Like Thief In The Night - The Unseen Menace

If you've ever experienced the unsettling feeling of waking up in the middle of the night, sensing an eerie presence in your room, you are not alone. Many people around the world have reported encounters with a phenomenon known as "like thief in the night." This unseen menace has sparked both fear and curiosity, leaving countless individuals wondering about its origins and implications.

Like thief in the night, also referred to as nocturnal trespasser, is a term used to describe an unidentified entity or force that visits people during sleep. Despite its elusiveness and lack of tangible evidence, the accounts of those who have experienced its presence cannot be disregarded.

The Encounter

The encounter with like thief in the night typically occurs when a person is deep in their sleep, often during the early hours of the morning. Individuals report waking up abruptly, feeling an intense pressure on their chest, as if an invisible force is immobilizing them. They are unable to move or speak, trapped in a state of temporary paralysis.

Like a Thief in the Night: a Bernie Rhodenbarr story

by Lawrence Block(Kindle Edition)

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	259 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	15 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

During this state, the person may experience vivid hallucinations, seeing shadowy figures or strange beings lurking in their surroundings. Some even report hearing eerie whispers or feeling a chilling breeze brush against their skin. These encounters are often accompanied by an overwhelming sense of fear and dread.

The Origins

The origins of like thief in the night remain a mystery. Some believe it to be a paranormal or supernatural phenomenon, while others attribute it to sleep disorders such as sleep paralysis or night terrors. Despite various scientific explanations, the unexplained nature of these encounters continues to perplex researchers and skeptics alike.

Throughout history, different cultures have interpreted encounters with like thief in the night in diverse ways. In some ancient lore, it is seen as the work of malevolent spirits or demonic entities, trying to exert power over humans while they are vulnerable. Others believe it to be a result of negative energy or an astral projection gone wrong.

The Psychological Impact

Experiencing like thief in the night can have a profound psychological impact on individuals. The terror and helplessness felt during these encounters can lead to severe anxiety, sleep disturbance, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

Those who regularly experience like thief in the night may develop chronic sleep issues, fearing the return of the unseen menace. This can have detrimental effects on their overall well-being and quality of life. Seeking support from mental health professionals or support groups can be essential in coping with the aftermath of these encounters.

The Search for Answers

As interest in like thief in the night grows, researchers and enthusiasts are delving deeper into understanding and unraveling the mysteries behind this phenomenon. Various scientific studies are being conducted to explore the connection between sleep disorders, hallucinations, and the experiences of nocturnal trespassers.

Furthermore, advancements in technology, such as sleep monitoring devices and brain imaging techniques, are assisting researchers in capturing real-time data during these episodes. This allows for a more comprehensive analysis of the physiological and psychological factors involved.

Protecting Yourself

If you find yourself plagued by the haunting presence of like thief in the night, there are measures you can take to protect yourself. Creating a calming sleep environment, practicing relaxation techniques before bed, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule can potentially alleviate the frequency and intensity of these encounters.

Furthermore, seeking professional help and guidance from sleep specialists or psychologists can provide valuable insights and coping strategies.

The Unseen Menace

Like thief in the night remains an enigma, captivating the imaginations of those who have encountered it firsthand. While some may dismiss it as mere hallucinations or sleep-related phenomena, the profound impact it has on individuals cannot be ignored.

As the search for answers continues, it is essential to validate the experiences of those who have faced this unseen menace. Only through open-mindedness and curiosity can we hope to unveil the truth behind like thief in the night.

Like a Thief in the Night: a Bernie Rhodenbarr story

by Lawrence Block(Kindle Edition)

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	259 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	15 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

“Like a Thief in the Night” is a Bernie Rhodenbarr short story that’s probably entirely unknown to most of Bernie’s fans. Not only does it lack the word burglar in the title, but Bernie’s not the story’s viewpoint character. It’s told entirely through the spirited and enterprising young woman whose fate it is to walk in on our lad in mid-job, all in a near-empty office building in the middle of the night. That could be pretty frightening, but hey, it’s Bernie. She’s got nothing to be afraid of, and neither do we.

The story originated in the late 70s, commissioned by a women’s magazine called Savvy, with a suite of offices in the huge old Port Authority building on Ninth Avenue in Chelsea. A couple of editors decided it was an intimidating location late at night, and thought it would be a good setting for a short story, even though they hadn’t yet run any fiction. One of them knew my work, and they got in touch.

I wrote the story, and they loved it and paid a decent price for it, but they never seemed to find room for it in an issue of the magazine. They kept scheduling it and changing their minds, and it seems to me they changed editors in the bargain, and after a couple of years of this they went out of business. Which was a pity, because it was an interesting publication, except for the fiction—of which, alas, there wasn’t any. My agent got the story back, and I believe he sent it over to Cosmopolitan, and no end of online sources now assure me that it ran in that magazine’s May 1983 issue.

And maybe it did. Except I don’t have a copy of the magazine, and don’t think I ever saw one. I’ve seen Cosmo’s May 1983 cover, it’s not hard to find online, and they blurbed eight or nine major pieces on it, and my story is not among them. Well, really, what difference does it make? It either ran there or it didn’t, and it’s been in short story collections of mine since, including my omnibus, Enough Rope. I had to read it closely in order to format the scanned story for ePublication, and I was pleased to find that I like it a lot. I can only hope, Dear Reader, that it works as well for you.