“I know where all the missing socks go!” Marley yelled enthusiastically skipping across the kitchen tile floor.

An ear to ear grin on her face, baby blue eyes locked on her mothers green eyes. Her little blue Jean short pockets tugged up by her hands. Of course she’d forgotten the small cloth belt.

“Where do they go baby?” Her mother laughed going back to the small pile of dishes in the sink from lunch.

“Well I caught the sock monster” Marley ran to the fridge and flung it open. “He’s trapped under the laundry basket in my room”

Grabbing from it a slice of bologna from the package, two strawberries, and a single bag of cheese blocks she loved to devour.

“Well great job Monster Hunter Marley!” Her mother coed her congratulations, knowing full well her daughter was keen on her overactive imagination. “You better not snack to much before dinner!”

“It’s not for me mom. Duhhh it’s for the sock monster” She said sassily, climbing the steps.

Upstairs Marley slowly walks to her bedroom door. Eager to see her captive creature again. Of course the sock monster wasn’t her first captive. Bunnies, the neighbors cat, even a squirrel had already fallen for her sly traps.

Stepping through the door it’s glowing gold eyes quickly locked on hers. A low growl starting to grow as it tossed a scaly black tail against to long white plastic basket. Which had been secured by string to the ceiling, then two large groups of books stacked on top to stop its escape.

She’d used a pile of her older sister socks to make it come out from underneath the bed. Yet it’s small dragon like appearance made her shiver a bit. Then came the scream the even the sock monster hugged it’s head with its front claws.

Marley turned and watched her horrified mother glaring at the beast frozen in place. Instead of being afraid Marley just giggled.

“See I told you” A smile clear on her small features.

“Honey…. I …. Get away from that thing” Her mother warned taking two steps back as Marley moved closer with the plate of snacks.

“It’s a sock monster. Not a kid eating monster. You silly” Marley giggled and grabbed a strawberry and started to move it to the handle opening of the basket.

“Marley get away from that thing!” Her mother screamed again fearfully as the beast opened its mouth to two rows of sharp teeth.

It’s long pink tongue grabbed the berry and it rolled it around for a second before spitting it to the floor. Wet yet untouched by its teeth.

“Maybe it only eats socks” Marley wondered dropping in two cubes of cheese.

“Marley! Please baby. Move away from that thing” Her mother was now on her knees begging the girl to move away.

Instead of mouthing the cubes it just sniffed it and gave a gawking noise that Marley realized ment “yuck”. Then it dawned on her, and she grabbed a few of her sisters leftover socks off her bed. Tossing them into the hole. A gleeful look crossed the beasts face and it quickly swallowed them up. Letting out a small burp.

“I guess it only eats socks” Marley shrugged her shoulders and looked back at her mom who was starting to crawl on her knees towards her.

“Let it go. We need to go” Her moms eyes filled with tears as she reached for the girl.

“Shade…. Can’t stay?” Marleys lip started to quiver as she looked back at the beast.

“No it can’t”

“Fine!” Marley kicked over the basket and Shade leaped for the gap under her bed.

In an instant Marley was after it. A purple glow appearing as it slipped away. Marley quickly jumping after it. Mom grabbing her ankle as she leaped.

Swirling colors filled the room, it no longer seemed still. Everything was spinning around and then it was interrupted by a splash and wetness.

Marley was only an arms reach away from the shoreline. The beast she’d named Shade was looking at them both horrified. Mother slipped up onto the white sandy shore and flopped onto her back.

The apron soaked against her clothes, yoga pants sticking to her old band t-shirt. As she watched the Marley trying to pet the beast. It quickly took to the air, it’s wings erupted from its back and it zipped through the air.

Marley started to sob as her mother tried to get her bearings. The sky over the water was littered with large floating rock formations, each littered with greenery. Clouds floated around them and it was awe inspiringly beautiful. Yet it was not Marley’s bedroom.