makes the job harder than it should be. They’re rare, though, and we have specialists who deal with the ‘bright light’ kids. You call them psychic. We call them a problem. Lucky for me, though, you’re not one of them. Don’t get me wrong, back when you were a kid, you were plenty aware of me. I remember those nights when you were tucked up in bed, lying awake and staring into the darkness and just to fuck with you, I would make a noise. Something subtle. Maybe just a whisper, or maybe I’d drag my claws lightly across the floorboards next to your bed. I’d watch you sit there, covers pulled up to your chest as you glared into the darkness. It always amused me the way you tried to justify everything that those sounds could be, dismissing them one by one until you were left with the only possible option.
Me.
Don’t sweat it, though, it’s just jest. It’s a way for me to get my kicks and whittle away the boredom whilst I wait. Sometimes I would make myself into a physical form and watch you sleep. I’d stand over your bed, a towering, shapeless, black thing, and watch you dream. If I was feeling particularly mischievous I would touch your cheek and watch as you shuddered and pulled the blankets closer around you and away from my cold, dead hand. No, sir. There is nothing more fun than messing with the minds of kids. I’ll tell you what my favourite thing is. You know that feeling when you are just drifting off to sleep, and you jerk awake for no reason?
Guess who.
Of course, it’s a lot harder now. You grew up and stopped believing in things like me. Those noises that used to make you shit your Jim-jams, you barely even hear anymore. You forgot about me, and before I knew it, you had moved out and started a family of your own. I came with you of course. Those are the rules. Each human gets assigned one of my kind at birth who will stay with them until it’s time to die. Lucky for you, I’m fucking good at my job. Some might say one of the best.
Want to know just how good I am?
I’m watching you right now, just waiting for you to switch the TV off and go to sleep. You, of course, have no idea I’m here because I don’t want to be seen, not yet, at least, and so that’s how it will be until I decide otherwise. Even so, you might feel a chill if you walk through the place where I’m waiting. And wait I will. Time doesn’t mean anything to me anyway. Some might say it’s all I have.
Believe me, if there’s one thing you need for this job, its patience. Sometimes you don’t have to wait for too long, and in a way, those gigs are the best. You can be clinical, efficient. Grade a professional. On the flip side, sometimes it can take a while.
Let me tell you it ain’t easy. There are no breaks; no clocking off at five to go home, put your feet up and catch up on the latest goings on in the soaps or to see which country is edging the world closer to a third world war... No-sir-ee. When we get assigned to someone, we’re there 24/7 until the end. Like I said, it’s a big commitment.
Some of the others like me, they don’t like the long jobs. No patience for it, they hate the waiting around until you punch out for the last time.
Me?
I never had a problem with it. I get a kick out of seeing how you humans grow up, watching as the innocence is driven out of you and the cruelty of the world rears its ugly head just before it kicks you right in the balls.
Man, I couldn’t tell you the things I’ve seen. I’ve seen good kids go off the rails and become vicious murderous scum, and I’ve seen bad kids turn their lives around and go on to do great things that make a difference.
Oh, that’s another thing you should know.
There are no secrets from me.
I know everything. Every dirty, little, private moment that you think is yours alone, I know it. I see it.
I’m always with you. From beginning to end, right there by your side.
What a waste of a life. You had it all. Wife, kids, promotion in the
Me.
Don’t sweat it, though, it’s just jest. It’s a way for me to get my kicks and whittle away the boredom whilst I wait. Sometimes I would make myself into a physical form and watch you sleep. I’d stand over your bed, a towering, shapeless, black thing, and watch you dream. If I was feeling particularly mischievous I would touch your cheek and watch as you shuddered and pulled the blankets closer around you and away from my cold, dead hand. No, sir. There is nothing more fun than messing with the minds of kids. I’ll tell you what my favourite thing is. You know that feeling when you are just drifting off to sleep, and you jerk awake for no reason?
Guess who.
Of course, it’s a lot harder now. You grew up and stopped believing in things like me. Those noises that used to make you shit your Jim-jams, you barely even hear anymore. You forgot about me, and before I knew it, you had moved out and started a family of your own. I came with you of course. Those are the rules. Each human gets assigned one of my kind at birth who will stay with them until it’s time to die. Lucky for you, I’m fucking good at my job. Some might say one of the best.
Want to know just how good I am?
I’m watching you right now, just waiting for you to switch the TV off and go to sleep. You, of course, have no idea I’m here because I don’t want to be seen, not yet, at least, and so that’s how it will be until I decide otherwise. Even so, you might feel a chill if you walk through the place where I’m waiting. And wait I will. Time doesn’t mean anything to me anyway. Some might say it’s all I have.
Believe me, if there’s one thing you need for this job, its patience. Sometimes you don’t have to wait for too long, and in a way, those gigs are the best. You can be clinical, efficient. Grade a professional. On the flip side, sometimes it can take a while.
Let me tell you it ain’t easy. There are no breaks; no clocking off at five to go home, put your feet up and catch up on the latest goings on in the soaps or to see which country is edging the world closer to a third world war... No-sir-ee. When we get assigned to someone, we’re there 24/7 until the end. Like I said, it’s a big commitment.
Some of the others like me, they don’t like the long jobs. No patience for it, they hate the waiting around until you punch out for the last time.
Me?
I never had a problem with it. I get a kick out of seeing how you humans grow up, watching as the innocence is driven out of you and the cruelty of the world rears its ugly head just before it kicks you right in the balls.
Man, I couldn’t tell you the things I’ve seen. I’ve seen good kids go off the rails and become vicious murderous scum, and I’ve seen bad kids turn their lives around and go on to do great things that make a difference.
Oh, that’s another thing you should know.
There are no secrets from me.
I know everything. Every dirty, little, private moment that you think is yours alone, I know it. I see it.
I’m always with you. From beginning to end, right there by your side.
What a waste of a life. You had it all. Wife, kids, promotion in the
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