The Dragon Under my Bed

Discovery

There's a dragon under my bed, I don't know how it got there, and I don't know if it wants to eat me, or to befriend me.

It all began on my twelfth birthday, all the usual stuff that happens on my birthday happened, my few friends came to my house, we played Super Smash Bros and Overwatch, and my mom ordered us a pizza. After that, I opened my gifts. I remember my parents had gotten me a brand new bed because I had the same one for half of my childhood and it was too small for me. I thanked them for the gift, having wanted a new bed since I turned ten. Keep in mind that I lived in an ordinary house, In an ordinary neighborhood, in an ordinary world. So I did not expect any of this stuff to happen. I wanted to tell somebody, but he told me not to, and for some strange reason, I didn't. It was about 9:30 at night, my parents don't mind me going to bed late, as long as I wake up on time for school. I was reading, as I would always do. After dinner, I would take a shower, brush my teeth, and read until 10.

I got really tired around 9:50, according to my digital clock. My parents had placed my bed away from my bookshelf, and I was comfortable in my bed, so I didn't want to get up and place my book on the shelf, so I simply dropped the book on the floor, hoping I would remember that I put it there the day after. I closed my eyes and went to sleep. That's when it happened, that's when my entire life changed all in one night. This is the story of how my entire world turned upside down.

Noises from under the bed awoke me. They weren't soft noises either, they were fully audible, and it would cause anybody to want to check where it came from. In my case, this was under the bed. I remember thinking that I was dreaming, but then the noises came back, and I knew. I'm not dreaming. I looked at the bottom of the bed, it was pitch dark. The whole room was dark. I was about to get up when I heard a voice, the voice telling me that there was something there.

"Ah. A light in the dark. I've read this one before. At least, what I could find anyway." The voice said. 'A Light in the dark: was the title of the book I was reading that night, how it knew dumbfounded me. Until I realized that the book was gone. Whatever was under my bed had taken it.

"Hello?" I said, still looking from under the bed.

"Greetings." The voice said back, chasing me to recoil in surprise and fear (mostly fear.) Oh my god, there's something down there!

"Who's down there?" I asked nervously. I knew I didn't want to know the answer to that, but maybe I could escape alive if I used my words correctly.

"My name is Zagem. Last of the Urdut clutch. I think my brother is still alive, but I don't know for certain." The voice apparently named Zagem said.

"And what is your name, Human?" Zagem asked.

"G-Garret..." I said, practically shaking by now.

"Garret. Nice name." Zagem said.

"T-Thank you..." I said. "What the hell are you?" I said as that was the only full sentence I could form without stuttering.

"I am a dragon, human," Zagem said.

"Then how the heck are you under my bed? Aren't dragons supposed to be massive?" I asked.

Zagem snorted. "We dragons grow to our full sizes at the age of 100. I'm only 62 at the moment, but my hatching day is in 7 sunrises!"

I had a million questions, this was something so strange that a child couldn't even process, even an adult for that matter. I found myself just staring into space, shaking like I was in a snow storm.

"Can-Can I see you?" I asked, reaching out to the light switch.

"Don't turn on the light!" Zagem roared. I instantly jerked away from the light switch. "Use this."

Something rolled out from under the bed, and I picked it up. It was a small golden flashlight, I turned it on, its light seemed to be gold-colored. I shined it around my room, admiring its color.

"Wow," I said.

"Indeed. A strange little device it is. Although it is very shiny." Zagem said. "Do you wish to have a look at me?"

"Oh, sure!" I said, kind of excited. I shined the light from under the bed, and I gasped as I saw an entire creature under there. With large wings and giant horns. Zagem looked at me with green eyes, and let out a toothy smile.

"Someone's impressed." It said.

"Lord, I must be crazy," I said softly, admiring its black scales.

"Mother always said that humans were crazy. I disagree with that." Zagem said.

"Are you going to eat me?" I asked.

Zagem laughed. "Bleh, No. Have you ever tasted human flesh?"

"I can't say I have..." I said a little nervously,

"Not the best tasting flesh on earth, I'd rather sink my teeth into a goat or something. But I do need you to do something for me." He said.

"What is it?" I asked, wondering who Zagem did eat.

"I must ask of you if I could stay under here for 14 sunrises. In exchange for that, I'll offer you advice and wisdom. Plus the flashlight." Zagem held out a clawed hand as if he wanted me to shake it. "What do you say?"

I thought about it for a good long while. What if my parents found out? What if he's pretending to be friendly and will eat me in my sleep? But I couldn't stop thinking about befriending a dragon and learning his vast ways. In the end, I couldn't refuse.

"Deal," I said, grabbing his hand to shake it. I could feel the warmth of his scaly hands as we shook hands.

"So it is sealed. Let it be so..."