Safety

“How charming,” Alturis said, laughing.  “But now you must come out from under there.”

Clutching her battered teddy bear against her chest, Megan returned, “Why should I?” 

“For many reasons, some of them yours.  Aren’t you a little bit like a fish in a barrel right now?”

“You’re just going to kill me anyway.”

“But you won’t have a chance to escape unless you come out.”

Megan frowned.  That was a good point.

“Besides,” Alturis added, “you are much too old to be hiding underneath the bed.”