Monsters Don't Live Underneath Your Bed

By Colby Antoine

Walking down the street, Cloud can't help but feel a certain uneasiness.  

"You scared?" Mars asks.

"No," replies Cloud with a smile.  "Just excited."

Entwining his fingers with hers, the couple continues to walk down the street.  As a few minutes go by, the sight of this huge big top comes into view.  Cloud, now filled with excitement, pulls Mars to the entrance.

"Come on, come on!" she says.

"Alright, okay," chuckles Mars.

They enter the carnival.  The smell of popcorn fills the air as both laughter and young children crying for their mothers drill into the couple's eardrums.

"Oh, over there!" yells Cloud, pulling Mars toward one of the many carnival games.  For hours after that, Cloud and Mars joke around and play games together.  He even wins her this huge teddy bear.  Eventually, the sun begins to set, though.  You see, the people who live around Washington Avenue have this great fear of the darkness.  Before the sun sets and swallows up every bit of light from the world, they retreat into the comfort of their homes.  Visitors always think that they are just strange people.  Sadly, that same ignorance becomes their very doom.

The people of Washington Avenue are clearly not alone.  A monstrous creature also lives within the small town.  No one knows what it is, or where it came from.  All they know is that every night, the sound of razor sharp claws tearing through human flesh fills the streets as fear eats away at the residents' hearts.

"Well, should we be heading back now?" asks Mars.

"Oh man, I didn't even notice the sun setting.  You think we can make it back home in time?" asks Cloud.

Cloud stares at Mars for a moment as that uneasy feeling begins to grip her heart again.  Noticing that she is staring at him, Mars looks at her and smiles.  He then grabs her hand, and they start walking around the carnival.  Everyone else has already left.  What was just a few minutes ago a joyful carnival is now nothing but a vacant, creepy place.  Getting even more frightened, Cloud grips Mars's arm tightly.  He laughs, then pulls her close so that their faces are only a few inches away.  

"What's the matter?  Scared, are you?" he asks her.

"No.  Are you scared?" Cloud asks.

"Of course not."

"You should be."

Mars stares at Cloud.  She smiles, clutching her claws into her skin, ripping the very flesh from his arm.  In pain, he screams as the sound of razor sharp claws tearing away human flesh fills the streets of Washington Avenue.