The Hat Man

"... if I should die, before I wake, I pray the Lord, my soul to take," the boy prayed, before hopping into bed.
"Good night, sweetie," Mom said, turning off the light.
Darkness engulfed the room; the air grew heavy, and cold.
Shivering fearfully, the boy clutched the blankets.
"He'll come soon," he whispered to his teddy bear, not noticing the hatted, murky, apparition by his bed.
"The Hat Man's coming," he whimpered.
"The Hat Man's here," hissed the ghoul, reaching for the cringing child with its eager claws.
The empty bed revealed no signs of struggle when morning arrived.