Ryan watched the others trot off, and then he turned around. He examined the stairs that led down into the darkness. Although he was afraid, he tried not to show. He was the leader of the group. He was the strongest. He was not supposed to show even the slightest hint of fear; he was supposed to protect them.
Cautiously, Ryan descended the stairs, and he was relieved when he found a light switch at the bottom. He turned on the light. Right in front of him, there was a door. Ryan opened the door and walked through it despite the strange, golden glow that emanated from the room behind it.
As soon as Ryan had passed through the door, he heard a heavy, deep voice ask: "Stranger, who are you to pass through my door? How can you justify your intrusion into my sanctuary?"
Ryan was terribly scared because he couldn't see anybody who might have spoken these words - there was only the golden glow, hovering in the middle of the room. Ryan almost turned around and ran, but then he decided to be brave and honest:
"We are only a few kids. I'm sorry we entered your house without permission, but there was a storm outside so... Anyway, the others were afraid to come down here because it was so dark, and as I am the strongest... I just wanted to protect them, sort of, although I know that I cannot really do anything. But it made them feel better and more secure, and I wouldn't want them to be scared. I just wish was strong enough to really protect them."
Ryan hadn't really wanted to say so much, but somehow he trusted the strange, golden light. "I'm sorry if we upset you."
The deep voice replied: "You are the first who is completely honest - all the others try to make excuses, or to make themselves look like heroes. I thank you for your honesty, Ryan. Your wish is granted."
And with this, the golden light disappeared.