[ WP ] A monster is experiencing agonizing pain , and is convinced that killing you is the only way to relieve it . Write from the monster 's perspective .

Every night it ’ s the same routine. The TV goes off, the boy prays, the lights go out. And then, agony. A pressure, a pain so great that death feels like the only option. But it won ’ t be my death. 
 
 Tonight is the night that the pain and the agony end. Human beings are predictable, they are creatures of habit. Tonight, that routine ends. 
 
 My chest tightens as the sounds of the TV cease, my sweat starts dripping to the floor. I ’ m scared. In all my years, no human, certainly no child, has caused the type of crippling pain and anguish that this one has caused me. The little boy, Todd, has found vulnerability in me that no one else ever has. Something he has exploited in order to make me feel weak. 
 
 The door creaks open and light floods the room as his mother tells him to brush his teeth. I am still, hidden, watching as he takes the tube of toothpaste and puts a glob on his Buzz Lightyear toothbrush. He begins to look rabid as the toothpaste foams around his mouth. 
 
 “ Make sure to brush for two minutes, ” his mother insists, merely delaying the inevitable. 
 
 I feel no shame or guilt, those are human emotions, and this is a matter of life and death. I know pain, fear, and anger. I ’ ve known nothing else since this boy came into my life eight years ago. It wasn ’ t so bad at first, but as I watched him grow bigger, it became increasingly clear that this world was not meant to hold both of us. One must die so the other could live. I was not ready to sacrifice myself for a creature with such a short lifespan. 
 
 I ’ m interrupted by the sink turning off and footsteps leaving the bathroom. Refocusing my attention, I can hear the boy and his mother approaching. My claws are trembling in anticipation, ready to come flying out and peel that smug bastard ’ s skin right off his face, his eyes staring at me while I do it. But not yet. Not until she ’ s gone and the lights are out. 
 
 “ You need to rest up, tomorrow ’ s a big day. You ’ re going to be nine-years-old. Do you feel any bigger? ” 
 
 “ I ’ m still eight for another two hours, mom. ” 
 
 “ And you got to stay up a little later because of that. But now, it ’ s time to go to sleep. ” 
 
 He ’ s smiling; I feel my blood start to boil. I want to rip the smile off of his face and see what look he gives me when no longer has any lips. 
 
 “ Do you want me to turn off the light before you pray? ” 
 
 “ Yeah, I ’ m a big boy now. I can handle the dark. ” 
 
 She smiles at him and he smiles back. I ’ m out of smiles. All I want is to relieve the horrible ache that courses through my body, the constant reminder of my mortality. 
 
 He kneels to pray, the same one he says every night. 
 
 “ Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. ” 
 
 You ’ d better hope He does. 
 
 Fighting the pain that wracks my body, I grab the metal grate in front of me and begin pulling myself along, pressure increasing from all sides. Movement is almost impossible, but if I can just get through, it can be over. It ’ s never been this hard, but I make it, tearing my skin in the process. It doesn ’ t matter anymore. The oppressive force lies in front of me, peaceful, asleep. The air is different here, not as stale, but I ignore it, my claws reaching out to start peeling the child like an apple. 
 
 Tonight ends the reign of the monster on top of the bed.
