Jack Overland sat in bed, with his younger sister curled up at his side. One arm was wrapped around his sister, the other flipping pages of a book.
"The travelers wandered the dark woods." Jack recited from the book. "They had been warned about these woods, that monsters lurked in the darkest parts. But they hadn't listened, for they were starving and knew that there were animals living in the woods, which meant there must be food somewhere." Jack's sister Hannah listened with rapid attention.
"At last, the youngest of the travelers found an apple tree! Never before had the young traveler seen such fresh food. However, he was greedy. He pretended not to have found the tree, and told the others to continue on without him. As soon as they left, he started picking those red fruits as quickly as he could. Suddenly, he heard a growl behind him and the rustle of leaves."
"Oh no!" Hannah whispered.
"Thinking it was just his imagination, the boy continued picking. When he heard it again, he turned around. 'Is that you Thomas?' He called into the woods. When no answer came, but another growl, he started to panic. 'Thomas, this isn't funny.' He shouted."
"What's going to happen to him?" Hannah asked, and Jack continued the story.
"A beast crawled out of the darkness. It was at least twice the size of him, and dark brown. The young traveler gasped and backed away. The beast let out a loud roar and- TICKLED HIM TO DEATH!" He shouted, ending the story by tickling Hannah.
"Jack… sto-op!" Hannah laughed in between breaths. "Jack… T-this isn't… funny!" Finally, Jack stopped tickling her and grinned at Hannah's glare. For he knew that his sister could never really be mad at him.
"That wasn't nice," she pouted. Jack laughed and rustled her hair. Hannah attempted to rustle his hair back, but her height failed her. Feeling pity, Jack bent down so his sister could rustle his hair.
"Alright, time to go to sleep Hannah." Jack said, starting to get out of the bed but Hannah grabbed his arm.
"Jack could you sleep here? I'll feel safer." She whispered. Jack sighed; he knew his sister had been suffering of nightmares for a while.
"Hannah, they're just nightmares. They can't hurt you." He said gently. Hannah gripped his arm harder. "I know, but please?" She begged.
"Alright, move over." Jack gave in, crawling back into the bed. Hannah smiled and snuggled into his chest. Jack put a protective arm around her. "Jack, can you sing?" She asked.
"Mmm, what song?" He asked.
"The one mother used to sing." She whispered. Jack nodded and began to sing softly.
"Sleep my child and peace attend thee,
All through the night
Guardian angels God will send thee,
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping,
I my loved ones' watch am keeping,
All through the night
Angels watching, e'er around thee,
All through the night
Midnight slumber close surround thee,
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping
I my loved ones' watch am keeping,
All through the night"
Jack felt his sister nodding off to sleep. "Sleep tight," he whispered, then he fell asleep too.