It was late, and the house was quiet, save for the gentle hum of the refrigerator. I was just drifting off to sleep when I heard it – a faint, unsettling creak coming from the ceiling above. At first, I dismissed it as the old house settling, something I’d grown accustomed to over the years.

But then it came again, louder this time, more deliberate. It wasn’t just a creak; it was a distinct scratching sound, like something was moving around up there. A shiver ran down my spine. My imagination started running wild. Was it an animal? A raccoon, maybe? Or something…else?

I cautiously got out of bed, grabbed a flashlight from the nightstand, and slowly made my way to the attic access panel in the hallway. Each creak from above sent another wave of anxiety through me. My heart pounded in my chest as I reached for the latch.

Taking a deep breath, I pulled the panel down, shining the flashlight into the dark, dusty space above. The beam danced across cobwebs and forgotten boxes. And then I saw it – two glowing eyes staring back at me from the shadows. A bloodcurdling scream caught in my throat. What happened next, I’ll never forget…