A Hazardous Halloween Story

October 31, 1998
Bran Castle, Romania

		What I saw was the Count's head coming out from the window. I did not see the face, but I knew the man by the neck and the movement of his back and arms. But my very feelings changed to repulsion and terror when I saw the whole man slowly emerge from the window and begin to crawl down the castle wall over that dreadful abyss, face down, with his cloak spreading out around him like great wings.
		What manner of man is this, or what manner of creature is it in the semblance of man? I feel the dread of this horrible place overpowering me; I am in fear - in awful fear - and there is no escape for me; I am encompassed about with terrors that I dare not think of... At last, however, I found one door at the top of a stairway, which, though it seemed to be locked, gave a little under pressure... I found a stone passageway that lead down into the depths of the castle... ...what terror would I find there...?

Text excerpts from Bram Stoker's "Dracula."