"There are no monsters under your bed, in the closet, or on the walls," her mother assures her before giving her a kiss on the forehead and tucking her in.
The feeble nightlight at the opposite end of the room casts a withering glow across the room. Sarah almost wishes that that it was completely dark. At least that way she wouldn't see anything, wouldn't imagine malicious shadows on the cream blue walls. She shuts her eyes so tight that they form creases on her face. Counting silently to herself, she tries to fall asleep but to no avail.
Then she hears a creak of a floorboard. She perks up, listening for more, but it's gone, an old house stretching...or something else.
Sarah closes her eyes again and hums a song to herself, an improvised lullaby. Just as she drifts into slumber, she hears breathing. It is coarse and labored and sounds like it is from something large. There is a sniffling sound and then silence. She grabs at the sheets and throw them over her head.
The night's excitement is wearing her out and as she lets herself relax, she drifts off again. But just as she does again, she gets up with a start because she hears the breathing again. This time she feels it on her neck too.
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