Alex Jonn was scared of the dark. Every time he went to bed, he made sure all his night lights were on, and his bed was right by the window so he could fling it open in the morning.

The night we start our tale was a night like any other. Alex’s flashlight was on the windowsill. Night lights were on. Everything was perfect, at least until the night lights started flickering.

Alex jumped when the first one flickered. It’s all right, he soothed himself. Batteries are just dying. He wasn't worriedー he had plenty to last through the night.

But more were flickering now. Soon most were turning off. Alex started to shiver. It’s all right. You have your flashlight. The last night light turned off. Alex fumbled for his flashlight, found it and clicked it on. Mercifully, the beam slashed through the darkness with its powerful beam. Alex pointed it at various corners nervously. There seemed to be a dark mass avoiding the flashlight’s glare, dodging into the shadows wherever Alex pointed the flashlight. Suddenly, the room seemed to grow colder, all warmth sucked away. Alex’s flashlight gave out, leaving him in total darkness.

Alex tried not to scream. It’s just your room. Nothing can get in here. But something had gotten in here, something Alex didn't want in here. Something Alex couldn't see.

Something that wanted him dead.

Something cold brushed against his ear, and Alex shivered involuntarily. He buried his head in his sheets, but something pulled them off his bed. Finally, unable to take it any longer, he looked at the thing that was tormenting him and went white.

It was a dark creature, walking and crawling at the same time; feet and palms both touching the ground in a sort of gorilla walk. Its eyes and mouth were both bright red, eyes taunting, mouth leering darkly. Its body was emitting a sort of crimson mist. Before Alex could scream, it crawled up onto his bed, took him in its arms, and jumped, flying through the ceiling and over the city Alex lived in, until it reached a small forest.

“Goodbye, Alex Jonn,” it crooned. Its voice sounded like whistling wind and people’s screams.

It dropped him.

Alex fell through the trees and onto the cold, hard earth.

It only took twenty minutes for him to die.