Monster Under the Bed

“But Mom! There’s a monster under my bed!” Timmy begged, hearing something scurry underneath.

“Yes, I know. You may play with him in the morning dear, but now it’s bedtime.”

Timmy shook under his blue covers. How was he supposed to sleep if there was a monster under his bed? Didn't she understand the whole concept of a monster? His mother got up from the side of his bed and walked to the door that was covered in light up stars. 

"Don't leave me, Mom!" Timmy said, curling up under his sheets so his feet were farther away from the edge of his bed. 

"Timmy, you will be fine. He doesn't bite humans," his mom said and clicked off the lights. "Have a good night."

"No! Mom!" Timmy said, but she closed the door without another word.

The only light left in the room was the glow of the stars on his door and on the ceiling. Normally they would calm him before he slept, but that was before he knew there was a monster under his bed. He had the urge to make a run for his light switch, but his legs wouldn't cooperate. All he could imagine was getting eaten the second he stepped foot off the bed. Looking around his dark room didn't ease any of his worries, since he could not see if something was lurking about. 

Suddenly, he heard a faint creak. It could have simply been the springs on his bed, but Timmy wasn't taking any chances. He plunged his head under the sheets and shut his eyes tight. His whimpers and cries were muffled by his sheets, but awoke the monster below all the same. 

The monster's footsteps were soft from the padded carpet, but were just loud enough for Timmy to hear. Something brushed against the bottom of his bed, going back and forth like a paint brush on a canvas. Timmy conjured the image of its tail grabbing him by the leg and ripping him out of the bed before devouring him. He began to shake, praying the monster would go away. All it did was jump up on the bed. With the grace of a cat, it landed all four paws on the bed, putting tension on his sheets. 

Timmy held his breath. He didn't want to smell whatever foul odor the monster had. The monster took cautious steps, climbing up on top of him. He felt the light touch of each paw as it stepped on him. Timmy's whole body froze. He was paralyzed by fear, while the monster kept crawling until it stopped at his head. Timmy waited for the moment when it would open its mouth and devour him, but it never came. Instead it… purred.

Timmy opened his eyes and continued to listen, thinking somehow his ears were deceiving him. They were not. The monster purred and walked down next to his head, pawing at his protective sheet. Timmy couldn't help but think somehow it was a mistake. After all, monsters don't purr. He unwrapped the sheet from his head and lifted it up enough to get a glance at what it was. The monster moved so fast, it was a blur, bounding inside to curl up with him. Its brown and white fur felt softer than the sheets that covered him. It crawled onto his chest and looked at him. 

Timmy gulped, realizing it wasn't actually a cat. At least not one he had ever seen. Its emerald eyes glowed bright enough for him to see it in the dark. The ears were more pointed, with hair that formed a Y coming off the tips. And the tail was thick at the end, completely black. The hairs at the tip of the tail moved independent of the rest, trying to feel its new environment while the tail waved. Otherwise, the face looked typical of a thin tabby cat, minus the whiskers.

The monster continued to purr and licked his bare chest. It was not a grippy tongue, but smooth like the back of a hand, leaving no saliva behind. The more Timmy watched it, the more relaxed his muscles became. Timmy uncurled his body and hesitantly reached his hand out to pet it. His hand hovered over the monster for a second, contemplating what could happen. The monster responded by gently wrapping its tail around his wrist and guiding his hand along its back. The hairs at the end of its tail rubbed against his smooth skin.

"Hey, that tickles." Timmy laughed. 

The monster continued to purr and rubbed its head against him. Timmy smiled, realizing his fears of this monster were overblown. 

"What are you?" 

The monster's ears perked up and vibrated. It turned its head away from him, listening for something out of sight. 

"What is–" Timmy began before being silenced by the monster's tail. 

Timmy lifted the covers and pulled the monster's tail out of his mouth. His mouth tasted tangy with a hint of metallic aftertaste. The monster's eyes flickered, flashing bright green at his black window curtain. Timmy tried to get up, but the monster slapped its tail on his chest without looking back at him. It didn't hurt, but he felt it actively resisted him. 

"There's nothing over there. It's a window."

The curtain moved. At first, he thought his little monster could move the curtain with its eyes, but then it blinked and the curtain moved in a different direction. Timmy tensed up, worrying what was over there, since he had his window closed. The monster snarled with the fierceness of a much larger cat, ready to defend its friend. Soon the creature that lurked behind the curtain revealed itself. 

It was all brown, wore an armored shell on its back and was the same size as his little monster. There were no eyes and two pincers where its head must have been. It had little feelers underneath as it transferred from the curtain to the wall. It was in all regards a giant bug. Timmy hugged his blanket and moved to the end of his bed. The giant bug creature made ticking sounds as it kept walking along the wall. It did not heed the monster's warnings and paid for it. 

The monster sprung off the bed and onto the wall above the giant bug. It stuck to the wall like a frog on a window and brought its tail down upon the giant bug. In one stroke, there was a crack and the giant bug bounced off the corner of the bed onto the floor. Without hesitation, the monster dove on top of the injured bug, digging into the underside of the creature. All Timmy heard was the monster tearing into the hostile bug and a few munching sounds. He was too afraid to look at what was happening and waited for the mauling to end. 

The monster jumped back up on the bed and licked its paws, proving to the boy the enemy had been vanquished… and tasty. Timmy dared take a look below at the floor and saw no evidence left of the giant bug, except for the indent in the carpet. He looked back at the monster that paused for a moment to burp.

"You saved me," Timmy said, still in shock of what happened. The monster stepped closer to him and petted his arm with its tail. Timmy smiled. He had never had a pet before and certainly none that ate scary oversized bugs. "What should I call you?"

The monster said nothing and crawled into his lap, purring the whole time. Timmy felt the heat radiating from the monster. He gave it a hug and rubbed his nose against its fur that smelt of cabbage.

"I'm going to name you, Cabbage. What do you think?"

The monster purred and licked his face in approval. He laughed and cradled Cabbage in his arms, bringing the blanket over both of them. Timmy intended on staying up to talk with his new friend, but his eyes got heavy as soon as his head hit the pillow. He yawned and Cabbage followed suit, petting Timmy's head with its tail. 

"Goodnight, Cabbage."

Cabbage poked Timmy's cheek with its tongue and with that they both drifted off to sleep. No longer was Timmy scared of what lurked under his bed. He had a new protector. Its name was Cabbage.

Striker's Promise

The dew of the early morning swept across the field, sparkling from the moonlight. Evan dug his feet into the soft ground, lifting his sword at the ready. His opponent was stoic, unconcerned with Evan’s sword.

“Take this!” Evan yelled, charging his opponent. He swung his sword down on his opponent, tearing it apart. Straw fell to the floor and the pumpkin for a head cracked open upon hitting the dirt below. Evan picked up the pumpkin head halves, trying to put it back together.

“I didn’t even get to practice my stabs yet,” Evan said to the pumpkin.

“Evan! Food!” His father called from a small cottage nearby.

Evan left the defeated pumpkin and jogged back to the cottage. He did not make it two feet inside before his father stopped him.

“Take off your boots. And no swords at the table.”

“Yes, Father.”

Evan took off his boots and leaned his sword against the wall, next to the door. He followed the sound of boiling soup into the kitchen. His father was stirring from a large black cauldron that had a fire ablaze underneath it.

“Smells good. What are you making?”

“An old recipe your mother used to make me. It will keep you strong.”

Evan sat down at the small table. “Good. I will need it if I am going to take down that evil sorceress, Calesso.”

“Son, can you please stop talking like that?” his father asked, bringing over a bowl of soup.

“Why? She has laid waste to the kingdom. Just last week a group of knights were slain by her. Someone needs to teach her a lesson.”

“I don’t want you fighting. Especially not for the king.”

“King Ulitch is the only one trying to stop this foul witch. That bitch needs to be put down like the mangy dog she is.”

“That is enough Evan!” his father said, slamming his own bowl on the table.

Evan stopped and took a sip of soup. “I signed up to be a knight.”

“What?” his father’s face turned to concern.

“King Ulitch himself walked by just as I signed up. He actually shook my hand. Like I was his equal.”

His father shook his head. “Son. Why did you do that?”

“Because it was the right thing to do. Calesso must be stopped and the King believes in me.”

“Calesso isn’t the problem, King Ulitch is.”

“How can you say that?”

“Because I know her.”

The kitchen was silent, except for the bubbling soup.

“So you're a traitor to the kingdom.”

“So are you.”

“If I don’t turn you in I am,” Evan said, pushing away from the table.

“No, you are by blood.”

Evan walked back to the door, grabbing his sword. “The king will forgive me. Might even forgive you if you tell him what he needs to know.”

“Like that you are her son.”

Evan stopped dead in his tracks and turned around. “I’m what?”

“I should have told you this a long time ago. I just didn’t want it to get out by accident.”

“I’m Calesso’s son,” Evan said to himself.

“Please sit.”

Evan put the sword back down and came over to the table again. Each step he grew more and more weak. His stomach turned and his head spun.

“When your mother and I first met, I was a knight for King Titus. I was sent on a mission to procure a potion that would heal him of his illness. There were rumors that a herbalist in the forest had such a cure. I searched for a week before I decided to go back. On my way back I found a little cottage near an open field. It was the only place I had found during my journey and lucky for me it was the place. Calesso was so kind and willing to help after I explained what was happening. She didn’t even charge for the cure,” his father said.

“I guess time changes people.” Evan scoffed.

His father ignored Evan’s cutting comment. “The problem was she didn’t have enough when I arrived. She told me to take the one bottle she had and more would be ready when I returned. This went on for over a month and each time it got harder to leave her. The king eventually got better, yet I continued going back to her. I had fallen for her and she for me.”

“So why did she turn against the kingdom?”

“After one of our more memorable visits, I grabbed the vial she had on the table and left. What I didn’t realize was that it was not the right one. By the time I made it back and gave it to the king, it was too late. Calesso arrived just as he took it and tried to stop the effects, but his death was unstoppable. I was going to admit to my mistake, but Calesso wouldn’t let me and became the villain the new king needed. To protect me.”

“She plagued the kingdom so you wouldn’t get in trouble for King Titus’s death? And you went along with it?”

“I wasn’t going to at first. But when I found out she was pregnant and she had already done what she did, there was no other choice. One of us had to be able to take care of you. Give you a life not on the run.”

Evan put his hands over his eyes. “My mother is a witch.”

“Sorceress.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Never found a good time. I was afraid you would try to stick up for her and risk the wrath of the king.”

“I must see her.”

“Now is not a good time.”

“Why?”

His father scratched the back of his head. “Well...she is pregnant again.”

“You still see her?”

“Nothing can keep me away from her. Not for long anyways.”

“Then how is she killing all those knights if she is pregnant?”

“There is a reason there are no survivors.”

Evan let his father’s words sink in before the realization hit him in the face. “You? The man who refuses to spar with me. Killed six knights by yourself?”

“Your mother was in danger. I had no other choice. And that is exactly why I didn’t want you to join.”

“This is going to be a problem then.”

“Why?”

“I head out at dawn tomorrow. To the Far Reach Forest. They think she is hiding there.”

“She’s not there. But now that you work for the king you must go.”

“Where is she?”

“When you come back, I will make sure you get to see her. Maybe even your new sister too.”

“You promise?”

“Promise.”

***

Evan kneeled on the bright red carpet before the King, his armor still stained with goblin’s blood.

“My King, you hailed for me.”

“Yes, Sir Evan Striker. I heard you had returned from your quest to find Calesso to no avail,” King Ulitch said.

“My King, we searched for weeks and we only found an outpost of goblins. We tried to befriend them to find her whereabouts, but alas they left us no choice.”

King Ulitch waved away his two servants next to his throne. They left from the chambers and King Ulitch approached Evan.

“That is of no consequence. If they weren’t going to turn on Calesso, they were better off dead anyways. Could you point out on a map where you traveled?”

“Yes, My King.”

“You can stand up. And drop the formalities. Call me David.”

He stood up and smiled. “Yes...David.”

“Evan I heard you fought gallantly in the forest. Much like your father used to when he served under my father.”

“I was just trying to best serve you.”

“And humble like him too. You know, when I was growing up, your father and mine were best of friends. They would drink and jest with one another. Never in public, but behind these walls you could never ask for a more loyal friend than him. When I heard that you were going to join my army, all I could think of was how happy my father was having a close friend. Now, I know we don’t know each other, but I hope that we could become friends like that one day.”

“I would be honored as well.”

“Excellent. You must be tired from your travels. Feel free to stay at my castle and get cleaned up. Tomorrow you can speak with the cartographer.”

“Actually David, I was hoping to see my father again. It has been awhile and I do miss him.”

“I completely understand. If my father was around I would want to see him too.”

“Is there anything else you need from me before I go?”

“Yes. There was a question that kept gnawing at me lately. Do you happen to know why your father quit his service from the kingdom?”

“He never said. I never even knew he was a knight, until after I joined.”

“Hmm. When you see him, please ask him. When my father died, he was the only one who left the service. At the time I didn’t think much of it, but as I have gotten older I wish I knew the answer.”

“I’ll ask him.”

“Good. Until we meet again.” King Ulitch dipped his head slightly.

Evan bowed and left his throne room. He thought it was strange that King Ulitch wanted to know more about his father, but he put that thought away. Instead, he dwelled on the promise his father made. To see his mother. His horse carried him away from the castle, past the village and into the forest. He traveled for an hour before he arrived home. The moon was rising in the sky and the fresh smell of stew escaped the cottage. He disembarked his horse and went inside, eager to see his father. Evan entered and looked into the kitchen to see his father manning the cauldron and three bowls set on the table.

“Father.”

His father turned around and let go of the ladle. “Son!”

His father ran to him and hugged him tight. Evan patted him on the back.

“You smell like goblin,” his father said.

“I haven’t had time to clean up.”

“You better. Food will be ready soon.”

“Are we expecting someone?” Evan asked, motioning toward the bowls.

“You get cleaned up. Don’t want your mother seeing you for the first time in goblin blood.”

“Too late,” Calesso said, coming out from the doorway that led into the kitchen.

Calesso’s green and black hair coursed down her fitting black dress. Her face ghostly white and her lips crimson. She walked over to them, her dress making her seem like she floated instead. “You look so much more handsome in person.”

“Mother?”

“Yes dear. It’s me.”

Evan was frozen, his emotions swirling. He thought about what it would be like to see her for the first time during his travels, but his wildest imagination did not prepare him. Calesso wrapped her arms around him and he knew in that moment it was his mother. So full of warmth that it transcended the physical. Her love pierced his heart like only a mother’s love could. He held her for a few moments before letting go.

“So Evan, why do you have goblin’s blood on your armor?” Calesso asked, wiping the blood from her hand back on his shirt.

“That is a long story.”

“Tonight you have my undivided attention. Your father has generously offered to make food and take care of little Erin while we catch up.”

“Erin?”

“I said your little sister might be around by the time you came back. Congrats. You’re a big brother,” his father said.

“Can I see her?” Evan asked.

“Later. Your mother just put her to sleep. Don’t want to wake her,” his father said.

Evan’s father had only finished his sentence before the door was knocked down. Knights with swords drawn came pouring in followed by King Ulitch. Evan’s father moved Calesso and Evan behind him.

“Evan. You know after our conversation I had a thought. Why would your father, Sir Striker, leave the service after his best friend was killed? Not even wanting to seek revenge. The only thing I could think of was guilt. And he had a child, yet I never knew the mother. So a crazy thought came to mind. What if Calesso and Sir Striker were lovers? But now, it doesn’t seem so crazy, does it?

“King Ulitch, your father’s death was a mistake. It was my fault he died. Not Calesso’s. Not my son’s,” Evan’s father said.

“It is far too late for apologies.”

Evan’s father drew Evan’s sword from his scabbard and swung at the nearest knight. “Run! I’ll hold them off!”

Calesso pulled Evan away and into the other room where little Erin was still sleeping peacefully in her bed. Calesso kicked the door closed and sat on the bed next to Erin.

“Take Erin,” Calesso said.

Evan picked Erin up in his arms, her little body so fragile and tired.

“I can’t stay here. I need to help father.”

“He knows what he is doing. We need to get out of here,” Calesso said, moving her hands in a pattern on top of the bed. She ended with a punch and the entire bed glowed like an emerald in the sun. Calesso grabbed Evan by the collar and he fell on the bed, cradling Erin safely in his arms. Calesso tucked Evan's dangling legs onto the bed and chanted something he could not hear. In an instant the door crashed open and the three were gone. Nothing left but a scorched bed sheet to prove they were ever there.

***

Evan’s eyes opened to a blue sky above and a smoldering fire next to him. He sat up to get his bearings. Small destroyed wooden homes were scattered throughout the plain, some still on fire. Arrows were stuck in the ground, splintered wood scattered about. Evan had been here before. This was the goblin’s outpost in the Far Reach Forest. But where were the bodies? Evan looked down at his lap. Erin was gone.

“Erin!”

“Over here darling,” Calesso called from one of the larger, partially torn down cobblestone houses.

Evan went over to her. Inside, a small fire was brewing and Erin was sleeping in Calesso’s arms. A pile of dead goblins were in the corner, hacked to pieces. Evan remembered killing the goblins, maybe slashing a few in half, but the severed limbs in the corner looked excessive.

“How did we get here?” Evan asked.

“Here? I am not entirely sure. I was aiming for a warm place, but sometimes magic has a mind of it’s own.”

Evan felt dizzy, bracing himself against the wall. “Magic?”

“I can see you are not used to traveling like this. Your father never had the stomach for it either.”

“Father. We have to go back. I have to help him,” Evan said before placing both his hands on the wall, focusing on standing upright.

“You are in no condition to go anywhere. Just lay down by the fire. You will feel better.”

Evan crawled down to the ground, curling up next to the fire. His body relaxed and felt less dizzy. He took in the warmth of the fire, looking up at his mother rocking Erin in her arms.

“Mother...do you think father is alright?”

“I know he is.”

“How can you be so sure? He was outnumbered.”

“The king would never risk killing him. He is too valuable.”

“To the king? How?”

“He knows I will come for him.”

“Lure you into a trap.”

“Precisely.”

“Then what do you plan on doing?”

“Right now, my plan is making sure you two are alright.”

Erin woke up from her nap. Her little blue eyes blinked at her mother and yawned.

“Evan, can you hold her? I will make us some food.”

Evan sat up and took Erin from her. Erin’s eyes got big, staring at Evan, unsure who he was. He rocked her back and forth, smiling at her. Meanwhile, Calesso grabbed a severed goblin arm from the pile and stuck it over the fire. The aroma smelt sweet, unlike what they smelt like when he slaughtered them up. Calesso dug her fingernail into the skin and dragged it along the entire goblin arm, creating a groove. The goblin arm turned black, except inside the groove, where a green paste bubbled.

“Alright Erin, time to eat,” Calesso said, moving the goblin arm toward Erin’s face.

“Are you sure that is good to eat?” Evan asked.

“Goblin paste is actually really good for newborns. The problem is finding goblins.”

Calesso scooped the paste out with three fingers and the paste sizzled upon touching her hands. She kneeled down and put her fingers up to Erin’s mouth. Erin moved her head away.

“Oh, you need to see mommy eat it.” Calesso ate the paste, making sure Erin was watching, “Mmmhh. Good.”

Erin clapped her hands together awkwardly. Calesso scooped up another three fingers full and Erin ate it. She did this a few more times before Erin didn’t want anymore. Calesso then offered the arm to Evan. Evan looked at it like she was offering him maggots.

“Just like your father. Never liked trying new things.”

“I like trying new things...just not sure about eating goblin puss.”

“You really are your father’s son. Lucky for me, I know how to get you to eat it,” she said, scooping up a handful and covering her hand over his mouth. “This hand doesn’t move until you swallow it.”

Evan’s cheeks were full with the mushy paste. He looked at his mother, smiling warmly at him while Erin’s baby laughter filled the room. Evan relented and swallowed it in one gulp like it was water.

“Wasn’t that bad, was it?” Calesso said.

“No. It wasn’t.”

“New favorite food?”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“Fair enough,” she said and scooped up Erin from Evan.

Evan watched Calesso tickle Erin’s nose with her finger. “So Mother, what compelled you to have another child after all these years?”

Calesso blushed. “Honestly, Erin was an accident. I ran out of potions that would stop me from getting pregnant and I hadn’t seen him at that point in over a month. Your mother has needs you know.”

“Okay, I get it. No need to say more.”

“But once I got pregnant again, it really put everything in perspective for me. I should have stayed with you and your father. I was so afraid to lose you, I never got to be with you. And I don’t want to repeat that with Erin.”

Evan grabbed his mother’s hand and rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. “What matters is that you are with me now. I know father would have wanted that.”

Calesso smiled and leaned her head against his. “Don’t worry. We are going to get your father back. This family has been separated long enough.”

***

“We only have one more Goblin head,” Evan said, picking up the last one in the corner of the room by the few strands of hair left.

“Then we will need to make it count,” Calesso said.

Evan handed her the goblin head and she dropped it straight down on the fire. Once it was consumed by the fire, it rose above the flames and glowed white hot. It looked like an orb of light instead of the grotesque green head it was earlier.

“Show me the King,” she said to the floating orb.

The orb changed to show King Ulitch in a dark dungeon lit only by a few flame torches. He was punching a man who was suspended by chains. The groans of the man and shaking of his shackles echoed out of the orb. Calesso gritted her teeth, watching her husband being beat by King Ulitch. Evan was equally tense, squeezing his empty scabbard.

“It has been a week. How much longer do you think you will be able to last here?” King Ulitch said.

“This is the punishment I deserve. Not my family.”

“Wrong. Your family is just as guilty in this. But I only want Calesso. If you tell me where she is, I will spare your son.”

Evan’s father spit at King Ulitch. King Ulitch wiped his face.

“If you won’t give up Calesso. And she apparently won’t come for you. I don’t see the point in keeping you around.” King Ulitch drew his sword.

Calesso frantically drew in the dirt with her fingers. Evan went over to grab Erin, who was sleeping soundly.

“Stay with Erin. I will get your father,” Calesso said.

“But we need to stick together.”

Calesso stopped drawing and faced Evan. “You need to take care of Erin. I can’t protect her over there. Promise me you will keep her safe.”

“But–”

“Promise me!”

“I will. I promise.”

She kissed him on the forehead and punched the ground. Dirt kicked up and put out the fire. The floating orb turned to dust, sprinkling over the smoldering fire. Evan stood holding Erin, shielding her from the dust. He waited for his mother to return at that very spot, but every passing moment felt longer and longer. The sun started to set and he knew he had to get the fire going again. He placed Erin in a little makeshift crib his mother made out of bones and one of his undershirts, while he searched for more firewood. Not wanting to travel far, he collected pieces from other destroyed houses in the outpost when he heard the snapping of sticks in the forest.

Evan looked over to where the sound came from, but saw nothing. He continued collecting wood when he heard the croaking of goblins. Spinning around with his arms full, three goblins charged him, with swords waving in the air. Evan threw the pile of sticks at the first goblin and reached to his empty scabbard. He grabbed air and looked down, realizing he wasn’t armed. Evan backpedaled as the other two goblins slashed at him, until he tripped over a rock jutting out of the ground. The two goblins put their swords to his neck, while the first goblin approached them and spoke.

“What did you do to this village? What did you do to our brothers and sisters?” the goblin asked.

Evan said nothing. It was better than telling them he slaughtered and ate their people. Before the goblin spoke again, Erin started crying. The goblins looked up toward the sound and breathed in deep.

“Mmmhh. I smell a small human. What a delicacy,” the first goblin said and started walking toward Erin’s cries.

Evan looked to his right and saw a stone the size of his fist. He slapped the swords away and rolled to grab the stone. The nearest goblin stabbed at Evan, but he deflected it with the stone. Evan got to his feet and followed up with a strike to the goblin’s head, knocking it to the floor. The other goblin stabbed at him and Evan narrowly evaded it. Evan threw the stone at that goblin. The goblin felt the wind from the stone passing its head before Evan charged head first, tackling the goblin to the ground. Evan wrestled with the goblin over the sword, while the other goblin had gotten up and tried to stab Evan in the back. He rolled over, lifting the sword in the air and both goblins impaled each other. Evan pushed off the ground and ran to Erin. The goblin was inside the home, standing over Erin, taking in the little human’s scent.

“I am eating well tonight,” the goblin said over Erin’s cries and raised its sword.

Evan dashed inside and pushed the goblin into the cobblestone wall, the sword flying in the corner of the room. He mounted the goblin and began punching it until green blood came oozing out of its eyes. Evan stopped out of exhaustion and rose to his feet, wiping off the green blood on his trousers. Erin was still crying.

“It’s okay. I’m here,” Evan said, picking up Erin and rocking her.

She started to calm down in his arms and he walked outside to get away from the goblin he smashed. Outside was a worse sight, however. A large group of goblins were coming out of the treeline, twenty strong.

“Human!” one of the goblins yelled, pointing at him.

Evan ran away, into the other side of the forest. The sound of angry goblins chased him through the forest, but with each step their voices became muffled by the trees. He kept going until he did not hear their voices again and the foliage was getting denser. Covering Erin the best he could, he pushed through the brush until he arrived at a dirt path that led to a small cottage, much like his father’s. The light from the cottage beckoned him, as nighttime was almost upon them. He made his way up to it and knocked on the door. After he did that, a thought blew through his head. What if it was another goblin house? He backed away from the door and it opened. Inside was a large woman with long brown hair.

“Who goes there?” the woman said.

“My name is Sir–” Evan said.

“You have a baby! Get in quick. Before the goblins smell her.”

Evan went inside and was greeted by a mastiff that walked up next to him. On his left was a kitchen table and on his right was a wood floor with two children sleeping. The woman closed the door and motioned him to sit.

“I’m sorry to barge in here like this,” Evan said.

“It is alright. What were you two doing out there at this time of night?”

“Goblins attacked us. There were too many for me to fight so I took my sister and ran.”

The woman looked down at Erin. “Where is her mother?”

“I...I don’t know,” Evan said.

“When was the last time she was fed?”

“A few hours ago.”

She put her hands out. “Do you mind?”

He gave Erin to her and she cradled her. His arms felt lighter after not holding her anymore.

“I didn’t know anyone lived out here.”

“Not many do. My husband, Hillard and I moved out here quite a few years ago. He trades in special lumber and wanted to be closer to his supply. I wanted to live out in the forest and raise children, so we both got what we wanted.”

“So those are your two?”

“Oh yes. They are the best children I could ever ask for. I miss them as babies though. So tiny and innocent,” she said, pushing her nose close to Erin’s.

Evan started to think about what his mother said to him. To keep Erin safe. He knew he couldn’t take her with him. Erin wouldn’t last more than a few days and this woman knew how to take care of a child. She even wanted another baby.

“I hate to impose, but could you take care of my sister? Only until I find our mother. When I return I will be able to pay you,” Evan asked.

The woman lit up with delight. “I would love to.”

Evan leaned forward and rubbed his finger against Erin’s soft skin. He knew it would be the last time he would see her in a long time. His last thoughts, I’ll come back for you. I promise.

_________________________

If you want to read more of this story, my first novel, Striker's Search, takes place after these events. Buy it here!

Dust Bunnies

Glass shattering and the almost silent sound of soft feet bounding down the hall leaked into Timmy's room. Timmy was under his blue rocket sheets, peeking his head out to watch the grey blurs run past his room between the crack in the door. Mom had always warned him that if he didn't clean his room the dust bunnies would become real, but he didn't listen. Timmy hid under his sheets again upon hearing a banging on the door. It wasn't his, but the one across the hall. They were hunting. They wanted blood.

Timmy's spaceman pajamas were sticking to his skin and dread was starting to set in. His mom and dad left to go to a concert and Jenny put Timmy to bed early so she could go out with her boyfriend, Justin. Timmy was all alone and no one was coming to save him. 

Bang! His door slammed against the wall. Timmy closed his eyes and laid still, curled up in his bed. He could hear the air entering their little lungs as they sniffed around his bed. Three, maybe four of them. One jumped up on the bed, next to his foot. Timmy slowly moved it away, trying to not change the position of his sheets. The bunny hopped closer, pushing the sheet down. It hopped again and landed on his leg.

"Aggghhhh!" Timmy squealed.

Throwing the sheet off himself and kicking the wrapped up bunny off the bed, he bounced off his bed and fell into his closet. The puffy grey bunnies surrounded him and moved in like a pack of wolves. They showed their white teeth and growled. Their beady red eyes stared into Timmy's, void of any emotion other than pure rage.

Timmy backed up and his clothes covered his face. His right hand grabbed something with a handle and it came alive. It whirled and grew louder once it stuck into the carpet. He lifted it up and the suction broke from the carpet, yet still made the same whirring sound. He moved the clothes out of his eyes and the bunnies hopped away. In his hand was a little hand vacuum his mom gave him to clean his room. He got to his feet and held the vacuum up like he found Excalibur. 

"Time to get cleaning!" Timmy declared and marched out of his room.

The bunnies all ran around in terror at the sound of his vacuum. Timmy chased them all over the house, sucking them up one by one. Each one squeaked in fear as their bodies got squeezed into the small opening, disappearing into the void. He vanquished them all, until there was only one left. Cornered against the red oak entrance door, he moved in closer. The bunny had nowhere to go and covered its eyes with its fluffy paws. Timmy was about to strike when the vacuum stopped. He slapped it a few times, but it refused to come back to life.

The bunny removed its paws and locked eyes with Timmy. The bunny roared while Timmy stood there still trying to wake up his vacuum. It lowered its body, ready to spring into action when the door came swinging open. The bunny was smashed into the wall behind it and turned into a cloud of dust. In the doorway, Timmy's mom and dad stood in their fancy clothes.

"What did you do?" Timmy's mom asked.

Timmy looked around at the giant mess in the house. Vases and their contents spilled on the couch, the TV was face down on the living room carpet, and the horror in the kitchen that would be best described as the aftermath of a hurricane was all that was left for his parents to witness.

"I was just cleaning."