Joss Whedon Owns All. I am not making any money off of this so don't get mad. All Standard Disclaimers Apply.
Something Good
There was a monster in his closet.
Jason huddled under his covers every single night to hide from it.
What was so confusing was why his parents didn't understand. He'd told them. Many times. And at first they'd come in, looked in his closet, soothed away the nightmares and said everything was okay. "There's nothing in your closet but your clothing and your Halloween costume."
Eventually his Dad had suspected that it was the costume that Jason was afraid of. Even at ten years old, Jason knew what disappointment looked like. So when his Dad asked if he was afraid of the costume, Jason said no.
And it wasn't.
Not really.
It was mostly the fingers on the costume.
With their fake white plastic claws.
Time passed. Jason did not forget, though. And as the weather very subtly began to shift, he knew. His mother came to tuck him in.
"Its almost Halloween and you haven't said what you want to be yet."
Jason swallowed.
His mother ruffled his hair.
"Now before you say anything, we can't get you another expensive costume like last year. You out grew that within a month and now its just taking up space." She paused thoughtfully, "Maybe your brother can wear it..."
"No!" Jason yelped.
"Honey! You can't wear it any more. There is no reason your little brother can't have it..."
"No, No, No...."
"Jason! Stop that. Its not as if you want to be a monster again this year, and you know it. You are just being selfish."
Jason shuddered, "No."
His mother sighed and took him into her arms. "Alright, calm down. I doubt Billy wants to wear it anyway, its so dirty."
He relaxed and she kissed his forehead, "Look, we'll come up with something good for you to be, alright?"
Jason looked up at his mother, expression almost disturbingly grateful. "Yes, please."
She looked at him strangely, then stood up to leave the room. The light clicked off.
Jason looked to his closet, but this time was not afraid. His mother had said so.
Something good.
He'd be something good this year.
The words and promise were not a strong enough charm, however. When he dreamed, as he always did, it was of an older woman. She fell, pushed off balance by small forms with sharp teeth. An empty candy bowl hit the ground with a clatter. Flesh clung to muscle and bone before claws pulled it away like taffy...
Halloween was coming and Jason wanted to be something good this year.
But he still woudn't let his parents throw out the costume from Ethan's.