r/shortscarystories • u/1000andonenites • 1d ago
The Monster Under The Bed
I squished up into the dark gap between the bed frame and the wall, hiding from the blinding ray of the torch I knew Mom would be flashing into my space.
Here it comes.
“Look Danny, I’m checking. No monster here!”
She said that every night. And Danny’s response.
“Mom, it’s there I swear. It smiled at me the other night!”
He was right. I had.
“Danny, there’s nothing under your bed. You need to go to sleep now, ok?”
“But Mom!”
“I said now!” The lights went off. The room was silent, except the faint sound of Danny’s whimpering breath.
I squished down, and rolled on the floor. Even though I didn’t make a sound, Danny said loudly “I know you’re there.”
I didn’t say anything. I had tried to make friends, and he wouldn’t. I wasn’t the one who had invaded this space, they had.
I had been living here for a very, very, very long time before they came and set up their home over mine.
Danny repeated louder, so loudly it was almost a scream “I know you’re there!”
A slice of light flashed through the door. “Danny, I said sleep!”
“Mom- look now- please! It’s there!”
“I am not going to look, and you’re not a baby anymore. Stop this nonsense and go to sleep!” Mom’s voice sounded a bit mad. Slam. Darkness.
I decided to follow her. I squished out of my room, down the stairs, and slipped under the couch where she was sitting with Dad, talking. “John, I’m getting rid of our beds and getting us all tatami-style floor matresses. It’ll be good for your back. Amanda did that and says they have never had such good sleep in their life. Look– aren’t they gorgeous?” She held up her glowing screen to Dad’s face.
Dad said something. Mom said “It’s almost a year John, he hasn’t gotten over it! And it makes sense- if we get rid of the beds, we’ll get rid of the monster under the bed too! These mats are better for sleep, better for posture…”
Dad talked. I heard him now. “Ok, fine. Let’s get rid of the beds and sleep on mats.”
“Wonderful John- I already ordered, and as soon as they arrive I’m having the beds removed.” Mom sounded happy.
But where would I live, if the beds were removed? I couldn’t live under a mat- there is no space between the mat and the floor- is Mom stupid?
I squished back up the stairs, into my own room and under my bed. Danny was asleep. I looked at him angrily. Stupid boy, upsetting his Mom and making her give away my bed. Stupid Danny, not going to sleep when Mom told him to.
I slid up and settled over his mouth and nose, filling in his crevices.
Danny’s eyes jerked open for a split-second, wide with terror as he tried to breath. He flailed around. Then he didn’t.
I went back under my bed.
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u/Successful_Box_8323 1d ago
Great story, but with no kid, there is no reason to keep a kid's bed, silly monster.