Every child fears under their bed. If they don't they fear the closet , or the little crack in the almost closed door.
Everyone knows that children are more perceptive, they see things adults don't.
They aren't yet tethered into only accepting what society wants them to accept.
They see what is truly there
They see monsters
If you were to borrow a child's eye and see through them for a night, you would go insane.
To be able to see what you only dimly remember, burrowing into your covers while wearing those train pyjamas, hoping to a god you can barely comprehend that "IT" doesn't see you back would drive an adult crazy. Because adults forget the rules.
1) cover yourself. If you can't see it, it can't see you even if it makes it harder to breath.
2) don't make a noise. Every whimper can lead to destruction.
3) don't move. It attracts their attention.
4) only light can make them go away. Bright light. Flashlights make it worse.
Teens are caught in the middle. they still feel what's there. But they can't see..... And they forget the rules.
Why do you think there are so many insomniacs typing at there computers, subconsciously praying the light from their monitor will be enough to keep them away?
It's not now look behind you with a child's eye and try not to scream.
