It sits
quietly in the shadows,
gleefully waiting,
for complete darkness.
It is just a tiny thing,
too small to see in the light.
The guard drifts
slowly
into unawareness
and darkness,
sweeps the light away.

It slips from the small
hiding space
growing until,
It fills the room.
It works quickly
creating horror after horror
fears that cause,
the body to tremble,
and the heart to race until,
the loud pounding
of the rapid beat
wakes the guard.

It takes advantage of the confusion
retreating to the space beneath
the bed of the mind
to wait.