Frightened to Death

By Alex Bambos

I lie in bed, still awake, thinking about what might put me to sleep. I count sheep, think of the day ahead, and try to make up a dream, but nothing, nothing works. As I lie awake, desperately trying to think of something, I hear it: the noise that changed my life forever. It is the creaking of a floorboard, but this one is most unlike anything that I have ever heard. It does not sound like a floorboard creaking, but more like a floorboard being cracked. None of that matters to me now, as I lie awake in bed, trying to reassure myself that it is only a floorboard, nothing scary. I close my eyes and try to think of something, anything, other than the floorboards. Just as I get that happy dream that puts every child to sleep, I hear another noise. It is the sound of running water. “Be calm,” I tell myself. “Everything will be all right.” Just then, the water shuts off, leaving me as scared as ever. I want to scream, to pile my furniture against the door, to turn my bed sheet into a rope and lower myself out of the window. I am paralyzed however, because of fear. I hear a sound, a growl, like that of a bear, protective of her cubs. I grab my flashlight and my Nerf gun, and aim both at the door. Now, I hear footsteps, closer than ever. My brain is racing faster than it ever has, and ever will, I think of what it could be. A burglar? An assassin? Or even a monster? The door slowly creeks open. I grab my flashlight; aim it and my Nerf gun at the door, and fire…