[ WP ] The apocalypse has come . The only survivors : a young child , and the monster under the bed ...

The child sat there, kicking her legs silently in the burnt wasteland. Her bed, for what it was worth, was useful for surviving the apocalypse. But Mommy and Daddy were gone, so what was there for her to do? She had been thinking about that for a while. Mostly about whether the Monster would still come with them gone. 
 
 The Monster had lived under her bed since she could remember. Even when fire rained from the sky and dust filled the air, he still survived. So she was n't surprised when he came. He came to her, fire coming from his eyes, tail lashing like a whip, and teeth like razors. `` I am here,'' he whispered, his voice a rasp, `` to devour you.'' 
 
 Despite him having existed for years, the child did n't feel afraid this time. She gave him no response, merely continuing to kick her legs. The Monster frowned and brought his head as close to hers as he could manage without burning her. `` Did you not hear? I am here to devour you.'' 
 
 The child looked at him, a slight frown creasing her face. `` Why?'' 
 
 The Monster's sneer faltered. `` What do you mean?'' 
 
 The child's frown grew. `` You said you wanted to eat me. Why?'' 
 
 `` I am fear,'' the Monster hissed. `` I will make you scream in fear and frustration, looking for hope, but then you will find none.'' 
 
 `` You want me to be afraid?'' The Monster nodded, but the child's frown grew only deeper. `` But why eat me?'' 
 
 `` To make an example,'' the Monster hissed. `` So that other's will know to fear me. I have survived for generations, one person's fear passed on to another. Over time, they have heard the stories of my might. And so, like many others, you will be afraid. Those that are feared survive for generations. And you will be afraid.'' 
 
 The child thought about that for a moment, sucking on her thumb as she did so. `` But I'm not afraid.'' 
 
 `` But you will be. When the others here that I exist, but will not aid you, your fear of me will only grow.'' He brought his spiked tail close to her face, grinning. `` You will tell them that I exist. But they can not help you.'' 
 
 `` But who am I to tell?'' 
 
 The fire went out of the Monster's eyes. His expression faltered, his once certain sneer becoming uncertain, afraid. `` What... what do you mean?'' 
 
 `` You're the only one I could tell. Mommy and Daddy are n't here. Neither is Billy or Suzy. You're the only person I have to talk to. Mommy and Daddy said that you could n't hurt me. Is that true?'' 
 
 `` If I hurt you, you would be afraid.'' The Monster's sneer was half-hearted. `` But... maybe you could find others. And they would be afraid of me. And I would n't have to hurt you.'' His spikes drooped slightly. 
 
 The girl stamped her foot on the ground. `` But why? Why do you want me to be afraid?'' 
 
 `` So that others might fear me...'' 
 
 `` And what if I fear you? Everyone else has left. I'm the only one for you to make scared.'' 
 
 `` Then I will have made the whole world afraid.'' 
 
 The girl frowned, thinking about his words. `` And what if I leave, like Mommy and Daddy?'' 
 
 The Monster stopped to think about it. Then he began to cry. The girl walked over to him, patting him on the back. `` Mommy said that you should always help someone who cries. Would you like to sit on my bed with me? It's comfy.'' 
 
 The Monster nodded and the pair of them walked over to the bed and sat down to watch what was left of the world burn.
