Once upon a time, in the dawn of our Earth's existence, two realms unfurled side by side. One bathed in the brilliance of light and purity, a realm where dreams danced and love thrived. The other, veiled in eternal darkness that harbored shadows, sorrow, and nightmares, all born from the profound hatred of creatures of the darkness for their own miserable selves. In the realm of light, graceful beings known as Angelus soared with wings of purest white, their skin aglow like gold. Across, in the realm of shadows, creatures known as Atroxes lurked with bloodshot eyes like crimson moons, with their large hunched forms both fearsome and raw, and bearing teeth as sharp as the darkness's embrace.
Fortunately for the Angelus, a crystalline lake served as a barrier against the bloodthirsty atrocities of the shadow realm. From the other end of its serene expanse, the Atroxes could only watch with hungry growls as their prey, the Angelus, capered and frolicked, beyond their reach and out of harm's way.
One fine day, however, when the Angelus' were enjoying the radiant caresses of the sun, and Atroxes, dreading the mundane arrows of the moon, the ground quaked beneath their feet, soil upheaving as the two realms drew perilously closer, inch by inch until the once-distant worlds finally fused into one. Darkness propagated into every nook and cranny of the new-found world, enveloping each part with its cold embrace and unleashing chaos upon the once peaceful Angelus'.
On that fateful day, Orion, blissfully unaware of the turmoil that would follow, had been basking by the lake, enjoying the company of his friends. Orion had been the best of the Angelus and encapsulated a beauty beyond compare, with his pure green eyes and flawless skin. His valiant spirit was the only match for his beauty.
But the Atroxes weren't witless creatures that could be slayed with the swift strike of a blade. They were creatures of war, masters of strategy honed over countless years of darkness. Years after years after years of darkness propelled them into thinking of different ways they would hunt and then devour the Angelus. And now, their world at the brink of collision had presented itself as an opportunity for them.
Brave Orion, seeing the approaching darkness as a chance to test his mettle, ventured into the unfamiliar territory teeming with lurking creatures. Yet, as the low growls and high-pitched screeches of the Atrox echoed around him, a shiver of fear ran down Orion's spine, his heart pounding with trepidation at the ominous sounds of the unknown.
Completely unprepared for the devastation, Orion sought refuge amidst the chaos, his heart heavy with the realization that this world no longer belonged to either the Angelus or the Atrox—it was now a realm ruled by utter chaos.
The only thing he could do now was to swallow his pride and take shelter within the confines of the house. In his mind, there was no doubt—the Angelus, with their superior strength and purity, would surely emerge victorious in the end. The house hadn't presented much potential for secret lairs, so Orion hid underneath the next best thing-the bed.
Months turned into years, and years turned into centuries, yet Orion stayed put with his unwavering resolve and hope for a better tomorrow. During his time of refuge, a new species had emerged and bridled the world of chaos. Humans, they called themselves. They weren't exceptionally beautiful, like the Angelus, or terrifyingly cunning like the Atrox. They were nothing out of the ordinary, yet their existence provided solace to Orion.
At that moment he went back to his childhood, when envy blinded his fellow Angelus, casting him into the treacherous depths of a murky pond. Despair, like a hefty anchor had hauled him under as the sound of defeat, like sweet chortles of sirens, tugged him closer. At that moment, a faint beam of prying light, had beckoned him.
The young boy who had taken residence in the very house where Orion sought refuge was no different from the same beam of hope. The sight brought a surge of joy to Orion's heart, yet fear still held him captive, keeping him hidden beneath the bed as he waited for the boy with peculiar brown hair and scrawny legs to approach.
It didn't take long after for the little boy to approach. Once night, like stealthy spiders, had crawled in with its bleak embrace and nasty nightmares, the little boy with long bounding strides approached Orion's bed. It was the first time Orion had seen a human. Though the boy's high-pitched voice grated against Orion's ears, it carried an unexpected strength, beckoning him forward with a force he couldn't resist. Believing that his diligent waiting had finally come to an end, Orion reached out, his hand trembling with anticipation, to grasp the boy's leg and plead for the help he so desperately sought.
To his dismay, the boy shrieked, breaking character and scrambling and making his way back to his fellow humans.
What Orion saw shocked him too. The boy had been terrified, but not as much as Orion himself. His hand was now blistered and smelled of charred flesh. The gold of his flawless skin was turning translucent. And his nails, long and coated with the boy's blood. It was repulsive and disgusting. He was surely nothing short of a monster now. Yet hope clung on to him like a lifeline, refusing to be extinguished by his appalling transformation.
Despite his rejection from family after family, by frightened little girls and boys, Orion refused to give up to despair. He couldn't! And so, night upon night, the once handsome Orion reached his hideous arm out pleading for help, seeking redemption. And that is how a creature of pure beauty earned the name of the terrifying monster that lurked underneath every kid's bed.
