The Visitor in the Hallway

On a cold December night, I finished a movie and prepared for bed. My cousin was staying over, so I gave him my mattress and made a pallet for myself on the floor. The door to my room was open, giving me a clear view of the empty, dark hall.

I must have dozed off for a short time. When I opened my eyes, I saw a boy standing in the hallway. He was perfectly still, his head cocked strangely to the side. A deep fear gripped me. I rolled over quickly and pulled the blanket over my face, hoping he would vanish.

In the morning, I told my parents about the boy. They said it was just a bad dream. But I know it was real. He looked solid, not like a ghost at all. There is a sealed crawlspace in the ceiling right where he was standing.