Don't Look Under The Bed

“What do you mean he’s gone?!”

“They took him, Sally, right from above our bed ! “

“What will we do Charlie,” Fred asked 

“We are going to find Ryder and make sure those people die,” Sally responded in a determined every voice. 

“How will we do that ? “ 

“We are going to have to do the one thing no monster wants to. 

Leave from under the bed and the closet and go - outside, “Sally shrieked. 

Trying to make a sound, the monsters left down the stairs, tiptoeing in hopes not to make a sound as they made their way down the dark hallway. “Ouch! Fred, that was my tail!” Charlie let out a loud yell only to be shushed by Sally 

“Shut up, you idiot, you’re going to get us all -“ 

A bright light flicked on in the hallway and the group of monsters froze as if they could turn invisible. They couldn’t. Which was clear when Ryder’s mom let out. A blood-curdling scream while staring right at Charlie and the monsters behind him. They soon heard Ryders dad scrambling in their bedroom, undoubtedly grabbing the metal bat that is always positioned behind their door.

“What is it Angela?” 

Ryder’s mom, Angela, stood in the hallway, still in shock. Raising a shaky finger toward us. Immediately Ryders dad swung around the door, ready to swing, only to be shocked by the monsters standing in front of him dropping the bat on the floor. 

“Who - what, he squinted his tired eyes, gripping his wife’s hand while taking a step back. 

“We don’t have time for this, “the monster from the closet’s voice rattled deeply.

“Micheal, Angela - we are the monsters from your son’s room. Ryder appears to be kidnapped. We promise we will get him back. You can’t tell anyone we exist. Do you understand?” Sally asked 

Angela swallowed, and Michael took a step forward.

“How do I know you didn’t take him?” He asked boldly, sticking his finger into Sally’s face.

“We would never! “ Fred roared sending Michael back a couple steps as Charlie petted his still throbbing tail. 

“Contrary to what your father told you Micheal, the monsters under your bed aren’t the enemy, Ryder knows that.” Sally offered a small explanation.

“You’ve done a great job with him.” he helped me when I was sick. Fred added, 

Slime dripped from the closet monster’s hair as he looked to both parents. “He saved me from the gross lake you guys visit every summer,gave me half his closet as mine,” He rattled out happily 

“Ryders, the only boy who hasn’t run away or screamed because, I’m so different,” his raspy rattle voice added to the conversation with a sadness in his voice.

“So you have been living under Ryders bed?” Michael asked but just barely before Angela chimed in with “And his closet!”

“For how long?” Michael finished their slew of questions.

“Since you moved in,” Charlie offered, shrugging 

“Wait, are you the friends he said he couldn’t bring to dinner because we wouldn’t understand?”

Closet monster grinned, hair hanging in his face “That’s us” as he rattled out 

“Now we must go, we will find Ryder and make those who took him pay.” Sally shrieked 

“Wait! You can’t go o out there “ 

Ryders dad looked to the group of monsters attempting to leave the home into the outside world. 

“People aren’t as kind as our son, you’ll end up in some testing facility ran by the government” 

“Thats what I’m for, “Sally laughed, singing in a mesmerizing voice, only to come to a stop. 

“A siren Michael I’m a siren, banned from the water but still blessed with my voice, now we must go” 

“What are we supposed to do with our boy out there, call the FBI?” Ryder’s mom asked, worry filling her voice. 

“No, no cops. We will take care of this. They picked from the wrong bed to steal from,” Fred said, pushing up past Sally.

“He’s right, make breakfast for something we will be back soon, with Ryder.” Sally said firmly 

A firm plan. The monsters filed and squished out the door one by one as they took one last look at Ryder’s mom only to close the door behind them and continue on their way. 

“They are on foot, this way, “Closet monster mentioned, smelling the air.

An hour after the monsters had found the abandoned barn, they took Ryder too. He was cold and scared inside, and Charlie had to contain himself from just bursting through the doors as he heard sniffles coming from his favorite human boy. 

Adult voices filled the barn in an echo 

“We know you know what we are talking about boy, where are the creatures, we saw nothing when we took you” 

“I told you I don’t know what you’re talking about. Monsters aren’t real!” Ryder yelled back. 

Sally smiled at his persistence to deny their existence, knowing full well that Ryder absolutely believed in monsters. Even had the occasional hide and seek game with them, only two end it with snacks and juice boxes under the bed with them. 

“Monster hunters,” Charlie hissed, disgusted as the closet monster shook where he stood. 

“I don’t think they are hunters, Charlie. Look at their vehicles and those things that gleam,” Closet monster moaned in response to hearing this news from Sally. 

“Those are badges, Sally.“ 

“Forget it Greg let’s just ransom the boy and leave while we can screw the magic act we can make more money than that from the boy’s parents.” 

The sky darkened as night fell upon the property and barn. Ryder was getting bored and wanted to go home to his parents and monster friends. His parents were growing worried after receiving a ransom call asking for over a half million dollars and access to their private jet with their pilot. The monsters were sitting outside, out of sight, waiting patiently for the moment they would use to scare these men into returning Ryder and make them fear ever seeing them again. 

Closet monster slunk from shadow filled areas to other dark spots around the barn, placing himself into a nearby closet meant for hanging the tools and wheelbarrow in the barn. 

Soon after Charlie slunk into the rafters of the barn m while Sally wiggled into Crawl space beneath the barn, waiting and watching, listening and preparing.