"Do you think he's gone?'

"Be quiet. I don't know."

"The screaming stopped at least."

"She's probably dead. There was a lot of blood."

"I hope he doesn't find us. You think he'll look in here?"

"How should I know? But, please stop touching me."

"What are you talking about? I'm not touching you."

"Then who... uuuhhh..."

"Daren? Darren? What's wrong?"

"Darren can't talk right now. He's dead."

"What? No! Shit! No! The door won't open! Please don't kill me! Why are you doing this?"

"If you're quiet and sit still, I won't kill you. I only want your eyes."

"My eyes? What do you mean? I don't understand!"

"They're such a pretty blue. I need them for my collection. Now sit still."

"Aaaaahhhhh......"

"But I don't want to get off the bed."

"Of course you do. There's nothing to be afraid of."

"Then how come you're hiding?"

"It's so much fun to surprise little kids when they try to go to sleep."

"Fun for who?"

"For everyone."

"Well, I'm not having fun. I think you're mean and nasty trying to trick me."

"I'm not trying to trick you. You know exactly what I am."

"Mom and Dad say you're not even real. They never see you when they look under the bed."

"But you don't believe them - how naughty of you."

"I'm not naughty!"

"Then prove it. Just slide down off the bed and put your feet on the floor. I won't do anything you're not expecting."

"Uh, uh. I can already hear your teeth crunching."

"Then put a single toe down - test to see if I'm really here."

"I could call my mother."

"She'll never find me."

"But I'll be safe."

"What a foolish little boy you are. I'm as real as you believe I am. It has nothing to do with her. Try it - one toe."

"I've got my flashlight."

"By all means use it."

"Hmm, I don't see you."

"Then put the toe down."

"Okay, here goes. There . . . ACK -- MOM!!"

-----------

"Honey, did you hear anything?"

"Probably just Billy fussing about that foolish monster. Leave him alone, and he'll get over it. You'll see."

(c) 2017 Miriam Ruff

#horror #prose #challenge