Childhood Fears

And then it was darkness. Pitch-black viciously malicious darkness manifesting

itself in the child's bedroom. Tommy was in his four poster bed laying wide
awake, too afraid to fall asleep. Despite his desperate cries for help, his mother
dismissed his claims that a monster lurked beneath his bed, unconvincingly
assured him that it was just a figment of his imagination. She tucked him in and
left. In total darkness.
His eyes assumed the shape of perfect circles, his heart palpitating as if he were
running a marathon. Losing vision, his aural senses sharpened. Every little tick
and creak magnified a hundredfold. He dared not close his eyes, in case he drift
off and gets ambushed in his sleep. The past few nights have been terrifying. The
shifting of shadows against his linen curtain. The rattling breath emanating from
the closet. But worst of all was the clawing and gnawing under his bed.
Tommy hadn't notice his pupils had gradually expanded and his vision adapted,
his room becoming more focused. This is what he feared. Seeing it. He was just
staring straight into the patterned ceiling when an ominous metallic sound
whirred close to his head. Tik tik tissssssk. He just laid rigid, his muscles stunned
in fear. He could feel his heart beating penetratingly into his eardrums and
throat. For a moment he struggled to breathe. Then, it burst, only inches from his
left ear. TIK TIK TOK TSSSSSSKKK. He jolted immediately under his blanket, his
pants might have been drowned in lava. His whole body was trembling
frantically. His teeth clattering and his toes cramped and curled.
Tears were seeping out of the corner of his eyes but not a single sound escaped
his pursed lips. He laid under the sheets for what seemed like an eternity on top
of another. His breathing and heartbeat had not slackened for an instance,
continuously attempting to drive him insane. Only when it became unbearable
and his lungs strained for oxygen did he steadily lower the blanket, his head
emerging into the open air. Vulnerable.
This is not real, Tommy assured himself. It just part of your silly imagination. Just
like mother said.
But it wasnt.
He stared at the foot of his bed.
The outline of a head.
He gasped in horror; he didnt know what to do so he screamed as loud as his
voice box permitted. But the figure had vaulted onto his miniscule body and
clamped his mouth tight, its claw digging into his cheek. Shhhhh it warned. Be
quiet.
Tommy was still struggling against its enormous weight when he thought, he
could talk, strange. Ever so slowly, he unfurled his eyelids and what he saw
genuinely surprised him. It was certainly a monster but it was not the kind he

had in mind. Despite the darkness, he could distinguish many characteristics: It

wore furs of blue and black patterns; there were two horns above its minute ears;
its beaded eyes gleamed and it smile bared soft rounded teeth. Sorry I didnt
mean to scare you, it exclaimed in its deep amicable voice.
The monster shifted off him and laid at his feet. Tommy sat upright, his arms
clutching his knees in unison, as he examined it. It was the shape of a
marshmallow and had a short tail in its rear. Like a cuddly dinosaur.
Youre not even scary. He spoke with little bravery in his wavering voice.
Of course Im not Tommy, it countered warmly. Im Grezzy, guardian of your
bed. It grinned.
He gazed at him suspiciously. He certainly did look like he meant no harm,
despite his rather sharp metal talons, which shimmered in the streak of
moonlight from the gap in the curtain. He massaged his face where it had
pinched him.
Oh, so sorry. I didnt mean to squeeze that tightly. It responded with a hint of
dejection. I just didnt want your parents see me. Theyll shoo me out for sure.
Ive seen many others kicked out and wandering the lonely streets at night. It
sighed.
Tommy thought about what it said but it doesnt make much sense to him. If you
are a guardian then why were you scratching the floor under my bed. Or rattling
my closet? he questioned. I couldnt sleep for three nights.
I was meant to it began, but halted mid-sentence. Horror streaked its face.
The smile immediately drooped into a gaping hole and its claws clasped over it.
It slowly turned its frightened eyes on Tommy and muttered.
I meant to warn you. Theres a man in your closet. Watching you.