"Oh god. Oh god, oh god, oh god. I think there's something underneath the bed."

Jacob sighed, rolling over and twisting the blankets in an infuriating fashion. "Anna, you're twenty-five years old. Don't you think you're a little old for this?" Of course, he would say that.

Anna twisted the blankets right back. Blankets were protection. Blankets were life. If she were covered with the blankets and Jacob were not, the rules dictated that Jacob would be eaten and Anna would be spared. Everyone knew that. But Jacob wouldn't let this go without a quarrel.

"Jesus, Anna! I'm cold! It's fucking November! You're crazier than Peggy..." And then he fell asleep, or at least pretended to fall asleep. Anna wasn't fooled. Anna was never fooled.

This was a problem. She didn't have enough give to fully cover herself with the blankets. If she tried to make some give, Jacob would wake up again and be irritating. Therefore, ergo, she was still a target.

NIGHTLIGHT. That was the answer!

She turned on her lamp, rifling the nightlight from the nightstand drawer as she did so. Then, with her longest strides, she tiptoed across the blue carpet, towards the outlet that was too far away.

A slimy something slithered across her ankle. "Nice night for it, isn't it?"