It was April first, April Fools as many called it in some form or another. It was supposed to be a day of harmless pranks, playfully messing with those closest to you. No harm could ever come from a harmless prank, that's what Donovan thought.  

What was supposed to be a simple prank to be played on his younger brother, Danny, while their parents were out, had turned into a night no one would ever forget so long as they lived. 

Donovan stood in the doorway of the living room, his arms crossed while leaning against the doorframe. His dark brown eyes peered through the messy black tresses that hung down in his face, watching as his ten year old little brother trailed behind their parents. His silent pleas and constant begging being well ignored as he attempted to convince their parents to take him along with them. However, nothing seemed to be working and his younger brother kept getting shot down in some form. 

"Daniel Lee, you're not coming, so stop right now. I'm sure your brother will turn a movie on and the two of you can have a quiet evening." 

Their mother said as their father helped her get her jacket on over the fancy red dress she had picked for the evening. 

"But. . ." 

"No buts Danny, now listen to your mother." 

Their father cut in, pinning Danny with a pointed gaze. 

After one final round of goodbyes and watching as their parents left, Donovan pushed himself away from the door frame and turned to go sit on the couch. He left his younger brother standing at the window, watching the car pull out of the driveway and away from the house. He couldn't understand why Danny was so scared to stay with him alone for a couple of hours. He was like a puppy being left with a stranger, whimpering for his owners to come back. 

Donovan twisted around and looked over the back of the couch towards his little brother. At the same time, Danny turned to look at him. It was a split second pause as the brothers stared one another down before Danny spun around and ran upstairs to his room. The very action had Donovan chuckling and shaking his head. 

Listening from downstairs, Donovan waited, wanting to make sure Danny be certain Danny wouldn't come out of his room. 

When he was certain his brother was coming out, Donovan reached behind the fluffy pillows and pulled out a walkie-talkie. A devilish gleam twinkled in his dark eyes while a grin stretched slowly across his lips. A devilish plan swirled within Donovan's mind, but it was nothing more than a simple jest. . . a joke on his brother. 

Switching the walkie-talkie on, Donovan quickly clasped his hands around it, nearly forgetting the beeping sound it made when turning it on. His eyes shot to the staircase, his breath held as he listened for any signs that Danny may have heard the beeping and came to check on what it was. 

Donovan let go of the breath only when he was certain Danny remained oblivious to the sound. 

Turning back around, he raised the walkie-talkie up and without hesitation, pressed the talk button. What he did next could only be deemed as cruel for any April Fools joke. . . he started to growl and snarl in the most monstrous of ways. 

At first it was quiet, as if Danny had already gone to bed. It could be he wasn't trying hard enough and didn't sound as convincing as he thought he did. 

Trying once more and attempting to sound more menacing, that was when Donovan could hear his brother stumbling around upstairs. Donovan had to think fast when he heard the door open, ridding himself of the evidence that he was holding that could pin him as the culprit. 

"Donny! I think there's something in my closet!" 

"Aren't you a little old to be scared of a monster!?" 

Donovan had to hold back from laughing, not wanting to give himself away just yet. It would have ruined the entire prank and all the fun. 

"Go back in your room, you'll be fine!" 

"But Donovan!" 

"Go!" 

The screaming contest ended with stomping feet and Danny slamming his bedroom door. A silent laugh left Donovan as he once more pulled out the walkie-talkie. He repeated his growling and snarling, making himself as grotesque sounding as he could. 

"Donny!" 

The muffled scream that came from behind closed doors nearly startled Donovan. This hadn't been an angry scream, but one filled with terror and panic. Donovan didn't believe it at first, figuring Danny was playing his own trick. However, the second scream that followed had him racing up the stairs two at a time. However, when he reached the bedroom he was welcomed with a sight that he would never forget. 

Toys were everywhere and books that once been on the shelf were now splayed open on the floor. The bed looked as if an animal had struggled to free itself from its confines. Stranger yet, the window was still closed and unbroken, meaning nothing had broken in. 

A warning growl quickly pulled Donovan's attention, his eyes immediately finding their way to the closet. What he saw would be engraved in his memory for as long as he lived. 

Long boney claws curved around the closet door, the body it was attached to hidden within the shadow. The claws were long and sharp, mimicking the blade of a knife. He was certain those were what shredded the bed. The creature's skin was grey and leathery, pulled tightly over its lanky bones. The thought of what kind of monster the hand belonged to had Donovan's heart nearly beating out of his chest. 

Just as soon as Donovan's eyes befell the hand, it slowly retracted back into the shadows. The creature leaving him with a single message that would haunt him forever. 

"He is mine now."