Halloween Flash #1

I love Halloween. Always have. I love spooky stuff. I love a haunted mood and a good gore fest both. So, in the spirit of the month, I plan to post a few horror flash pieces over the next few weeks as we approach the big night. Feel free to join in if you’re a mind too, and if you want to send me a notice that you’ve done so at Kainja at hotmail dot com (Put Halloween Horror in the subject line), or drop me a note in my comments section, then I’ll post the links to your stories here on my blog. Let’s call it Halloween Horror October. Below is my first burnt offering.

GOODNIGHT

You are lying awake and still in the darkness when you hear the noise, a soft shuffle, like rotted feet dragging on carpet.

Your heartbeat speeds. Your mouth dries. Who’s coming? Who’s coming!

The door to your bedroom opens, scritching back on hinges that need oiling. A shadow bulks in the faint glow from the hallway lamp. A scream rises in your throat, bulges your lips like vomit trying to escape.

But then you hear Momma say: “Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”

“Yes, Momma,” you reply. And: “I love you, Momma.”

You think you see her smile. Certainly there is a flash of white in the dimness that could be her teeth.

The door closes and you lie awake and still. But no matter how still you lie, there is movement under the sheets.

You bite your lip. Your nose itches but you dare not lift a hand to scratch. You must: “sleep tight.”

Or else the mandible-clicking little monsters that Momma tucked in with you earlier will rip you to shreds.

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