Stories to Keep you Up at Night

The Red Balloon🎈

Trigger Warning! ⚠️ Mentions of De@th

'When I was around five like any other kid, I was afraid of monsters under my bed or in my closet. So, one day when my grandma came over, she gave me a red balloon and told me, "Hang this up on your bed and it will keep the monsters from getting to you." Giving a quick nod I ran to my room to hang it from my bunk bed. Once I had finished, I ran back to the living room and hugged my grandma "THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" I shouted in delight. She chuckled "Your welcome."

Sadly, the next week she passed away. It's been seven years and I still have the balloon hanging from my bed as a reminder of the last day I saw her.' I'm currently sixteen I still haven't taken the balloon down, yet it gives me a safe feeling and it's from my grandma so how could I? One day after school I walked into my room to see the balloon was missing, I immediately ran to my little brother Jack's room "What did you do with the balloon hanging from my bed!?" I demanded. He stared at me blankly and then said, "I don't know what you're talking about I haven't touched it. I haven't even been in your room today. Why don't you go ask mom?" I let out an exasperated sigh and went to find my mom. When I found her, she was in the living room folding laundry. "Mom," I asked, "Have you seen the red balloon that hangs above my bed?" She nodded, "Yes, I took it down and threw it away." "What!?" I exclaimed, "Why!?" My mom shook her head, "Sweetie your sixteen you're old enough to know that monsters aren't real." "That was from Grandma!" I cried, "That's why I kept it!"

"Oh," my mom frowned, "I didn't know that I'm sorry." I rolled my eyes, "It's fine," and with that, I went back to my room. Plopping down on my bed I let my thoughts run wild. I was so mad! I can't believe mom did that! She can't just go into my room and get rid of my stuff without asking first! It's like me going through her baby pictures and getting rid of the ones I thought were ugly! You just don't do stuff like that! After I calmed down a bit, I pulled out my homework and started to work on it. Once I finished, I pulled out my phone and started scrolling through Instagram. Suddenly there was a knock on my door "Who is it?" I asked, "It's me!" My little brother responded, "Mom says it's time for dinner." "I'll be down in a sec," I told him I heard him scamper away. Sighing I turned off my phone exited my room and walked to the kitchen. Today's dinner was chicken with pasta and green beans a regular in this house.

Once I finished, I went back to my room turned my radio on, and lay down on my bed. After a while, I got up turned off my radio, and lights, and crawled under the covers falling asleep. 'Scratch scratch' What is that noise? 'Scratch scratch' There it is again. 'Scratch scratch' Is that the cat? Wait... we don't own a cat. My eyes shot open scanning my room. Nothing was there. I frowned must have been a dream closing my eyes I rolled over and went back to sleep. 'Scratch scratch' Uhg! There it is again! What is up with this dream!? 'Scratch scratch' Go away! 'Scratch scratch' I felt something touch my leg. 'Scratch scratch' Something was touching my arm. 'Scratch scratch' What is that? 'Scratch scratch' I felt something touch my neck.

'Scratch scratch' Something touched my face. 'Scratch scratch'. Suddenly there were hands all over me clawing at me tugging my hair in different directions my eyes shot open and I let out a horrified scream. Then the monsters under my bed dragged me into the wall.

This story is centered around a red balloon I have hanging on my bed.