I haven't been able to get this off of my mind, and I need somewhere to get this out, and I can't tell anyone that I know otherwise they'll think I'm crazy. And I don't need that, especially at this point in my life.

I was laying in bed, unable to sleep. It was about three in the morning, I remember that I was annoyed that I had to be awake early the next morning. As I was laying in my bed, I listened to the sounds of outside and willed myself to fall asleep.

Then, just as I was beginning to doze off, I woke up without the usual grogginess of having just gone from half-asleep to awake. Instead, I was fully alert - almost like someone had just been screaming for help inside my home. But I had no idea why I was awake. I was alert, and confused.

Then, after a moment, I realized why I had woken up.

There wasn't a single sound. Not the hum of cars driving past, even though I lived on the busiest street of my town of 13,000 people and on the only route semi-trucks could take through town. This in itself was odd, as it had been about 10 minutes and it's incredibly rare for there to be no traffic for three minutes, let alone ten. But that wasn't even the weirdest part. I also couldn't hear the croak of frogs or the song of the crickets. There was quite literally no sounds. So at this point, I was a little bit on edge.

Then, I heard a sound that is ingrained in mind, and I can't help but shudder when I think of it. There was the sound of someone walking. But it wasn't normal footsteps. It sounded like one foot was bare, with flesh slapping against the sidewalk very roughly, hard enough that it would have been painful for any normal person. The other foot sounded like it was being dragged, this also sounded like skin against sidewalk. All in all, the only sound that I could hear, sounded incredibly painful.

I thought maybe someone was just... Stumbling home from the bar that wasn't too far from my home. But when the walking (if I can call it that) passed by my house, and I let out the breath that I hadn't realized I was holding. Of course, it being anything other than a drunk person stumbling home was ridiculous. Or, at least, that was what I told myself.

Until I heard it again - this time going from where I had last heard it to where it had originally come from. This happened eight more times, each time freaking me out more than the last. I didn't want to look outside, but at the same time, I needed to assure myself that it really was a confused drunk person, and not whatever my overactive imagination was picturing what it could be.

So I did what I now wish I hadn't. I crept out of bed to my window, and pushed the plastic curtain to the side, which I should not have done. I did it, when the walking was loudest - when it was right in front of my house. And as soon as I looked outside, I locked eyes with the creature that plagued my dreams for weeks.

It looked almost human, though it was anything but. This... Thing had a vacant face and burning red eyes. It was wearing torn, tattered clothes and - like I assumed - no shoes. It's feet were bleeding - the one that was dragging was bleeding more-so. The visual really shook me to my core.

After a moment, it noticed me fear-stricken and staring. As soon as this thing and I locked eyes, it turned and began to makes it's way toward me. While seemingly locked in my place, it grinned a wicked, sickening, gut-wrenching grin. After a moment, my brain finally caught up to what was happening, and it clicked in my mind that this thing wanted to hurt me. When I had that moment of clarity, my fight or flight response finally kicked it, and I threw my window shut and ran into bed.

I threw the covers over my head, and frantically began to repeat a prayer of protection. After what felt like hours, but was really only a few minutes, I could hear the chirping of crickets and the croaking of frogs under my frantic prayers. And I swear, never have I been so relieved to feel the walls shake and hear the sound of a semi truck driving past.

But, I fear the silence. Any silence - especially when I'm on my own and it's late at night makes my skin crawl and my stomach drop. And I've got a feeling that it's coming back. I couldn't tell you why or how I know this, but I do.

And I'm terrified, because this thing isn't human, but I don't know what it is. And how can I prepare against something when I don't even know what it is?! I don't even know when it's coming - it could be in a week, or a month, or even tomorrow. But no matter when, I won't be prepared.