And now for something a little different.

The fear was paralyzing.

His heart raced, and he had to gasp for breath.

He couldn't move, but he had to. If he just sat there, dead limbed and wide eyed, the monster would get him.

The boy crept from his bed, his eyes riveted on the dark crack in his closet door. That sliver of darkness was more dangerous than the boy two doors down and his knuckle sandwiches. It was more frightening than the loudest claps of thunder, and made him feel sick to his stomach.

His little feet zipped him to the door, eyes still locked on the space between the closet's door and jamb.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, he turned and ran.

His mother's room was several doors down, but it felt like he only took a few steps to reach it. He felt the fear building again, past the rush that leaving his room had brought. A glance back at his room, and he felt the desperation flood him as he grasped the doorknob. The darkness had taken over his room—he couldn't see any light from his window, just darkness.

The door was locked.

"No…" he whimpered, rattling the knob. It was softly at first, but with increasing fervor as he felt the darkness drawing closer. It had left his closet and swallowed his room—soon it would leave his room and he would be swallowed up next. "Mom…!" He whined, tears beginning to drip down his cheeks. Soon his little fists were hitting the door, and it wasn't long until he heard a sigh on the other side and the door unlocking.

"Qu'est-ce qu'il y a, petit?" It was a man's voice when the door opened, and a man's leg that he found himself clinging to. "Shh, shh, shhh… it is okay..." he hissed softly, and a hand came down to rest on the boy's hair. It wasn't until the boy had calmed down to the occasional hiccupping sniffle that he spoke again. This time, his voice was less lethargic with sleep, and his strange accent less noticeable. "Now, what is wrong, boy?"

"There's a monster in my room…" he said softly, tucking his face against the man's hip. His mother had always warned him against strangers, but he didn't think that included the strangers she brought home.

"A monster?" the man's voice sounded concerned rather than humored like the rest. The boy looked up at the man and swallowed a scared whine as he nodded. "Hmm…" the man reached down and lifted him to rest on his hip.

The boy's arms circled his neck, and he rested his head on the man's shoulder.

"Let's go investigate, shall we?" The man patted his back gently and began carrying him back toward his room.

"Do we have to?" The boy whimpered; his arms tightened around the man's neck and he shifted his face to blot out all chance of seeing the monster. He just wanted to go sleep beside his mother for the rest of the night, that was where it was safe.

The man halted and he pulled the boy's head gently away from his chest. Cool fingers directed his head up, and he saw the man's face clearly for the first time.

He was handsome, more handsome than the few of the other men he'd seen his mother with. He reminded the boy of a movie star.

He was kinder, too. It was in his eyes—the way he looked at the boy made him feel safe, like he could trust this man he'd never met before that night. His nose was strange, though, it looked like a bird's beak. The thought made him smile a little.

"There we are." The man smiled back at him and the boy felt his mounting fear begin to recede again. The man started moving once again, and the boy silently allowed himself to be carried back to his room.

"No, what if—"

The man shushed him again with a finger on his lips. "Monsters are afraid of me." His smile turned into something different, more of a smirk than a look of reassurance.

"Really?" The boy asked.

"Yes, really." The man chuckled and patted his back again. "Do you trust me, petit?"

The boy seemed to think about it for a moment, but it wasn't long until he was nodding—completely sure of his decision.

"Well, then, let's go give that monster a fright."

This time, the boy didn't hide against the man's chest. This time, they faced the door together.