Seventeen Lies to Tell Your Children
an excerpt

The rusty metal door swung open loudly. Nyco and Logan stood at the door, neither sure who should enter first. Nyco thought the Order representative should probably go first, simply out of custom. Logan thought that Nyco should enter since it was his Shadowbox they were there to retrieve. After several moments of standing in the doorway, Nyco finally took the initiative to step inside.

He strolled casually to the pedestal upon which sat a simple black box, and looked at it.

Logan cowered apprehensively about a foot behind Nycoboleas.

They both watched. And waited.

"So," Nyco's voice echoed loudly in the nearly empty chamber. "What's supposed to happen?"

"I, I don't know," Logan said. "I wasn't sure what it would do, but I was sure it would recognize and respond to you, somehow."

"It doesn’t appear to recognize me," Nyco said. "Perhaps that's a sign."

Logan began to anxiously wring his hands.

"Uh, well, maybe you should...I dunno...maybe, touch it?" he scratched his head. He truly had no clue what Nycoboleas was supposed to do to initiate contact with the Shadowbox. Nyco sighed. Who could blame him? It's not like he created the blasted thing.

Nyco reached out and laid a hand on the box. Logan held his breath in anticipation, his mouth slightly agape as he watched for something to occur.

"Is it...speaking...to you?" he whispered.

"Yes, yes, it is," Nyco replied.

"It is?" Logan eyes opened wide. He was enthralled. He leaned in close. "What is it saying?"

"It's saying that that color doesn't look good on you."