What Would Wonder Woman Do?

Lilly opens her bedroom door. Hallway light slants across the grey carpet, illuminating the corner of her Barbie blanket against the bedpost. Beside it is a narrow strip of darkness, where the monster has been watching for the past three nights. Waiting to feed.

Stomach churning, Lilly ambles to the edge of the bed. She pauses there, heart hammering, straining, listening.

Its voice is slow, warbled, and deep as an underground cavern. "Heeeee hee heeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Lilly chokes back a scream, all but certain that an undead killer is waiting to stab her through the mattress once she lies down.

Wonder Woman wouldn't be afraid. She's brave like Mommy.

Quickly, Lilly runs to her dresser and pulls out a flashlight. Its bulb floods the dark room with bright light. Cautiously, she crouches by the bedroom door and focuses the beam into the narrow void.

"Heeeee hee heeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Her breath catches, but Wonder Woman wouldn't look away, so she won't either. The beam shows her a few scattered pennies, a couple of old dolls covered in dust, and a dirty towel partially covering something red and furry.

"Heeeee hee heeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Lilly's body shakes so bad she almost drops the flashlight. Hesitantly, she crawls closer to the bed. She reaches with trembling fingers, grasping the edge of the towel. It slides off easily at her tug, and the thing it was concealing rolls toward her. She squeaks . . . then sags in relief.

"Elmo!" Lilly admonishes. "Your batteries are dying!"

"Heeeee hee heeeeeeeeeeeee!"

A/N: Thanks for reading. This story was entered into Writing Battle's Summer Nano, and I was happy with how well it did. If you enjoyed it, please consider subscribing here and to my Substack.