box.

"I don't get how they got in. you guys didn't buzz someone in right?" Jake pushed the box inside and is now locking the door. Something tells me Justin and I will not be leaving anytime soon, ugh, I shake my head while sitting down again. Justin walks towards the box Jake just carried on top of the table. "No man, couldn't it have been a neighbor?" Jake looks mad at Justin. He really seems on edge. "They would not, no, none of the renters are allowed to let any strangers in. no matter what who they say they are."

I decide to keep my mouth shut because the mood shifted from relaxed and now the air seems full with aggression. Luckily Justin seems to notice as well. "Okay, it's probably nothing. Maybe they slipped in after someone and they simply didn't notice. We don't know. Did you order anything?" This seems to calm Jake down. "You're right. I can't remember ordering anything but it could just be something I ordered a while back." Jake walks back to his desk to grab a pair of scissors as he turns back to the package the screen catches my attention. At first I don't notice anything weird. The page that is open seems to be a bit dark, too dark for a regular website, but before I can put my finger on what feels so wrong about it I hear a ripping sound. I focus my attention back on Jake who is now opening the package. I have no idea why but I feel really anxious. I have to leave. Right now.