That night I was on the bed, my eyes were wide open and sleep was far from me. It was way past my bedtime and my mother had kissed me goodnight over an hour ago.
But I was still unable to sleep. I could not bear the thought of It watching me while I slept.
My room was semi-dark, the light had been dimmed to aid sleeping but this only added to the shadows. I knew things were creeping in my wardrobe and under my bed. I saw them every night. They came out and chased me to my mother’s room. Whenever I was with her they stayed away, they were scared of her.
And tonight, as I listened to the silence, wondering if I would be able to sleep despite this fear, I heard the low growl from underneath my bed. It was so low I could have imagined it, but I was sure I didn’t. My breath caught in my throat, my chest heaving as I listened.
The grunt went on. It sounded like whatever was under the bed was in pain as it tried to crawl out.
I rolled in my bed, moving close to the edge so I could peep. Adjusting the covers, I pushed my head off the bed as I looked down and under it.
I sucked in a deep breath as I saw it. It had no definite shape or figure. Underneath my bed was dark but I was able to see it, it seemed to be darker than the darkness surrounding it. And with terror in my heart, I watched as it turned its glowing eyes on me.
I fell off the bed then, whimpering as I tried to crawl away. The monster stuck its head out from underneath the bed, showcasing a set of white teeth that were impossibly white. And that was when I snapped.
“MOMMY!!!”
I pushed myself to my feet and raced out of the room, leaving my room open as I dashed into her room. She was already on her feet as I barged in and ran right into her arms.
“Hey baby,” she pulled me closer as I wept into her bosom. “Is it the monster again? I told you they’re not real, just shadows.”
My mother would never understand, no matter how many times I tried to convince her or how many times I run to her room in the middle of the night.
“I saw it, Mom. It was there! Under my bed, it wanted to eat me but...”
“Hey,” she cut me off gently, running her hand through my hair. “It’s all your imagination sweetie, you know what that means?”
“I created the monster,” I said quietly, struggling to get myself back under control.
“And…” she urged.
“I shouldn’t be scared of it; it should be scared of me instead.”
“That’s very correct, baby.” She got to her feet, “now come on let’s get you back to bed. You still have school tomorrow.”
Taking me by the hand, she led me back to my room and laid me on the bed. Using the sheets to cover me up she kissed me goodnight.
“Remember, you shouldn’t be scared.”
She left again, leaving me in the silence and semi-dark.
Not long after, I began to hear the grunts again. How could this be my imagination?
Then another sound joined the grunts, it was a series of thumps. Sounding from under my bed. It was after a few seconds I realized the monster was crawling out.
With a strangled whimper I crawled to the far side of the bed as the monster emerged. Its body was glossy in the dim light, its hands were gnarly and its teeth were just so white it was sickening. It turned its yellow eyes on me and began to climb the bed.
“You’re not real!” I shouted at it as the bed shook under its weight.
“Adults…” The monster rasped as it crawled closer to me. “They don’t just get it, do they? I’m as real as you boy.”
I couldn’t speak as it kept coming closer, I folded myself up into a ball, trying to keep as far away as possible.
“I remember your mother, when she was a little girl I had the time of my life scaring her.” It gave a sick cackle that could have passed for a laugh, “but she, like every other kid I terrorized stopped being scared of me the moment they got old enough. They somehow managed to convince themselves I’m not real, and that reduces my influence over them. How can they not be scared? I’m everywhere, in the wardrobe, under the bed, between your clothes. How can they not see me?”
The monster paused, his eyes not leaving mine, “that’s when I realized I’m only meant to terrorize kids. Just like I did to her, and I’m doing to you, it can’t be stopped until you’re old enough to convince yourself I’m not real. But until then…” It raised a spiky finger and trailed it across my chin.
“You’re not real,” I muttered, though my voice was weak. “You’re still a child so that doesn’t work with you boy.” It bared its fangs at me, they looked sharp. “now, run to mommy!”
“You said it yourself, I only have to convince myself,” I muttered, then laid back down on the bed.
“What do you think you’re doing boy? Do you want to get eaten?”
I closed my eyes tight and used my hands to cover my ears. This was my room and I was not going to let a monster kick me out of it. My heart was beating furiously with fear, I wanted to run back to my mommy’s room but I forced myself to stay still.
After some minutes, I gently opened my eyes and ears. The monster was gone.
The room was mine once again, and I could sleep in peace.
The End.
Thank you for reading.
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bruno-kema#1355
