They shuddered and pulled the covers over their nose as the light shimmered away. The child began to regret that they’d grown out of the night light as the darkness surrounded them. They could hear a faint stir beneath the bed. It always started around the same time… when that thing would come to life each night. Their breath tightened as it pulled itself from beneath the bed. The child pushed their back against the pillows. The creature started to rise on the far side of the mattress with a pair of fluffy ears and marble-like eyes. A thing that could only be described as a monster. The creature smirked as it stood atop the bed and dug its claws into the bed sheets. Its lips parted as it slid its tongue along its reddened fangs.

The child fought back a shiver as they pulled the blanket from their face. “I-I’m not scared of you.” They said. “You’re not real. You can’t be real.”

“Oh, my child…” It said. The creature’s voice was a chortle. “Who’re you trying to convince with that? It’s not me… Are you trying to convince yourself?” It played with something in its paws as it laughed. “After everyone, I’ve taken from you, can you really deny my existence?” It rolled the object from its paws to the child. “Does this clear things up for you?”

The child grabbed the object instinctively as it came to them; something wet and sticky covered its surface. “Th-this…!” They opened their hand and stared at the object. It was an eye still warm from its place in someone’s head. “Please… Please, not him…. Tell me it’s not his!” The eye rolled from their grasp as the child started to shake. “He has nothing to do with this!”

 “Really?” It asked. “I warned you… I told you what would happen if you didn’t obey. You just have to do as I’ve asked… If you do that, then it can all be over. I won’t take anyone else from you.” The creature’s confidence grew with each word. It shook its head and laughed again. “Perhaps you should ask your old favorite what he thinks. Oh, Mr. Lion!”

“It’s… No… Trouble… Right?” There were great pauses as the lion pulled himself atop the mattress next to the creature. “It’s always been your favorite, right?” The lion gave a weakened smile as he covered the bloody chasm in his face. “Just tell it, child… It’s no big deal. It was never me or Stitches that you loved most, but Mr. Bear. It was always your favorite…” The lion fell to his knees and coughed.

“Woah, old friend…. You don’t need to push yourself so hard. I’m sure they’ll get the message.” The creature said. “Something might happen to you…” It placed its paw on the lion’s chest. “Your heart can’t take much more, you know?”

 “Don’t!” The child shouted. Their hands came together in a prayer-like pose. “You…” They swallowed and squeezed their eyes shut. “You’re my favorite, Mr. Bear! There’ll never be anyone more important to me than you!” The creature dug its claws into the lion’s chest. “Please, just leave him alone!”

“Shh… I’ll make it quick…” The creature pulled a piece of heart-shaped fabric from the lion’s chest. “It’s alright, old thing… It’s all over now…” The lion fell from the bed as the creature tore his heart to shreds. “It was too late for him.”

The child sniffled as the creature approached. It held them close as the blood from its paws stuck to their skin in faint red marks. “I already promised you… Why did you have to…?” They asked.

The creature pushed its jaws toward the child’s ear. “I bet you regret it. Wishing life to all of us. All your toys.”