I WOKE UP TO FIND MY DOG STARING AT ME—AND THEN I SAW WHAT WAS UNDER THE BED (2 of 10)

I don’t know what made me do it, but I swung my legs off the side, lowered my head, and slowly leaned down until my cheek was almost touching the mattress.

It took a second for my eyes to adjust to the shadows.

That’s when I saw it. Or—her.

A pair of wide, terrified eyes stared back at me from the darkness. A girl. No older than twelve. Curled up tightly, like a rabbit in a burrow, her small hands gripping the bed frame.

I yelped and jumped back so hard I smacked my shoulder on the nightstand. Murphy didn’t even flinch. He just stayed where he was, staring.

I scrambled to my feet, confused and a little shaky. My voice came out sharp and cracked. “Who are you?”

The girl didn’t answer. Her lips moved like she was trying to say something, but no sound came out. She just looked… scared. Not wild, not dangerous. Just scared.

“Hey… it’s okay. I’m not gonna hurt you.” I crouched down again, softer this time.

She didn’t move. But her eyes followed me, and that felt like something.