What's hiding beneath my bed

chapter 1

Check the closet, bat in hand and make sure you're alone. Check beneath the bed, and make sure there are no eyes gazing back or claws stretching out ready to grab you in your sleep. Check the window, make sure it's locked, just to be sure the creatures stayed out while you slept. Keep the bat with you as you sleep a dreamless night staring at the closet and open curtains you forgot to close. You lay there, your eyes ablur to scared to get up and close the closet doors or the curtains that leave you vulnerable to your imagination.

I could hear the wind billowing outside like a heavy storm rolling in. I could hear the branches scratch against the walls of my room as the rest of the house stayed silent. My hands quivered against the surface of the cold metal bat that I was accustomed to having with me every place I went. My eyes travelled to the closet door that was slightly open. I could feel my body shake from anxiety, I knew there was nothing in there, I had made sure of it.

I heard a faint sound that sounded like claws being sharpened against the wooden walls. My lips shook in terror. I heard another set of scratches, this time from beneath my bed. I wanted to scream to my parents to come in and save me, but every time I did, my parents always told me the same thing, I was alone and I had nothing to be scared of.

A set of thumps had me sweating against my sheets as I tried to steady my breathing. The wind howled louder as if wanting me to fear it's wrath. I pushed my toys aside as I clasped the bat tighter in my hands and slowly slid out from beneath my blanket, careful not to step too close to the edge of my bed in fear that a monster inhabited it. With small unsteady steps I made my way towards the closet, bat tight in hand. I stopped in front and tried to calm my breathing.

It's empty, I promised myself.

There's only clothes in it, I said in my mind. I started reaching the tip of the hard metal bat towards the slightly parted door. I could hear creaks from behind me and turned to face the heart racing noise. I saw claw marks etched into the wooden floor. My body unwillingly moved backwards and closer to the closet doors. I held my breath with the bat held at the ready.

I heard a set of taps from behind me, I swiftly turned to face the doors. Something wasn't right. I took a step backwards, my bat still high in the air. I heard the taps again and took yet another step backwards. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stick up. But when I turned to face the bed, no one and nothing was there. I felt a breath against the side of my face. I turned but there was once again nothing. My nerves were on high alert as fear ate away at me. When I turned to face my bed again my gut started to get uneasy. I took a step forward. Something definitely wasn't right. I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breathing. 1, 2, 3. Just as my mother had told me every night. I had to breath and this would all go away. I took a step towards the door then another with my eyes open and stuck on the door. I felt the hairs on my neck stick up again, this time I didn't bother to look. I took another step towards the door with a shaky body when I felt a hand grab my shoulder. I screamed and with now closed eyes, I swung the bat around and felt it collide with something hard. I heard something hit the ground, then a pained grunt followed.

When I opened my eyes I saw my brother laying on the ground, he was holding his head in pain.

"Jesus Lanna, what did you do that for?" he asked. I threw my hands up in frustration. He pointed behind me and looked as if he were about to scream.

"What?" I asked in worry.

"Behind you!" he screeched. When I turned around I saw a boney looking brown face.

"Raaaaaah!" I screamed and was about to hit it with my bat when it when I heard the laughs echo from my brother and the monster that was now on the ground rolling in fits of laughter.