Don't Say Goodnight

Kasey loves horror stuff – books, movies, games, whatever. Thing is they tend to freak her out and stay in her mind like a burden longer than they should. Because of that she finds it hard to fall asleep and tends to stay up into the wee hours until she feels it’s safe to sleep.

Tonight was no different. Her mom had gone out with her new boyfriend for a couple of hours, leaving the young girl home alone. (Not completely alone if you wanted to count her two dwarf hamster as company.)

She had been watching a documentary on vampire legends and lore. Now Kasey has a wild imagination and things tend to get to her easily. It didn’t help that it was also thundering so hard that her windows rattled. The rain poured and the wind howled viciously.

When the program was over she turned back on her lamp and cuddled under her sheets, glancing to see if her door was closed firmly. She tried watching some cartoons to get the unsettling feeling out of her stomach. Kasey knew stuff like vampires and ghosts, they don’t exist, but her head always says otherwise.

She wished her mom would get home already. As soon as the thought came the telephone rang. It was out in the hallway, with no light. With the way it was storming Kasey doubted it would come on anyway.

She sucked up her childish thoughts, mocked herself for being a baby, and went out into the hall where she quickly turned on the light and answered the phone.

“Hello?”

“Kasey? I’m around the corner . . . I’ll be home in two minutes. Are you scared?”

“Mom, I’m –“

“I’m just making sure.”

“’Kay. Bye.” She hung up and raced back into the comfort of her room. Somehow that little conversation made her feel well, so when she was all good and settled, Kasey turned off the lamp, leaving the TV on, and went to sleep.


Kasey woke up to the sound of someone shuffling into her room. Kasey rubbed her eyes, but they were still groggy and heavy since she had her glasses off.

“Mom?” she yawned, squinting at the tall figure. She realized it wasn’t her mom but her mom’s boyfriend.
“Tom, what are you –?” He was staring at her oddly, posture hunched over and the front of his shirt was soaked with something dark.

Kasey sat up in bed, fear racking her insides, and cried out, “Mom!”

That’s when she looked past Tom and saw her mom standing in the doorway. She could see the red coloring of her neck, the two bite marks clearly visible.

Tom bared his teeth at her.

Kasey didn’t get to scream as loud or long as she would’ve wanted.



FIN