Shhh!
The first rule is Stay Silent
You must stay silent.
So very quiet.
Do not cry out for your mother.
Do not whisper a prayer, nor a plea.
You are past the point of divine intervention.
You want to scream.
This is natural.
But you mustn’t. 
Stifle the whimper that’s in your throat.
Okay, that’s better.
But can you soften your breathing?
No, not like that.
Don’t hold your breath.
Just breathe naturally.
Like She isn’t even here.
Slow in.
Slow out.
Smooth.
Easy.
Like you haven’t a care in the world.
Yes, that’s it!
That’s how quiet you must stay.
   
Now stop!
Do not move.
The second rule is Stay Still.
Do not pull the blanket over your head.
She’ll hear the rustling.
Do not scratch your nose.
Do not cross your fingers.
You are past the point of luck.
You want to flee.
This is natural.
But you mustn’t stir.
Not even a toe.
That’s it, just like that.
A little statue tucked a’bed.
Like you haven’t a care in the world.
 
Keep your eyes open!
Do not allow them to close for longer than a blink.
The third and final rule is Stay Awake.
Do not be lulled by the silence.
Your lids are heavy.
The fear is exhausting.
Do not waste energy hoping She’ll just go away.
You are past the point of hope.
You want nothing more than to fall asleep and wake to find this all nightmare.
This is natural.
But you mustn’t slumber.
She is watching.
Even now, Her teeth gleam through the bars of the heat register.
No!
Do not look!
Have you forgotten rule number two?
Stay still.
Do not turn your head.
But know She is there.
She is waiting.
She hungers.
And She grows impatient.
Hear Her nails on the metal duct?
Tap-scratch.
Tap-scratch.
Tap-scratch.
You must Stay Silent.
You must Stay Still.
You must Stay Awake.
Only five more hours until sunrise.
There you go, just like that.
Quiet and still and never, ever sleeping.
Like you haven’t a care in the world.
Like you haven’t a terror in the dark.
 
The End.