It all started seventeen years ago. He had met the 10-year-old girl from the other world through the closet door. She showed no fear to his presence, just natural curiosity. It caught him off guard that night, every child he visited would shriek in terror to his presence, but not her. She wanted to know him, to touch his fur, to hear him roar. He had to admit, he enjoyed the attention. He would visit her whenever he could, being careful not to draw attention to himself from the other monsters of his world.
"So how does it work Sulley?" the girl asked the blue and purple polka dotted beast.
Her large blue eyes eager to take in what he had to show. Sulley smiled softly as he looked up at the wooden door he used to visit the girl's room.
"Well Dexia, we use children's screams as a source of energy. We lack sustainable energy in my world and screams work the best," he grinned down at her.
Dexia didn't look amused.
"Look, I know it's not perfect but it's all we got!"
The little girl looked up at the door. Her brown hair twirled down her back. She smiled, "how many monsters are there?"
Sulley smiled, always full of questions.
He looked up to her bed, something had caught his eye. A movement. Something dark and under her bed. He frowned and looked to the girl.
"Dexia get behind me."
She blinked innocently at his request, more like a demand. Sulley reached over with his long arm and gently pushed her behind his bulk. He would ensure no harm would come to her. He took it on himself to be a guardian to her. Was it another monster? Who? It made no sense. No one knew he was here and even if they did they would never assume he was doing anything other than scaring.
Sulley stepped forward cautiously, his periwinkle eyes fixed on the shadows under her bed. He knelt down and peered into the darkness. Nothing. Just a teddy bear and a shoe. He sighed but he wasn't happy. Something about this didn't feel right. He had this feeling in her room every now and again but this was the first time he had seen movement. Or did he? It was hard to tell. Was Dexia safe here? Was their someone watching her? Who?
"Sulley?"
Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he turned to her. Her face was contorted with fear and angst. He couldn't have her worry. He never wanted to see her worry. He put on a smile for her, bottom canines jutting out from an under bite jaw.
"I found that bear you were looking for! Catch!" he reached in and grabbed the stuffed animal before tossing it to Dexia who caught it mid throw.
She grinned as she put it with the rest of her stuffed toys.
Sulley watched her, blissfully unaware of anything going on. What was he thinking? He could be the one going mad. Still, he had to keep an eye on her. If something happened and he was caught unaware he would never forgive himself. He made a promise to himself that night, to protect the human girl at all cost. He was her guardian now.
