"You have to keep your glasses on all the time.. you got that?"

"Why do I?"

"Because if you don't.. bad things might happen.."

"What bad things?"

"People might get hurt.."

"Why?"

Oh boy.. this is not what I wanted for my child..

"Because if you don't, monsters will be released from the darkness, and be able to hurt others."

"I thought you said monstwers weren't weal.."

I hated lying to him like this, but he had to understand that he needed to keep the glasses on his whole life, or else he might regret it.

"There are.. certain monsters that do exist.."

The five year old then ran up to me and gripped onto my leg.

"I'm scared mommy.."

He seemed genuinely scared, but I couldn't just tell him the truth. He couldn't know about the curse yet, like he would understand it anyways. I decided to bend down and hug him back. His oversized bear sweater was as soft as when I got it for him last August. He was elated, and he wouldn't stop wearing it.
____________________________________________________________
"Uh.. Mom? Can I get a new Bear Hoodie? I grew out of my old one years ago.. and I kinda want another.."

I wasn't lying when I said I wanted a new one. I grew out of the old one when I was around eight years old, and I'm twelve now. I just missed how soft and comforting it was. My mom yelled back to me,

"You're Birthday is in a couple days, Bee. Maybe you'll get it then."

"Okay! Cool!"

It was a cloudy, August day outside, and it looked like it could rain at many minute. Even though this was the weather, me and three of my friends had planned that we were going to get together at the park.

"Hey mom, I'm going to head to the park if that's okay. I'm going to hang out with Rainbow, British, and Claw."

I heard her laugh, and she answered back,

"So you guys have code names now? And that's fine. Have fun, Blaza Bee!"

"I will! Love you, Mom!"

"Love you too. Just remember-"

"I know, I know.. don't take the glasses off."

"That's my boy."

I then headed out the front door. I started walking down the slight hill, only to hear rapid footsteps from behind me. I was a bit confused as we don't live in an urban area. We live in a community, but nothing like a city. We're surrounded by forest and nature. That's when I was tapped on the shoulder, and someone whipped past me, turning around in the process. They started jogging backwards while facing me, only for both of us to start laughing. He started,

"Hey, Blaza Bee!"

"Sup, Rainbow!"

"Hey.. I told you it's Astro.. Care Bear.."

I giggled a bit, as this was an inside joke between the two of us. A couple minutes of small talk went by when he then asked,

"This might be a bit weird, but why do you always wear your sunglasses?"

I was a bit surprised by this question, but just answered,

"No reason.. I just like them on."

"Oh, okay. I guess it's kinda the same for me too. I just like wearing my dad's space visor."

It's not the same

"Yeah, I guess it is, huh?"

Socks shrugged as a response. We had finally reached the park, and we looked around for a kid with crab claws on his hands and a kid with a gas mask. We then heard a familiar British voice yell to us.

"Ey' Astro and Stripes!"

We immediately turned to the two, and we all ran up to each other and did the handshake.

Fist bump, drift apart, scissors, intercept, intertwine and tie, take apart, carpenter, snowman, pancake, handshake.

"YES! WE DID IT FIRST TRY! LET'S GO!"

The four of us then high fived, and Tbh, also known as Pincher, let out a, "WHOO!"
________________________________________

An hour had passed when another glasses situation had happened.

"Hey, Stripes?"

"Yeah?"

"Why don't you take your glasses off? You've had them on all day. Come to think of it, you have them on almost all the time."

"I don't have to.."

"Doesn't it get uncomfortable?"

"Sometimes I guess.. but I need to keep them on.."

"Why? I don't see a reason why you can't take them off."

"That's because I haven't told you why yet.."

I wish I had better reaction time, because Tbh then grabbed them off my face from behind.

"Tell us why, and you'll get them back."

I yelped and immediately covered my eyes. Don't.. do it..

"Are you a vampire or something?

"No! Just give my sunglasses back, Tb.."

"Hey, it's Pincher.."

"I DON'T CARE! JUST GIVE THEM BACK BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS."

I then heard Socks' voice, and he calmly suggested,

"He just likes wearing them, Tb.. I mean- Pincher.."

"So he can survive without them?"

I then screamed,

"BUT YOU WON'T!"

The four of us went quiet, and Laff, also known as Fume, continued.

"I'm sorry.. what?"

"You didn't hear anything.."

I removed my hands from my eyes once I knew I was calm, and their faces said everything. They were scared out of their minds. My left eye always had a red pupil, but I never let them see it until now.

"What the heck.. you can have them back.."
______________________________________________________________

I'm twenty-one now, and I still haven't let anyone else see my eyes. Tbh, Laff, and Socks must've forgotten about it, as they haven't mentioned it at all for the past nine years. I met many other people like Meme, Joocie, Nadwe, Muffin, Ally, Woolf, and  Dino. They have no idea about the curse. I was told what the glasses actually protect me from about four years ago, so when I was seventeen. I learned about it the hard way.

Oof, TBVG and Oompa were some of my closest friends in high-school along with all the others. It all happened so quick. We were all staying at Oof's house for the weekend as we had a soccer game that Sunday. It was 3am on Saturday morning, and I had woke up. I didn't have my glasses on, and they were right next to where I was sleeping. I felt myself getting thirsty, so I decided to go into the kitchen to get a glass of water. I reached for the sunglasses, and they weren't there.

What the.. where did they go..

I started to get annoyed, but I didn't think anything of it. I heard chuckling coming from outside the door, and I sleepily walked over to it. I covered my left eye and opened the door, and there was Oompa and Oof holding my glasses.

"I told you guys not to mess with those.."

"Oh, come on.. they're just glasses.."

"They are more than glasses, Oompa.. just give them back.."

"Then what are they?"

"None of your business.. give them back now."

I reached for them, still cupping my other hand over my eye. Oompa moved the glasses out of the way, and put them high, saying,

"Only if you can reach 'em."

I don't know what he was thinking. I was much taller than him, as I was seven feet tall. Well, almost. I was probably around six foot, eight inches. (Also 2.03 meters) Anyways, I slid my fingers across the black sunglasses easily. Before I could actually grab them though, he dropped them onto the wooden, hard floor. Those were the glasses I had ever since I was twelve years old, and I heard them crack and fracture right away. I knew I needed to stay calm, but I just couldn't. The fact I told them not to mess with the glasses, and they still did, infuriated me. I then forgot everything else that happened that night. The next thing I remember is waking up infront of my TV in my own house, and watching the news. Three teenagers had been murdered, and they were all found in Oof's house. That's when I was set down for a little talk.