text: When I was 8, I saw something that I’d never forget. It was just me and my dad, with the house all to ourselves. Mom was away, though I don’t recall why. But I didn’t care, because that meant that I got my Dad all to myself. Pizza, hiking, and many other adventures ensued. It’s one of my fondest memories of him. Which makes what capped it all off that much worse. I remember need to get a drink of water. Tiptoeing into the hall, I heard something. Something wrong. It was a dull thump, and it sounded like it was coming up the stairs. Nervous, thinking my Dad would be upset I was out of bed late, I hid in the bathroom. The sound continued up the stairs, and into the hall of the second floor. I wanted to peak out, to see what it was, but something held me back. Soon the thump went quiet, and I heard a creak of my parent’s bedroom door. *Creeeeeeaaaak* I didn’t hear the thumping again. I guess it was just Dad going to bed. ... I was back, snug in my bed, when I heard the worst of the sounds that night. It was like someone was trying to chew through a large piece of steak. A wet crunch, followed by more chewing. Rising, I needed to investigate. I slowly crept down the hall, stinking to the least creaky floorboards. The sound was coming from Dad’s room. Silent as my little feet would allow, I slunk to the door and slowly turned the knob. When I had it open a crack, I peered inside. The sight the greeted me was sickening. At first all I could see was a silhouette, a person-like shape sitting bolt upright in the bed, facing the headboard. It then leaned forward, and hunching it’s shoulders, I heard the chewing again. As I was standing there, entranced by the sight, a car passed outside. Its headlights just barely illuminated the grisly scene. The thing was sat, straddling my father’s stomach, eating a hunk of meat that must have come from the massive hole in his chest. I couldn’t hold back my gasp, and the creature sat bolt upright again. Its face, if you could call it that turned in my direction. It had no defining features, no eyes, nose, nothing. But as I gaped in horror, its face split in a grin, filled with too many teeth. It slowly raised its hand to its mouth, the finger crossing its lips. It was telling me to keep quiet. I fled from the house, screaming the entire way to the neighbor’s house. In between bawling and wiping the tears from my eyes, I recounted my story. They didn’t believe me; neither did the policemen that came later. I eavesdropped on them, and they said that it was a break in gone wrong. I was shocked. How could they say that? What burglar would do that? Before long, my mother arrived to collect me and we stayed in a hotel for a few weeks while the house was cleaned. Eventually, we returned to stay there, but I never felt safe. Before long, we’d moved away from that ghastly place. ... I thought that would be the end of it. But I was wrong. I saw it again last night. I awoke to my bedroom door creaking. Open just enough to see beyond, I saw the thing again. It’s finger to its lips, crossing that horrible smile.