"Alright, Buddy. When you think that they're near, just spray them with this and they'll go away." I held out a transparent spray bottle to the blonde, young boy who tucked himself under blankets. He gripped the bottle tight, bringing it as close as, Moris, the floppy bunny rabbit that sat under his arm. The boy nodded.
"Daddy, Is the monster going to go?" He asked worriedly, curling back into his spaceman-patterned pillow. I gave him a reassuring smile, patting the quilt. The boy was so innocent, scared of the monsters around us. I hope that he will forget it all, that he will continue to believe that the monsters will be gone as long as he stays curled in bed with the spray bottle.
"Mhm. The monsters won't bother you anymore," I pulled back, pointing at the half-full bottle. "Not while you have this. Keep it close and then you can, Pew Pew." I mimicked spraying the water as my son giggled, his scared expression relaxing. "Now, come on. Lie down."
The young boy followed my orders quickly, shimmying down the bed until his face, and that of the bunny were the only thing visible in the dim light that the lamp provided. I leaned closer to the boy, giving him a kiss on his forehead and stroking his hair for a moment before pulling back. "Goodnight Buddy, I love you."
"I love you too, Daddy." I stood from the low bed, and a quiet sigh of relief escaped me as I took a step towards the door across the room that stood ajar. "Daddy." The young voice spoke again. My face dropped at the momentary beckoning, taking a deep breath before I forced a happy smile and turned around.
"What's up?" I asked, forcing a cheery disposition.
"Can you check?" The boy asked, his eyes pleading.
"Buddy, you have the monster spray and-"
"Please?" He interrupted. His puppy dog eyes stared at me. I kept my smile, but my eyes wandered to the dark slither under the frame of the bed.
"Mhm." I agreed with an inconspicuous gulp.
I kept my head up as I dropped slowly to my knees and onto my stomach. Inching closer and closer to the opening I kept my eyes clue to the floor until the final moments. Reaching the wooden frame, I slowly lifted my head; a forced smile still plastered on my face.
As I looked into the darkness of the under-croft two shining orbs followed my every movement. I wanted to know what it was, but I could make no sign that I saw its appearance; that I saw its appearance every time my son asked to check for the monster. I continued to look, the outline of a head with no features crooked slowly from left to right. The featureless figure opened a slit in the top half of its face to reveal a set of jagged, rotting teeth. I studied it for a moment; it clung to the slats of the bed. Its long frame was obscured by boxes and toys that have all been stuffed under in an attempt to fill space but to no avail. The figure dropped one of its arms, its clawed fingers reaching slowly out from the darkness; inching down, ever so closer to my own hand. I wanted to pull away, but then it would know. It would know I could see it.
My smile twitched, not taking my eyes away from the figure that loomed under my son's bed. I pulled back slowly, standing as normally as I could to not frighten my son of the realities that hid below. I looked him in the eye, the forced smile still there and tried to keep my expression as cheery as possible.
"See. Nothing." I lied. "But I'll keep the lamp on, and the hallway light." The child nodded. I backed out of the room, a grin still etched on my face. I tried hard to keep my eyes from wandering to the small lights under the bed that watched me closely. I neared the exit, gripping the door handle tightly before closing it as I left. I know it was bad to leave my son in there with the monster, but the monster liked him. The last time I tried to save him myself, the monster attacked. I just reminded myself; he's safe. I hope he's safe.
----
Outside the door, I was met by my wife, a long-haired woman who paced along the hallway biting at her nails. As soon as she spotted me, she stopped and approached, gripping my arms.
"Do you think it'll work? Do you think he'll be safe?" She whispered frantically, looking towards the closed door." I pulled her hands from my shoulder and held her fingers into my palms, forcing our eyes to meet.
The priest said it would. We just need to trust it." I whispered in return, a shake in my voice as I brought my wife into a tight hug. I took a deep breath and looked back to my son's room with uncertainty in my eyes, and maybe a touch of regret.
Commentaires