I would gladly die by the hands of one man…Whose battle scars become my wounds. Whose fears become my hate and whose love I hold dear.

I stood silently with the phone still against my ear after the female on the other end had told me that my father had died and had left all his property to me, his only next of kin. Tears began to leak from my eyes and I croaked "H-how did it happen?" "A heart attack….Ma'am, are you willing to take care of the property or would you like the government to care for the situation? There is something in the will that's directed for only your eyes only." "What?" "He left you a note, no one is allowed to read it but you." "I….I'll be there as soon as possible." I answered, my voice quivering. She sighed "Yes ma'am, the property has been cleared of any crime scene tape so you won't have to worry." I nodded and hung up the phone. Tears ran like rivers down my cheeks and I dropped to my knees.

It had been seven years since I left home and I hadn't spoken to him since. It was just me and him, all the time since mum died when I was two. He was a sweet man, of course, I thought he was the best father ever. But he scared everyone in town. He hunted every day and dragged the dead animals to the basement but never let me help, always telling me that it was too dangerous. At night, sometimes I heard movement downstairs and thought daddy got me a dog and was waiting until I was big enough to give me it. He never did.

A few hours later, I was at the attorney's office. He silently sat me down at a table and sat beside me, showing a yellow envelope. I watched with red eyes from crying as he slid out the contents. He murmured "It says here that all his belongings and such go to you. All we need is your signature so it is confirmed that you take full responsibility over his estate." I nodded and was handed a pen. After writing my name and initials, I was given another smaller, white envelope. "This," he said "is the letter that we are not allowed to open." I stared down at it and heard the man sigh "I'll give you some time to go over the letter, do you want some coffee?" I didn't reply and listened as he left. I held in a breath as I tore open the paper and silently read.

Dear Jasmine,

I knew this day would happen sooner or later and to be honest, I was hoping a lot later. I am writing this letter to tell you of a dark secret. Our family has been carrying out a tradition for generations. There is a man locked in the basement. He is vicious and cruel, known as a Boogeyman. He only eats meat and drink water. After I die, you have to promise me that you will take care of him. He must not be seen by the society at all means. He will kill anyone that does not have our blood. It has to be you to take on this tradition; this is what I raised you for baby girl. Trust me; I know you can do it. Do not tell anyone of his existence.

Love,

Papa Bear.

I stared, wide eyed at the sheet. A Boogeyman? Come on, I knew my dad loved to prank but did he think I was stupid enough to believe this? I sighed, shaking my head and folding the sheet before sticking it in my pocket. A hand touched my shoulder, making me jump and quickly turn my head. The attorney had returned, holding two mugs of fresh coffee. I politely nodded my head as he handed one to me as he asked "Was it anything important?" "No, he just wrote it to make me feel better," I answered "of course he'd try and get one last joke on me after he dies." We both silently chuckled. I took a sip of the coffee and made a disgusted face. Black. I always took mine with plenty of cream and sugar. He looked over at me, grinning "Any good?" "Oh, yes. Thank you, but I have to get going before sun down. I want to go check out the condition of the house. Dad was always a pack rat so who knows what it looks like after I left." I left quickly in my beaten up looking black convertible.

A chipped white fence that was about shoulder high surrounded a yard that obviously hadn't been mowed in a very long time. Weeds and dandelions sprung out of the tall brownish grass and there was trash littering the yard. The two story house looked old and somewhat decayed. It was fully made of grey-brown wood and had dusty windows. The door looked slightly newer, having a maple color and darkened gold door knob. I sighed. It looked almost exactly the same as I left. Silently, I pushed the door open and to my horror, the inside was horrendous. Dust had gathered over all the furniture. Trash littered the floor, tables and bookshelf. I shook my head and stepped inside, thankful that I decided on wearing baggy jeans and tennis shoes today that covered my feet and legs from the terror that might be under the garbage.

I wandered through the downstairs, viewing the work needing to be done. Through a doorway from the living room, was the kitchen which held mountains of dirty dishes and rotting food, inside the fridge was butchered deer meat that father must've caught a few days before he died. There was even a decapitated dog's head on the counter. Inside the dining room, he had laid out some of his guns and a few rags and a spray. I was guessing that he was about to clean them. I strolled to the stairs, eyeing the door that led to the basement. What if daddy was telling the truth? What if there was a monster actually living down there? Maybe I should go check…NO! Don't think about it right now Jazzy, you have more important things to do right now!

I stomped up the stair and smiled when I came to a dusty hallway that had family photos still hanging on them. One of them was of mother and father right after their marriage and she was bloated from being pregnant with me. I looked in each room. Two of the four were empty as always. One was daddy's room. It had a big, soft bed in the middle against the back wall. A rocking chair sat by the window that had beige curtains hanging from them. There was a dark wooden dresser filled with clothes and had a few pictures on top. The closet had even more clothes and his shoes. The next room was my old one. It still had the small, singles bed with posters hanging above it. The vanity sat across from and still had makeup smudges on the mirror. The closet was empty except for a few hangers.

I sighed and closed the door, walking back downstairs and standing in front of the basement door. I faintly heard shuffling coming from inside and bit my bottom lip. Daddy, I thought. Please tell me this is just a prank. I reached out and gripped the cold metal, twisting it and slowly pulling the door open. Taking the first step, it creaked beneath my feet. I gulped down the spit that accumulated in my mouth and took another step, and another each one making its own little eerie noise. When I finally got to the bottom, there was nothing but pure darkness. I strained my ears, listening for anything. There was….breathing. "Hello," I called, frightened "who's there?" Shuffling. I turned to my left and yelled "Who's there?!" A growl caught my attention. It was a normal growl. It was very animalistic but it was no animal at nor was it a human. It was something else. I sprinted up the stairs, nearly tripping a few times and slammed the door shut behind me, pressing my back against it.

My heart pounded as I breathed heavy, shaking in fear. "The hell!" I whimpered, locking the door.