The inside of the box was a beautiful marbled mix of leather and animal pelts. James wrinkled his nose; he had never liked dead animals. He assumed that Ronald had something to do with it. The collection of taxidermied animals in his room was haunting enough. With the empty house and the previous evening, however, the sight of fur sent chills down his spine.

     He was not focused on the design of the box, though. Rather the gleam of metal inside. Inside the box lay a hand carved bone. Or, at least, it looked like bone. It wasn't nearly as dull. A metal handle with real leather straps was bound to the hilt of the knife. The blade itself had ridges not unlike that of a bee's stinger or a fish hook. It looked like it would hurt, no, it looked like it would make you beg for death. A beautiful opalite stone was embedded into the base of the handle.

     "Why opalite though?" James thought. He knew he was trying to distract himself from the reason he had gotten this. He knew it wasn't going to work. A knife. Why a knife? He was only 13. He had seen people at his school show off their own switchblades, but he doubted they got theirs from a mysterious box. Besides, wouldn’t Ronald have liked this gift better? He was the one obsessed with the macabre. 

     James only let his thoughts wander that far before noticing a small slip of paper tucked beneath the knife. He had thought he could just close the box and go back to sleep, but curiosity overtook him. Gingerly picking up the knife to move it aside, he removed and unfolded the note.

     At first he couldn't recognize the handwriting. It was a sloppy cursive with lines drawn under every individual word. 

     James Stuart. I know you will use this only when absolutely necessary. This is not a plaything to be mishandled or lost. It is in your genes. You will know when the moment is right.

     Under the note was a smaller yet easier to read blurb of text. The font was pristine. "Mommy," James whispered to himself.

     Remember to make Mother proud. I love you, James.

     "I love you, mommy. I will. I promise I can make you smile." He fell backwards onto the bed, holding the note close to his chest. He couldn't help it when a tear found its way down his cheek.