Have you ever woken up screaming or feeling like someone is on top of you and attacking? Believe it or not, there’s a cryptid that could be to blame. According to ancient medieval legend, some entity that pretends to be out for companionship but really has more sinister motives. Incubus and Succubus, respectively, are male and female equivalents of the same being that are thought to attack you while you think you’re safe in your own bed. This plays off the common notion that nowhere is truly free from harm or evil. What initially seems like a vivid dream can actually torment innocent victims even more than they may realize. Many unattached men or women long to have a beautiful member of the opposite gender join them for wild adventures in private. However, these creatures take that to a whole new and frightening extreme. What begins like a normal dream of a suitor yearning to be with you makes the term “lecherous” seem so minor. Before long, the victim is immobilized and powerless to stop what they thought would be just a good night. Like humans, this tale does work twofold, as there are both male and female variants out to seduce some unwilling target or participant. Moving into more modern times, unexpected pregnancy is a real shock when it happens, and Incubus/Succubus could be a valid source of where that fear came from. Once the victim awakens later, they are completely baffled by what happened. They may not even fully comprehend what actually took place, as these demonic entities clearly do not wish to be fondly remembered in the aftermath. So what’s really at play here? Does Incubus/Succubus really exist to torture the unconscious, or is there a more natural explanation?
