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I sat up in the darkness of my room, frightened. Some noise from the land of the waking had jolted me out of unconsciousness. Groggy, I reached across the nightstand, turning my alarm clock towards my face. The dim numbers read 3 am, and I groaned. So much for a good night's sleep. Forgetting what had woken me, I rolled over and settled back into bed- but there it was again. A thump from the attic above me, loud and deliberate. There was another. It sounded as though someone (and it was obviously someone, no house settles in manner resembling footsteps.) was attempting to make me aware of his presence, almost toying with me. I bolted upright, adrenaline pumping. Someone was in my house.

The thumping stopped somewhere above my closet. Slowly, I stood up in the darkness of my room, the light of my alarm clock extending no further than the night stand on which it sat. Slowly I worked my way out of my room and down the hall into the storage closet. I grabbed my old bat. I retreated down the hall to stare, waiting, at the trap door that led to my attic. Whoever was in my attic, he wasn't going anywhere.

I held my breath, waiting for any kind of noise, any sign of life. Nothing. Slowly, heart racing, I approached and pulled down the ladder. The light was on in the attic. I was sure that I hadn't left it that way. I climbed up the ladder as quietly as I could and peeked into the room, only to be confronted with- nothing. Nothing there at all. Just regular old attic crap. I must've been imaging things. It's easy to imagine things when you're alone in the dark. Laughing, I shut off the lights behind me and went to lie down.

I closed my eyes, thinking about how ridiculous I'd been. Then- thump. Closer now. Just as loud as I'd heard it before, closer to the center of the room. I jumped out of bed, less frightened than angry, and rushed up the ladder, bat in hand. I kicked over boxes, swung at shadows and old clothing. Nothing. There was no one there. I rubbed at my temples, climbing down the ladder and back towards my room. Too much stress. Must be imagining things. Maybe I'll take the day off tomorrow. I felt strange as I approached my door. A wave of dread washed over me and I hesitated. I groaned. I was being stupid. I'd probably feel better after I got some sleep. Fingers rubbing the bridge of my nose, I blindly flicked the light-switch on and made my way towards my bed. I slumped down onto the edge, rubbing m eyes. So tired. Had to stop being paranoid.

Thump.

I jerked my hands away from my face, whipping around to glare once more at the attic- but with the light on, I could see it. A grotesque mockery of the human form, bent and twisted, head facing the wrong way, empty sockets where eyes should have been. Slowly, deliberately, it lifted a hand. It grinned as it slapped it down with a thump, dragging itself closer towards me.

Thump.

I gave a panicked laugh as it smashed the bare bulb that was my only source of light, shrouding the room in darkness. I'm not insane. How could I have known?

Thump.

It walks on ceilings.