To let you know, and give you advance warning, if ever you see someone or something invisible, or oblivious to other people, then run! Run is the best you can do. But not at night. Whoever goes running at night?

For me, unfortunately, it all happened in my OWN HOME! A place where you’re meant to feel safe. Your parents always say that home is inpenetrable, and that you’re safe under your bedcovers. But believe me, you’re not!

The first time I noticed her, she was down the corridor from my shared bedroom (I shared with my little brother). I was thirsty, and I needed a glass of water. I carefully climbed out of bed, and padded my way over to the corridor. I would have screamed, had my mouth not opened and closed on the collar of my pyjamas. It was well past midnight, and the whole corridor was almost pitch black. But light from somewhere glinted off a lady. She was Chineese, and wearing a flowing sky blue robe, that was very creased. Her hair was tied up in a bun at the back of her head. I noticed her hands, lying completely still by her side- they had razor-sharp metal claws, in place of fingernails!

The steel claws glinted terrifyingly in the dim light, which I now knew was from the streetlamps outside. Also, almost more awfully than before, her entire body was still, except her eyes. She stared at me, her eyes impossible wide, coal black all over, and mad. Her gaze was confusing, and crooked. Her lips were stretched from ear to ear, and she was grinning at me without moving, her eyes roving over my frozen stiff body. I finally, rather stupidly, plucked up courage to speak.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice barely more than a mouse squeak. She did not move.

“Why are you here, and how did you get in?” I asked again. She said nothing. Nothing on her moved. Even her eyes were fixed hungrily on me.

 I slowly crawled back into my bedroom, and tentatively closed the door behind me, wanting to lock and bolt it, board it up, even, if it meant I was safe. But I was worrying over nothing. She hadn’t done anything. She might be harmless. I pulled the bedsheets over me, heart pounding, and went back to sleep.

My dreams were filled with nightmares about her at my bedside, now moving, her claws scraping my neck, digging in slowly, slowly….