I held his hand. The thing seemed to be gone, but it always appeared when I was alone.

"It's okay," he said. This was why I loved him. He didn't act like I was insane after I recounted the creature to him.

We both knew that we were too old to trick-or-treat without getting looks from our neighbors, but when we decided to have a fun night together, I hadn't thought that it would impact me. However, my visions of this... this monster... had suddenly become real, the tangible embodiment of fear. 

We slowly walked back, careful of every step. Our costumes - I in a cow onesie with a halo and he in a black suit and cheesy pumpkin mask - made it seem as if we were just light-hearted, head-full-of-candy, trick-or-treating teenagers. We had been, but when the monster - fanged mouth and sharp claws - had reached out to grab me, I thought I was dead.

Eventually, we got back to my house, after the long walk. I let out a breath I hadn't known I was holding in. 

"It's all okay," I heard his voice from behind me. But... it was wrong. Somehow distorted. Sharper, colder. 

I turned around, ready to hug him and cry into his shoulder, when I saw the fangs and claws.

It was not okay.