She kneeled down to her son’s level, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “What do you mean, sweetheart? Tell me about the shadow man.”

Her son hesitated, glancing at his little brother who was blissfully asleep in his arms. “I see him sometimes, Mom. He stands in the corner of my room, watching. He never comes close, but when I wake up at six, he’s gone. I think he might try to come for my brother if I’m not there.”

A protective instinct surged within her. She had always thought of her home as a safe haven, a place where her children could grow and feel secure. The idea of an unseen presence threatening that safety was terrifying. Was this a figment of her son’s imagination, a lingering nightmare? Or was there something more, something she couldn’t comprehend?