My friend Leo rented a big, aging home with high ceilings and wide plank floors. A creaky main staircase dominated the front hall, and a narrower, hidden one stood at the rear. Five of us shared the space, and we often filled it with music and laughter.
One evening, some visitors hesitated by the back door, refusing to come inside. They claimed the place felt heavy and unwelcoming. I laughed it off, saying, “It’s just an old building. There’s nothing here that can hurt you.” I had never sensed anything wrong in the house.
After the party ended, I went to bed. I woke suddenly to a crushing weight on my ribs. A dark form, featureless and deep, was pressing down on me. I looked around the moonlit room; my roommates were sleeping soundly. The shape shifted, and a high-pitched whine filled my head. I was completely paralyzed.
I focused all my will and managed to think the words, ‘Get off me.’ The pressure vanished instantly. The shadow slid away from the bed, drifting across the floor and melting straight through the closed door. I jumped up and ran to my friend Ben’s room, shaking him awake.
“Something incredible just happened,” I stammered. He blinked sleep from his eyes and said quietly, “You met the watcher. It stands in my corner at night.”