Things in the wall - with rakes

This happening has puzzled me for years. When I was about 5, I was deathly afraid of anything old, especially old houses and old people. I was also afraid to sleep alone because I always felt someone was trying to get me.

I shared a double bed with my older sister and one night I was having trouble getting to sleep because I had a feeling someone was watching me. I had learned by now not to wake my older sister when I was afraid because she would be angry. Suddenly I saw these "things" coming out of my wall with long rakes and trying to get me. I was terrified but could not say a word. I tried to move but it felt like I weighed a ton.

They were coming closer and somehow I flipped over to the other side of my sister and she woke up and they disapeared. I know I did not dream this because I was wide awake. I had always wondered about this experience because it terrified me so much. Even as an adult I needed to sleep with the lights on.

The irony of the whole thing is that when I gave birth to my daughter 7 years ago and I was in the hospital I saw the exact same figure in the mirror in my hospital room! Although I cannot describe it I knew it was the same. This time I felt the need to protect my daughter and stared it down and it left. My fears left as well.

I was no longer afraid of the dark and I now work alone in a private nursing home caring for the elderly which I love so my fear of elderly people vanished as well. I had told this story along time ago to someone who related to me that the rakes in the wall happened to her too. Has this ever happened to anyone else?