Creepy Tales

Imaginary Friend

As I'm fixing breakfast, I hear Jamie talking. "Well, I guess that would be okay." I head towards his room with a confused expression. Who could he be talking to? I pause just outside his door, goosebumps rising on my arms. "I can ask her." Jamie says. I shut my eyes tightly as I open the door and walk inside.

I hesitantly open my eyes to see Jamie sitting on the floor alone. He turns his head to look at me. I sigh in relief. Of course it's an imaginary friend, don't be stupid Rachel.

"Who were you talking to?" I ask him.

He stares at me for a moment before saying, "Andrew."

"Who's Andrew?" I ask.

"My friend. He wants to know if you can play with us." He says.

"What are we going to play?" I ask him, leaning against the door frame.

"Hide and seek. Please mommy, he really wants you to play." He tells me, hopefully.

"Well, okay...but you should eat first." I tell him.

"Okay!" He says excitedly, standing up.

I watch with a grin as he runs from his room to the kitchen. Cute. An imaginary friend.

I walk back to the kitchen and place a bowl of cereal in front of him. He picks up his spoon and eats it quickly, eager to play hide and seek.

"Woah, woah, slow down there buddy," I tell him, grinning. "You don't want to choke, do ya?"

He smiles and starts eating slower. I pat him on the head before fixing myself some toast while he's finishing his cereal and sit down across from him.

"So, is Andrew the same age as you?" I ask him, curious.

"No, he's older." He tells me, not looking up from his bowl.

"Oh. Is he nice?" I ask, taking a bite of my bread.

"Yeah, he's really nice and funny and smart." He says, with a smile on his face.

"Wow, he sounds like a good friend." I say, still playing along.

I remember having an imaginary friend when I was around his age, her name was Suzie and we would go on all kinds of fun adventures together.

"Mommy, I'm done, can we play now?" He asks with excitement.

"After I finish eating, okay?" I tell him with a laugh.

Shortly after, I finish my toast and he says "Okay we'll play now," as he gets up from his chair. "You go hide okay?"

"Okay." I tell him, thinking it's odd that he doesn't want to hide. He normally does.

"Me and Andrew will go find you." He says as I'm walking away.

The first place I think of is my closet. He'll probably find me in no time.

I walk into my room and then into my closet, not even bothering to cover myself with my clothes. I slide the doors shut and wait. Not too long after, I hear the door open. The next thing I hear is footsteps. The footsteps stop and I hear loud breathing.

The closet doors slide open and I get ready to say "Aww you found me!", But the large figure in front of me with a big smile plastered on his face is not my son, but instead a middle aged man wielding a butcher knife.

"I found you." He says in a raspy voice. He laughs psychotically before lunging toward me.