Toy Nightmare
Once Upon a Time,
There was an old maker. In his workshop, all sorts of wonders were created, but his specialty was toys. Not just any toys either. You see the maker had a very gifted talent whatever he made had the power to interact with others. Wonderful really. Until he made a discovery of his own. Well normally with great power comes great consequence. While his creations each held some significant power or form, they did the exact opposite of their intended purpose. For example, a teddy bear meant to protect, and nurture would instead torture and kill. Immediately the maker tried to imprison his creations so that the city of San Tokyo and possibly the world would be safe. Unfortunately, before he could carry out his plan the toys escaped scattering themselves across the city. The maker, himself knew he was too old to go after them himself. Still old or not his mind overflowed with knowledge, so he devised just one more plan. One last project to top them all. Maybe he needed to create a monster instead.
—-Time Skip—-
Anxious wasn’t the word for how I felt now. Annoyingly shy and petrified seemed close enough. Tonight, was the first night at my adoptive parent’s home. My parents weren’t the problem. Ms. Emily and Karen Sho were both funny and I really liked them. It’s just, I don’t know their home was so large and eerily quiet it felt like I was always alone. Well actually scratch that it wasn’t their home. It was the cold shivers that ran up my spine, and the feeling of someone’s cold gaze watching me. At first, I assumed my anxiety had gotten the best of me, but as the day went on weird things just followed me around. Things that couldn’t be explained. It was like something was literally out to get me. Earlier when I walked down the staircase, I swear something pushed me, sending my life flashing before my eyes until I caught myself. Yet when I turned no one was there. Oh, that time I made a sandwich in the kitchen then turned to see the butcher knife removed from the display. What made it worse was the creepy run-down teddy bear that seemed to be everywhere and nowhere all at the same time. Every room I went in it would be there lying on its side, the cold dead eyes piercing me. When I turned back it vanished. I was probably seeing things, or that bear was hooked to a teleportation device. Highly unlikely, but still a possibility…not really. This went on for the entire day until it was time finally go to bed.
I had gotten into my fluffy bunny pajamas and was about to flick the lights when a gentle knock came. My adoptive mothers peeked in. Here it comes again. Shyness, I fiddled with my fingers and shuffled back and forth.
“AW, YUKIO!” screamed Emily, the most…expressive of their marriage or so Karen told me. She crushed my ribs in her hug. “Isn’t she just kawaii Karen!”
My other foster mother walked in after her. “Indeed, she is,” she smiled gently at me, “How was your first day in the house Yuki?”
The question caught me off guard. How could I tell them that they lived in a modern house of nightmares without hurting their feelings? The fact that I looked like cherry tomato wasn’t helping either. I was always shy around people, but now I was just making a fool of myself. I tried to swallow the lump of word vomit making its way up my throat. I failed. Miserably in fact.
“I-it was really nice I g-guess?” it came out as more of a question than a statement. WHAT WAS THAT? I was internally losing my mind. I felt so stupid. Karen placed her hand on my shoulder giving me a reassuring squeeze.
“That’s great! ” then a light flicked in her eyes before sudden happiness came over here, “before you go to bed Emily and I have something for you.” She walked out of the room for a minute soon returning with something hidden behind her back. “Now before you see it, I want you to know it’s a little ragged, but your grandfather made it himself.”
Grandpa? I soft smile slowly made its way to my face. He was a genius, the sweetest old geezer, a girl could ask for. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss him. I never got to see the things he made in his workshop. He was always so secretive about his knick-knacks. I know that grandpa was good friends with the Shos’. We even had a few of grandpa’s old trunks in the basement, but I never had the courage to go down there.
Karen moved her hand from behind her back. I bit my lip and swallowed down my gasp of horror. Its beady plastic eyes burned my soul. It was that same creepy bear from earlier. When Karen said the bear was ragged, she meant it. My grandfather made…that? I was really starting to question if my grandfather was as good as people said he was.
“I know it isn’t much of a gift, but we thought you might like to have it,” that was sweet. How they thought of me, not the bear. “u-um if you don’t want it though-”
“NO! I-I mean…no… y-you don’t have t-to.” Blargh, word barf. It’s the thought that counts right?
“So cute!” Ms. Emily squeezed even harder. Jesus, she was so quiet I forgot she was there. On the bright side with Ms.Sho currently mushing my lungs. I was positive my blush was gone. Lack of oxygen was always a good look for me.
“Em let the poor girl go she looks like a dying goat.” Well, that’s just great. Emily released me and I tried not to dramatically gasp for air. “Oh, Yukio the hospital called us in for surgery,” she hesitated for a moment, “I know it’s your first night here, but do you think you’ll be fine here by yourself?” Here in this creepy demon house? No way! Don’t leave me here!
“Y-yeah I’ll be fine.” Kill me now.
They both told me goodnight before leaving. I glanced at the bear again. Just you and me buddy. I don’t know why, but something seemed…off about it. Still, grandpa made it and so I would cherish it. Placing the bear on the pillow next to me, I flicked off the lights and went to bed.
Third Person P.O.V.
The shadows of the room darkened. They swirled around the bed of an unsuspecting child. Drowning them in darkness, swirling them deeper into its depths. All the while the child lay motionless in slumber. Unaware of the danger they were in if they didn’t wake up. Next, to them,, their teddy twitched. Moving slowly, it adjusted itself. linking one eye then the other. Testing each of his limbs before rolling over and coming to a stand. It watched. It eyed the child watching them breathe peacefully. Then he…changed. Growing to the size of an actual bear. Baring lethal fangs and claws. His snarls causing the young child to shuffle in their sleep, but otherwise going unheard. Tilting its head to the side a little his sharp canines formed a cruel smile. He raised his claw before slashing down. A short scream of terror echoed the room before dying in the shadows. All the while, the beast lapped the fresh blood from his claws.
Yukio P.O.V.
I woke in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. “It was just a dream,” I sighed. It felt so real though. It was like a message. Mm no… more like a warning. That bear really makes me uneasy. Turning to my pillow I was ready to sleep again. Then I saw it or rather didn’t see it. The bear was gone. Holy shiitake mushrooms. I had to calm down I was being irrational. It was a bear for god sake. Then movement, followed by a crash from the closet. My heart was dying. What was that? I froze and maybe peed a little. In front of the closet door was an innocent teddy bear lying on the floor. I breathed a sigh of relief and laughed at myself.
“Want to play,” came a small innocent electric voice from the bear as the string zipped itself back inside. I was going to laugh again until I realized I didn’t pull the string. The how did it…oh god. “Want to play” it cried louder, deeper, and started to grow like in my dream. Growing to the point an eye popped from its socket and hanged limply from the string. “WANT TO PLAY!” the once childlike voice turned demonic and staticky. While I was stupidly clinging to my blankets, paralyzed in fear.
He bared his fangs as his claws finished sharpening themselves against my wall. I-I had to move. My body refused to listen. He lurked closer showing me a proud smile of dried blood. I’m going to die if I don’t move, my brain urged me. Finally, my legs got the memo. I jumped from the sheets tripping over myself before falling out my door kicking it shut with my foot. I laid on the floor for a moment calming my breathing. It couldn’t get out…so I thought. Giant claws wedged themselves through the wood of the door and cut for lines from the wood. On the other side blood, red eyes peeked at me. Craaap! Picking myself up I rolled to the side as the door was thrown from its hinges. The splinters grazing my cheek as I felt his breath on my neck. Making my way down the stairs I repeatedly almost broke my neck. Wood and fuzzy socks are not a great combo. I jumped the last the last steps to get some distance between us. I only had one problem. I didn’t have a plan.
What was I going to do? Karen and Emily weren’t home, and none of the doors were made from titanium. I couldn’t run forever eventually I’ll get tired and turned to chum. There was only one door in the house that had multiple locks and gave me a good chance of barricading the door. The problem was it led to the basement. Hm death… or trapping myself in a dark musty room. Both great options really. The roar of the beast behind me reminded me that now I really didn’t have a choice. The basement was my best shot.
First, though I needed a distraction. Making a U-turn around the living room sofa I made a B-line to the kitchen. I knocked over the bar stools and the knife display, grabbing the two I thought the sharpest. My hands trembled as he slowly stalked into the kitchen. He climbed over the scattered bar stool and onto the bar. His grin widened mockingly at my attempts to defend myself. Then he pounced. Out of pure panic, I screamed and threw both the knives. I flinched as the first clattered pitifully against the floor. The second, however, pierced his googly eye causing it to fall from its string as the knife embedded itself in his head. His roar of pain echoed through the house, vibrating the kitchen. With him currently trying to claw the knife from his face, I made a run for it. I ran from the kitchen and quietly opened the staircase door to the basement then slowly locked it. Just as the latch clicked, I heard heavy breathing and snarls leave the kitchen. Now instead of repeating “Want to play,” he softly whispered, “Want to die?” Instead of using the stairs I slid down the banister. Creaky floorboards were not what I needed right now.
There it was. The basement door. Gathering my last ounce of courage, I slipped inside, locking the entire door before continuing inside. Even with these locks, I knew it wouldn’t take him long to bust through, but it would buy me time. Now it was time to think. I would need to barricade the door, find a weapon, and most importantly stay quiet. Above I could hear him sniffing with those plastic nostrils searching for a scent. I needed to hurry. The basement was huge, and just as promised a bunch of grandpa’s crates were down here, along with a few personal items of the Shos’. I checked fifteen of grandpa’s old boxes. All of them were filled with sketches of his old projects. What exactly where you cooking up in that workshop old man? The Sho’s valuables were of no use just old books and stuff, I couldn’t exactly stab that bear with a high school trophy. I searched just about everywhere, and I was running out of time. Upstairs the floorboards creaked. Specks of dust fell from the ceiling raining on me. He was standing right on top of me. I could hear more sniffing and his confused grunts. Seconds felt like an eternity. Then he moved on. I shakily released the breath I was holding. My god, what am I going to do? At that moment the unexplainable happened. My vision went white and the next thing I knew I wasn’t in the basement. Everything around me was hazy and old-timey like those old western movies.
_____________________________________________________________________
“Hm time for bed,” I knew that voice! Turning around and almost burst into tears.
“Grandpa!” I practically screamed for him, but it was like he never heard me in the first place. What’s going on? “Grandpa?!” now I was really crying. I was scared. I wanted someone to run too. So, the moment he phased right through me proved that I was alone. Funny how it felt like I was the dead one.
“Sleep for now,” my grandpa sighed running a hand through his hair, “you’re going to help a lot of people one day.” He started smiling at whatever was in the box. I wanted to see what was inside, but I couldn’t move. I was there solely to watch. Then he placed two katana knives in the box. Once again, he smiled at the box before speaking again. “You know I have a granddaughter?” He chuckled “she would love to meet you.” Meet who? Suddenly his face darkened, “You know I’m getting old and I can’t watch over her forever” he paused thinking, “If anything happens to me, I want you to protect her.”
“Grandpa!” a voice called from the door. He turned and looked straight through me.
“Be right there Yukio!” giving one last glance to the box he phased through me again and walked out the door as the world vanished around me. _________________________________________________________________________
Then I was back in the basement with apparently one of grandpa’s crazed creatures after me. My face was wet with tears as I silently cried. I just saw my grandfather. He was alive. He made some cool knives too. Woah their grandpa had knives. This is great! I remember Emily complaining about how heavy a metal crate was when moving all of grandpa’s things. It was here, somewhere in all this mess it was here. Roars of frustration shook the house. Where was that box? Then in the deepest corner of the basement where it was. Yes! It was just as Ms. Emily said a large metal box…with a lock. I almost groaned in agony before I saw a shimmery key neatly placed on top. Cautiously I rushed forward and grabbed the key. I did a small little victory dance. My first mistake. In one moment of clumsiness, I tripped on oxygen. Everything happened in slow motion. Me grunting in pain from the fall, the metallic clinging as the key hit the floor, the irritated pacing upstairs pausing. Oh no. I swear that bear freaking chuckling and began running to the staircase door. No time to panic I grabbed the key unlocking the box. Hurriedly, showing the lid open. Is this some kind of joke? What is this!?
Instead of two sharp katana knives, there was a puppet. I had had enough with toys for now. The staircase door was knocked down, and the beast started slowly descending the stairs. He was teasing me, hunting me, toying with me. Honestly, I wanted to laugh a little. I was going to die at the paws of a teddy bear. I just had to accept my fate. I was going to die and that was that. Death by teddy bear was going to be a pitiful tombstone. I groaned. Wait, no I didn’t. Why was the box groaning?
“Old man is that you I heard you scream,” oh dear god please tell me I’m hallucinating, “Are you ok?” the puppet raised from the metal crate like some ceramic vampire. Like me, he looked terribly confused. I screamed at the top of my lungs and glued myself back to the opposite wall. Just perfect I trapped myself in a dark basement with yet another living toy. What on God’s green Earth was gramps making in that workshop?! The puppet, on the other hand, seemed slightly amused. He looked me up and down as I quivered in my corner. Then his eyes widened as if he knew me. “You!” he shouted pointing at me in awe. Me?
Scratches sounded the room. It was like someone clawing at a chalkboard, but ten times worse. The bear started chuckling once again causing me to whimper. The door began to rattle. I knew he wasn’t struggling to open the door. After the fair number of doors he’s broken already I knew he was taunting me. Rubbing my demise in my face. Off to my left, a puff of smoke appeared as the puppet transformed too. I expected a horrible, snarling monster. To my surprise, he reminded me of Pinocchio. No, he wasn’t made of wood he just looked like a real teenage boy. Not going to lie he wasn’t a bad looking puppet either if you catch my drift. He looked almost my age. Jumping from the box he started into some yoga positions. All the while he stared at me making no sudden moves. “Excuse me for a minute it’s just that I’ve been in that box for a long time” he started moving from downward dog into a warrior lunge, “well at least I think it been a long time.”
“T-that’s fine take your time.” He grinned at me and his aura shined brighter. For some reason I trusted that he wouldn’t hurt me.
“So anyway what brings you to the…,” he looked around, “basement?”
That’s when I remember the tank-sized teddy bear that chased me around my house for a good thirty to forty minutes. “L-living teddy bear,” I really need to get this stuttering thing under control. He looked at me for at first like he didn’t believe that toys were coming to life when he was on himself.
He groaned to himself muttering, “To think after all these years I’m still cleaning up your messes.” Sighing he walked towards the door and fiddled with the locks.
“W-wait! No, what are you doing!”
It was too late. He opened the door with a face of annoyance and glanced at the six-foot tall murderous teddy bear lick it was a fly. “WANT TO PL-” as soon as that bear took one look at the puppet he scrambled backward and started whimpering like a newborn pup. Are you kidding me? This one-ton bear was terrified of a ceramic 14-year-old. How many doors has this bear demolished? How crazy could my night get?
“Well, well, well,” the puppet said rolling his shoulders apparently still sore from his might belong rest, “it been a while, just as cuddly as ever I see.” He started bouncing on the balls of his feet as I sat there looking back and forth between them. Did they know each other?
“Play…PLAY…DIE!” I guess Mr. Bear finally gathered all his courage because he lunged himself at us claws drawn. Which didn’t end so well on his part.
“Oh, shut up!” cried the puppet boredly. From his back, normally where people would put their hand, he pulled out the two katana knives from my vision. Just like that with a flick of his wrist, he decapitated the teddy. Strange black goo poured from the body soaking it’s stuffing as it converted back to its original form. The puppet boy then walked over and picked up the head.
I jumped when the head turned again and tried to bite his hands. The bear began screeching in pain, “BLOOD…She has his blood! SHE MUST DIE!”
“My name is Romeo, Romeo the puppet,” he turned the head over in his hands like a ball before ripping it in half silencing the bears screams, “I was made in the year 1942.” He dropped the torn head at my feet, wiping his hands on his pants before turning to me. “I was made to deal with the projects my creator could no longer control when unfortunately, I ended up trapped in that crate.” He smiled at me. It wasn’t harsh or sadistic like the smile he gave the bear, but dare I say it warm. “Seeing as you emit master’s aura you must be Yukio, I’ve heard a lot about you.”
I smiled back as the world went black and I passed out.
Inspired by 2 pics I found on Pintrest and a short summary my friend gave.
