I stare at the file and realize I have no options, over the last 2 years every monster assigned to Charlotte Dower has quit, every last one. Her first monster; a giant goldfish-faced humanoid named Bubba, had been with her for four years, and then she wasnβt scared of him anymore. After that it was a string of different common, uncommon, and rare monstersβ¦ I even assigned a sentient sock monster to her. He came back crying!
I look on my tablet, only one assignable monster left; myself. Field work has never been my cup of tea, but desperate times call for desperate measures. So at 8:03 pm, after Mrs. Gideon tucks in Charlotte and her little brother Daniel; I slither into the space beneath Charlotteβs bed.
Across the room underneath Danielβs crib is a rookie, Chico, a standard Creep kind of monster.
I turn my attention to the bed above me, Charlotte is still awake but barely, I reach up over the bed and run an ice cold finger over her cheek, silence, so I do it again.
βIβm not afraid of you monster!β She whispers, but her voice is shaking. I can see a small clock on the wall 8:14, a door somewhere in the house slams and there is an audible hitch of breath from above me. A few minutes go by I can hear Francis Gideon yelling at his wife. There are heavy footsteps on the stairs, and loud panting breaths, Charlotte scrambles off the bed andβ¦
She. CRAWLS. Under. The. Bed. With. Me.
βMove. Over!β Charlotte hisses at me. I do.
The door to the bedroom slams open and I smell the stench of human intoxicants before the man even steps inside.
I know why Charlotte isnβt afraid of any of my monsters; sheβs afraid of her own.
Francis reaches a hand under the bed and I thrust my wrist into it, he starts to pull, I slither out.
βWhat theβ¦β I cut Francisβs next words off by unfolding to my full 12 foot height. Looming over the drunken man I caress my cold fingers down his face.
βIf you ever touch, scare, or harm my child again, I will find you, and I will do the same to you, for all eternity.β I promise to him.
As Francis runs from the room he soils himself.
I pull Charlotte from under the bed, tuck her back under her covers and kiss her forehead goodnight. βIβll be back tomorrow night, sleep well darling.β
Charlotte Dower is my child, I am the monster under her bed.
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