The Shadow Man

Informant: Female/23/Korean ancestry

Location: Kaimuki, Oahu

Nothing strange ever happened to me. I had always secretly wished that I could experience something paranormal, but you know what they say. It won’t happen if you expect it. My second year of college was a blur of parties and gatherings in my apartment. But one night sticks out in my mind as clear as day.

My experience actually started a few parties before this particular one. It started with my inviting an acquaintance and his cousin to a party. He accepted, and asked “Can I bring one more person?” I said sure, you know. The more the merrier. He said “Okay. But you can’t see him.” I was like, excuse me? This particular friend was able to see spirits. I must admit I didn’t entirely believe him at all, so I said “Sure, just make sure you take him with you before you leave.”

He didn’t take him with him.

The night in question was (appropriately) a Halloween party. A bunch of my friends and I were dressed in costume, drinking beers and having a good time. About five people were sitting at my dining table, so I was standing nearby talking to them. From the dining table there was a clear view of my bedroom at the end of the hallway. There was a light on, so it was dimly lit. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a man standing in the middle of the doorway. He was solid black, standing there ominously. The second I turned to get a better look, he was gone.

Slightly spooked, I turned to my friends and said “Okay. I’ve had a few beers, but did anyone else see the man in my doorway just now?” Everyone was silent. Some scoffed a bit, probably thinking I was just trying to scare them. Then my friend, who was dead sober, quietly said, “I saw him.”

Everyone went silent. We decided that it was probably someone from the party who was in my room. My friend and I got up and went into my room expecting to find someone there, but everyone who was at my party was in the living room. Nobody was in my room.