Darkness

            by Justin Malachowski

 

When Cody turned nine his parents told him he was old enough to have his own room, so he could have more privacy from his other siblings. On the night after his birthday party he gathered his blanket and stuffed rhinoceros and walked down the hall to his new room. It was no bigger then his previous room, but at least he would no longer have to share any space with his younger brother and sister. The room was mostly empty except for a large bed against the wall. Cody’s father helped him into his bed and after saying goodnight his father began to close the door.

 

 

            “Dad?” Cody said to his dad. “Can I have a nightlight?”

            “Aren’t you a little old for a nightlight?” his father questioned.

            “Please dad.”

            “Well alright,” Cody’s dad grabbed a nightlight and plugged it into the wall. “Goodnight son,” and with that he closed the door and Cody was left in the room all by him self.

            At first Cody had trouble sleeping but after awhile his eyelids grew heavy and he fell fast asleep.

            BOOM! Cody wakes up to the sound of a loud bumping. He opens his eyes but all he can see is darkness.

            “What happened to the nightlight?” he says out loud to himself in a soft voice.

            “It has been destroyed,” a deep voice says out of nowhere. Cody freezes unable move, terrified to his very core.

 

 

 

            “Who is there?” Cody manages to squeak out into the darkness.

            “It is I, King of the goblins.” The voice makes every hair on Cody’s body stand straight up. “And I have come for you, Cody.”

            “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Cody screams at the top of his lungs. Suddenly the door swings open and Cody’s father comes rushing in turning on the light.

            “What is the matter son?” his father rushes over the side of the bed. “Why were you screaming?”

            “There was a voice, and it said that it had come to take me. I’m scared Dad.” Cody leans to embrace his father.

            “Look son,” The Father begins. “It might be a little scary at first, but you will get over it, you’re just not used to sleeping alone.” And with that Cody’s father left the room turning off the light behind him and closing the door.

            Cody calmed down realizing that it was probably all in his imagination. The nightlight was still on. “It must have been a dream.” He says to himself, hugs his Rhino and closes his eyes.

 

          

 “It is no Dream,” The voice comes again from the Darkness. Cody opens his eyes but once again sees only darkness. “You will not escape me so easily.” This time Cody acts fast and jumps out of bed and runs over to the door. He reaches out for a knob but all he finds is darkness.

            “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Cody screams again, but this time Dad doesn’t come to his aid.

            “Scream all you want. It won’t help you.” The voice sounds even louder, fiercer and closer.

            “Leave me alone Goblin king!” Cody Commands out into the darkness unsure of where the voice is coming from. Cody clenches his Rhino as hard as he can and stats to run through the darkness. Cody runs and runs and keeps on running into the Darkness, the voice right behind following.

            “You can’t escape me, I am the goblin king.” The voice comes from behind Cody, and he runs even faster.

            After a while of running Cody sees a dim light and runs towards is. As he gets closer he realizes that the light is a key hole. A key hole alone in the darkness.

 

 

Cody puts his eye against the key hole and looks to the other side. He sees his parent’s room. Inside his mother is laying on the bed and his Father is pacing back and fourth.

            “Maybe he is still too young to have his own room,” Cody’s mom says.

            “I was His age when I first got my own room, younger in fact,” his father says harshly still pacing pack and fourth.

            “Maybe Just one more year,” the Mother says.

            “Yes you are right, one more year,” the Father agrees and starts to walk towards the door on the other side of the room from Cody. “We will move him back right now.”

            “Wait no Dad, I’m over here Dad,” Cody yells as he desperately searches for a door knob.

 

 

            “Yes I will come with,” the mother says and gets out of bed.

            “Mom I’m over here Mom!” Cody yells at his mom, but both of his parents seem not to be able to hear. They exit the room and close the door behind themselves.

            “I have you now!” The voice comes from directly behind.

 

            Cody’s parents open the door of Cody’s room, turn on the light and walk inside, but Cody is not in his bed. His parents search all through out the house, but never find Cody. For Cody belongs to the Goblin king now and will never see home again.