Monsters on Mulbrough Street

Mulbrough street was known for its quiet neighbourhood and peaceful community. A hidden paradise off from the city suburbs that no one could ever refuse. You’d have to be a fool if you didn’t live on Mulbrough Street.

Mulbrough Street had even won multiple awards by its city mayor. It had won first place for both its astounding neighbourhood watch and its impeccable community service. But the Street’s most prized possession of course, was when it was nominated as being, ‘The Safest Street,’ in the entire world, an honourable name that the people of Mulbrough held highly of themselves. “Who wouldn’t want to live on Mulbrough Street,” they would all say, skipping and frolicking across their safe street, “What could possibly go wrong? We’re the safest street in the world! Nothing could possibly go wrong!”

But the people’s words of Mulbrough didn’t stick for long. They were washed away by one summer’s storm on Friday the thirteenth, when Miss Jenny was tucking her little boy Timmy to bed. “Mum,” whimpered little Timmy, “please could you check under my bed again for monsters?” Timmy had always had a fear of monsters, even the good monsters gave him the ebee jeebies. His mum laughed, “Oh Timmy, don’t be silly, we live on Mulbrough Street, ‘The Safest Street,’ in the world, remember?” She lent over and kissed her frighten son on his sweaty forehead, before making her way to close his bedroom door. “You’ll be safe tonight, dear,” she said, slowly closing little Timmy’s bedroom door, “because there are no monsters here, and there never will be.” Timmy could feel heavy weight of sleep in his eyes. He nuzzled his head into his pillow and drifted away into his dreams with the comfort of his mother’s voice ringing through his head, ‘There are no monsters here.’

BANG!

‘Must have been the storm’, thought Little Timmy. The sudden noise sent a chill rushing down his spine till he was out cold with fear. He turned his head hesitantly towards his window, but nothing there, just the front garden and their safe street. ‘Maybe it came from the hallway,’ thought Timmy. He slowly tiptoed toward his bedroom door, trying his very hardest not to wake up his dear mum or anything else that could be watching him. The light from the hallway came pouring in through the creeks of his dark bedroom as Little Timmy began to open his door. The light from the Hallway grew larger and larger, until suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared! The figure was strange and had long skeleton like arms reaching out the sides as if they were about the catch someone. ‘Oh please, please, don’t be a monster,’ whimpered Timmy to himself, a surge of sweat was racing down his forehead, his hands shaking with terror.

The door slowly swung open, and to his surprise, Timmy was met by his empty Hallway. The room glared at his pale face, and heavy eyes squinting in the bright lights. ‘Hello…,’ his voice was quiet and crackly, as the fear stole his breath away. The deathly silence answered him; no one was there.

“AHHHH,” wailed Timmy! His eyes were wide awake with terror for they’d caught their attention on the large shadowy figure Timmy had seen earlier. “Mum, mum,” he cried, tears welling in his eyes! “Don’t hurt me, Monster! Don’t hurt me!” The monster had a large oval purple body, with green leafy arms that reached out from its slim greenish body, and had a head with yellow petals circling all around it. To the realisation of the scared little boy the monster was...his mother’s flower vase.

Timmy sucked in a deep breathe, and exhaled with relief. ‘Phew,’ now he could rest peacefully. His eyes grew weary again, as they lead him back to the comfort of his bed. The darkness of his bedroom greeted him back with a warm welcome, with an unexpected guest that was waiting for him at the end of his bed. Timmy froze, his eyes were wide awake again, as he gazed with fright at his new visitor.

“Hello Timmy,” it said to him. Timmy’s new visitor wore a long deathly black hooded cloak that reached to his bedroom floor. It’s skin was pale, as white as snow on a Christmas morning. It’s eyes were hidden behind thick black shades. Although Timmy couldn’t see the eyes, the visitors disturbing gaze at him was enough to give him a visual description.

‘Who…who..are you,’ questioned Timmy, his voice trembling with fear. A deathly silence filled the room before his new arrival spoke. “I am the Keeper of Mulbrough Street,” it said, “I watch everyone on this street and protect them from the evil spirits that have roamed this place for thousands of years.” Evil spirits? Timmy’s tiny mind filled with disbelief at the thought. Mulbrough Street was safe, everyone knew of it’s safety, Timmy couldn’t possibly trust it. “I even keep the monster away,” said The Keeper a small grin stretched across it’s pale face; Timmy’s attention was caught.

‘Monsters…,’ a strong chill raced down Timmy’s spine, ‘Monsters are here, in Mulbrough Street?’ “Especially the monsters, Timmy,” said the Keeper, it’s voice was hollow and lifeless, “You’ll be safe tonight, if you come with me.” Suddenly, The Keeper’s arm slowly reached out towards Timmy’s hand, “Take it,” said it.

Timmy had never trusted anyone else except his mum. His mind was deadened with fear and doubt and simply couldn’t think. If monsters did exist on Mulbrough Street everyone would know of it, surely they would have. “Take my hand, Timmy, and you’ll sleep safe tonight,” The Keeper’s hand opened a little more, it’s snowy like palms looked welcoming, like a foreign land waiting to be explored. Timmy couldn’t trust anyone now for his own safety. The trust he once knew was now won over by the Keeper’s promising words of safety. Without any hesitation, Timmy’ hand slowly opened and reached towards the Keeper’s. His tiny fingers had made contact with the goulash like creature. The little bedroom echoed in a deathly silence as the darkness devoured the life out of the living.

Timmy was gone.

***

Miss Jenny leapt from her bed to the shrieking sounds of her son. She rushed to his room, her heart aching for him as she came to him at his hour of need. ‘Mum! Mum,’ came the cries of her wailing son, he must have been another nightmare, “Timmy, Timmy,” she called, “Im here now.” She opened his bedroom door and her little brave boy curled in his duvet with tears running down his little pink puffed cheeks. It was another nightmare. “Oh Timmy,” she said, cradling herself down to his level before reaching her arms out to cradle him. The warmth of her arms soothed the little one as he planted his soggy face into her chest. ‘Mum, it was awful,’ he wailed, ‘there was a monster!’ Miss Jenny kissed her little brave boy on the head, “Oh Timmy, they’re not here, there are no monsters in Mulbrough Street.” She stayed with him a little while longer till he’d drifted back off to sleep. She tucked him in again, trying not to wake him, his head felt heavy and his eyes were red and puffed after the crying. She’d kissed him once him on his forehead, his skin was soft and smooth like how it was when he was a newborn baby. Precious memories of the two of them came colliding into Miss Jenny’s mind. Timmy really was a brave boy.

***

Mulbrough Street woke up to the hysterical cries of Miss Jenny, her green eyes were reddened with grief and howled and wailed for her loss.

Her son Timmy was missing.

The police and the trusted neighbourhood watch searched through Miss Jenny’s house and down their safe streets, in hope that they would find a trace that’ll lead to him. But they’d found nothing of the boy, Timmy was gone.