Childhood Monsters

Where it all begins...

In the summer time nights are warmand quiet, everyone sleeping peacefully. Usually, I can hear my dad'sTV from across the hall and the dog snoring in my brother's room.Finding it all so normal and strangely peaceful... it's just enoughto calm me so I can fall asleep. But this wasn't a normal night... atall.

I couldn't hear the TV; it wasblocked out by ear screeching screams coming from down the hall. Thesnoring dog was nowhere to be found, neither were my parents.Instead, the only thing I held close was my brother that was no olderthan ten years of age. He sat in my lap, wrapped in my arms, tearsrolling down his cheeks. With each scream, his crying became harder.But he was given specific instructions to not leave his sister's sideand that's exactly what he did. I continued to hold him back in theshadow under the window where I knew we would be safe. There was aloud bang, like a door being opened but it sounded like the frontdoor. I held my breath and prayed that we would come out of thiswhole situation alive.

Loud footsteps that I hadn'trecognized came up the stairs. I held him close only thinking morehad come to the house More footsteps could be heard before gunshotsand different screams ran though the air, it was peaceful again...just like a normal night. Light footsteps were coming to my door andpaused. The door began to open slowly, letting light escape into theroom. Standing in the way was someone tall. He must have seen usbecause it seemed like he was looking at us. Something dropped to thefloor and someone had our shoulders. Before I could kick and defendmyself, he calmed me.

"Hey don't panic. It's okay. I'mhere to help you. I won't hurt you." he said.

My grip on my brother loosened upand I could no longer see his silhouette or the light from thehallway. I felt myself fall sideways and my head hit the floor.