Instinct

"DAAAADDDDYYYYY!" His scream wakes me, the adrenaline already kicking in. Down the hall I hear, "Daddy, there's a monster!"


I shoot out of bed. Grabbing my bat I run towards my bedroom door. For a moment I pause before flicking on the light.


As I open my door and walk into the hall, once again I hear his cries, "Daddy, hurry! I'm scared!"


I can't stop now. The instincts that are hard wired into my brain tell me I have to protect him and show him that there isn't really a monster. Just the imagination twisting some shadows and sounds in his head.


I force myself faster down the hallway, but I'll be honest with you...this would be a lot less terrifying if I actually had a son.

Author's Note

Feedback welcome.

Reviews

[The Mad Gentle Lady]

Well, I was not expecting that. I don't know fully what to tell you. Part of me wishes that there was more build up. Yet it seems as if the story's brevity added to the simple yet most definitely intriguing (and rather unpredictable) last line. Keep up the good work.

[Samuel Dickens]

Now I don't know which would disturb me more, the fact that I'm running with a baseball bat to save my son, or that I realize he doesn't exist. Someone's been spiking the tea, methinks. Yeah, you made me smile.

[Satpreet singh sandhu]

Great work... keep writing..

[Whisty_x]

Woah! Okay, that's an unexpected twist!
I love the simplicity of the piece. It says all it has to say within 7 lines.
Well done!