"Hey kid… need a hand?"
Ben Tennyson sniffed.
Not because he was sad.
Okay, maybe a little sad.
But mostly because the room smelled weird.
"…No," Ben said, frowning. "I don't know you."
The voice didn't go away.
"That's fair," it said. "But you're tied to a chair in a creepy room, so maybe we can skip introductions?"
Ben looked down at the ropes around his arms.
Then at the door.
Then back at nothing.
"…I was gonna get out," he said defensively.
"You've been trying for ten minutes."
"…I was thinking about getting out."
"Ah. Strategic delay."
Ben nodded seriously. "Yeah."
There was a small pause.
Then
"Want help now?"
Ben squinted.
"…Are you a ghost?"
"No."
"…An alien?"
"No."
"…A ninja?"
"…No."
Ben looked disappointed. "Then you're kinda boring."
"I can give you powers."
Ben froze.
Very slowly, he sat up straighter.
"…What kind of powers?"
"Any kind."
Ben narrowed his eyes. "Like… any any?"
"Yes."
Ben gasped.
"LIKE THE ONES FROM Sumo Slammers?!"
"…Anything," the voice repeated. "And even more."
Ben's jaw dropped.
"EVEN MORE?!"
"Yes."
Ben immediately kicked his legs excitedly which did nothing because he was still tied up.
"Okay okay okay!" he whispered loudly. "I want to fly no no wait laser eyes! No super strength! No summon giant wrestlers! No turn into a giant wrestler! NO ALL OF THEM!"
"…You're six," the voice said.
"Yeah!"
"…Right."
Ben leaned forward as much as the ropes allowed.
"Can I punch through walls?"
"Yes."
"Can I fly?"
"Yes."
"Can I shoot like PEW PEW green stuff?"
"…If you want."
Ben gasped even louder.
"THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER."
"You were kidnapped."
"SECOND BEST DAY EVER."
The voice went quiet for a second.
"…There is one small thing."
Ben immediately squinted. "A catch?"
"Not really."
"That sounds like a catch."
"I can't really give you much powers because that would damage your entire body as you're too weak" the voice explained. "But I can let you have the potential to one day use that power as if it's nothing."
Ben blinked.
"…That sounds like homework."
"…It's not homework."
"…Are you sure?"
"…Mostly."
Ben leaned back in the chair, thinking very hard.
This was important.
Very important.
More important than Gwen being annoying.
More important than Grandpa's weird stories.
More important than snacks and Sumo slayers.
"…Will I be cool?" Ben asked seriously.
"Yes."
"…Cooler than Kevin from next door?"
"Much cooler."
"…Okay deal."
"Wait, you didn't even—"
"I SAID DEAL."
There was a pause.
Then
"…Alright."
Something changed. Just a tiny feeling.
Like when you suddenly knew the answer in class that you didn't study for and somehow got those answers correct.
Ben blinked.
Then looked at his hands.
"…Huh."
"Try again," the voice said.
Ben twisted his wrist.
The rope didn't break.
But
He noticed something.
A loose part.
Right there.
"…Ohhh," Ben grinned.
He wiggled his hand.
Pulled.
Twisted.
And
POP.
His hand slipped out.
Ben froze.
Then slowly raised his free hand into the air like he had just won something.
"I DID IT."
"Yes," the voice said. "You did, now be quiet."
Ben immediately started untangling himself faster.
"This counts as powers," he said.
"It doesn't."
"It does."
"It doesn't."
"It does because I said so."
"…I regret this already."
The door outside creaked.
Footsteps.
Voices.
"Check on the kid—"
Ben's eyes lit up.
"Ohhh," he whispered. "Can I beat them up?"
"…You are still six."
"…But I have powers now."
"You have potential."
Ben grinned.
"That means yes."
The door opened.
A big scary guy stepped in and immediately slipped on the broken chair leg Ben had kicked earlier.
He crashed to the floor with a loud THUD.
Ben stared.
Then looked up.
"…I didn't even do that."
"…You noticed the weak point," the voice said.
Ben's grin slowly spread.
"Ohhhhhh."
From outside: "What happened?!"
Ben stood there, half-free, messy hair, big smile, zero fear.
"Hey voice guy?"
"Yes?"
"…This is gonna be AWESOME."
A small pause.
Then
"…It usually isn't."
Ben nodded.
Then immediately tripped over the remaining rope and faceplanted.
The voice sighed.
"…We'll work on that."
Outside, more footsteps rushed in.
Inside, a six-year-old boy with too much imagination and just enough help…
Started laughing.
And somewhere deep in his mind
Something watched
Waiting