Under the Bed

Part 1

"Mommy." A weak whisper chased after the woman through the darkness. The only light illuminating the bedroom was the foot wide crack of yellow shining through the partially open door from the hallway. Her mother's head popped back into the room.

"What is it, Mel?" The door creaked opened slightly, and the light crept a couple of inches further into the room.

"Mommy, I'm scared." The mother pushed the door open almost all the way and shuffled across the carpet to sit on the edge of her little girl's bed. The mattress let out a small creak under her weight, and the pink ruffled comforter folded in beneath her. The golden light from outside shone from behind the mother's head and bounced off of her pale locks, surrounding her head in a sort of halo. A warm hand fell on top of the little girl's, sending a wave of comfort up her arm and through the rest of her body.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, princess." The mother's voice was as smooth as honey, coating the girl's fears with a building sense of security. Suddenly, a shiver ran down the child's back, her eyes widened, and she stared off past her mother's head. She began to shake a little beneath her mother's firm hand, her lips quivering and eyes brimming with salty tears.

"Melanie?" Her mother's brows furrowed and eyes her filled with concern. Her daughter's gaze snapped back on to her with sizzling blue eyes. "Sweetie what is it?"

"He's watching us Mommy." Her voice had shifted. Gone was the childish fear of little things like the dark or spiders, and in it was something much deeper. She was filled with a trepidation that filled her soul. It shocked her bones with an intense terror that kept her rooted to the spot, eyes fixed, heart racing. Her mother glanced around.

"Who is?" She asked, forcing a smile onto her face to comfort her child. Melanie didn't respond. Her lips seemed to be moving, but no sound was made, and her stunning eyes just continued to search. Her mom stood and crossed to the crisp white dresser on the other side of the room, near where her daughter had been looking. She picked up a stuffed elephant that had been sitting on top of it. She brought it back and extended her arm to Melanie. "It's just Edgar," she said soothingly. Melanie took the stuffed toy and held it tightly to her chest. The mother pet the girl's soft brown hair, laying it flat on her head. She whispered softly with a melodious tune.

"There's no one here Melanie. You're just fine. Mommy's right here, nothing will hurt you." She continued on until Melanie's eyes relaxed and she sat back against her fluffy pillows. Her shoulders released their tension and her eyelids slowly began to droop. Her mother kept on with her whispered assurities and gentle touches until the little girl's breathing came out in deep, even breaths. She was sound asleep.

Her mother slowly stood up, careful not to make the bed creak, and inched her way towards the door. The only noises she could hear were the soft breaths of her daughter and her feet on the carpet. Out in the hallway, she grabbed the knob and closed the bedroom door, taking one last glance at her little girl before it was closed all the way and darkness consumed the room. She crept down the hallway, past portraits of smiling faces and cheerful gatherings. She turned out the light and made her way downstairs.

Her husband napped peacefully on the couch, the TV quietly blaring a football game and illuminating the room with a bluish light from behind him. The mother scurried over to him and urgently shook his shoulder. He jerked awake, a flash of confusion in his eyes before he took in his surroundings and his wife's worried face.

"What's wrong?" he asked, sitting up. "Where's Melanie?" Panic fluttered in his chest as he looked around the living room for his daughter.

"She's sleeping," his wife said quietly, walking over to the end of the sofa and perching on the fancy cushion. She could see the relief flood into his face. Her hands sat clasped in her lap, knuckles white from holding on to each other. "She told me something, Henry." He sat up straighter, the question in his eyes. "She said, 'he's watching us.'" Henry's eyes widened, an uncanny resemblance to his daughter's.