The Scratching Wall

In the suffocating quiet of the night, an unsettling stillness permeated the very

air. A solitary, flickering lamp fought a losing battle against the encroaching,

heavy darkness. The oppressive stillness was almost palpable, each shadow a potential harbinger of

something unseen. Then, a sound. Faint, yet chillingly distinct,

broke the oppressive silence. A scratching began, deep within the ancient,

hollowed walls, growing steadily louder.