The wall swelled in front of Alex and he cringed back in terror, unsure of what would materialize this time. Bulbous eyes emerged first, hanging from stalks like horrific Christmas baubles. Alex curled further into a ball, his mouth agape in a silently wail.

Leaping up he ran from the room and out into the cavernous hallway, knowing that safety was not far away. Darkness clung to the walls of the hallway and Alex once again froze. What beasts were lurking in the depths of those shadows? What horrors would emerge to drag him screaming back into the abyss with them?

Eyes seemed to emerge from the darkness and the sound of scraping claws on the floorboards echoed throughout the hall. A deathly croak made Alex cry out in terror and then flee back to his room - slamming the door behind him.

He had come so close!

The wall began to bulge again and Alex cried out in terror. This time he was sure that he would die.

Dark claws scrabbled on the other side of the bulging wall before pushing purposefully against it and slicing it as cleanly as hot pee through snow. Alex dropped to the floor and once more curled into a ball. A head shrouded in shadow pushed its way through the wall and glowing red eyes peered down at him.

Sweat streamed down his back and tears threatened to burst from within him. He managed to choke them back and once more burst from his room and out into the hallway.

Salvation was not far away. All that he had to do was survive the perils in his way and then everything would be alright. Movement instantly came from all sides and whispers travelled along the moonlight.

Alex took his first tentative steps towards his goal, but the shadows once more crowded around him and terror threatened to overwhelm him once more. Steeling himself against the horrors around him he moved purposefully down the hallway, looking neither left nor right as he did so.

Something brushed against his arm, but with an effort he managed to ignore it. Teeth gnashed at his exposed neck, but he pushed past them and continued on his quest. Running footsteps boomed behind him, but he neither turned nor did he run – he would not give in to his fear.

Finally, after what seemed like hours of horror, he made it to the object of his quest. The oak door seemed to tower above him and he reached out for the handle. A wickedly sharp claw lashed out from the keyhole and tried to cut his hand off, but Alex avoided it and slammed the door open.

Finally giving in to his fear, Alex ran through the doorway towards the one thing that would protect him.

Strong arms grabbed him in the darkness and lifted him effortlessly from the ground. Alex fought roughly against the grip of his assailant, but soon realised that the grip was surprisingly gentle. The hands that he had initially thought were attacking him were in fact trying to sooth him and he relaxed into the embrace of the giant.

He was the only one that could protect him. The only being in Alex’s universe that had the strength and power to destroy the creatures that attacked him in the darkness.

His dad: The biggest and strongest person in the world.

Copyright (C) 2009 Luke Romyn