My Imaginary Friends Don't Like You

Young children have imaginary friends. It’s not as uncommon as you think. I was no exception to that. Like any other child, I had friends only I could see. Usually they took the shape of animals. Cats, dogs, rabbits. Cute stuff like that. My parents didn’t see no harm in it. After all, I’d grow out of it, right?

I’m 26 now, and they are still there. My ‘imaginary friends.’ But I can’t get rid of them. No matter where I go, they follow. No one else sees them, no one else realises what danger they are in.

Let me explain…

As I grew up, seeing these friends didn’t change. They continued to exist. A faze I couldn’t seem to grow out of. But that’s not the worst part. As I grew older, they changed. Becoming more twisted and abnormal than what I first perceived them as. They twisted and warped into hideous forms I wouldn’t know where to begin to describe. They were no longer the fluffy, cute animals I first imagined. They had become grotesque demons even Satan would be proud of.

There is only three of them, each one very different. But they all had the same, hollow sockets where they should have eyes. Their mouths twisted into impossible grins and full of sharp or broken teeth.

At first, I feared them, as they sat on top of my wardrobe while I slept. I dare not tell my parents, knowing these things would be blamed on a child’s imagination. So all I could do was try and ignore them as I went about my life. That wasn’t so hard to begin with, as they seemed to keep their distance from me, preferring to watch me as they twisted and changed as each day passed.

I was around 15 when they started speaking to me. They were still in the process of their unearthly change so two of them were unable to speak, they voice warped and garbled with their changing body. The third, which seemed to be losing its mouth altogether was the only one I could understand. My name was all it uttered at first, its voice sounding from within the back of my mind in a faint, whispery voice like a breeze through trees. It would only stop once I acknowledged them. But the silence wouldn’t last, and soon it would begin again. One word turned into short sentences, then whole paragraphs. By this time the other two had joined in.

They would speak about how they would protect me, trying to deceive me that they were good. They wanted me to stay quiet about them, to not tell my parents in case they try to get rid of them. They were ‘my little secret.’ I tolerated it for a while, mainly out of fear. But they never seemed threatening towards me. So I didn’t give it much thought.

The older I got, the closer they seemed to be. And by the time I was 18, they were practically hanging around my neck. Always talking to me, telling things about strangers and people I knew. How I ‘shouldn’t trust anyone.’ I started to believe them, distancing myself from people I once called my friends.

Call me paranoid, call me insane. I know they aren’t just in my head, it just doesn’t make sense. I can’t just tell a doctor about this, they wouldn’t fully believe me. They can do more than just speak to me. And I found out on my 21st Birthday.

I was having a party, with the few friends that I still had left. We had decided to go on a night out, hit a few clubs, and have a few drinks. By this time, I was used to the creatures, and they had stopped speaking to me as often. But they were still there. Of course, I ignored them and focused on having a good time.

It starts getting really early in the morning and the group of us starts to disperse into various taxis and rides from family. I’ll admit, I was pretty drunk and standing up was a chore. But, I was stood, on my own after ringing for a taxi. Nothing to do but wait. The only company I had was, once again, my own personal demons. This is where it gets odd.

By this time, they had all but gone completely silent. The smallest one, perched on my shoulder, was looking down the road, the other two soon followed its gaze. On the other side of the street was a man, middle aged by the looks of it. He was just minding his own business, hands in his coat pockets and listening to what I assume to be music. Bobbing his head up and down and mouthing words.

All of a sudden, the three creatures ran off, something they have never done. They went straight for the man, and he was completely unaware. I watched on in horror as they latched onto him and he started flailing wildly at his invisible attackers. They bit and clawed at him, tearing into cloth and pulling at his flesh. I didn’t stay to see what happened. Covering my mouth to stop the vomit, I ran around the corner and out of sight before releasing all the contents of my stomach onto the floor.

I managed to flag down the taxi that was sent for me before it turned the corner to find whatever horror was left. And when I finally stumbled back to my apartment, they were there waiting for me like little obedient puppies. I expected them to be covered in blood but no, they were perfectly clean.

I didn’t pay them any attention and just went to bed.

The next day, the news was broadcasting the death of a man, seemingly mauled by some wild animal. But I knew the truth and I was going to get answers.

For the first time since I was little and they were still cute animals, I spoke to them. I demanded answers and I got them. Although I wish I hadn’t.

They told me that they were shape shifters. Creatures from another realm or some shit. The portals they use are opened within people and so they latch onto that person. At first they are cute and normal, being called ‘imaginary friends’ as the bonded person is the only one that can see them. In most cases, as the child gets older, the portal disappears and the creatures disappear along with it. But rarely, as with my case, the portal sticks and the creatures remain; turning into their true forms as the child gets old enough to perceive what they actually are.

As for why they come here….

In their world, the only creatures that exist is them. So flesh, the diversity of creatures in our realm, is like a….delicacy to them. An all you can eat buffet; if they can stick around long enough.

They weren’t good, they weren’t protecting me as I had come to tell myself. They were monsters, horrible creatures that followed me around like my own shadow. What could I do? The only way to rid myself of them is to…end my own life, thus shutting their portal to this world and sending them back to their own. I don’t want to die.

I’m so sorry, there was nothing more I could have done. They crave food all the time. And now that you know about them. They won’t be happy. I’m the only one that should know.

So watch dark corners of your room the next time you go to bed. For, they hunger for you. And nothing will stop them.

My imaginary friends don’t like you.

But they would sure like to have a taste.