It glowed there, a thin, rectangular crack of pale blue light just behind her dresser. A whisper of a chill wind ghosted across her face as she sat up in the darkness, and she shivered. “Katie,” the voices in the crack of light whispered, though none of the deep black-on-black shadows ventured into the bedroom this night. Not since Katie had called for Papa and he came running with the heavy flashlight. The light scared the shadows, even though they lived in the blue light behind Katie’s dresser. Katie hugged the flashlight to her now, fumbling for the switch on the side. The shadows wanted her. They wanted to take her into their world and play with her like she played with her dolls. The minute she fell asleep they would slither out and grab her and carry her away.... She screamed and turned on the flashlight, waving it at the dresser. A shadow-arm that had been feeling the side of the dresser shook and vanished beneath the yellow-gold glow of the bulb. Footsteps thumped and slipped on the floor outside the door, and the knob turned slowly. The door creaked open. “Katie?” Papa leaned his head in, his gray hair sticking up on his head, his eyes tired behind his glasses. “Are you all right?” She trembled, but nodded. When her father had opened the door, the crack behind the dresser had disappeared. She was safe, for now. “Can I sleep with you Papa?” she asked, pleading with her eyes. He shook his head. “Not tonight, Sweetie.” “Please Papa? The monsters will get me.” He smiled softly. “You put them in their place, then. Tell ’em who’s boss. I’ll get you a night-light tomorrow.” “Promise?” “I promise. Now go to sleep. And don’t leave that flashlight on all night. You’ll wear out the battery. Good night, Sweetie.” “Night night, Papa.” The door closed. The rectangular crack returned. “You don’t scare me,” Katie whispered shakily to the crack, stepping out of bed. Her bare feet trembled on the cold floor. “Not a bit.” She walked toward the crack, holding the flashlight--now off--out like a sword. Closer to the crack she could see the dark shapes writhing within the light, their liquid bodies hypnotic. “Go ’way,” Katie mumbled, feeling the chilly wind brushing her hair back from her face. She reached a hand toward the light. A wriggling, dark mass suddenly leaped at her. With a tiny, strangled cry, she ran back to her bed and vaulted on, burying her head in the pillows and yanking the covers over her head. She whimpered, waiting for slimy, icy hands to catch her and take her away. “Show them who’s boss,” she whispered to herself, echoing Papa’s words. “Put them in their place.” Switching on her flashlight, she fearfully uncovered her head and turned to face the leaping shadow. She laughed. The bundle of socks and shirts lay tangled on the floor where they had landed, knocked from her dresser by her shaking hand. “Hah!” she told the shadows behind the dresser. “Trying to hide in my clothes? I’ll show you!” She aimed the flashlight at the rectangular crack, listening happily as the shadows hissed in fear. “And tomorrow I’ll have a night-light,” she added proudly, beaming.