“How about ‘Happy Wellness Center’?” asked Bridgette.

“Nah, that sounds like a full service place, ya know?” Stan raised an eyebrow as he looked back at Bridgette. “Essie, what do you think?”

Essie sighed. “I don’t know. Look, will you guys just decide on something? We’ve been going over this for hours. We haven’t even submitted the business license application ’cause you two can’t stop bitching at each other about names!”

“Sorry Essie”. Bridgette sat back in her chair and uncrossed her arms, looking across the old formica table at Stan. “She’s right. Let’s just throw all the names in a hat and pick one at random.”

“Fine with me,” said Stan. “I’m sure there’s an old hat around here somewhere. The last occupants seem to have not given a damn about taking their crap with ’em.”

Bridgette, Stan, and Essie were sitting in their new wellness center. The opportunity fell in their laps the week before when the previous renter departed suddenly and the landlord overheard a conversation the three were having about leaving their current places of employment and opening their own doors for the healing arts. The landlord had given them each a business card, letting them know that he was in a hurry to find a renter and would give them a generous deal on the space.

Stan walked into a storage room behind the old table. It was crowded with the previous tenants belongings. “Jeez, it’s dark in here. Do either of you have a flashlight or an extra lamp out there?” Stan looked around as Bridgette unplugged a floor lamp and brought it into the storage room. She found an outlet near the door and switched the light on.

“What the hell…?” Stan’s voice carried a hint of tension.

“What?”

“That box over there. There’s something leaking out of the bottom of it.”

“What the hell is that? Essie! Come in here and take a look at this”

Essie dragged her sandals along the cold cement floor as she joined them. “What is it now? You two need to argue about where to put the lamp?” She shifted her weight to one foot, arms crossed and looked around the room. “Good Lord, what a bunch of junk. What is that?”

The three stared at the box. It looked old, made of dark wood that was splintered and dried with age. It was about three feet wide and two feet tall, maybe a foot and a half deep. It closed with an oversized brass clasp.

Bridgette took a step closer. “What do ya think that is coming out the bottom there?”

“Maybe one of us should open it and see what it is.” Stan did his best to keep his tone even.

“Bridgette took another step toward the box. “Maybe you should.”

“I could, but, well… Maybe we should just leave it. The cleaning crew’s coming tomorrow.”

“Scared?”

“Hell no. Why would I be afraid of a stupid box?”

“Well then come open it with me.”

“Fine.”

“Guys?” Essie said.

Bridgette turned back to see Essie staring at the box, wide eyed. “Ess, you okay?”

“Bridgette, I don’t think you guys should open that. I have a bad feeling about it.”

“It’ll be fine, Ess. Stan, help me open this thing, will ya? What? You got a bad feeling, too?”

“No. Maybe. Hell, I don’t know. Whatever, let’s just open the damn thing.”

Stan and Bridgette reached for the box and pulled open the hinged top.

“Bridgette,” said Stan, looking down at the contents of the box, “I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Guys…”, Essie’s voice was pleading, “guys, shut the box. Something’s not right.”

Bridgette waved to Essie without looking away from the box. “Ess, this is unbelievable. You have to see this. How on Earth…”

Stan took a step backward. “Bridgette, I think we made a mistake. That’s not normal. I don’t know how that’s doing that but I think we need to shut the box.”

Bridgette pulled her eyes away from the box and looked up at Stan. “You can’t be serious?”

“Bridgette,” Stan said, as he slowly backed up to stand next to Essie.

“Stan, we can’t shut it now. I don’t know what it is either but I don’t want to shut the box. Look at this! It’s unbelievable!”

Bridgette looked back down at the contents of the box or, more appropriately, lack of. The box held black. Pure darkness. When she looked into the box, it seemed as though there was no light left in the entire Universe. It made her feel empty, alone. There was absolute nothingness. And it seemed to be trying to find an escape.

“Bridgette! Close the box!” yelled Stan.

Essie had backed into the far corner of the storage room with Bridgette, Stan, and the box between her and the door. She was closed in on two sides by stacks of old books, chairs, cardboard moving boxes, and blankets. For just a moment, she thought she caught a shadow move out of the corner of her eye but when she looked, nothing was there.

“Stan, Bridgette, I don’t think we’re alone here,” she whispered.

“Essie, that ridiculous,” said Bridgette, still looking down at the box.

“Bridge…”

Bridgette looked up at Essie to find an empty corner “What the hell? Stan, where did Essie go?”

“What do you mean where did she go? She’s right… Holy shit. Bridgette, something’s wrong here. Let’s find Essie and get the fuck out of here!”

“Yeah… I guess.” Bridgette remained standing next to the box, looking down at it.

“Bridgette! Come on! Essie? Ess, where are you?”

Bridgette slowly turned to look at Stan. Her eyes a shade darker than normal, her gaze pierced Stan and caused a shiver to run up his spine.

“Bridgette? Are you okay?” Stan stood looking at Bridgette.

Bridgette slid her feet closer to the box so that they were nearly touching it. “Stan, don’t you see?”

“All I see is that something creepy is happening and we need to find Essie and leave. Now!”

“No, Stan,” Essie calmly replied. “I’m staying.”

“Bridgette, what’s going on? Come on, help me find Essie. She can’t be far off. I didn’t hear the front door open or close.” Stan turned to walk back into the main room but doubled back when he thought he saw someone standing behind Bridgette. A second look showed Bridgette standing alone next to the box.

“Stan, it’s going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay now.”

“Bridgette, you’re talking crazy. What the hell is going on with you? Why are you acting so weird? Close that fucking box already! Bridgette, please! Something evil is in that box!”

Bridgette turned toward the empty corner of room that Stan had just been standing in and smiled. She looked back down at the box, took a step toward it, reached out, and shut the lid.

She walked back into the main room and gathered her purse and coat. As she pulled her coat over herself and bundled up against the wind she knew waited outside, she smiled to herself.

“Yes,” she said, “everything’s gonna be just fine.”