Idea by @mere_inkslinger

To become an adult you have to kill the monster under your bed. You're about to turn 16.

minipage

No one knew about the creature under my bed.

 If I told anyone, they'd think I was crazy. I didn't need to be known as crazy.

I needed to be known as popular.

I need to overcome my demons--- or my demon.

My room was tinier than the rest in my house. There was just enough room for a desk, dresser, and a bed. 

So the night before my 16th birthday, I sat against the wall opposite my bed.

I wrapped my arms around my knees and waited.

Nothing happened until the lights flickered off and a soft glow of warm red light appeared under my bed.

"I want you to go away," I said, as firmly as I could. Could he see me shaking?

I could feel his eyes on me.

"Now," I demanded. "Go away and never come back."

"Ooooh," the voice hissed. "You know I can't do that."

"I'm pretty sure you can," I said. "And you must."

"What will you do if I don't, Alessandra?"

"I'll kill you."

"You can't kill me," whispered a hot breath into my ear. I shivered but didn't move from my spot. 

"I will kill you," I said.

"Then I go to someone else. You just pass me on to another child. Is that what you want?"

"I'm almost 16. I refuse to participate in these childish games."

"It's not childish if you still believe."

"Just go away!" I shouted, jumping to my feet. It was difficult to kill something you couldn't see.

"We've had a fun 15 years together. I think we've bonded."

"Where are you?" I demanded, searching around the room. The red light was now green.

I froze when I felt it's hot breath on my face.

"Kill me and you die. I'm apart of you. That's the only way to get rid of me."

"You-"

I felt something coiling around my legs and I instinctively starting kicking.

"I've got you now," it hissed. I felt the coils climbing up my body.

"No!" I struggled to break free but all I really did was scream. I grabbed at the coils but there was nothing there. Not really. 

"I'm apart of you," it hissed, his voice more and more violent. 

The door to my room opened, flooding it with light.

The coils disappeared like a puff of air and I fell forward onto my bed.

My parents immediatley started demanding answers. 

"Look under my bed," I begged.

My dad complied.

"There's nothing there."

I was at a loss for words.

There never was.

The monster of my dreams wasn't really there.

He was never there, even on the nights of taunting and teasing til the sun came up again. 

It was all in my head.