Chapter 1

~Surrender to Sleep~

They say magic and monsters aren't real. To a certain extent, I believe this statement, but it only explains so much. When I was young, I was told over and over again that monsters weren't real, but I had come to face the harsh reality that monsters were all around us.

Monster is a relative term, and I believe there is a monster in everyone. They say it is impossible for one to meet a monster; seeing as they are viewed as childish rumors - an act of overactive imagination - but I have heard of people being eaten by sharks or mauled to death by bears.

Tell me, how is it that male Grizzly Bears have a shoulder height between 3'6 - 4'6 feet, and a weigh in the range of 400-800 pounds and are not considered monsters, while one eyed creatures that come out of closets aren't? Just think about it.

I promise, I am not so damaged that I refuse to ignore the good in people. I acknowledge the fact that most people are good, but I cannot help but fear the very worst. It is a part of me. Hey, at least I don't judge my fellow humans with petty intentions, like the oh-so popular girls that take up most of the female population in high-schools.

I want you to think about it; think about the good in people, whilst remaining wary of the bad. All I am trying to say is... be careful...

I lay in my bed. My toes were numb as I tried not to move. I did just as my mother had advised: I stayed perfectly still, counting down from a hundred in my head. My eyes were closed but felt fuzzy and twitched every once and a while.

Most people wouldn't think that a girl my age - five and three quarters - would have trouble sleeping: even after all my daily activities. I was on a soccer team with my friends, Elis Black and Robin Westing -. One would think that moving about like that would tire me out, sending me into a night of blissful sleep.

My stomach ached, as it normally did after active play, and I felt hot and sweaty. My quilted comforter had been pushed into a pile at my feet on the end of the bed, and now only the clean smelling white-floral sheets stood between my body and the cool night air of my room.

Rain tapped on my window and thunder rumbled outside. I loved storms like this, but I didn't use to, that is, until my mom sat down with me on a rainy day, reading books to me as we drank hot chocolate with little peppermint candies dissolving inside. Now all rainy days felt peaceful and sweet.

My room was much like any other room in the house. The walls were painted Aegean blue, mush like the storm clouds outside. I had a singular window in the middle of the west facing wall - framed by marigold curtains -. I had a small white dresser under my window, and a black bookshelf on the opposite side next to my bed. A chest of toys sat comfortably in the corner, next to my shallow closet, which was closed, though I would open my eyes every once and a while to check.

That was the main reason I didn't want to remove my sheets. I felt that, If I did, there would be nothing between me and whatever creature I was sure lurked in my closet.

There was a small rattling sound. My eyes snapped open and I looked towards the closet where the sound had originated from... or perhaps it was just my imagination. The small brass knob began to turn, and the hinges on the door, made hardly any noise as the door was unlatched.

I would have called for my parents, but I was struck mute with fear. I scrambled into a decent sitting position and my sheets pooled around my waist; displaying my dad's T-shirt that I had stolen from his closet and converted into a nightgown. It was black with the word JTACK printed in bold white letters on the back with a symbol on the front pocket.

"~Letti~" a voice cooed. A blue hued mist began to pour from the ever-widening crack of my closet door. My eyes went wide. Of course, it knew my name. I had seen this creature once or twice before - it was terrifying still, but the fear seemed to lessen a little over time -. This creature seemed to enjoy my obvious fear and reveled in the faults of my internal struggled.

"Letti Browning..." It spoke again. A hand emerged from the closet and gripped the side of the door with elongated fingers that curled eerily about the white painted door, and it began to swing open.

A pair of green and ocher cat-like eyes stared directly into mt own hazel-green ones. The fingers shortened back to the average size, silver rings glinting in the muted light that flashed outside every so often.

The man emerged. His pupils were horizontal slits that could be likened to that of a goat's eyes, making me uneasy. Tangled brown hair hung around his face, obscuring most of it from my sight.

"Scared of a little lightning?" he grinned maliciously. My eyes were wide and a bead of sweat rolled down my brow. The sweat was from my fever and my stomach stung as my whole body stiffened. I couldn't do anything but pull my knees up to my chest, unable to look away. I was terrified.

"No." I managed to mumble in my petrified state.

"You're going to have to talk a bit louder, darling." The man sneered. "I am afraid I can't hear you over the sound of our fear." I drew closer, and I shrunk back into my pillows. I glanced sideways at my open door, but it shut instantly. I looked back at the man, eyes full of fear, betraying my stoic expression.

"I said no. I am not afraid of the lightning." I said, surprisingly bold despite how afraid I really felt. "And I shouldn't talk any louder, my dad has work at five o'clock." I added, enunciating to make up for my quiet tone. I felt safer, knowing my parents were down the hall from me, within earshot if anything took a wrong turn.

"Your daddy?" the man scoffed, rolling his eyes, lips curling upwards in a sneer. "Well... we wouldn't want that." I shook my head in meek agreement.

"Please go away." I pleaded quietly and pulled my sheets around me like a cocoon. "Mom says I'm contagious." I added - hopefully, that would be enough to drive him away, but I knew he wouldn't stay away. That was not in his nature to leave me or any other child alone. He tormented me with terrible dreams and sounds in the dark. I hated it.

"Do as your told." He hissed. I shrunk away from him as he stood on the opposite side of my bed, smirking down at me. He bent over and twirled his fingers tauntingly in front of my face. His eyes began to glow and pulsate with rings of gold around his slitted pupils. I wanted to pull the covers over my head, but I was caught in his gaze like a mouse in a trap... a weak, tiny mouse, pinned unfairly against a large steal trap, with crushing metal jaws.

"Do as you're told,

what a gift,

what a sight to behold.

For the darkest of dreams,

you'll surrender to sleep.

Do as you're told..."

I felt myself go numb as I slumped awkwardly against my headboard, eyelids drooping as my whole body went slack as a boned fish. Something gently moved me into a comfortable laying position on my side.

I was unable to fight the sleep that numbed my body and I succumbed to sleep, sent wheeling through dreams and nightmares alike...