4-24-2023 UPDATE: This story is getting reworked into a Children’s Picture Book I am working on getting published. It has been reworked since, so expect big improvements to the final version of it.
“Sleep tight sweety.” was the last thing Eva heard for a long time before she tried to go to sleep.
Dad had fluffed her pillow, mom had tucked her in and she was cozy, but she just wasn’t sleepy enough.
She had learned by now that “sleep tight” meant “stay in bed and don’t get out,” but it was hard to stay in bed, it was hard to go to sleep. She wasn’t a baby anymore and she knew mommy and daddy were still awake. She wanted to be with them.
Eva whispered to herself:
“Sleep, sleep, sleep.”
“Sleep, sleep, sleep.”
“Sleep, sleep, sleep.”
SKITTER
SKITTER
THUMP
SCREECH
Eva bolted up and looked at the window. Her eyes danced around as they tracked a wild flashing and glowing. She threw off the covers and ran to the window. A strange bug flapped glittery wings frantically and scrambled all over the glass. Something else banged against the glass, too.
“HELP!” a small voice cried out
Eva slid the window open a few inches and the bug flitted in.
“CLOSE IT! CLOSE IT!” the voice cried out frantically
Eva froze for a moment, then slammed it shut.
A rapid tapping on the glass made her shrink back.
The little bug flew to the window sill and fanned out its wings for a few moments. It glowed with a warm golden light and the tapping from outside slowed down. Eva could just see a small set of glinting eyes on the other side of the glass. The eyes turned away as the light grew stronger. With a bright flash, the tapping stopped and the mysterious bug quietly folded up its wings and the light slowly faded.
In stunned silence, Eva watched the bug. She didn’t want to blink. Would it vanish if she didn’t keep looking?
“Thank you for helping me.”
“Y-you’re welcome.” Eva mumbled.
“Please speak up.”
“What are you?” she whispered.
“If you want to be heard, you need to speak up.”
Eva frowned, then whispered loudly “They want me to be asleep right now.”
“Soon enough dear. What is your name?”
“I’m Eva. And what’s your name, bug?”
“Pleased to make you’re acquaintance, Eva. Please note that I am not a bug, I am a Glowbug, thank you very much. I ask that you do remember that and-“
The floor creaked outside Eva’s door and her father called in, “I hope you’re still in bed.”
“HIDE!” Eva croacked in a hoarse whisper
He opened the door and saw her standing by the window.
“How many ti-” he trailed off. “Were you scared?”
She nodded.
He smiled and softened his tone. “Let me help you get back in bed, sweetheart.” He picked Eva up and tucked her in.
“Spray?” she asked
He scanned the room for a few moments and saw the bottle by the window. “Is that why you were up?”
She blinked.
“Here you go.” he set the bottle next to her and patted her hand. “You’re safe with us.” He kissed her on the forehead and closed the door behind him as he left.
“What is that?” the Glowbug flitted over to the bottle
“My Shadow Spray.”
“You’re what?!” the Glowbug jumped back and glowed dimly.
“We made it. It keeps away the shadows.”
“Ah, I see.” the Glowbug flitted close to Eva’s face and said “That’s good, but you really ought to call it “Anti-Shadow Spray” because it is made to keep them away.”
“But it is a spray for Shadows.” Eva protested, her brow wrinkling.
“Yes dear, but it doesn’t sound that way. You feed your cat “cat food” don’t you?”
“Yes.” Eva answered.
“Well no wonder that Shadow was at your window. It probably wanted to take your spray, that it thought was for it.”
“You mean the shadows are real?” Eva squeaked.
“Over course they are. Why else did you have that Anti-Shadow Spray?” the Glowbug chuckled.
“I was scared, but mommy and daddy made it better. They helped me make this magic spray. I practiced spraying shadows and we snuggled and prayed and it was all a game. I wasn’t supposed to be afraid anymore.
“Oh dear.” The Glowbug said quietly.
“There WAS a Shadow outside! Why was it by my window? What does it want with my spray?” Eva pulled her covers up, dragging the Glowbug nearer.
“Now Eva.” The Glowbug said slowly. “There is-“
“A shadow?”
“No need to-“
“Two? There are two Shadows?”
RATTLE.
RATTLE.
SCRAPE!
“Stand back Eva!” The Glowbug flitted towards the window, glowing again.
Shadows squished and squeezed and spread fingers between the window and frame. One set of hands forced the window open just enough. A Shadow Bat swatted the Glowbug away.
Shadow Spiders oozed down from the ceiling.
“Spray them Eva!” Glowbug called from the floor.
Eva grabbed the bottle, squeezed her eyes shut and covered the closest Shadows with glittery, sweet smelling mist. They withered and fled.
New Shadows grew larger and crept towards Eva.
Before they could grab her, the Glowbug rocketed up from the floor glowing brighter than before.
Eva cowered as the Glowbug shone above her.
Eva covered her eyes. “It’s okay now, Eva.” She looked and saw the Glowbug blinking faintly as she fell to the floor. She scooped up the Glowbug and held her close.
Eva poked at the Glowbug and asked, “Are you okay?” The Glowbug said nothing.
She poked again and whined, “Glowbug!” Shadow birds whooshed in through the window and circled above them. Eva closed her hand around the Glowbug to protect it and screamed out, “Go away Shadows!” She sprayed at the shadows above them.She shouted again and kept spraying. She sprayed and sprayed until she chased the shadows out the window. She gently set the Glowbug down then closed and locked the window.
Eva heard two terrible screams from down the hall. “Go, Eva!” the Glowbug said weakly. Eva wheeled around and ran to her parent’s bedroom as fast as she could. She opened the door and saw their window wide open. She heard more screaming and yelling outside. She ran to the window and saw her parents clutched in two large talons.
Eva ran back to the Glowbug and told her what happened. “I’m too tired, Eva. I can’t get up.” the Glowbug answered.
“But you have to help me!” Eva pleaded.
“I need more time, Eva.”
“You can help do it, Eva.”
“But I can’t.”
“You already have.”
“But I’m so scared!”
“Fear is your enemy. Don’t let it control you.”
“You can’t fly, but I can run. I’ll take you to my mom and dad and you can stop the Shadows.” Eva darted around her room getting ready to face her biggest challenge yet.
Boots… check.
Jacket… check.
Backpack … check.
Flashlight … check.
Shadow spray… check.
Glowbug … check.
“Are you sure the Shadows are this way?”
“Keep going, Eva! We’re getting close! I can feel it!”
“What do you feel?”
“The Shadows.”
“What do they want?”
“Fear.”
“Why?”
“For food.”
“Mom! Dad!” Eva’s heart leapt as she saw her parents trapped and helpless.
“I’M HERE NOW! IT’S GONNA BE OK.”
Hisses and whispers spit from Shadow mouths.
Eva pointed her flashlight at the Shadows and sprayed them.
“Be brave. Be brave. Be brave.”
“Be brave. Be brave. Be brave.”
“Be brave. Be brave. Be brave.”
The little Shadows fled, and the big one cried ferociously.
“I knew you could do it, Eva!” The Glowbug popped out of the container and glowed more brightly than ever.
“Now see what I can do!”
In a moment the Glowbug was gone.
An angelic golden giant stood opposite the Shadow. The Shadow howled and sprouted a riot of arms and mouths and animal shapes. It lunged towards the golden giant fiercely.
The giant wrapped the great Shadow in its arms and it vanished as the light touched it.
The golden giant held Eva and her parents in one enormous hand and brought them close to its chest.
Back home Eva snuggled in bed with her mom and dad.
The Glowbug, kissed her forehead and flew out the window.
Eva smiled in her sleep. From that night on Eva slept well because she knew she was not alone and she knew she was brave.
The designation of “WIP” stands for both “Work in Progress” and “Writing In Public” as I will be publishing and updating these posts as I write them. I might mark off each update to track my progress.
Eva and the Glowbug is complete at 1380 Words. I have thought to make a series out of this for some time. I was originally going to wait until this first book had been published, but I don’t think I will do that anymore. I will look for an artist starting now, but I will also start developing the next book or two as well.
Eva and the Glowbug WIP Collected
Brainstorm 1 |WIP Eva and the Growbug
Outline 1 |WIP Eva and the Growbug
Rough Draft 1 |WIP Eva and the Glowbug
Rough Draft 1.2 |WIP Eva and the Glowbug
MJ Muñoz 