I'm reading the Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks...

I read it up in my bed at night. Last night I got scared stiff by reading about the "Skull Bearer" that was wandering the village looking for Shea. The creature was wearing a dark cloak, had a humped back and was dragging itself along the ground as it was half crouched against the building across from Shea's room. If you are easily scared you should stop reading right now. The large creature was waking a scratching sound as it dragged itself along. It made a low raspy breathing sound that you could hear from ten feet away.