I don’t particularly know when i started seeing the illegid shadow people ordaninces, but i can DEFINITELY recall when i first saw the hat man. He was something incredible…like nothing i’ve ever witnessed before. I suppose it all started after the east coast earthquake that happened last year. I was just beginning to see shadow people after a long blissful abscence (an entirely different story), and i was started to get really annoyed with them popping up all the time. They make it difficult to sleep at night, with all their staring and everything. They never actually wanted to see me hurt, just to scare the living fudge outta me. Well anyway, i was in bed and trying to sleep, when this prescence strolled in through my book case. He was taller then my ceiling, and leaned forward over my bed, with this solid black build (im pretty sure he was so bulky due to a trench coat) and wide thin hat. He was featureless excpet for glowing red eyes, that glared down at me. As soon as he entered, about 7 other shadow people spilled in, but they seemed more interested in what the hat man was doing to me then me specifically. If they got closer to the bed, the hat man would glare at them, and they’d retreat back to the walls. I think he was in charge of them, but i’m not sure. Anyway, what really struck me was the amount of hatred that eminated from him towards me. It was like all he wanted was for me to stop existing, and to do so in the painful way possible. I was frozen, and not just with fear. I literally couldn’t move anything except my eyes. This went on for about a half an hour, when i decided to try and ignore him and the others and fall asleep. This REALLY ticked him off. I suddenly could move a bit, so i turned on side and continued to ignore him, when i got freezing. My entire body felt like it was in a block of ice. And suddenly the hat man disappeared. His hatred was still in the room, but more aimless. The shadow people moved forward. Then suddenly, i felt the anger behind me, on the other side of the bed. I couldn’t move again, but i suddenly had trouble breathing. Then i felt fingers sliding up and down my back. I started to cry, and i wonder if that’s what he wanted the whole time, because he vanished then. All the shadow people left soon after, and i fell asleep from exhaustion. I haven’t seen any shadow people since then (thankfully), but i sleep with a light on just in case. I really hope i never see any of them again, but i’m only 16, and based on others accounts i’ve a long haunted life to live!
–Zoe Eckloff