Show don't tell
Before
The shadow was tall and scary.
After
The stairs creaked; it was getting louder and louder as time passed. I saw a glimpse of its tail; it was munted up and old.
The shadow towered over me like the sky tower, my heart was thudding in fear. It was so close I could hear its breathing. ¨Meow¨ oh it was just my cat bob!