*knock knock*
Sophia sat up, instantly alert. She didn't know exactly what time it was, but it was definitely past her bedtime.
She had come to realise that there was never enough time in the day to play with all her toys. So, at night, she had come to gather all her toys and a torch, and played under the covers.
The extremely handsome knight was just about to beat Spike The Dragon, and save the Princess, when she heard the knock at the door.
“Quick! Hide!” Sophia whispered urgently as if the toys had a choice.
She swept all the toys off her bed and onto the floor beside her before watching the heroes plummet to their doom. Oh well, she was sure they'd win next time.
Sophia threw the covers back over her and rolled onto her side whilst closing her eyes. She was very good at faking sleep: Mummy never suspected a thing.
But Mummy never came.
A few minutes passed before Sophia again opened her eyes. The door was still shut; the room was still pitch-black.
Still, Sophia wondered who had knocked on her door and not opened it. Maybe she had imagined it? Maybe it was Big Brother? He was always playing tricks on her. Like that time when he threw her dragon in the...
Sophia stopped herself and shuddered. That was definitely not something she wanted to relive.
She turned back over and shut her eyes again. The Princess could wait until the morning.
*knock knock*
Sophia sat up again, this time sure of the knock on her door. She looked towards the door of her room and expected it to open.
“Come in,” Sophia tempted. She could just say that the first knock woke her up, as an excuse for being awake.
The door moved slightly but Sophia didn't notice at first: she was looking at the wrong one.
But out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the door of her closet had opened a bit.
Sophia was puzzled: It wasn't windy today, and even so, the windows were shut. So why had the door opened?
“Are you in there Tom? Mum won't be pleased if you are,” she called.
The closet answered only with a slight creak as the door swung open a little off its hinge.
Sophia stared straight ahead and, through the small gap, she saw... nothing. The closet was as black as can be.
“Is anyone in there?” she asked again. She was feeling a little uneasy now.
A tiny breeze delicately drifted from the door, catching Sophia's skin and making her shiver. She shook it off and kept her eyes fixed on the closet.
A small hissing sounded and Sophia raised the duvet over her so only her eyes could see. She even positioned her long, brown hair over her face so she could just peek through – a cunning and deceptive hiding technique.
A little smoke seeped from the opening and she saw something move in the dark. In a flash, the door flung open and Sophia's gaze was met by faint, glowing, green eyes.
She recoiled as the eyes moved from the closet towards her, pushing herself back against the wall, trying to make the distance between them as big as possible.
Some parts of the creature were also slightly visible in the dark, and Sophia could make out bug-like wings and a twisted thing protruding from the head of whatever it was.
As it bore down on her, she opened her mouth, ready to scream and summon her mother, when it stopped at the edge of her bed. It slowly turned around in disbelief, and stared back the way it came.
It then paused, and weighed up its options.
I leave the Hive for one minute, and this happens?
Finally, with a sigh of annoyance, it traipsed back to the open door of the closet.
Sophia caught glimpse of the swaying tail in the dark as the creature disappeared from sight to confront whatever was back there. The door slowly shut itself behind the dark figure.
Sophia paused. She waited for a moment or so. Then she screamed.
With the paralysing terror gone, she dashed from her bed and yanked open the door to her room. She had no idea what that had been, but she knew someone who would be able to help.
“Mum!” Sophia yelled as she raced down the hall to her mother's room.
She burst in and started poking her mum awake, urging her to come back with her.
Sophia led her dreary-eyed mother back to her room and positioned her right in front of the seemingly innocent closest.
“Mum! There's a big thing in my closet!”
Mum looked a bit bored but tried her best to appear interested. “Are you sure, darling? What did it look like?”
“I'm not sure. It was big, and black, but mostly big. It was too dark too see properly, but it looked like a big bug,” Sophia said.
Mum, wanting to return to her sleep, flung open the door, much to Sophia's dismay: “Don't go in there! It'll eat you!”
Mum ignored her and scoured the almost-empty insides. There were a few clothes but, looking further around, not much else.
“Ah,” Mum said, reaching for something, “found it.” She brought out a small, spindly spider and presented it in the palm of her hand to Sophia.
Sophia was not amused. “That's not it Mum.”
But her mother didn't hear her, being half-asleep. She closed the door, took the spider with her, and left the bedroom. Sophia heard her footsteps getting gradually quieter as she made her way back to her room.
Sophia knew there was no point in arguing with Mum when she was tired. She walked back over to her bed and sat down, neglecting the light that was still on. She didn't feel that safe in the dark anymore.
Maybe it was just a dream? Maybe, but it was a dream that she did not want repeated.
Eventually deciding to switch off the light, Sophia got back into her bed, and cuddled up safely with her toys.
They'd keep her safe for sure.
With her favourite friends by her side, she again closed her eyes.
*knock knock*
She bolted upright again and started quivering, scared to the bone.
Sophia watched again, terrified, as the door gradually opened.
The same green eyes reappeared and Sophia shrunk in fear as they advanced on her. Her nightmares were nothing like this.
It was then that she became aware that her hand was rested on her toy dragon, Spike. She clutched him tightly and spoke out of the corner of her mouth:
“Please Mister Spike, I know we've had our differences, but I really need your help.”
The creature stopped again, noticing the words slip out of the girl's mouth.
It laughed with a wicked cackle.
But Sophia didn't laugh. She heard Spike's words loud and clear in her head.
It's okay, Sophia. I kind of like the amount of power you give me in playtime, considering I'm actually a bit on the small side.
“Help,” Sophia again whispered.
Don't let her scare you. Don't let her boss you around. You be the one who takes control!
With Spike's words strong in her head, she reached for the torch on her bedside. He's right. This meanie just busted some good old playtime and now thinks she can further boss me around? No way!
The monster laughed again. It was enjoying the moment and knew that soon it would be enjoying the taste of her love.
“Hey, you!”
The monster stopped laughing and stared, perplexed, at the outburst.
“Yeah you, Mister Bug! Who do you think you are?” yelled the girl, switching on the torch and directing it at the creature's face.
It flinched, stunned by both the intensity of the light, and the intensity of the shouting.
Now fully exposed in the light, it looked a little bit silly with its long, flowing, blue hair. It looked a bit like a bug-unicorn with wings – what a silly combination! The colours were blocky, bright and rather childish; certainly not the stuff of nightmares. Now in the glare of the torch, it seemed just like any old helpless insect caught in a net.
“I'm not male,” the creature hissed, visibly angered. “And I'm no common bug!” It bared its fangs and snarled.
But Sophia was now in no mood to be intimidated by the stupid talking insect. With her fearsome dragon by her side, and torch in her hand, she felt confident.
“But you look silly! You look like something I would find in my garden at night!” Sophia waved the torch at parts of the creature with contempt.
“Then that is no common garden. I am a Changeling! The greatest thing you've ever seen!”
But the girl wasn't impressed. Neither was Spike.
Has she seen my fire breath?
“If she had seen it, then she wouldn't be here anymore.” Sophia grinned. She then turned back to this 'changeling'.
“Are you kidding? You're not even in my top hundred!” Sophia laughed, albeit still with a hint of nervousness. “You're probably just ahead of snails. And that's generous.”
Things weren't going according to plan for the changeling. She was a Queen! She had expected to come in here, gain a few screams for good measure, then harvest all that love.
Well then, it was time for things to get nasty.
“A snail? I am the changeling Queen, Chrysalis! Your snail doesn't even get a look in. Can it change to whatever form it pleases? Because I most certainly can!”
In accordance with that, Chrysalis lowered her head, ready to begin a transformation.
Sophia's confidence began to quickly dissipate as green flames started to surge over the creature's skin. However, they then died down as quickly as they had come.
“Sophia is that you again?” a voice called.
Chrysalis again weighed up her options. She didn't want to bring others into this – she didn't know to what extent how powerful these creatures were. Especially in numbers.
“This isn't over. I'll be back next night and you'll see how powerful a changeling really is!” Chrysalis began to cackle again as she retreated back to the closet.
Sophia just stuck out her tongue. “Spike and I don't want you,” she taunted in a hushed voice when the door finally shut.
The other door opened and a hand reached for the light.
“Who were you talking to?” asked Mum.
“Umm,” Sophia struggled for a response. “Spike The Dragon of course!” she brandished her dragon in front of her.
Spike looked at Mum blankly (as he always did) but Mum knew that Spike was serious business.
“Okay, darling. Just get some sleep now, okay?”
“Sure thing, Mum!” Sophia called as Mum left, turning off the light again.
“Well Mum did some good for once. Although, I'm pretty sure we had things covered. Thanks for sticking up for me, Spike.”
It's okay. It's the least I could do.
“But I make the other toys beat you every night!”
I get free accommodation though so it's cool. Now if you'll excuse me, I need some shut-eye. I'm pretty tired.
Sophia had only learnt that word “accommodation” yesterday – Spike loved to show off his vocabulary.
“But Spike, how can you be tired? You've never moved in your life you lazy dragon!”
But Spike was already asleep. He was such a good sleeper and, surprisingly for a dragon, didn't snore.
“Goodnight, Spike.” Sophia kissed his light purple felt and placed him on the pillow. She was sure he'd protect her that night if that changeling-thingy returned.
Rest assured, if it returned again next night and ruined playtime, she and Spike would take serious action.
And if Mum decided to ruin playtime like she so often did?
She'd face Spike's wrath too. Sophia was definitely not going to miss out on another night.
Playtime is over? Not on my watch!
If I had one, that is.
Night, Spike!