I lay watching.
It’s night all around. It fills the room, pressing against the walls and ceiling, shifting and changing as the moon crosses the veil of my bedroom window.
There is a figure standing at the end of my bed. It does not move. It only watches me as I watch it.
I cannot see it’s face. It is darkness. There is no light from its eyes nor any shadows from its features.
I lay watching, as it stands watching.
My heart beats faster, and faster, and faster. Eventually, it thunders in my mind until it becomes too much to bare. I run from the room hoping to escape its sight. It does not follow.
I bang on the next door. No response. I turn the knob. It does not give way.
I cry and pant, the fear only growing. I sense the hooded figure.
I glance around the hallway. Nothing.
I turn away, my back placed firmly upon the hard wooden surface.
I close my eyes and sink to the floor to escape the darkness or at least make it my own.
Hours pass. I feel numb, tired.
I gather my courage and last bit of strength.
I return to the room, my heart beating slow and heavy.
I stand in the doorway to my room.
Nothing.
The figure is gone. No trace left behind. No proof of what I’d seen.
I continue into the room. Scanning every shadow.
Nothing.
I climb back into my bed. Sure that I had seen someone or something but too tired to think or worry anymore.
I place my head on my pillow. My eyes drifting shut.
As I lay barely able to keep them open. The figure stands watching.
Author’s notes: This short story or poem (not really sure what it would be considered actually…) is a true story from the creator’s childhood. The creator has never spoken of it besides the day being told a similar story of a creature visiting an associate in the night during their childhood.
In my mind the creator’s “figure” is death. Always watching but almost never seen. I believe few have ever seen a glimpse of death and his/her appearance is always different to each person so it cannot be recognized. Death almost never interacts with those who can see it but will inflict terror on those who fear it.