Ben’s parents left him alone for the weekend with one strict rule: do not open the old chest freezer in the basement. By Saturday night, the curiosity was eating him alive. He walked down the creaking wooden stairs, the smell of damp earth filling his nose. The heavy white freezer sat in the corner, humming loudly.
Ben grabbed the handle. It was freezing cold. He pulled it open, expecting spoiled food or hidden valuables. Instead, the freezer was completely empty. No ice, no frost, just clean white plastic. He laughed at his own fear and slammed the lid shut.
As he turned to leave, a muffled, scratching sound echoed from inside the chest. Ben stopped dead. He crept back and pressed his ear against the cold white lid. From the deep, empty darkness inside, a tiny voice identical to his father whispered.
"Please lock it. It's coming up from the bottom."
Before Ben could move, the heavy plastic latch on the front of the freezer clicked open from the inside revealing the half hidden face of his father.