Chapter 1

(Randall's POV)

Despite my age, I'm still one of the top laugh-makers at Monsters, Inc. I've made peace with Sullivan, and Mike, despite them banishing me to the human world. I've since returned, after taking care of myself after the humans who hurt me nearly beat me to death.

There's one door I'm pretty fond of, despite the child who had owned the closet door has since grown up.

Rebekah Nielsen, or Becky as she prefers to be called. It's been 19 years since I saw her last. She's moved to a new city since I saw her last.

19 years.

That's almost two decades.

I wonder how she's doing. Who she grew up to be.

I know it's foolish to think that I could keep in contact with the girl – well, woman – I used to scare when she was 7.

By now, she's in her late 20s.

I head into her closet, just for the heck of it.

When I step out of her closet, I turn invisible.

It's about 2AM where I am now.

I see Becky in her bed, which is now full-sized.

She must have traded up from her twin.

I see drool rolling down her chin, and I lightly chuckle to myself.

Things have changed from what the pictures of her room used to look like from the updates.

I see an extensive book collection, nearly taking up three shelves of her bookcase.

In front of the bookcase, I see a humidifier. I wonder why she needs it.

I hope she's okay.

I startle when I hear whisper-screaming coming from behind me.

I turn around and see it's Becky who is whisper-screaming in her sleep.

She suddenly bolts up, breathing hard and I close my eyes so she doesn't spot me, even in the dark.

"Who's there?" She whispers.

Crap.

I materialize and step towards her.

"Don't scream. I promise I'm not here to hurt you." I put my hands over her mouth so she doesn't scream.

I carefully remove my hands from her mouth.

"Randall? Is it really you?" She asks.

"You…know my name?"

"I remember hearing your friends talking to you from my old closet at my old house, congratulating on you successfully scaring me."

I wince.

I step forward toward her, keeping my voice low.

"I am so sorry for scaring you. I was just doing my job."

"I forgive you."

"Thank you. Do you remember what your nightmare was about? You were whisper-screaming in your sleep."

"It…it was about my crazy ex-boyfriend. I haven't seen him in years, and I had a nightmare about him a few months ago…he was trying to kill me in this nightmare, too."

"That's awful. Are you okay? Do you need water or something?"

"No. I'll be okay. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"So what exactly are you doing here? It's been, what, 19 years since we last saw each other?"

"Yep. I'm 40 now."

"Wow. And I'm 26."

"Wow. When's your birthday?"

She tells me, and she asks me mine.

"March 26."

"Wow."

"Yeah. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Were you traumatized by me when you were little?"

"No. I mean, sure, I was scared, but I wouldn't say I was traumatized. My ex traumatized me more than you did, Randall, and all he did was threaten me. But I know you'd never harm me."

"Of course I wouldn't. Sure, I did scare you, but I would never harm you physically."

"Just psychologically."

"Exactly."

We lightly chuckle.

"Randall?"

"Hmm?"

"You said 'did'? Are you still scaring kids?"

"Nah. You were one of my last ones before…before I was banished. When I came back the company, laughing was a better source of power than screams were."

"Banished? It wasn't because of me, was it?"

"No, of course not! I, uh, did some things in my past that I regret, and I got banished because of them. But I'm a changed monster."

"So why'd you come here tonight since I'm not a kid anymore?"

"Well, one, everyone likes to laugh, as far as I know, and two, I wanted to see you. For old times' sake."

"It took you 19 years to come see me?"

I wince again.

"I know it's been almost 20 years since we saw each other last, but, recently, I had a dream about you."

"You did?"

"I did. And, to tell you the truth, you look as beautiful now as you did in my dream."

"Thank you, Randall."

"Please, call me Randy."

"Okay, Randy. So that dream sparked interest in wanting to see me again?"

"It sure did. I'm surprised your door hadn't been shredded. I'm also surprised you haven't moved out."

"Well…I, uh, can't hold down a stable job."

"There's nothing wrong with that."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. So…I was thinking."

"Yes?"

"Would you…would you like to come back with me? To my world? You can bring some of your stuff with you. We can pack it all in a suitcase and we can leave."

"Today's my day off from taking care of my grandma. I do it Monday – Thursday during the summer."

"She depends on you?"

"Yeah."

"I understand. Do you think I could stay with you?"

"Don't you have friends to get back to? A family?"

"Ah, well, to tell you the truth, I could never hold down a relationship for more than a few months."

"I know that feeling. My last relationship was six months long…then I got dumped."

"I'm sorry."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. So…can I? Stay with you, I mean."

"You can turn invisible, right?"

"Yeah."

"My dad might find you cool, but my mom…she might be scared of you."

"Well, I hope it won't be a repeat of what occurred 19 years ago when I got banished – got beaten with a shovel. Nearly died."

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault. How about this? I go back to my world and I pack up some stuff, come back here, and then I stay with you for as long as I can."

"Sounds good to me, Randy."

"Great. I'll be back soon."

She surprises both of us with a kiss on my cheek.

"I am so sorry, Randall. I don't know why I did that."

I surprise her with a kiss back on her own cheek.

"Don't be sorry. I'll be back soon. Try to go back to sleep."

"Okay. And, Randy?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For…for doing this."

"You're welcome. I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay."