The Duplicator

Adrian Prince was sitting in his bed playing video games. The room was rich with two distinct smells… one was the fried chicken his mother was cooking, the other from the neighbor’s windowsill where she’d left out a freshly baked apple pie. The open window brought more than the smell. It also brought a chilly winter breeze, which Adrian loved. Focused on the game, he died again, and the gamer rage overtook him. He slammed down the controller and headed downstairs. His mom, Clarissa, was cooking bacon, eggs, and grits with just a touch of melted cheese. They ate together, and she kissed him goodbye as she rushed off to work, late as usual. Since his dad passed away, his mother worked extra hours trying to manage bills. Calmer, Adrian headed back upstairs to play again, but halfway up, a thumping sound caught his attention. A second thump vibrated from somewhere below him. He went back downstairs and checked the house but found nothing. Stepping back toward the stairs, he was startled by a third thump. The garage door creaked open slowly. “H-Hello?” Adrian called out. No response. He went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife from the counter. He wasn’t the type to startle easily, but uneasiness washed over him. Stepping into the basement landing area, something moaned from below him, off in the darkness. “What the fuck.” Adrian took a step