That morning, I went out onto the balcony and noticed something strange moving inside the wall. At that moment, I was overcome with pure terror, especially when I realized what it was 

That morning, I went out onto the balcony completely automatically—to open the window, take a breath, and wake up. And suddenly, it was as if my gaze stumbled on the wall. Something was there. It was moving.
Slowly, strangely, as if it had a life of its own. My insides clenched. My first thought was a shadow. My second was a snake. My heart sank, my palms became sweaty, and my breathing became ragged. I froze and simply stared, afraid to even blink.