Sometimes real-life experiences can be just as bone-chilling and inexplicable as a horror movie. From creepy run-ins with strangers to ghost-like haunting encounters in the middle of the night, these folks share their terrifying ordeals of wanting to run for their lives. Whatever their story, it's something they'll never forget.
1. A Narrow Escape
I work as an investigator for criminal defense. I once handled a manslaughter case involving two brothers. One was charged with manslaughter and was also severely autistic, while the other brother, a schizophrenic, lived in an isolated hut in the desert that used to be a potato storage.
Throughout the investigation, I had to visit him several times. Since there was no way to communicate by phone due to no electricity, I had to drive for hours, call out to him from the edge of his property until he showed up from the hut. Strange right? Let me tell you, it only gets stranger.
Over the multiple years that this investigation took, I gradually built a good relationship with this schizophrenic brother and even started liking him. He would talk non-stop about aliens with golden eyes and secret underground tunnels connecting all the Walmarts. He was quite entertaining, and I sometimes wondered if he just put on these performance to amuse himself.
At some point, the schizophrenic brother started dating a woman who's not only an addict, but also had a wrong impression that his schizophrenia was substance-induced psychosis. She was quite charming and insightful when I had conversations with her while she was behind bars and sober. However, things took a dark turn after her release.
The last time I went to visit the schizophrenic brother, it was a chill winter night with his girlfriend also present. She was hidden in the shadows, quietly glaring at me while I had my conversation with the brother. After the discussion, as I was making my way back to my truck, he ran after me inviting me into his hut, a first-time invitation which I didn't feel comfortable taking. The situation seemed off, so I excused myself, and he looked relieved when I declined the offer.
That relief on his face made me suspect that his girlfriend had been waiting behind the door with some weapon to attack me. Later, I found out that she had killed him in his sleep and hidden his body in an old fridge. She later confessed and pled guilty to the manslaughter.
2. A Burning Realization
I'm a firefighter. My partner and I were battling a house fire. We quickly noticed that, even though we were wearing boots with concrete soles, our feet were getting incredibly warm. So we took off out of there pretty fast. If your feet are hot, it indicates that a fire is directly beneath you.
Since fire always flames upward, it weakens the floor you're standing on. Given this, we were on the verge of falling right into a fire in the basement.
3. A Hair-Raising Moment
While trekking with some pals up a mountain in Colorado, we got caught off guard by some unpredictable weather. However, I was just about 15 minutes from the mountain peak. So, while my friends decided to start their descent, I chose to continue upward. Surprisingly, just as I was nearing the peak, there was a distinct static feeling in the air and the hair on my head began rising.
I got extremely worried, thinking a lightning strike was imminent. Without thinking twice, I instantly bolted downhill, not even reaching the summit. I had no clue if lightning was really preparing to strike, but I absolutely didn't want to hang out and confirm.
4. One Step Away From Disaster
While my buddy and I were poking around in a deserted skyscraper, he suddenly yanked me back by my shirt. I turned to him, shocked, yelling "What the heck"?! He just pointed downward, and that's when I noticed an open elevator shaft.
A sheer drop of 20 floors awaited me, ending in a grim pile of concrete and protruding metal rods. We decided it was time to head home after that. He really saved my life that day.
5. Gruesome Discovery
There was a time when I went on a solitary camping trip in the forest because I was trying out my survival skills. I hiked for miles, far from any roads or buildings, made a shelter there, and then returned by the same route. Less than a mile back from my camping site, I stumbled upon a deeply disturbing sight.
An unfortunate coyote had been butchered, its head severed, body eviscerated and spread out like a weird sacrificial offering. Its eyeballs had been savagely removed and the carcass was displayed across a large, flat stone—a landmark that I had used when I was coming in, indicating that this gruesome scene was only a day old.
I was filled with fear and quickly retraced my way back, sprinting the 10-mile distance back to my home. To this day, I'm unclear about who could have done this, but I was definitely sure of one thing: I never wanted to encounter such a person when I was all by myself in the woods.
6. Too Close For Comfort
My wife and I were out camping along the Oregon coast when we ended up jogging through a man's campsite that was oddly set up on the path leading down to the beach. As we made our way back, I jogged a bit faster and ended up ahead of my wife. She was quite upset because she felt unsafe; the man at the site gave her an unsettling vibe.
Once we got back to Eugene, we received an unexpected call from the state authorities. They had our information since we registered with the campground. They were looking to see if we had noticed anything unusual during our outing. We filled them in about the odd man camping near the beach, then asked what prompted their inquiry.
Gravely, they informed us that a woman, an off-duty officer, had been found drowned in a tidal pool. Her tent guidelines had been cut and her car was missing. In a shocking twist, it turned out that the guilty man was a homicidal maniac who had been slaughtering victims during his trek across the country.
A few weeks later, he was apprehended in southern California. Thinking back, it certainly felt like we had narrowly escaped danger.
7. This Isn't A Drill
We experienced a real lockdown at my school, not just a practice. It turned out to be a false alarm, as the armed man near our school didn't actually enter the building. He was just running close by the school. It was quite frightening, and the most terrifying part was the knowledge of being trapped.
The risk of getting shot was too high if we tried to leave. All we were left to do was stay put in the classroom, hoping the person outside would think it was empty after the teacher turned off the lights and shut the blinds. There was literally no place we could run or hide.
8. Playing With Fire
One evening, as I was on my way home from work, I found myself strolling down a bustling avenue. A man in a car pulled up next to me, claiming he was a firefighter. Apparently, a storm was on its way and he insisted that I should join him in his vehicle for safety. But I firmly replied, "No, thank you", and continued on my route.
Still, he didn't give up. I was about to pass a nearby hotel when he tactically maneuvered his vehicle partway into the hotel's parking area, effectively obstructing my path. At this point, I was terrified. Luckily, the hotel guard caught sight of my visible discomfort.
The moment the guard took a step in our direction, the persistent driver immediately hit the gas and raced off. That reaction assured me he wasn't a fireman after all, and I had been wise to decline his offer.
9. A Barking Mad Encounter
As a truck driver, I've had to come up with some imaginative parking solutions. One evening, I found myself on an obscure country road in Texas, far from civilization. I stumbled upon what I like to refer to as a 'make-a-spot' location. It was just me and my dog, so we decided to take a half-hour break there.
My dog went outside to do her business when I began to get an eerie feeling. She became noticeably disturbed, growling and baring her teeth. I saw a red light about six to eight feet high in the adjacent field, lazily drifting about. The only sounds piercing the eerie silence were my dog's frantic barks. She absolutely lost it as the light approached.
That was my cue to wrap up our break, so we headed back to the truck, about 20 feet away by this point. Just as we got to the truck, a loud crashing sound echoed from the bushes. This made my dog even more uncontrollable and my own fight-or-flight instinct kicked in. I quickly opened the passenger door, bundled my dog in first, then got myself in just in time to slam the door shut as something thumped into my truck.
I couldn't figure out what it was, but it certainly rocked the trailer back and forth. Without wasting a second, I put the pedal to the metal, not even bothering with my seatbelt. I must've driven about 30 miles before finding a small gas station where I finally felt safe enough to breathe. It wasn't until a few days later that I spotted something unusual about my truck.
In a certain light, you could see a slight dent on the entire side of the truck's sleeper cab. It was definitely there, visible only when the sun shone from a specific angle.
10. Close Call
A few years ago, I was residing in Baltimore and one night, I found myself driving through a tough neighborhood. I ended up stopping at a traffic light, right behind another vehicle. I noticed another car pulling up beside me, but I did not give it much thought. However, when I saw neither of them move even after the light turned green, I sensed something odd.
Next thing, I noticed a car rushing up from behind me and two men sprinting towards my car from the left. Luckily, I had left ample space between my car and the one in front, allowing me to swiftly navigate around them and speed away. I strongly believe that I was about to be carjacked or maybe even worse.
I'm just grateful they mistimed their plan and my preference to keep a safe distance worked to my advantage. So, here's a piece of advice to anyone traveling in Baltimore, stay vigilant.
11. Preying On Fear
My wife and I volunteered for a local search and rescue team. During one mission, we found ourselves in the wild hunting for some people who had gone missing while collecting ferns. As dusk fell, we decided to camp for the night right there, hoping they might come our way. We set up a decent campfire and stayed up till around 2 am.
As night drew in, we expected to see some wildlife. After all, we were in their territory—the deep woods. There seemed to be a couple of larger animals hovering around our camp from either side. Soon after, we heard chirping sounds, similar to that of birds – the first from the same direction as one of the animals, followed by another from the opposite side.
I quickly realized that these weren't just any animals—they were cougars keeping tabs on us. We didn't waste time and immediately sought refuge in the back of my truck. Luckily, it was equipped with a camper shell.
12. Heart-Stopping Moment
While my father-in-law and I were working on a project in my backyard, he suffered a heart attack. At that moment, my wife and children weren't home, so it was just him and me. Tragically, his life ended there, in my arms. With the emergency services on the phone, I could hear the approaching wail of sirens.
My mind started racing towards how I'd explain this to my family who were due back any second. Even though I was tirelessly working to revive him using CPR, it didn't seem to be working. Two minutes had passed, his lungs were still, and I couldn't detect a heartbeat. That's when I got the shock of a lifetime.
Just as I was losing hope, he drew a deep breath, startlingly coming back to life. Soon after, paramedics got there and whisked him away to the hospital, where he recovered fully in a miraculous turn of events. Those torturous two minutes where I believed he was gone, and my family was going to come home to such a sight... they spooked me in ways I cannot describe.
13. Face Of Fear
During my college days, I used to hit the road and explore the Oregon coast every weekend. Whenever fatigue overtook me, I'd simply sleep in my car. One of these times, I awoke from a nap, sitting right there in the driver's seat with a weird, uneasy feeling. The day was transitioning to night with the glow of the sunset rapidly dimming.
I yawned, stretched out, and turned my head. Just then, I spotted a face quickly disappear underneath the rear passenger window. In a rush of fear, I tried to make sure the doors were locked but mistakenly unlocked them for a second. Frantically, I managed to lock them all once more. My eyes were glued to the window for a while, aware that someone was lurking just out of my view. I thought I heard a brushing sound as I fired up the car. Whoever this person was, they stayed hidden, which was my cue to exit.
I dashed out of there, zooming back onto Highway 101. Casually looking back, I spied a bald person, sporting a red t-shirt and a cloth wrapped around the face, darting into the roadside woods. That was my weekend adventure's abrupt end. I drove back to my dorm room, a two-hour journey, with my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly in fear. I had to pull over a few miles ahead to calm my nerves.
14. Bone-Chilling Finds
During a trek I was leading for a group of around 20 middle school kids in the Rocky Mountains, I spotted a deer's jawbone on the familiar trail. It was pretty fascinating, so I decided to share it with the kids. As it had no flesh, I guessed it had been there for quite some time.
As we continued our hike, we found more bones, including what seemed to be a fresher femur. With growing unease, I suggested that we should probably start heading back. While the kids weren't exactly thrilled to leave—they were hoping for more exciting discoveries—I guided them safely back to camp.
A couple of days later, we received a chilling phone call. A mountain lion had killed someone in the same area we'd been hiking. The mountain lion had established its lair in the nearby cliffside caves and had become aggressive when disturbed. In hindsight, I'm relieved we decided to head back when we did, despite the student's eagerness to continue exploring.
15. Deal Gone Wrong
A few years ago, while driving for Uber one night, I picked up four guys from a nightclub. The conversation in the car revealed that two of them had just met the other pair, and they were all headed to buy some illicit substances from a relative of theirs. Something felt off, and parts of their chat didn't add up.
But what became clear was that I was chauffeuring a group of inebriated strangers to a potentially dodgy transaction. I was absolutely not comfortable with the idea of that stuff in my vehicle, and I was worried about us walking into a trap. If we ended up in any suspicious or isolated location, I had to find a way to end the ride.
The hopeful buyers kept trying to reach their relative over the phone. Eventually, I left them at an apartment located just off a busy street. Once they'd both exited the car, I asked the remaining two passengers, "Shall we take off"? And off we went. To this day, I still wonder if it was a scam for a free ride, or if they were too inebriated or foolish to carry out a simple deal, or if something darker was avoided.
I guess I'll never find out.
16. Close Your Eyes
On July 27, 2002, I was celebrating my fifth birthday by going to the Sknyliv air show with my dad. It's a standout memory from my childhood, but one that I wish I could forget. When the chaos unfolded and the plane went toward the spectators, the pilot ejected and found himself just 10 meters from where my dad and I stood.
He was kneeling, parachute flapping in the wind, and I remember his voice echoing, "What have I done" again and again. I was too young to grasp the enormity of what was happening. Dad simply told me to "Close your eyes, we need to leave now". Later in life, my dad revealed a bizarre twist of fate.
We would've been caught in the bulk of the crowd, many of whom lost their lives that day, if I hadn't protested against moving because my shoelaces were undone. It seems strange to think that my dad bending down to tie them is what kept us safe. The adrenaline I felt that day didn't frighten me, but when I think about what my dad saw with his own eyes, it sends shivers down my spine.
17. Time To Move
When I was 27, I was seeing a lady who lived with her little one in a not-so-nice part of Hollywood, Florida. The girl's dad was behind bars and the only place within her budget wasn't great. It was in a building filled with addicts and odd characters. While she despised her living situation, my place wasn't an option since I only had a rental room.
Oddly enough, it was still better than going back to live with her folks. After my daily work shift ending at 9 pm, I grabbed dinner and headed over to her apartment, completely oblivious to the horrifying experience that awaited me. We spent about an hour there, just chilling on the couch, watching her child play with a box, when we heard loud banging on the door.
Fearing it was her ex, her face turned pale with terror. I was also anxious because of the nasty reputation her ex had. A man outside furiously slammed something against the door while cursing loudly. We were too scared to peek through the window or the door's peephole in case he was armed. Our 9-1-1 call was barely audible to the operator amidst this chaos.
Suddenly, a woman's voice joined in the cursing and yelling. Turns out, the man was pounding the wrong door. We could hear them squabbling, things breaking, and more screaming. The sound of spitting and what seemed like punches resonated throughout the hallway. We couldn't discern who was at the receiving end, but it was deafening. Finally, the 9-1-1 operator informed us that help was on its way. But the nightmare was far from over.
The noise scared my girlfriend's child, who began to cry loudly. The man outside misinterpreted this, thought his child was with us, and threatened bodily harm for supposedly harboring his kid. My girlfriend was a wreck by the time the authorities finally arrived about 10 minutes later. They detained the man and woman, took our statements, and left.
A few days after the ordeal, my girlfriend relocated to a different, albeit still below-par, apartment in a significantly safer neighborhood.
18. Close Encounter Of The Strangest Kind
When I was just eight, I lived in a mobile home community. Most of my neighbors were decent, but a few were rather unsettling to be around. One monotonous day, I asked my parents' permission to stroll over to my childhood friend's house, a bit down the street.
Despite their place being not quite visible from our trailer, since it was broad daylight and we had familiar faces living on our street, my parents agreed. So there I was, this little eight-year-old venturing by herself to her friend's house. Making my way, I noticed an unfamiliar man heading straight in my direction, the moment I was out of my parent's sight.
I instantly felt a bit wary, being alone and not recognizing this man. I was silently hoping he would turn away and head in a different direction. But, instead, he seemed to be walking directly towards me. I could see that he was fixated on me and was grinning eerily, which gave me an uncomfortable feeling.
Now, nearing my friend's house, a frightening thought took hold of me. I glanced around only to realize there wasn't a soul out there to intervene if something were to turn unpleasant. As he got closer, he said, "Excuse me, can you remove your shoes? Please, I would like to see your feet".
Surprised, I could only reply, "Pardon? What"? Again, he insisted on seeing my feet! I spun around and hightailed it back to my trailer as fast as I possibly could, petrified.
Freepik,freepik
19. Dangerous Rendezvous
When I was a little four-year-old, I was spending some alone time playing in our front yard. My mom and dad were keeping tabs on me from inside our house, though you wouldn't know that looking from outside. Our home was in such a quiet, rural spot where barely five cars would pass by in an entire day. I can recall a man driving up and stopping right in front of our house while I was playing.
He rolled his window down and beckoned me closer. Despite being so young, I sensed that I shouldn't approach a stranger. Bravely, I moved slightly closer and he asked, "Hey, could you tell me the way to this certain place"? Remember, I was only four. So naturally, I responded, "Huh"? Yet he reiterated his question, "Can you help me find the way to this location"?
Suddenly, my dad charged out of the front door to find out what this stranger wanted. The man quickly mumbled something about needing directions and then drove off.
20. Tracks With Eyes
My buddy and I were having a casual chat while taking a stroll on some railway tracks, with trenches lining both sides. As our journey continued, I happened to look down...and what I saw made my blood run cold. I locked eyes with a fellow, who instantly started ascending from the trench in our direction. I quickly urged my friend to dash off and we both bolted right away from there. We agreed that a repeat of this adventure was off the cards.
21. Vibes Don't Lie
Recently, my family and I were on a trip around Costa Rica, a place we love for its scenic beauty. We're cautious around nature, aware of its unpredictable elements. Our journey had taken us to spots infamous for crocodiles, like Bahia Ballena on the west coast, thanks to the locals who always filled us in about possible danger spots, mainly involving snakes.
One day trip took us to Playa Negra on the east, a beach near a gully. An inexplicable feeling nagged me as I noticed the gully. I knew crocodiles often camouflage themselves as logs, staying motionless till provoked. Despite staring hard at the dark area, I saw nothing out of the ordinary. Yet, I couldn't shrug off the unease. I expressed my concern to my husband, and we both began to stay on high alert.
A quick online search showed no crocodile sightings in the area for a decade. I even raised my concern in my Facebook group. Everyone reassured me, mentioning that it is only during severe droughts that crocodiles wander to this location. Still, the anxiety persisted, heightened by the fact that we had a toddler with us. Eventually, I apologized for spoiling our beach day and insisted on leaving, proposing an alternate activity.
It was two days later when when I learned that I was right to be uncomfortable. I saw on the news that a crocodile had severely injured an eight-year-old child at the very beach we'd left due to my apprehension. The news left me breathless. Although I couldn't confirm it was the exact spot we’d been at—the beach was quite massive—the thought of what could have happened sent a chill down my spine.
I am not usually paranoid, but when I sense something isn't right, I pay heed. Thankfully, my husband trusted my intuition and didn’t question it. His non-judgmental support makes him the wonderful man he is. Remember, always trust your instincts, even when they don't seem logical.
22. We Aren't Alone
Around eight years back, my buddy and I visited a deserted plant in Northern Philadelphia. As we reached the third level, I noticed a trap set up in the staircase. It was a wire that, if tripped over, would trigger an axe to swing from the roof. Out of the blue, we heard a loud "YO" coming from the floor above!
That was our cue to leave. Never in my life have I moved as fast as I did that day. It was only after we had dashed for two or three blocks that we noticed we'd swapped bikes in the frenzy.
23. Did You See That?
My mom's best friend lived on a farm half-an-hour away from my childhood home, and almost every weekend, we'd pitch in to help maintain the farm and look after our horses. There was one evening, as the sun began bidding the land goodnight, that the whole atmosphere shifted.
Dark clouds started forming, a strong breeze was bustling, and a particular stickiness hung in the air. The outdoors even took on this odd greenish hue, all pointing towards an incoming storm. Soon after we finished dinner, a downpour erupted, accompanied by high winds and lightning. As the rain lashed against the window, I spotted something peculiar in the sky above the barn across the yard.
It was terrifying—it appeared to be a rotating cloud, and it seemed to be descending. When I told my father about this, he dismissed it, suggesting it was merely rain reflecting off the barn's roof. We watched together as the rotating cloud appeared to retract back into the bigger clouds overhead. The sight left us prickling with goosebumps as we shared a moment of disbelief.
My dad simply shrugged it off and went back into the living room while I took shelter in the bathroom, just in case. The next day, the news reported about an F-4 tornado that had torn through a village nearly 24 miles from us. As I listened to the report, a chill ran down my spine.
24. Hissing Galore
We were in the process of dismantling an aged structure on my spouse's parents' farm, trying to salvage as much wood as possible for a future chicken coop. Imagine our surprise when we pried off a big plywood sheet from the wall to find the insulation teeming with scores of snakes.
They instantly began seeping out of the wall, forming a squirming mass headed our way. Since we had encountered rattlesnakes around the property before, I didn't hesitate for a second. I've never moved as fast as I did in that hair-raising moment.
I was practically whisked into the bed of my father-in-law's pickup truck. One moment I was facing down hundreds of irritated snakes; the next, I found myself contemplating whether I'd be able to squeeze through the small rear window of a Ford F150.
25. Chills In The Night
I'm a private contractor, and one time, I was on an overnight security job smack in the middle of a huge ranch by the South Texas border. My buddy and I had been doing our rounds for hours, all quiet, when we decided to take a short break and just chat. Out of nowhere, we started hearing rustling sounds in the bushes.
Then we saw something that really sent shivers down our spine. There was this infrared light we spotted sneaking through the bushes, then it just froze, and vanished. Now, we couldn't just up and leave because of this so, there we were, sitting in tense silence for several hours. Nothing else happened. But it was nerve-racking.
In theory, no one else should've been out there with similar gear. Yet, there we were, huddled together, waiting for something to happen.
26. Run For Your Life
When I was ten, I lived on Main Street in a quaint town lined with rows of shops on both sides. It was midday, and I was not far from my house, just two blocks away, in fact. A worn-out, bright red pickup truck came along, driven by a young man, probably about 20, with four other guys his age.
They waved at me, but before I could react, they got out of the truck and started running towards me. I was a bit ahead of them, about 30 feet or so, and I ran as fast as I possibly could. Ahead, I spotted a narrow gap, just about seven inches wide, between two buildings. I barely managed to squeeze through it just as they reached me. One of them even tried to pull at my shirt from the gap, but they couldn't get hold of me.
They were too large to fit into the narrow space and so they ran around the buildings to get to me. By that time, I had lost them and found a hiding place. I huddled in a bush, scared stiff, for well over an hour. I don't know what they planned on doing, and honestly, I'm grateful I never had to find out.
After that, I didn't feel safe anymore and always feared they might come looking for me at home.
27. Beastly Encounter
My best friend and I were coming down a mountain after a 20 km hike spotting bighorn sheep, just a couple of days before hunting season started. We were walking near a dried riverbed and were on our way back to the truck when suddenly, his dog froze.
Initially, we thought the dog might have heard a squirrel or another small creature, so we chose to ignore it and continued our walk. Out of the blue, a black bear appeared shockingly close to us—about 25 feet away. It darted into the brush so fast that, in the time it took for me to even think about reaching for my bear spray, the bear was already 100 feet away.
The sudden appearance of the bear left me both shocked and scared stiff. I feel it's crucial to note that if you come across a bear and both of you get the fright of your life, and it decides to go on the offensive, you're absolutely out of luck. I've never witnessed anything so large move with such speed before.
28. Stranger In The Night
In the summer of 2019, I was watching over my dad's house, located in a secluded area that's hard to find on Google maps. Friends usually needed me to guide them from the closest main road to reach it. One evening, after hanging out with buddies, one of them dropped me off by the side of the house, an easier spot for him to leave from.
I went up the stairs and got inside through the side entrance, entering the kitchen. The kitchen window gave a view of the front yard, but I couldn't see the front door from where I was. I was about to make tea when I spotted something that left me frozen with fear. There was movement in the yard. I quickly switched off the lights and saw a man peering into the kitchen windows from the yard.
He then tiptoed around to the rear of the house, pressing his hands against the glass doors to get a better look. Though I wasn't entirely sober, I vividly remember wishing it were all just a dream. It felt like a real-life nightmare, though. The man was unaware of my presence as I hid behind a partitioning wall. Unfortunately, I'd left one of the glass doors near the front unlocked, and he began to enter through it.
It was pitch black inside, and he didn't know I was barely 10 feet away. From the safety of my hiding spot, I called the friend who'd left me off, as he was closer and faster to reach than the police. His parents had been in the forces and I knew he kept some stuff he could use to help me in his truck. All I wanted was to bolt out of there, but it was riskier to be alone outside with him tailing me.
It felt surreal, like I was caught up in a movie scene, with adrenaline pushing me to act. As the stranger ventured deeper into the house, I emerged and threatened him with a blade—a rash decision given my tipsy state. He mumbled some words, but I managed to get rid of him just as my friend arrived. The intruder sprinted to his concealed car and fled.
Later, he was identified as the gardener. He had been spying on me, aware that I was alone, house-sitting. He had been waiting at the front door for me. However, that night, strangely, I used the side door—something I rarely did. It's chilling to think about what could have happened had I not.
Moreover, had my friend not returned in time, the situation could have been worse, as the man grew more aggressive just as my friend arrived. We laugh it off today, but it was terrifying in the moment. I desperately wanted to escape, and it was undoubtedly the most frightening experience I've ever faced.
29. Trust Your Instincts
Back when I was in medical school, I spent many hours upstairs in the lab with a friend, honing our surgical techniques. We had two options for exit—the main indoor staircase leading to the lobby and classrooms, and an unused outdoor staircase that was generally reserved for fire drills. This second staircase was an older entryway directly connected to our lab classroom.
One day, as we were leaving, I reached for the door handle of the main staircase that opened up to the lobby, but was overcome with an intense sense of dread and anxiety. My gut was practically shouting at me, "Don't go this way"! So, for the first time in three years, I suggested we use the outdoor stairs. My friend was completely unaware there was even an alternative exit.
The next day, we learned that at the exact moment we opted for the outdoor stairs, a disgruntled classmate took out a weapon and threatened the staff and students in the lobby at the foot of the main stairs. Frustrated by his expulsion from the program due to low grades, he had reached his breaking point.
My friend never forgets that day, using it as a powerful example when cautioning others to always listen to their gut feelings.
30. Stranger Danger
When I was about eight or nine, I was playing outside when a man stopped his car and beckoned me over. He showed me a map and asked if I could get in his car to help him find his way. Thanks to the warnings my mom had given me about not trusting strangers, I yelled at the man, who immediately drove away.
Rushing inside, I told my mom what had just happened. It was incredibly frightening. I'm really grateful for my mom's intelligence in alerting us about the risks of trusting unknown people. If I had allowed him to get too close, I might have ended up as another missing child.
31. Baffling Occurrence
A long time ago, I was an employee at the Cincinnati airport, working as a ground support staff for the airline Comair Airlines, which no longer operates. One of my duties was to help planes get ready for take-off. I had to hustle quite a bit as I was in charge of sealing the baggage door, guiding the pilot through engine startup, and also needed to disconnect the power supply and guide the plane on to the runway.
The power cart, which was essentially a diesel generator, was stationed behind the plane's right wing. Its cable was connected to a port located on the underside of the plane. The pilot signaled that it was time to disconnect the power cart, so I acknowledged his signal and proceeded to run towards the connecting point, making way around the wingtip and then back, following the trailing edge of the wing.
The plane's engine exhaust was super-hot, so I needed to duck to avoid the jet blast while making my way to the connection point. I shut down the power cart, unplugged the cable, and cleared it away. Then I closed the door and started rushing back to the front of the plane to guide it onto the runway. I was running as fast as I could.
But then my left leg did something strange; instead of going downward, it stretched out. It did this for so long that I had time to look down at it, confused. When my foot finally hit the ground again, my knee locked and I could feel the jolt in my teeth. My direction changed dramatically—I was suddenly running at a right angle to the plane. It was then that I realized I had nearly run into the propeller.
This was the closest I've ever come to passing out. I'm still not sure what caused my leg to do that, but I'm certainly grateful for whatever saved me that day.
32. Sizzling Encounter
When I was about 11 or 12, I saw something both awe-inspiring and scary. I've always been fascinated by storms. On one particular night, a wild thunderstorm was taking place, and I wanted to watch it up close from the threshold of our home. With a burst of inspiration, I opened our metal screen door to peer out at the storm.
So there I was, sandwiched in the doorway, gripping a section of the metal door. Suddenly, a burst of light flashed across my vision, accompanied by a fizzling noise, followed almost immediately by the loudest, most intense CRASH I have ever experienced! I immediately let go of the door and scampered inside.
Miraculously, I was unharmed, but my arm hair was static and I was pumping with adrenaline. I've since stopped watching storms from doorways.
33. Never To Be Forgotten
On September 11, 2001, while I was in the World Trade Center lobby, a plane struck the building. I didn't know it was a plane at the time, but I surely heard what sounded like the awful wailing of a bending building and the harsh grating of tearing metal. Then, out of nowhere, all the doors in the lobby flew open and a blast of scorching air hit my face.
It felt like I was on the doorstep of the underworld, listening to its infernal sound echoing down the stairs. As it turned out, my instincts weren't far off.
34. Scared Witless
When I was about 10 or 12 years old, I had an unforgettable experience. One afternoon, around 3 or 4 pm, I found myself taking a walk around our usually calm and friendly neighborhood. I made my way home, walking on the other side of the block past houses that lay behind mine.
In our neighborhood, we had a park that connected all the houses, allowing shortcuts through the block. And so, I was only a few houses away from mine when I decided to pass through this familiar park, a place where I spent most of my childhood. As I was halfway across this park, not really paying mind to my surroundings, an older fellow, a stranger to me, and clad in a hoodie, shouted out to me.
He said, "Hey, could you come here for a second"? Confused, I asked, "What do you need"? He responded, "Just come here, I have a question". I told him to ask from where he was, but he insisted that I come closer. I, in turn, stood my ground and repeated, "Ask me from there". What happened next was so disturbing, it's unforgettable. Suddenly, another guy – who had been sitting next to the first one – seemed to lose his patience. I heard a disgusted "That's it" from him before they both sprang to their feet and began moving toward me.
In response, I trusted my instincts and bolted. I can't remember how far they pursued me, but I ran as if my life depended on it. I still can't put a definite point on their intentions that day. Were they planning to rob me? Were they just playing a prank? I'm not sure, but their actions definitely gave me a moment of fear that I'll always remember.
35. Straight Out Of A Horror Flick
When we were 17, my friends and I would secretly explore this deserted mental institution. Over three or four visits, we managed to cover a significant part of it. This place was eerie, feeling as though it was lifted right from a scary movie.
I remember once we ventured into the basement, and that was a different experience altogether. One area seemed to resemble a cold storage room, even having heavy plastic curtains at the entrance that we had to push through to enter.
Unexpectedly, someone turned on a switch, and a machine in the room roared to life. Startled, we screamed the way 12-year-olds would. That was a turning point for me—I vowed never to return.
Wikimedia Commons, jordangillardpk
36. Spine-Chilling Sounds Of The Night
After our movie finished around 11 pm, my friend and I left the nearly empty theater complex and headed for our car. Somehow, we exited through the wrong doors and found ourselves on the opposite side of the mall, a decent ten-minute walk from our car.
The parking lot was eerily silent as we walked, but it was shattered by the most spine-tingling scream coming from about a football field away. The woman's scream was long and continuous, sounding as if she had just come upon a tragic scene, like the loss of a child.
With wide-eyed shock, my friend and I glanced at each other and immediately hightailed it out of there, reaching out to the police. As far as we know, nothing unusual was reported that night, but the memory of that scream...especially after watching the movie NOPE, has stuck with me.
37. Just In Time
My pal and I were out on a northern lake, doing some ice fishing. It's not a massive lake, but it's famous for its fantastic catch. We had spent a long time fishing without a single nibble, when all of a sudden, we heard an ominous crack.
The ice began to separate, inching its way from one shore to the other. We realized we had to hightail it to the safety of solid land immediately! An entire section of the shoreline had already fragmented into two huge chunks and started sinking, causing water to spill over the ice.
I shouted at my friend, insisting that we get to the shore that instant. By the time we reached the safety of the shore, chunks of ice were breaking apart and sinking into the freezing water. We watched as the icy platform we had just been standing on disappeared beneath the water's surface.
Fortunately, we managed to reach dry land just in the nick of time, saving us for another day of fishing.
38. Fright Of My Life
There used to be this so-called haunted house that we kids frequented back in high school. This abandoned house sat half a mile down a gravelly route that previously led to a farm. You could reach it in one of two ways; either trot down the gravelly main road, or take a winding trail that led to a road abutting the old farm.
So, one night, a huge group of us decided to trek to this mysterious place. Given the ample parking spots along the winding trail, that seemed like the best route for our six car caravan. My best buddy, nursing a foot injury, was hobbling in a walking boot. After having our usual dose of fun and goofing around, we decided to head back.
Everyone sped off, and instead of joining the crowd, I chose to stay behind and accompany my slow-marching friend. I immediately came to regret that decision. As we were halfway back to our cars, a glance toward the field on our right revealed an unsettling sight. Bathed in the full-moonlight, four figures stood maybe 20-30 yards out in the field, appearing to be holding some heavy-duty weaponry.
We both dropped into a crouch and whispered a stunned, "What on earth..."? Peering over the tall grass, we saw they were still there, pointing their guns right at us. That was our cue—we ran like the wind. Suddenly, my friend with the injured foot turned into Usain Bolt. Honestly, it was super spooky.
When we finally huffed our way back to the rest of our mates, they claimed they hadn’t seen a lick of what we'd just experienced. To this day, we have no clue what went down out in that field. It was simply inexplicable.
39. Terrifying Exploration
On a sunny summer day, my friend and I decided to investigate a storm drain in the city. We initially planned to travel just a few hundred feet in, but we ended up venturing further. After some time, we began to hear a considerable amount of water echoing from far off. But when I noticed the water level starting to rise and the current getting stronger, I became alarmed.
My friend tried to reassure me that it was just from a redirected river. I didn't buy his explanation and urged us to scramble back as quickly as we could. Suddenly, an unexpected rain storm hit, turning the situation even more challenging by pouring down rain like crazy.
There were several instances when I feared we might be stuck. Fortunately, we were able to scramble out. It was downright nerve-wracking.
40. Let's Get Out Of Here
My buddy and I were having lunch at the Waffle House when a man walked in. He was searching for a document he claimed to have misplaced at a table. The server, unaware of the paper's whereabouts, feared she may have accidentally disposed of it. The man became agitated, insisting that the paper held significance. He even threatened to return home and come back and shoot her.
Hearing this, my friend and I quickly paid our bill and skedaddled from the diner!
41. Horrifying Confrontation
When I was around 11, there was this infamous house rumored to be haunted near my grandparents' place. One day, while on my way to pick up groceries for my grandparents, I ran into the homeowner. He seemed as old as my dad and started interacting with me.
My curiosity piqued; I was eager to be the first amongst my friends to step foot into this place, and I fired off questions about ghosts and so on. He offered to let me in to take a look around. I initially said I had obligations, but he was persuasive, assuring me our secret would be safe.
Consequently, we strolled up his driveway and into his eerie abode. But once inside, things took a dark turn. I heard the door lock behind us. Filled with apprehension, I told him that I wanted to leave. He tried to convince me to stay by teasingly calling me a scaredy cat and such. I don't quite recall all the details but, somehow, he eventually let me leave, and I bolted straight out of there.
I sat in the shop for what felt like hours, trembling and feeling sick, even though I wasn't sure of what exactly had frightened me. In the end, it wasn't the house that was haunted. The man, it turns out, was the real monster and he had a bad history with kids. His house was later destroyed by a fire while he was serving time.
42. The Hunter Or The Hunted?
My good friend was a real outdoors enthusiast and a passionate hunter. In another era, he would have fit right in as a mountain man. Each year, he would go off to this special hunting location where he would bag the most impressive deer I’ve ever come across. The location of this hunting gem was something he guarded tightly and wouldn’t share it with anyone.
One day though, in a surprising twist, he told us about a new hunting spot. That was really unexpected for him, so we were curious why he'd changed his mind. He then shared that on his last visit to his regular spot, he set up camp and went out to explore. It was during this scout that he smelled a scent that was completely foreign to him.
Considering that he lived in a woodland cabin and knew the area like his own reflection, for him to experience something out of the ordinary was really significant. But he kind of brushed it off and continued his walk. Yet, he could still shake off the feeling of being track or watched, almost like how a deer might feel when it’s being pursued by a hunter.
Finally, he decided to call it a day and return to his camp. But when he arrived at his truck, he discovered unfamiliar prints scattered all over his camp and around his vehicle. Alarmed, he left and never came back. The expression he wore telling this story was a new one for him.
He later picked out a new spot, and he shared the location with us just before he left us. Next season, my dad and I will be hunting there.
43. Eerie Greeting
About a year ago, just a month prior to my high school graduation, I had a really creepy encounter. I was on my way to school when this elderly guy started shouting at me from the other side of the road. He kept repeating his name to me, eventually coming close enough to explain that he was in search of a wife.
He asked for my name and inquired if we could meet later. Naturally, my response was a firm no, but he was relentless. I reminded him that I was still in high school, but this information didn't seem to deter him. Instead, he proceeded to ask how old I was. I told him I was 18.
Regardless, he continued to press about meeting later. To pacify him and maintain my safety, I finally said, "Sure," but had no intention of doing so. I quickly left and thankfully, was picked up by my school bus.
To my surprise, I discovered later on that he was known for such behavior. Even more disturbing was finding out about a time he broke into a couple's house while inebriated and dressed himself in the woman's clothes.
44. Prowler On The Loose
For a couple of years, I lived in South Everett, Washington. One day, I was on my way home from the bus stop. My path took me behind a Home Depot and out of nowhere, a van started tailing me. Suddenly, I heard the scraping sound of the van's side door sliding open, and when I glanced back, I saw a man half-out of the door, staring at me.
My heart raced as I sprinted towards my apartment building as fast as I could, but the van accelerated, keeping pace with me. At that very moment, help came unexpectedly—a man was pulling out of my apartment complex's driveway. Seeing me run frantically, he halted his car. The sight of him caused the van to quickly make a U-turn and speed away.
The man asked me if I was alright. In response, I requested if he could stick around until I got safely inside my apartment, which was adjacent to his building. Thankfully, he did. The very next day, I bought a can of mace for protection.
45. Lucky Escape
One evening, a colleague of mine was getting off the bus in Scarborough, Ontario. Suddenly, a man emerged from behind the bus stop and began yelling for her to hold on. The man tried to approach her, but she exclaimed, "I don't recognize you," and hurried into a nearby convenience store.
The man lingered outside for a bit, then strolled over to a car, climbed in and drove away. She stayed in the store until a friendly neighbor from her building arrived to accompany her home. Afterward, she reported the incident and discovered she had just narrowly avoided a dangerous encounter with Paul Bernardo.
At the time, he was infamous for his violence against women in Scarborough. Later on, he would be recognized as the perpetrator of some seriously disturbing crimes, along with his wife Karla Homolka.
46. A Terrifying Affair
A massive pig, weighing about 500 lbs, escaped during the state fair and headed straight for me. I can't remember ever running as quickly as I did then.
Wikimedia Commons, Jan Kameníček
47. A Sight To Remember
When I was a teen, I got a rude awakening one night from a noise in my house. I stumbled out of my room, only to be shocked by a bewildering sight. My dad was bolting through the house in nothing but his Red Wings jersey, semi in hand, heading for the front door. My mom swiftly guided me to safety, locking us in my sister's room.
It turns out someone had tried to break into my window, clueless that my parents' window was next door. Woken by this, my dad set off in pursuit, frighteningly unclothed, at 3 am. Hollering, "I'm going to find you, you jerk"! I reckon every neighbor had dialed 9-1-1 by then. Eventually, the authorities arrived, complete with helicopters—the full deal. What they relayed to us was chilling.
Apparently, our intruder was previously known to them. This guy had lingered outside my window long enough to smoke half a pack. The only thing preventing him from entering was our storm windows. This was what he was trying to jimmy off when my dad woke up. They did catch him eventually, cowering in a nearby neighbor's shed.
At the time of this incident, my dad was in his 30s, standing at 6 feet 2 inches. A construction worker with a shaven scalp and a goatee, he could be quite intimidating when he chose to be. I'm thankful there were no security cameras around back then. The neighborhood rumor mill ran wild for months with the sight of this irate, stark naked man, sprinting down the road in work boots. This all happened back in the mid 90s.
48. Creepy Sleepover
Once, I spent the night at a friend's place. I woke up in the middle of the night thirsty, so I went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. It was then that her dad gave me a hug from behind. I was only 14 at the time. After that, I decided not to visit their house again.
Freepik, wavebreakmedia
49. Signs From Above
When I was younger, I was part of the Jehovah's Witnesses along with my mom. We would usually go around neighborhoods, knocking on doors and sharing our faith with people. On this particular day, my mom and I walked up an inclined driveway, blocked from view by trees on both sides.
The rest of our group stayed behind, unable to see us from their spot on the road. We approached the door and when the homeowner opened it, an overwhelming sensation washed over me. It's as if my ears were filled with an intense ringing and buzzing sound. It felt as if a large helmet was suddenly dropped on my head, and something inside of me screamed to get out of there.
The homeowner, a man, patiently listened to my mom talk about her faith. He then said he was interested and invited us in. However, the strange sensation I was experiencing only amplified. It felt as if the air itself was thick and heavy, stopping me from moving forward. Concerned, my mom looked at me and noticed that I looked pale, almost like I was somewhere far away.
She quickly apologized to the man, saying I wasn't feeling well and we needed to go. The moment we distanced ourselves from the home and I spotted our car, the intense feelings disappeared. Despite my sudden recovery, mom thought it best that we went home, which was just two blocks away.
A couple of days later, a story on the news revealed that the man we had visited was detained for taking the lives of several women, one of whom was barely older than a child—just 16. I was only 12 then. My mom, being so devout, thought it was divine intervention that kept us safe on that eerie day.
She believed angels had a hand in protecting us and guiding us away from danger.
50. Dangerous Attraction
When I was around 16 or 17, I started chatting with a friend's elder brother who I barely knew. He was almost 20 and worked as a paramedic in our neighborhood. Him being an older guy showing interest in me was pretty exciting at my age.
Unexpectedly one day, while I was taking my shift at a local cafe, he popped in. He repeatedly urged me to take his letterman jacket, despite it being the height of summer. Initially it seemed odd, but his insistence made me accept it—a decision I would regret.
Our messages continued, and with time he started acting more possessive, which began to frighten me. I decided to cut communication and never shared my home address with him. But a few days later, I heard pounding at our door while home alone with my younger stepsister.
We lived in a slightly shabby trailer in the middle of nowhere that could hardly withstand a home invasion. Terrifyingly, it was him, demanding that I come out right He started aggressively banging on the door and even threw objects at the windows, all while yelling. The trailer was shaking wildly with his aggressive pounding.
Frightened, I concealed my sister in a closet and dialed for the authorities. The wait for their arrival felt never-ending amidst the chaos. He only stopped when I heard the officers pulling up to the front of the trailer. Later, an officer disclosed that the guy accused me of taking his letterman jacket and class ring, claiming he was there to retrieve them.
Apparently, the ring was in the jacket's pocket, but this was news to me. I handed over the jacket to the officer and haven’t heard from him ever since. It still baffles me how he discovered where I lived.
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