I was inspired by the kage onna (かげおんな), which is a Japanese yokai. Its direct translation is "shadow woman," and they are "shadows of women which appear projected onto windows and doors when there is no one around to cast them. They usually appear late at night when the moon is bright, as the paper sliding doors and windows of traditional Japanese homes are particularly good at catching shadows in the moonlight. They usually take the form of a young lady, though occasionally they appear as an old crone with a bell hanging from her neck." (Yokai.com)
Kage onna is soundless and does not interact with the house or its inhabitants, other than projecting an eerie atmosphere. While a kage onna is harmless, "tradition says that a house where a kage onna is seen is likely haunted, or will soon be haunted, by other yokai as well." |