The Mid Night Teddy

Riya’s teddy bear, Mr. Snuggles, was no ordinary toy. From the moment her grandma handed it over, she felt a strange warmth—and a faint chill. At night, she heard soft whispers, like a lullaby sung backwards, and saw tiny paw prints on her windowsill. One evening, the power went out, and Riya found Mr. Snuggles sitting upright with glowing red eyes. Frozen in fear, she heard it say, “You brought me to life… now I protect you.”

The next night, Riya saw shadowy figures lurking outside—silent and dark. Mr. Snuggles stood between her and the window, growling low like a guardian. The bear wasn’t evil—it was a spirit trapped between worlds, guarding Riya from the “Whispering Shadows” that hunted lost souls. But the more the bear fought, the weaker it became, slowly turning ragged and silent.

One dawn, the bear’s eyes stopped glowing. Riya realized Mr. Snuggles sacrificed itself to save her. She hugged the quiet bear tightly, whispering thanks, knowing some gifts come with a price... and some protectors don’t want to be woken again.