I Hunt Monsters

Chapter 1

**CREEEEEEAAAAK**

The sound of the bedroom door echoed making me sit upright just in time to see Archie slip inside. Archie stood still, clutching his beloved teddy bear, Mr.Hobbs.

"I…I heard a noise outside my windows, Aidan. I'm scared" he says, his voice quivering.

"It's just a cat, Archie. Go back to your bed there's nothing to be scared of"  I replied grumblingly, stifling a yawn.

"But I'm really afraid, can I…can I sleep in here?" Archie said, now sobbing.

"You are five already! Why are you still such a scaredy-cat?… Alright, alright but go get your own blanket I'm not sharing mine" I said.

"Okay," Archie said, he steps back and disappears onto the landing as his body was trembling and tears in his eyes.

Soon I hear the familiar creak of the staircase. Archie was five, only three years younger than me. But I don't remember being that much of a scaredy-cat at his age though.

Considering briefly whether to get up and close the door, but I remembered that I just agreed that I'm letting him sleep in my room and I don't want to wake up from him banging the door crying, so I just lied back and went back to sleep.

Unfortunately, an ear-piercing shriek prevented me from going back to bed. With my heart hammering in my chest, I frantically search for the owner of the scream but find the room empty.

*sigh* I took a huge breath as I tried to calm myself down. The house was quiet but only for a moment. In my nervous state, I could clearly hear the shouts and frenzied commotion that came from down the living room. Then the silence smothers them once more.

"Archie!" I exclaimed in a hushed voice.

I quickly get up and went for the door. After all, it was my job as the oldest to check for Archie. I pulled my bedroom door open and step out onto the landing. Mom and Dad's room are closed, even Archie's. Faint sound emanates from downstairs — "maybe dad slept with the tv on again" I told to myself.

"Archie? Archie?" I knocked on his door, but no one answered. My hands went for the door handle turning it slowly and push the door open. The room is messy as usual, Archie's toys littered the floor, crumpled papers and pencils, and crayons. I shook my head seeing the messy bedroom of my little brother. My own bedroom is always neat and tidy because if not, mom would've shouted at me followed by the broom hitting my buttocks. However, as it is Archie's room, he gets special treatment.

"Archie?! Where are you?" I whispered, looking around the room.

I approached his bed on all fours to look below. This is his favorite hiding place. When I think about the times we played hide and seek together, he always hid under the bed. No matter how many times I found him, he would always try again. It was almost as if he expected me to forget about his hiding place.

Unfortunately, he's not there this time...

"Archie! Where are you" I whispered again, this time moving towards the closet?

My hands grip the door handles and pull the doors open, revealing all superhero pajamas hanging there. Archie loves superheroes and his all-time favorite is Spiderman. I parted the clothes to see behind them but all I see is the blank wall, no Archie hiding inside.

I walk to the old, musty toy chest. It used to belong to my great grandfather. I used it for my own toys once, too, but now it belongs to Archie.

He didn't usually hide in there, but I want to be thorough.

Unfortunately, he's not inside...

"Where would he go? Or maybe he went to Mom and Dad's?" I asked myself, deciding whether I should knock and ask if Archie went to sleep with them or I should go back to my own room.

I knock twice, but no one tells me to come in. Gripping the handle with a clammy hand, I push the door open. I don't see Archie or Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad's bed is empty; it doesn't look like they even slept in it.

"Yeah, they've probably fallen asleep watching a horror flick," I said to myself, nodding my head.

Still, I went to look for Archie under the bed, behind the curtains, inside the wardrobe and even the chest that Dad repeatedly warned us not to open, but I couldn't find my creep of a little brother.

This time I am annoyed, he came sobbing in my room saying he was scared, but now he's nowhere to be found!

The only place left to look was downstairs.

I sneak downstairs as carefully as I can trying my best to avoid the creaky fourth step. It was the bane of my younger years, always trying to creep downstairs to take a cookie. That step always creaked loudly acting up as an alarm, Mom always appeared and marched me back straight to my bed whenever she heard it's noisy creaks.

As I stepped away from the stairs, my right foot stepped on something wet and slippery. Unable to react in time, I slipped and lost my balance falling onto the floor with a thud.

I carefully got up on my feet, bending over to find what is that slippery substance that made me slip. It's too dark to see clearly, and I could only faintly discern a dark smear.

gingerly touching the substance with my fingers, it feels wet and thick. I briefly consider tasting the goo, but wisely decided against it. Then I notice that the smear seems to trail away, leading further into the hallway.

Moonlight is pouring through the window next to the front door. Bringing my hand into the light, I see a sticky, reddish substance on my fingers — "blood, maybe?"  I shrug off the eerie thought and try to laugh. It's not very convincing. Stupid imagination.

Following the smear, I head towards the living room. There was a black figure lying on the floor. The closer I get, the more familiar it becomes. It almost becomes a game, as my mind tries to guess the answer. Then I realize — it is Dad...

"Dad!"

Panicking, I rush to his side and grab him, shaking him, desperately trying to get him to wake up. He doesn't move.

I felt chilly as my heart beats out of control as my hands come away, smothered in that same red goo from the bottom of the stairs. I start backing away, but Dad suddenly springs to life. Gripping my arms fiercely, he stares into my eyes. There's something in them that I've never seen before. It looks like fear.

"Find your brother," he hisses, his hands tightening into my arms. "Hurry, your mother will keep them busy. Get Archie out of here!"

Dad's grip loosens until his hands finally let go falling on his side as he slumps back to the floor. My mind suddenly went blank when I saw my father slumping back to the hard wooden floor. I know he was already dead, his words are still ringing in my ears.

*Find your brother, your mother will keep them busy. Get Archie out of here!*

"Just what the hell is happening?!" I yelled, I wanted to cry but no tears come out of my eyes.

Standing up, staring at Dad's dead body, I ignored the nagging feeling that tells me to get out of here. I was seething with anger, and I was surprisingly calm. I burst through the living room door.

Frantically screaming, I looked around the room. Then I realized I'm still at my bed.

Moments later, Aunt Leonora and Uncle Frank rushed inside the room, panic and concern painted on their faces.

"What's wrong, honey?" Aunt Leonora asks as she held me in her arms.

"Sorry, it was just another nightmare" I answered.

Uncle Frank puts a hand on my shoulders and said, "Well it's over now Aidan, there's nothing to be afraid about."

"Do you need anything?" Aunt Leonora asks.

"No, thanks Aunt Leonora, Uncle Frank. I feel better now. I'm getting used to them by now" I said with a smile, trying to sound confident as possible.

"If you ever need anything just call us honey. Good night" Aunt Leonora said sweetly.

"Yes, thanks aunty, goodnight"

"Good night," The couple said once more as I heard my door closing.

I closed my eyes and threw all the things that came in my dreams lately, and it was only a matter of seconds when I found myself drifting to sleep once again.