The Thing Under the Rug

The Thing Under the Rug

Abraham Tan

“Two weeks passed and it happened again.”

“Crack!” “The chair broke in my hands, splintering everywhere as I swung at that vile beast under the rug. Everything in the room was destroyed or bound to be destroyed. It dodged my attacks, ripped the rug open for a swift exit and lifted off the window sill into the dark.”

<<<A WEEK LATER>>>

As I arised from my bed and onto the floor I still felt that beast's presence. I always felt like a pair of eyes was watching me. For a 45 year old man I could pack a punch. I wasn’t afraid of this thing. I taught it a lesson. Never mess with a librarian trying to read a book. “Dag nabbit where are my glasses. Oh I’m terribly sorry young chap. Ahh new reader are ya? You’re probably wondering what this 45 year old man was talking about. Alas this wasn’t a nightmare. It was a real night. Ah so here I li— Well I’ll inform you of what I’m talking about later.”

I’m always cranky as I wake up. I’m old, my back aches, people stare at me like I’m a monster, and they always back away from me. I always need my daily coffee to help my back. Once I have my coffee I walk to my library. As I open the door I hesitate thinking about what happened 1 week ago. Nevertheless, I know that beast is too scared to ever come back. I open the door and I’m not phased to see the open enormous room. Filled with books. 

Once I turn on the lights in the room I always check if there is anything misplaced. As usual nothing is, as we never have any customers. Sorry I didn’t mean “we” I meant me. It’s just me and this library. This old gal probably won’t even miss me when I die. As I walk to the desk I see a book was on the ground open from its spine all the way back. No one should do this to a book, this will surely destroy it. I think nothing of this. I just sit on my lonely desk, in a lonely library, in a lonely town. 

Once I think that I’m all alone, a librarian bound to never get a customer, a customer comes in. They simply just walked in. They waved a hello. I didn’t say anything. I was astonished. A customer. A real customer came in. Once they turned the corner with their finger hitting all the books I did a silent scream. But my excitement was interrupted by another person walking in. They waved hello as well. Soon another and another and another walked in. Soon I felt the urge to speak. I tried a simple hello but I was too shy. I did a tiny wave but I was too shy. “You can’t teach a new dog old tricks.”

<<<THE NEXT DAY>>>

This day was a special day. I was so hyped for more people to check in books. To prepare I woke up 30 minutes earlier than I usually do and I didn’t even need my daily coffee. I opened my wardrobe to find the dustiest suit in the world. I hadn’t worn a suit in a while because I have had no special occasions. And where was I? Ahh yes. So I tried the suit on without no hesitation and it felt weird. It felt young. How I miss those days. When we were jumping all around the street just listening to a boombox and dancing like there was no tomorrow. I was surprised it still fit. Then I got my most red bow tie and fit it on. I went to the mirror and put on some hair gel. I looked nice. 

As I walked to the library I felt as though the presence of the beast was lifted. I felt no worry in the world. You see, I was kind of scared of it. I just pretend to be something I’m not. Since I’m old and I don’t have that much time left I try to have a good reputation. Try to be remembered by at least one soul in this world. Once I sat down on my desk I didn’t even choose to look if anything was misplaced. I just knew my customers won’t mess up anything. And surely nothing would be able to get into my library without the keys right? Once I flipped the closed sign to open it just took time. A few minutes later the first person came in. I greeted hello with no problem. I even smiled! Maybe this friend thing isn’t so hard. Another person came in. I waved to them no problem. All in an organized order. Look up from the book I am reading, smile, wave, and say hello. Sometimes I would even add, “Have a great time choosing a book. As you can see, I have a variety.” 

Once some time passed people chose their books and came up to the check out and gave me their book to scan. Scan. Beep. Scan. Beep. Scan. Beep. Every single person who went to check out I told them to have a great day and the book they are reading is a great one. I wished that day would last forever alas not everyday lasts forever. So I had to close the library when it was late out. Once I turned the lights off I was certain I saw a flash of light in the dark. 2 eyes staring at me. Once I turned on the lights they were gone. I turned them off again but they were there. Those eyes. Staring at me. Finally I had enough. I got my favorite book, turned on the lights and ran to where I saw the eyes. Nothing there. I was waving my book around. In anger. I just decided to keep the lights on. I didn't turn them off. I didn’t care if the electric bill would go up. Only if those eyes go away. 

While I was walking to my house I felt eyes baring down on me. Once I thought I saw a figure in the shadows with the eyes. I felt like I was being followed. Finally I finally got to my house. I shut the door and locked it. I locked all the windows and checked every door for an entrance to my house. Then I walked up my stairs and closed the door for the night. 

Once I woke up the next morning I just knew I needed coffee. When I walked down the stairs I saw mud from the front door to my bedroom door upstairs. I didn’t really notice, I thought it was from my shoes last night. I must’ve stepped in some mud and hadn’t noticed. When I opened my wardrobe I didn’t see mud on my shoes. I thought nothing of it and just put on my suit and bow tie and walked to the library. As I expected the lights were still on from last night. I opened the door and went to my desk with the book. As usual, only moments after I flipped the closed sign people started to arrive.

As I was reading from my book. I heard a loud screech and a crash. It sounded big. I immediately thought someone was using the ladder to reach for a book and it fell down knocking a shelf down. So I ran over but nothing had fallen down. Suddenly the library was empty. People were running out. When I looked outside I saw why. There had been a car crash. Then there was an explosion. Fortunately no one was hurt and nothing was damaged. Once all of it was cleaned up, no one came to the library after that. I thought about closing the library but I decided to wait just a little. After an hour no one had come. So I closed the library early for the next day. 

When I opened the library no one was coming in. Suddenly a man in black on the street was running with what I assumed was a bag full of money and a gun. Alarms were blaring in the distance a robbery had happened. After this mess everything was normal again. Until another thing happened. A speeding car being chased by the cops crashed into a nearby store. The man was arrested. This time I decided enough was enough. I closed the library early and went home. 

Alas it has been the 2nd week since the beast came for me. Once I opened the library I knew no one would come. I didn't even wear my suit. I was frustrated so I just decided to look at the approval ratings of my store. Preferably top notch 5 stars for how nice I am. What I saw was disappointing. A 1 star. How!?!?!? I read the comments. I saw, “It’s haunted!” “Don't go near it!” “Bad things keep happening there!” “Who knows what could happen to you!” I was infuriated how they could do this to me! After all I had done for them! It’s not my fault these things happen outside my library! 

Once night fell, and I was still angry. Once I turned off the lights I saw those eyes again. In the dark looking at me. I was so frustrated. I turned the light on and off over and over again. Those eyes appear every time. Finally I had enough. I ran into the darkness. Once I got close enough the eyes moved. They kept moving up until the 2nd floor. Then the lights flickered on. Once that happened the eyes disappeared. What was so abnormal was that I found my book on the desk near the lamp where I had hung some pictures of my life as a child. I put them up here on the 2nd floor so I wouldn’t remember them. I started to remember them and sat down reading. This is what I lived for. Books. I was sitting there for an hour. Until the lights went off. I had to turn on the lamp next to me to see. Then there was something moving in the corner of my eye. It moved closer. I backed away. Horrified to see that it was the thing from 2 weeks ago. Right there under the rug. That thing. That thing under the rug moved closer and closer. I threw my book at it. It bounced off like it was a ball. Then I threw one of the pictures at it. The glass shattered and looked like it pierced the beast it was bleeding. I heard a screech as it hit the desk where the lamp was knocking it over. I picked up the chair as I had 2 weeks ago and I swung at the beast shattering the chair. This time I didn't miss it.

I had hit the thing right on top. It was a bloody mess on the rug. After I had turned on the lights in the library I pulled the rug from a corner and cleaned the mess. While walking home I felt no presence of the monster. Just the feeling of relief and tiredness. As I open the door I notice more mud in the house. Finally I think this is weird. But I’m too tired to care and just want to go to sleep. So I decided to clean it tomorrow. I am too tired. When I open my door to my room I see the mud in there as well retreating under my bed. I think nothing of it. I plop myself on the bed and try to sleep. Suddenly I hear a thump. Then another and another. Like a tiny creature running along the walls. I opened my eyes and the thumping stopped. Suddenly I feel a thump on my bed. I put the sheets over my head and close my eyes. When I hear nothing else I think I’m just hallucinating from my fight. After all, it was exhausting. When the suspense builds up too far I pull down the covers. Big mistake. I see big red eyes bulging out staring into mine with a big grin with sharp teeth ready to chomp. I know my fate is sealed.

“Two weeks passed and it happened again.”