2025: Thanks, Andy, for your amazing story! Be sure to check out his essay about this story at this link.

Monstrum Sub Lecto

by Andrew Monge, who can be found on Twitter, BlueSky, and Substack

With a final glance up and down the street, Derek closed the front door and turned off the porch light. It had been a disappointing evening—not a single trick-or-treater stopped by—but that just meant the leftovers were all his. Grabbing the candy bowl off the entryway table, he pivoted and collided with his father’s beltline. The suddenness of his appearance surprised the boy; the ensuing slap did not.

“Watch yourself, sonny,” his father muttered, cigarette bouncing up and down in the corner of his mouth. “I’ll take this,” he added, ripping away the bowl. “Now get your butt to bed.”

Derek stared at his feet while his father retreated down the hallway. Through his tears, he saw a Kit Kat lying on the floor, which he snatched up before powerwalking to his bedroom.

Door shut, pajamas on, nightlight glowing, Derek peeled the Kit Kat’s wrapper and broke the bar in half. “Happy Halloween, Ten,” he whispered. “I have a treat for you.”

A large tentacle snaked out from under the bed. Its opalescent skin was covered with suction cups. As it approached the boy, myriad mouths yawned open along its length, each hoping for a taste of chocolate. Derek offered a wafer to one at random before eating the other himself.

“THANK YOU, DEREK. YET I FIND MYSELF WONDERING: MIGHT IT BE THE PERFECT NIGHT FOR A TRICK INSTEAD?”

The boy gazed toward the living room, seeing his father in his mind’s eye, kicked-back in his recliner, beer in hand, empty cans and wrappers in a halo on the floor around him.

The tentacle gingerly caressed the handprint emblazoned on Derek’s cheek, reigniting the sting of pain.

“Yes, let’s show him a trick.”

Tentacaedes oozed forth, wrapping itself around the doorknob.

“And Ten?” Derek said.

The tentacle paused.

“Bring me back more Kit Kats, will you?”