...in short breathy phrases that barely stretch to reach my ears and then descend rapidly to my feet. 

"His light is darkness.  There is no change.  Break free or die.  We will live in light.  We will remain."

My tough side wanted to shout at the crawler in anger for the fear it had brought and for breaking my things.  How dare it!  Why?  What did I do to deserve a visit from a supernatural Seuss-hating scare-the-****-outta-me shadow that spouts barely audible philisophical warnings? I started to say, "Beware the Ides of March," but my timid side hesitated.  I was glad I did, for out of the ground rose a wail that shook my feet and vibrated through my entire being.  And then my shadow replied.

"Lost, I wander!  Not grown but a child I remain.  Give me hope or take my shame.  In death this life did squander."

The shadow crawler reached out to my shadow and my shadow began to pull away from me.  I watched the scene unfold in slow motion, and for an instance I could not react.  I did not know if I would be drained or consumed - withered into nothing or become the shadow itself. Tough side and timid side united.  I ran.

As I looked back over my shoulder I could hear Cat Steven's "Moon Shadow" playing through my brain.  Sure enough, I was being followed, and just like the song, I had lost my mouth - the screams came only from the pavement just behind me.