[ TT ] A child is kidnapped . Outraged , the monsters that live under their bed and in their closet vow to find them .

The bed stands, cold and empty. The duvet lies untouched. 
 She has not come to bed. 
 Fingers reach from underneath, questing, searching for her warmth. Only coldness is found. 
 
 This is wrong. The child should be abed. 
 
 The shadow fingers withdraw into the darkness below. A voice chitters, confused. 
 The wardrobe door opens slowly, exaggerated creaking amplified by its inhabitant. 
 Red dots, unblinking eyes stare into the gloom. 
 A hiss of surprise. 
 
 A questioning chitter. 
 A frustrated hiss. 
 Unspeakable tongues click against slime coated teeth. 
 
 Shadows flow and meld. 
 They are not wrong. She is not here. She should be here. 
 The creeping darkness slithers under the bedroom door. A closed door. This too is wrong. 
 There is no crack for the landing light to give small comfort. 
 The landing light is off. 
 
 Crying from downstairs. 
 The shadows move, eager and drawn to the fear. Yet this tastes different. Aged and unusual. 
 This is a fear forgotten and rekindled. 
 It is not her. 
 
 The father-man is hunched on the settee. He weeps. His fists clench and unclench. The television glows but is silent. 
 Her picture is on the screen. 
 He can not bear to look. 
 
 They skirt the walls, creeping into the hidden places, sliding under chairs and tables, whispering through the house. 
 Unfamiliar men in uniforms and suits are in the kitchen. The light here is bright, not shadows to hide in. 
 
 Chitter 
 Hiss 
 Chitter chitter 
 Hissssss 
 
 GROWL 
 
 The uniform and suit men turn, but they are already gone. 
 
 In the night they extend and stretch. Becoming more, becoming beyond. 
 
 Ears that are not ears listen. 
 Nostrils that are pits of black sniff. 
 
 The crying is faint, but it is her. 
 The smell is of her, but unclean and fear streaked. 
 
 Chitter 
 Hiss 
 
 They take to the skies, darkness amongst darkness. 
 They seek. They hunt. They find. 
 
 They hear her. 
 They smell her. 
 They hear two others. 
 They smell what they have done. 
 
 Growl 
 Growl 
 
 They pulsate through the door locks. 
 They undulate into the bedroom. 
 They see. 
 They grow. 
 
 ROAR 
 

