Don’t Look Under the Bed

Frances McCausland starts high school a year early, calm and logical even as the town sizzles with odd events. Across Middleberg, strange happenings erupt—dogs on roofs, alarms that go off hours early, eggs on a teacher's car, and gelatin in the school pool. Even the lockers carry a B graffiti, with Frances's locker hiding a B on the inside, hinting she might be the target.

Frances becomes the prime suspect as the B graffiti multiplies around Middleberg. Bs appear on surfaces and on school lockers, except Frances's, which bears a B on the inside. The growing mystery tests her grip on reality as she searches for answers.

An older boy named Larry Houdini appears and offers to help Frances, claiming to be her imaginary friend that only children can see. He insists the Boogeyman is framing her, and his certainty unsettles her. Frances weighs trust against doubt as they team up.

The Boogeyman causes a citywide blackout, yet the McCausland home remains lit, highlighting the strange presence in town. The contrast foreshadows darker forces at work while Frances clings to a sense of normalcy at home. Fear grows as uncertainty about belief and danger deepens.

Frances's friendship with Joanne frays as rumors spread about her sanity and the truth of Larry. She tries to persuade others that Larry exists and that the Boogeyman is the real culprit, but social pressure mounts. The strain isolates her at school and at home.

To find answers, Frances checks out The Boogey Book from the library, hoping it will help Larry's plan. Larry proposes building a temptrifuge described in the book to age the Boogeyman into a harmless old geezer. The moment marks a shift from avoidance to proactive problem-solving.

Frances discovers that Larry is actually Darwin's imaginary friend, the bond that once helped Darwin cope. This revelation deepens Frances's guilt for pushing Darwin to grow up too soon. The discovery complicates their dynamic and the family's trust.

Larry experiments with Boogey Goo, crafting it as bait for the Boogeyman. He claims it tastes delicious, which unsettles Frances and hints at the Goo's otherworldly origin. The plan grows darker as they prepare for the confrontation.

Darwin accidentally steps in Boogey Goo and is kidnapped by the Boogeyman while Frances is in her room. Frances and Larry pursue through a portal to the Boogeyworld, a dim dimension beneath Frances's bed. The stakes intensify as they race to rescue him.

In the Boogeyworld, Darwin's disbelief fuels a crisis as Larry briefly becomes a Boogeyman. Other Boogeymen drag Darwin toward a cliff, endangering him entirely. Frances fights to restore belief and save her brother.

Frances convinces Darwin to believe in Larry again, stabilizing the situation and returning everyone toward normal. The immediate threat subsides as belief shifts back to its rightful balance. They regroup to prepare for the final steps of the plan.

Using the temptrifuge, Frances discovers the Boogeyman is Zoe, her old imaginary friend. She admits she stopped believing in Zoe when Darwin fell ill, recognizing she still cared. Frances reaches out and Zoe returns to herself.

Frances and Darwin return to the real world to find similar antics unfolding in another city, expanding the scope of the mystery. The parents acknowledge a broader pattern behind the family’s experiences. The siblings brace for what's coming next, with new information in hand.

Larry explains that the 'guy in his head' sent him to tend to the other Boogeyman, signaling ongoing danger. Zoe offers to assist, acknowledging she is still learning and not yet powerful. The duo prepares for future battles while Frances watches.

Larry kisses Frances and switches on the Christmas lights, signaling a graceful departure. He and Zoe ride off to face new Boogeymen, leaving Frances to navigate adulthood with a preserved sense of wonder. That night, Darwin seeks comfort at Frances's side, and she lets him sleep with her.