text: Sitting on my soft, leather chair late at night, I stared absent-mindedly at my cell phone. Pecking the phone with my thumbs, I searched for the entertainment that would keep me occupied for the last few hours of the day. A pale light illuminated my peripheral vision. Peering through the glass sliding door that sat opposite me in my home, I focused on its source: the motion activated light outside, attached high on the shed. I thought nothing of this short distraction, and continued my search for merriment. The light refused to deactivate. I thought this strange, and deemed to pay more mind to it. Suddenly, upon my attention being placed upon it, the light wavered and dimmed. My blood froze. Something passed the light headed leftward, towards the back door of my home. Startled, yet too panicked to make a sound, I searched my chair for the remote control to turn off the TV. As quietly as possible, I stood up and turned off the fan and light for the living room, and ducked into the closet nearest the switch. I fumbled with my phone, switching off any and all functions that would make noise. Boards creaking, Metal clanking, the back door shreiking. Each successive noise forcing my heartbeat to hasten, I closed my eyes to calm myself. The apparitions echoing steps drew closer, forcing my eyes to open out of pure self preservation. The minimal light shimmering through the small crack in the closet door dimmed and brightened. I placed my hand over my face. The echoing steps, having circled the room, began to distance themselves. Feeling relief, I removed my hand from my face. "Germs" I thought, "ill have to wash myself for that".... *vmmmmmm* A cold sweat swept over me. The blasted cell phone, seemingly silenced by my efforts to protect myself, was only set to vibrate. My life, forfeited because of a simple message. Maybe not... Thinking quickly, I slipped out of the closet, instead hiding myself behind the chair on which I had previously sat. The echoing stomps of the apparition hastily returned, finally slowing upon entering the room. It stood but 3 feet away as I peered at it from my crouched position. The space it occupied shimmered and distorted like the air over blacktop on a sunny day. It stood 8 feet tall, but with thin, spindly arms and legs like that of a 5 year old sapling. Why it sought humans, I have no knowledge. Why it was so fearsome, however, I did. The strange apparition has had a long history of appearing from nowhere, breaking into houses, and then vanishing with every soul that inhabited said houses. Once again covering my mouth, I watched as the creature opened the closet with its spindly fingers. It charred the wooden handles as it grasped them, and then flung the doors open and scooped at its contents. In a fit of what I can only assume is rage, it tore the doors off of the closet and tossed them into the center of the room. It left black, charred handprints on the places that were handled. As it protested, I snuck put my phone and took a picture of the beast, being careful to turn off the flash beforehand. Once completed with its rage, it pirouetted and jogged down the hall and out the door, evaporating as it hit the outdoor air. It burned my shoulder as it strode past. After minutes of adrenaline began to give way to careful relaxation, I once again stood up and sat on my soft leather chair. It felt as if I was melting into it. I began searching through the several photos I had taken, staring in amasement at the detail I had managed to capture. Still shaking slightly, I dialed out *9-1-1* *ringing* *ringing* *click* "hello, 911 what is your emergency?" ... "I... I think I survived the Ignaemodaem..." Thank you for reading. Leave any tips or suggestions or reactions in the comments, please.