Read the following excerpt from a fictional narrative:
"As the storm raged outside, the old house groaned and creaked like a tired giant unwilling to rise from its slumber. The wind howled through the trees, their branches twisted like gnarled fingers clawing at the dark sky. In the flickering candlelight, shadows danced on the walls, morphing into fleeting visions of the past, whispering secrets once forgotten."
Which of the following options best describes the use of figurative language in this excerpt?