The Scariest Characters Aren’t Monsters—They’re Old Men

We’ve all read stories about monsters.

The ones that crawl out of the woods with too many teeth. The ones that live under the bed. The ones with claws, wings, fangs, or fire. They make for great entertainment. They’re scary, sure. But they’re also easy to spot.

You know what really scares me?

An old man in a hospital gown who whispers your name even though you never told it to him.

A man with a foggy memory, but perfect clarity about your sins.

A man who doesn’t have to chase yo...