I'm a 35-year-old male a few years ago I had a terrifying experience that still haunts me today I was living in a busy City at the time and I just finished a late shift at work it was around 10: p. m. and I was walking home through the quieter side streets of my neighborhood I'm someone who's always been somewhat cautious so I was alert keeping an eye out for any unusual activity as I walked down the street I noticed a guy about 20 ft behind me at first I didn't think much of it he seemed like just another person walking the same route but something about his movements caught my attention he wasn't walking in a normal manner he was clearly trying to keep his distance but his Pace matched mine no matter how fast or slow I went after a few blocks I decided to take a detour I turned onto a side street that was a little less populated hoping he wouldn't follow I checked over my shoulder and sure enough he was still there it's hard to describe but I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up my instincts told me something wasn't right I crossed the street hoping that would throw him off but he crossed too without hesitation I thought oh okay this is weird now I had to make a decision I wasn't that far from home but something about this guy's persistence made me uncomfortable I decided to stop at a nearby 24/7 convenience store to try to lose him the store was empty safe for the cashier who barely looked up from their phone I quickly grabbed a drink and stood by the door hoping to see if the guy would pass by he didn't he stopped right outside the store at this point I could see his face clearly through the glass he was staring directly at me I panicked and ran back into the aisles trying to calm down I could hear his footsteps growing louder as he approached the door I couldn't stay here any longer I tried to pay but I was so rattled I couldn't focus on anything the cashier just stared at me probably wondering why I looked so frantic I threw the drink on the counter paid quickly and bolted out the door I ran down another Street not wanting to look back but knowing I had to I didn't see him for a while and my heart slowly started to calm down but as I turned the corner to my street I saw him again standing at the far end of the block it was like he had been waiting there the whole time I wasn't sure what to do next I considered calling the police but he hadn't really done anything illegal just followed me for a while I didn't want to overreact but I also couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't a coincidence he was still standing there watching me and now he was closer I took a deep breath checked both ways and made a beine for my apartment building not daring to look back until I was inside when I got to my apartment I locked the door and stayed there staring out the window for what felt like hours I didn't see him again after that night but the whole experience left me unsettled for weeks I never felt comfortable walking home alone late at night after that even though I've lived in the city my entire life I still wonder if I was just being paranoid but there was something off about the way he followed me it felt intentional and it left me with a gut feeling I couldn't shake if you're reading this the guy who followed me for hours that night let's not meet again hello everyone I'm going to tell you something that happened to me this summer and I swear it scared the hell out of me I decided to go camping alone in an isolated Forest I know I know it's not the best idea for someone who easily makes films but I needed to be with myself to un wide away from the world I found a spot on a wild camping a that looked perfect quiet far from everything with a beautiful view and no noisy neighbors basically Paradise to escape from daily stress I arrived there late in the afternoon I set up my tent prepared a campfire and settled in for the evening the sun was slowly setting and the forest was beginning to Plunge Into Darkness it was really quiet too quiet there was not a sound not even the singing of birds I found it a bit weird but I figured maybe it was just the serenity of nature after eating I sat around the fire and watched the Flames just to relax that's when I started hearing strange noises at first there were creaking sounds as if someone or something was walking between the trees I figured it was probably animals so I didn't pay too much attention to it but as the night progressed the noises became more persistent regular creaking sounds almost like footsteps but they seemed to circle around the camp I tried to turn on my flashlight but the battery was almost dead I figured maybe it was another camper or hiker who got lost so I decided to go check it out just so I wouldn't spend the night wondering what it was I went a bit deeper into the woods with my flashlight the further I went the weirder the atmosphere became the trees seemed to close in around me and the ground was strangely muddy I felt like someone or something was following me but every time I turned around there was nothing just darkness suddenly I saw something that made me stop in my tracks a blurry silhouette between the trees I couldn't make out any details but it was clearly a human form barely visible in the darkness my heart started racing and I decided to quickly turn around I didn't wait to see if the figure moved or not I returned to my tent as quickly as possible when I arrived at my Camp I noticed something even creepier my tent had been undone the ropes were untied and the sleeping bag was scattered I felt extremely vulnerable I stayed up all night lying in my sleeping bag listening to every noise every crap the next morning I quickly gathered my things and left as quickly as I could I don't know what it was that night maybe it was just my imagination playing tricks on me or maybe I stumbled upon something something much more Sinister either way I will never go camping in this Forest again if anyone has a similar story or knows what could be causing these noises I am interested see you later and be careful where you camp hi so I live in Australia it was 2017 after a long late class at University I walked home dead tired and just wanting to collapse in bed the streets were quiet just the occasional flickering street light accompanied me as I walked home as I got closer to my plates I noticed someone slouched in my doorway a figure huddled up against the door wrapped in layers of worn out clothes as I got nearer I realized it was a woman most likely homeless her face hidden beneath the tattered hat but then she looked up and our eyes met her face was tired but her eyes were intense as if she was guarding that spot for dear life I froze slowly she raised a beat up walking stick and pointed it at me her grip tight suddenly she snapped get the out her voice rough and firm her teeth oh my God were yellow and rotten with the kind of teeth you would see in a zombie movie the threat felt real she was clearly ready to use the stick if I took another step I took a cautious step backward my mind racing it was my place but she seemed so tense and defensive I wanted to say something to calm her down but words failed me before I could even say a word she hit my head hard twice with her walking stick Instinct took over and I turned walking away almost running back down the street a couple of blocks away was the University's security station and I practically stumbled in trying to catch my breath I told the officer on duty about the woman on my porch and asked if someone could come with me the officer nodded maybe a little perplexed but he came along when we got back to my place though the porch was empty she was gone the officer did a quick look around and Shrugged looks like she moved on he said giving me a reassuring nod before heading back to the station I thanked him relieved but still on edge the whole thing had happened so fast but I felt like I'd been holding my breath the entire time even after she was gone I couldn't quite shake it for weeks every time I came home after dark I found myself bracing as I got close to the door half expecting to see her sitting there eyes glaring up at me with those rotten teeth showing I started leaving the porch light on checking the lock twice before bed just in case it wasn't so much about feeling unsafe I just couldn't forget her face that Fierce weary look or the way she'd guarded my doorway like it was her last Refuge a memory stuck with me now and then I wonder what happened to her whether she ever thought about that night again or if I was just another stranger her in her endless drift through the city I only remember bits and pieces but my mom and husband filled me in this happened in 2018 my parents my husband and I were driving to Indianapolis to see some family I'd found out about my husband's four-month emotional affair with his unstable ex and I was really struggling and I felt alone his ex had tried to break us up and I was afraid she'd succeed because of how manipulative she is I lied and told my husband I was having a cigarette while actually I went to the bar I ordered two double vodkas with a splash of orange juice I was really connecting to the bartender when she said they were closing she gave me another bar that was close by I was already feeling relaxed when I got to TGI Fridays I ordered two more double vodkas and I was wasted so I went outside to have a cigarette to wake me up I was leaning against a light pole in the parking lot time passed and I suddenly realized I was being walked and pushed into a car suddenly I heard my mom yelling to stop that I was her daughter this creepy man was challenging her on whether we were related it was insane and I don't remember much but I do remember his trying to steal me this guy would not give up and was basically holding me hostage that's when my mom said she'd call the police he drove away so fast his passenger door was open my mother and husband told me later that they tracked my phone and came to where it said I was I had my phone in my purse so I don't know if the guy got rid of it or what but it was scary they found my phone discarded then my mom called night11 because I was extremely drunk and not making any sense I woke up in the hospital I was tied down because apparently it was for my safety when I actually woke up I had huge bruises on my arm from the guy trying to get me into his car and also incredibly huge bruise on my chest I didn't know what happened but I felt guilty and I never really understood what happened by the way my husband and I worked it out and we're good now this happened when I was in Middle School back then I was on the basketball team so I didn't get home until after 7:00 p.
m. because my house was in the opposite direction from everyone else's I always had to walk home alone it didn't ever really bother me though well not until that night one late Autumn evening after another long day of practice I was trudging down the mountain path as usual the leaves were a deep Crimson the night air was crisp and biting the sky was darkening faster now that it was almost winter the moon hung in the sky ahead of me as I rounded a familiar curve in the road then something caught my eye a white figure standing at the edge of the path at first I couldn't make out what it was but as I got closer I realized it was a man unnaturally tall and thin dressed in white he was stand standing with his back to me half submerged in the ditch that ran alongside the road a chill ran down my spine what is he doing here I thought my heart beating faster there were no other roots to take I had to pass him to get home as I hesitated I noticed something odd about him his limbs were long his arms hanging almost to his knees the white fabric of his clothes straighted Loosely over his bony frame he stood perfectly still not moving an inch as if frozen in time why was he stood there not doing anything it was cold out I didn't understand it I felt sick to my stomach but I couldn't stand there forever my mom got mad if I walked in through the door and dinner was already on the table waiting I took a deep breath trying to calm the butterflies inside me and started to walk past him my steps slow and cautious 5 m 3 m 2 m he didn't move my pulse was pounding in my ears and it was so weird because I could almost feel the weight of his presence bearing down on me but as I got closer I noticed something even more disturbing in his body seemed to bend slightly like a tree in the wind though there was no Breeze I forced myself to keep walking my heart racing until I was finally past him I hurried away half running my breath coming in quick shallow gasps I didn't look back I was glad it was over but little did I know it wasn't really over over the next day it happened again and the day after that each time he was there in the same spot standing in that strange Twisted position his back was always to me his limbs dangling unnaturally his head bowed as if deep in thought by the third day my fear had turned into something else a nagging curiosity he hadn't done anything to me no sudden movements no threats just stood there eerily silent but why what was his purpose on the fourth day I decided to take a closer look I knew it was a bad idea but the Curiosity nod at me demanding answers I approached and my heart pounding harder than ever it was tough for me since I was a high school student but I always thought I was kind of Brave I used to go for every challenge when I played soccer I didn't ever worry about getting injured so I guess this was a little like that I just kind of went for it I forced myself to glance at his face I wish I hadn't he slowly turned his head the movement smooth and a natural as if his neck was made of rubber his face was pale almost ghostly with Dark Hollow eyes that seemed to bore into my soul and then he smiled a wide crooked smile that stretched his mouth far too wide as if he was trying to mimic human expression but didn't quite know how my blood ran cold I turned and ran sprinting as fast as I could the sound of my footsteps echoing in the empty night I didn't stop until I was safe inside my house slamming the door shut behind me the next time I had basketball practice I dreaded going home but I had no choice well I could have asked my parents to pick me up but I thought at the time I would have to explain myself and maybe they would start babying me because I was scared to walk home I just felt like I had to suck it up or be ridiculed when I reached the spot where the man usually stood he was gone relief washed over me but it was quickly replaced by a creeping sense of dread I had the sharp inclination that he was still in the area as if he could be watching me from someplace nearby was he hiding waiting for the right moment to strike I should have asked for a ride and swallowed my pride despite the bad gut feeling I had I needed to know more I approached the ditch where he had been standing my hands trembling as I peered into the Shadows something caught my eye magazines scattered across the ground I picked one up my heart still racing the covers were strange depicting muscular men in overly dramatic poses their faces Twisted into expressions of exaggerated masculinity the titles were unfamiliar and bizarre Rose tribe sub Samson I felt a wave of nausea the magazines were bizarre but they didn't explain anything if anything they made the situation even more disturbing I didn't know at the time but they were uh spicy magazines I felt like they were deliberately left there for me to find and that turns my stomach I dropped the magazines and stumbled back the images are still burned into my mind without another thought I turned and bolted I remember the sound of my own footsteps again echoing as I ran I didn't stop running until I was home I never saw that that man again but the memory of that haunting smile has stayed with me ever since a reminder of that strange terrifying week where the moon seemed full every night when I was a bit younger I often went out after dinner and stayed out until it was very late I loved playing catch with my friends we were quite a sporty group back then we loved playing catch tossing the ball back and forth we found a secret access point into the Schoo yard it seemed like other kids had cut a hole in the wire mesh fence that surrounded the schoolyard and when it was dark enough out to not be detected we would slip through the hole and go play catch at school you can play catch in the dark if you're focused enough plus the ball coming at you at high speed while your vision was impaired was an extra added element of danger and of course fun it's dangerous don't do it but I can't lie I did enjoy the thrill of it the night this happened was no different to any other night we had snuck in and we were having a good time after a while one of us picked up on a noise that seemed a little unusual I I think it was me who noticed it first actually it sounded like there was a ball bouncing in the other part of the schoolyard we didn't ever play Anywhere But the place near the hole in the fence so we could leave if security or the cops came and of course we hadn't ever heard anyone else playing out there on the school grounds before I looked in the direction I'd heard the sound coming from and I saw what looked like to me the vague outline of another kid this kid looked younger than my friends and I though he was far away from us so it was difficult to see him clearly but that is what I felt I saw it was about 1:00 a. m.
and we were playing in the high school kids playground we never heard anyone coming or going and we were trying our best to listen out for stuff like that so we wouldn't get into trouble for trespassing it was seriously weird how we hadn't H that kid until that moment my friends and I were freaking out so this kid was all alone in a place he shouldn't be and he had gotten in without any of us realizing he was in a darker area too where there was basically no street light the reason we could see him was down to the light being behind us the kid appeared to be catching by himself he was picking up a ball and throwing it and it would eventually bounce off of a nearby tree and roll back to him then the kid launched the ball in our Direction we watched as it slowly rolled into the light and down by our feet we were creeped out the kid didn't say a word but his intention was clear it felt like he wanted to play with us not knowing what to do or how to react quickly enough we just stood there in silence watching the kid he made no attempt to come closer to us he just stood there in the dark waiting one of my friends broke the Silence by saying let's go home guys so we all agreed it was weird and we didn't want to be there anymore plus what kid is playing alone at 1:00 a. m. we thought we were crazy being out as a group so late so we never expected company as we turned our backs on that kid to leave we heard A Rush of oncoming footfall behind us it sounded like something was rushing at us from the Darkness I was so scared I started sprinting and then my panicked friends joined me in sprinting we all scrambled to get out of the hole in the mesh fence after we escaped we didn't really ever mess around at the school after hours again it just didn't feel right later one of my friends said that when we were all rushing to get out of the school he dropped his catcher M he said he saw it the next day on top of a tree Branch the same tree the kid was throwing the ball at it was a scary night indeed my friends think it was a spirit we encountered that night some lonely Soul who was maybe bullied in life but is now seeking friendship in death if that's the case it makes me sad however now that I am older and a lot more cynical I wonder if it was an adult and because he was so far away and we were at school we just thought it was a kid if option two is true then it is a little more Sinister what he did with the ball maybe he was trying to entice us into coming out of the light and into the dark by offering to play with us I can't be sure though all I know is it's a Memory that's a spooky one this just popped up in my memories from 2 years ago today and I thought it would be worth sharing here it's definitely one of the scariest encounters I've had and definitely taught me to trust my gut September 4th 2022 I was at home waiting on my boyfriend to get home it was getting late and I was impatient so I decided to go out to get snacks from the gas station by myself we live in a city that really isn't the best place for a then 22-year-old woman to be out alone at night it's normal to hear gunshots see cars get stolen and there have been armed robberies at both of the gas stations by my house since I've lived here nevertheless I was hungry and wanted some snacks so off into the night I went for them on my way to the gas station my boyfriend passed me headed home on his bike when I was nearly there a detail that is crucial to how things would play out it was sometime around or shortly after 11:00 p.
m.
