Obscura Fabula (Dark Shorts)

Elves on My Bed

Elves on My Bed

Everything was dark, except for the little nightlight plugged on the wall next to my bed. The alarm clock marked with green fluorescent digital numbers the hour: 3:00 am.

I tossed and turned on the bed, wishing to be sleeping already, but there was something in the air that felt heavy that night. I closed my eyes forcing myself to fall asleep, when I heard some noises. It sounded as if it were rats chewing something, screeching and running all around my room. 'Mice? Impossible!' I thought. My house was always neat and clean. That was when the critter-biting-like-sound ceased and after a few minutes, I was finding my way to slumberland.

All of a sudden I heard some different noises, this time louder, sounding like children's laughter. Mocking chuckles that were so audible that made me jump to sit up straight on my bed. I was fully awake and I could hear them laugh. Who? I didn't know. I was completely alone in my house.

Terrified, I turned on the bedside table lamp. Nothing. There was nothing to see or hear. The laughter was gone.

'Maybe I was dreaming... Yes, it could be.' I thought. Then I turned off the lamp and covered myself completely with the blankets. From head to toes. I really wanted to fall asleep and both the alarm clock green blinking numbers and the night light seemed to cause me some trouble. But the night light was something I wasn't able to give up. Demons roam through the shadows, they say. And I wasn't going to prove that theory... Not that night.

My eyes closed... My breathing became relaxed and slow... Dreams were coming in the shadowy patters and colors they appear first. Then I heard it again. The chuckles; first they seemed to be distant, but I could hear how the neared and neared to my bed getting so close... So frightening close. It was as if a dozen kids were playing inside my bedroom, having fun, laughing scornfully. Sometimes like chirping, others grotesque.

I opened my eyes. It was dreadful! There were shadows dancing on the walls. Creepy figures displayed in front of me and then around me, moving frantically, madly, projected on the walls.

I gasped. A scream choked in my throat and then it happened. The shadows, the scornful creatures jumped up into my bed. They jumped and chuckled, mocking on my fright. It was as if they were doing some evil dance around me; no music, only their witch-like cracking. They moved and hopped on my mattress making me move involuntary up and down too. My heart hammered inside my chest uncontrollably and thought I would die of fear.

I couldn't believe what I was experiencing, what I was hearing and seeing. It was simply horrifying. There was something jumping and laughing on my bed.

Taking a deep breath I clicked on the switch to turn the lamp on, again. Gone! Whatever it was, just disappeared when the lights were on. I was terrified, frozen on the middle of my bed. I cried... Then I prayed until the sun rose the next morning.