It wasn't always hard for Lily to fall asleep. Her nightlight, a slightly faded smiling moon, shone in the dead of night. Every door was closed tightly in her room, all of her blankets picked up from the floor and each toy she owned placed in their rightful spot. Nothing was amiss in the old Victorian home. She should've been able to go to sleep, yet something kept her up.

The six year old could not place it. Her lucky stuffed bear clung to her side. Its eyes holding a secret. Lily looked to her closet, french doors that swung out, they were shut tight. She leaned over the side of the bed checking the floor. Matthew always told her stories of monsters grabbing the edges of untucked blankets and slipping underneath to steal little girls away. His rules replayed in her mind. Her edges were tucked tightly under the mattress. She leaned back on her worn pink pillow. In the corner of the room, her nightlight flickered.

Again, she sat up staring at Mr.Moon's smiling face. The glow of the yellow light seemed to darken the faded walls, doubling their size. Chills swept over her small body. A feeling of dread crept up her back. Goosebumps erupted all over her back as a cold wind seemed to blow through the drafty windows. Lily quickly placed her head back down, bringing the old sheets up covering her face. Teddy clung to her side, and she reached for the tattered brown bear. His limp arms failing to wrap themselves around her as her ears began to adjust to the silence of the room.

Or was it silence? Under the blankets she heard the floorboards creak under weight. She tried to make herself small. The blanket no longer protection as she pulled her malnourished appendages closer to her heart. Weight on the end of her bed caused her to tremor. It began increasing slowly with each inch, closing the gap between itself and the girl.

She could feel the weight. As it surrounded her, the force unbearable on her small body. She clawed her way back to the top of the sheet, fighting for air. Her tiny lungs beginning to groan; her tattered nightgown seemingly trying to hold her back. As her head reached the surface she gasped for air. The pressure disappeared and she turned facing the corner.

A warm wet feeling saturated the already stained sheets. A woman swayed in the corner with long brown hair, matching her mommy's. In Mr.Moon's light something silver gleamed. Lily froze, as the creature approached it began to take shape. Transforming into a snarling beast, blood and gore trapped between its teeth. Black and red trailing after the monster. Animalistic grunts erupted as it encroached.

A shrill scream, cut short, as the child looked up into Hell's mouth. In one fell swoop the beast itself had devoured the little girl. Teddy stared blankly, a dying hand separated and limp around his leg. Silver gleamed in the beast's hands as it straddled the girl. A knife reflected the moonlight blinding Teddy but he had seen enough to know. It was no beast but little Lily's mother.