In the dead of night, I heard a sound from my closet. Upon turning toward the sound, it ceased, nothing more than a trick of the imagination, conjured by my weary mind. I thought little of it.

As I lay there, I suddenly realized my body is trapped in a state of paralysis. I strained every muscle, desperate to break free from whatever held me captive within this horrific dream. But try as I might, I failed to budge a single inch, and instead, my cries of frustration melted into mere whimpers, punctuated by the growing fear trying to engulf me entirely. I could only hear my own ragged breathing echoing through the dark abyss, its sound only seemed to amplify the seeping terror.

And then, just like before, I heard it again: a faint scratching coming from deep inside my closet.

This time, however, there was no force stopping my movements as my fraught nerves finally snapped. My head whipped around to face the source of the noise, even though every fiber of my being screamed at me: “Look away, look away!”

Too late, I saw them - twisted shadows writhing beneath the surface of my dresser mirrors, their eyes gleaming with a fiery hue as they oozed onto my bedspread like grotesque oil slicks. A chorus of voices rose from the depths, whispering promises of depraved and carnal pleasures, if I would only give myself over to them.

And just as suddenly as they had appeared, the specters from my closet reached forward, each digit terminating in razor-sharp talons that grazed my skin, filling my veins with icy poison. Cold fingers brushed against my cheek, a freezing shockwave dispersing throughout my body, my heart thudded painfully against my ribcage as I struggled hopelessly against the invisible bonds.

Somehow, the harder I fought, the tighter the bindings grew, and desperation consumed me as my world narrowed to one terrifying point of view: the doorway leading further into the void, beyond my closet, beyond all help. They were waiting, beckoning even, impatiently urging me to cross the threshold.

I tried to scream, but no sound came out.

I could feel their frigid breath on the back of my neck as they dragged me into the darkness.