What is the most terrifying thing you’ve ever experienced while home alone?

Question

Katrin Kortig · Accepted Answer

I was home for the weekend from Uni but my parents and siblings were away so was home alone. Our house is quite secluded, with a church and graveyard next door and closest neighbours up the street but quite a bit away. I had all the doors locked and was settling down to watch a movie when the doorbell starts to ring so I go to answer it, no one there. Then the back doorbell rings, no one there again. This keeps happening over and over and it is pitch black outside. Then whoever it was began banging on windows and yelling at this point I'm freaking out so I begin to call the police and yell at the people outside that I've called them when it turns out it was a couple of fellas from uni playing a prank on me. I was terrified and reduced to tears at this point but they thought it was hilarious. They did a few more things like that to me over the 2-3 years I was at uni with them, and I always thought they were my friends. I'm older and wiser now to know that they were just cun

Diana Dresdner · Answer

Was playing Xbox on my home theater setup. 100 inch Projector screen, surround sound, the whole shabang. Mind you I had the headset on with the game audio so I turned the volume of the Surround Sound Receiver completely off. Just me, Big screen in the dark room. Was thunder storming outside, me playing some CoD, next thing you know everything goes black power goes out. Thats when I went pale. Well when the power went out and reset so did the Surround Sound Receiver. Who would of known at reset it would turn it back on full blast white noise. Pitch Black room, Surround Sound White Noise on Full Blast. FULL BLAST. crazy loud. I couldn't process what was happening I thought I just got struck by lightning.

Tarleena · Answer

2010, Facebook is now replacing MySpace, and I'm loving it as a 12 year old. Sitting there with my American bulldog and BOOM a fucking car went straight into my house, thru the backyard and into my living room. There was a gas leak and everything, but it turns out the kid who was drunk driving was the chief of polices son, so he got in no trouble. Scary af seeing headlights IN YOUR HOUSE.

Etidal · Answer

"Just about four months after I got my pup (German Shepard) we were home alone relaxing in my bedroom. When my very specific call to her was heard by both of us. Her ears perked up and she started softly growling, she is usually a calm dog and loves people but not this time. I looked outside my window to see a pair of eyes looking at me with no other facial features, naturally I yelled "Fuck!" and my dog started barking loudly. I go get my dad's gun to feel safe, as if that was going to do anything. I then turn on the flood lights to our backyard and nothing was there. After that I felt a presence in the corner of the yard and my dog since then has been wary about that area as well. I didn't train her where to poop as long as it's on the grass however that one corner of the yard is untouched by her after this incident. "

Kendal · Answer

I was having an afternoon nap on the sofa when I heard a dog growl near my ear. I don't have a dog.

Annalena · Answer

I was home alone on Christmas Eve, my parents had gone out to grab some last minute things. I was about 6 or so, and was just playing with my toys in my room when I heard heavy feet walking around. I remember sneaking out of my room and peaking around the corner to see a large figure with shiny black boots walking around. I thought it was Santa, and I was awake so I panicked internally. I snuck back to my room, put my toys away and then I went to bed.  I found out when I was 16 that it wasn't my parents trying to convince me that Santa was real, and that they had no idea what I was talking about. A guy had broken in to our house, but he thought no one was home and thankfully didn't look around too much.

Lilia · Answer

I was 12. My parents left to go to dinner. It was pitch black outside And I decided I would watch the movie that they said not the watch. A little film called Alien they rented. I popped in the vhs tape and proceeded to sit back with my bag of microwave popcorn. That's not the scary part. The scary part is when I heard something on the deck so I turned out the lights and snuck over with a flashlight to the sliding door. I turned on the light and ripped open to curtain to see... my reflection. Only it didn't register for a few seconds until after I fell into a heap on the ground screaming like a baby.

EHTEL · Answer

I had been listening to scary stories on YouTube and it was well after midnight when I decided to go to bed. I had to use the bathroom first and got up, as I walked through the kitchen to get there I saw some movement in the window and turned not realizing it was my reflection and gave myself a near heart attack.  The fact that that's the scariest thing that's happened to me should really indicate just how quiet my neighbourhood is.

Marius · Answer

Frost quakes. Scared the shit out of me, I thought it was a gun shot.

Melanie Glockner · Answer

I'm the oldest of my siblings and one night after I put them all to bed, I was reading in the livingroom. I think I was 16? Suddenly I heard high pitch screaming, and I thought for sure someone had just been murdered outside. I called 911 and my parents from a closet, unsure of how id defend my siblings if there really was a murderer outside. everyone came to check it out. It was a bunch of coyotes in the field by my house.

oksana · Answer

My first ever migraine. I was literally screaming in agony for 5 hours, crying my eyes out and begging anyone to make it stop. Finally my mom's friend came over and made me food, and I asked her to make a hot water bottle because the ice pack I was using didn't do anything (turns out it made it worse), and once I placed it were my skull meets my neck, the pain practically evaporated. I thought I was going to die only 60 seconds before... That's about the closest I've ever come to believing in a devil.

THEDA · Answer

According to my dog, fireworks, distant thunder, a car door slamming, a car door opening, a truck hitting a bump, a truck starting, someone dropping an object, an object falling on its own, a pinecone, a tractor, a dog somewhere outside, a person somewhere outside, a person walking a dog somewhere outside, a cough, a fart, a sneeze, light breeze, an acorn falling down and bouncing off a car's roof, a pile of leaves, the mail truck, the mail carrier, the mail, an umbrella, a toddler, a leaf blower, or a dumpster being emptied six blocks away.

Parissa · Answer

Similar situation happened to me about 10 years ago. I was sleeping on my couch and woke up to a distinct smell of burning plastic. Get to the kitchen and 2 burners are on and theres a plastic cutting board melting. Found my dog in the back yard eating the left over pizza that I had on the stove. Little bit of burnt hair on his leg but overall he was fine.

Cobbie · Answer

I was ten. It was Halloween night. My baby brother was sleeping upstairs, and my mom was dropping my grandmother off at home. I was quietly watching TV when BOOOOOOM SMASHHHHHH the 2-story floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room came crashing down. No cell phones because 1999, so I screamed in the garage (didn't want to wake my useless infant brother) and waited cowering behind the couch for my mom to come home. She realized something was wrong because the same dickwads who hurled GIANT MARBLE SLABS through our window laid out nails at the end of our driveway, which caught her headlights. The cop says they must've used some homemade trebuchet to launch them. Could've killed someone.

Emmi-Noora · Answer

"Happened just last night! I'm a petite woman who lives alone. Woke up to the sound of a male voice outside my bedroom window saying "I don't think she's dumb enough to leave the door unlocked." Followed by my front door handle being aggressively turned (yes it was locked). Then a key in the lock. I'm standing there with the biggest fecking knife I own waiting for god knows who to bash my door in. Then suddenly everything goes quiet. Turns out it was my neighbours drunk boyfriend who got the wrong house. I figured this out when I texted her to warn her about sketchy dudes in the neighbourhood and she very apologetically explained it was her "dumbass boyfriend". I can't even be mad because my friends have done the same to her. Twice. We should all probably drink less. "

Benni · Answer

Two Jehovah witnesses just walked into my bungalow and started being aggressive and pushy about their beliefs. I think they thought that because I was young and used a wheelchair i would be an easy target. They only left when I threatened to call the police.

Dinnie · Answer

Seeing a door open that you know 100% you closed...

Juliane Lowe · Answer

Me and my dog were chilling in the basement when all of a sudden I see what is very clearly a flashlight beam in the yard near the tiny basement window. I was especially spooked because only a few weeks before my sister and I had been up very late and, after turning on the kitchen light, had seen a person sprinting across the yard to get away after realizing someone was awake.  I thought I was gonna piss myself with fear. Went upstairs, turned on a light so they knew someone was awake, and let the dog out. She went crazy, barking and whining, and I slowly stuck my head out the door. It was the neighbor kids who had just moved in, looking for their cat that had gotten out. I was pissed, but mostly just relieved, and let them know that out here in rural areas standing in someone's yard at night could get you shot.

Josh · Answer

This happened just a few hours ago and then I was laughing about it just from the absurdity of the situation but now I'm a bit creeped out. I live in the outskirts of a small rural town with low crime. My neighbors are hoarders and their junk clutters their yard. It's storming pretty severely with rain wind crazy lightning ECT. Enter morbidly obese naked man. Just walking in the street, peering at the junk hoard, looks in the neighbors window...starts going through their wet soggy junk. Notices my house and goes behind our tree trying to peek in the window of my room. Must've seen my light on because off he goes to the tune of thunder down the road peeping in other windows. What the actual fuck?

GEORGEANN · Answer

I was doing home renovations and was painting a sunroom with oil based paint. It was stinky, so my brilliant ass closed off the door to the rest of the house so the smell wouldn't spread. And I didn't want to open the front door and invite a bunch of bugs in the house, so I was spraying very fumey paint in an enclosed space when I was home alone and my wife wouldn't be home for another 10 hours. Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to eventually notice that my tongue had gone numb, and got myself out of there before I had the chance to pass out and die, only to be discovered many hours later. Not the typical home alone story, but it was terrifying when I realized what I had almost done

Bartel · Answer

One of those freaky shelf cloud thunderstorms hit while I was alone, and I was huddled in front of the news seeing pictures of it and hearing about how tornadoes were forming all over. And no, we didn't have a basement.

Patin · Answer

I was reading a book in my bedroom when I heard someone fart in the kitchen. I thought it was funny at first but then I remembered I was home alone. I got a bit scared but I checked the kitchen anyway, no one there. Searched the house, nothing. I tell myself I just imagined it.

Eimi · Answer

Left my house to get the mail and came back to find the front door wide open. Right as I walk in, the phone starts ringing and caller ID says it's my own phone calling from inside the house. I freak out, go back outside with my dog, and call my best friend thinking it's some sort of serial killer. Turns out it was a total coincidence of me not closing my door properly and a phone glitch. I'll always thank the universe for that dope When a Stranger Calls reference though.

coco · Answer

I've put this story on here before, but it fits this thread.  On my last night in my university house I was woken by something pulling on my foot in the middle of the night. I PANICKED and thought someone or something was in the house.  I laid in bed paralysed with fear trying to listen for any footsteps or noise and nothing. Eventually I put my phone torch on and saw a neighbours cat playing outside my bedroom door.  He'd always out the garden and never came in. He was also a super mean cat that you couldn't stroke. I'd left the kitchen window open and that was how he came in. It was honestly one of the scariest moments of my life and it was a fucking cat.  TL DR my neighbours demon cat snuck into my old house on my last night there and woke me in the middle of the night.

razia · Answer

I was asleep, 4 little kids, my hubby was out of town. At 2am the police show up at my door. I didn't believe they were even real police at first. They told me that someone from my house called 911. The kids were young, all asleep and had not called. Completely freaked me out.

Antonina · Answer

Myrmecophobia (ants) here. Shortly after my husband and I moved in together, the ant-pocalypse of 2012 occurred. I'll preface this by saying that we were by no means in a decent house. It was run down, but functional, with a decent yard. Perfect size for two people, but not in great shape. Anyway, I was home alone and noticed an ant on the counter in the kitchen. I went to find ant killer spray (I'm always prepared) and when I came back, there were a few. Not unexpected. I spray them. They die. I'm happy. And she lived happily ever...nope. I then open a cabinet and find it swarming, nightmarishly, with ants. I opened another cabinet to the same. At this point, I leave the house, get into my car, and call my husband, telling him I'm not going back into the house until it's taken care of. I. Hate. Ants.

Arja · Answer

Did you ever find out why/how? This is so scary.

Saosan · Answer

Somebody singing me a goodnight song. While I'm alone. Help

LILLIA · Answer

Same here. Though, my auditory hallucinations make it seem like I'm in the middle of a crowd. Sometimes, thru the mix of voices I hear one that I recognize... It's kinda creepy

Mackenzie · Answer

I was house and dog sitting for a former professor of mine. They lived in this funky cabin-like house surrounded by trees & I loved hanging out there, though at night it did get a little spooky at night.  The dogs (big Dutch shepherds, one of whom was pregnant) are settled, I'm falling asleep in the guest room, & RIGHT as I'm falling asleep, I hear a noise downstairs that sound like voices. The dogs are moving around and I hear a woman's voice talking to them, and I'm paralyzed in bed wondering if my prof came home early or if there's really un-stealthy burglars in this deserted house, wondering how quickly the cops would arrive if I called.  Long story long, I finally worked up the courage to leave my room and realized it was the pregnant dog. Her gigantic belly caused her to make really weird noises that apparently sound like a woman talking. I'm never getting a Dutch shepherd.

TOYA · Answer

My sister's dolls were talking to me everynight for 3 days. Turns out was just my dad's walky-talky.

Bianka · Answer

I have a mini forest in my backyard. I was up at 2am one weekend night with my backdoor open a crack as I smoke a cigar. The backdoor faces the forest, but it was pitch black and I couldn't see more than 5 feet from my back door (the forest starts about 15 ft from the door). All of the sudden I hear very slow footsteps in the forest. They were slow and it sounded like someone was sneaking up. All my lights were out so whoever was out there didn't see me. I ran to my basement and grabbed my flood lights, quietly plugged them in and with a 'click' I lit up my entire yard and most of the forest. Right in the middle of the yard, not more than 10 ft away, 3 sets of deer eyes glare back at me as if I'm _the _ rudest jerk that ever interrupted dinner. After they saw me they said 'meh' and went back to eating my ferns. I am not a brave man and it took all my adrenaline to turn on those lights. Good times..

Ulrike Maur · Answer

I live alone in a rather old building where most doors have slightly changed their shape over time (as wood does), so when there's even the slightest bit of wind outside my bedroom door will spring open giving me a mini heart attack. This is especially terrifying when I'm just about to fall asleep or have been sleeping soundly already.

Vasilisa · Answer

I was sitting at my desk when the bedroom door slams shut. No windows were open to cause a draft, no fans blowing, and no way the air conditioning could have done it. The balcony was accessed through the bedroom though and a determined person could theoretically climb up to it from outside. I spent a few minutes just staring at the closed door with my heart in my throat and knife in hand. Hearing nothing, I finally got up the courage to open the door to see.....my ferret. She looks up at me, shoves her nose under the door, and pushes to slam the door shut again.

Lana · Answer

When I was 12ish I was left home along over night. I don't remember the full reason why, but my parents had an early meeting the next day and my aunt was picking me up the next morning. After spending the night attempting to sleep, I heard a car pull into the driveway (pre dawn, like 4 or 5)... Knowing my aunt is always late I knew it wasn't her so I proceed to run around the house making sure all the door were locked. I heard a car door shut and than someone trying to get in the front door, when that didn't work they went into the garage and tried to come in that way. Than they picked the lock and came in.  Turns out my dad forgot something and drove home to grab it... Didnt want to call the home phone and wake me... Guess he thought scaring me was a better choice...

Kingsley · Answer

I was dog sitting for my neighbors when I was 17. They asked me to sleep in their house so their dog wouldn't be alone, and their house happens to creak... a LOT. So there I am alone in a house that isn't my own sitting on the couch at probably 11pm when I thought I heard some creaking- as if someone was coming up the stairs on their deck. I thought I was just being paranoid since their house is already super creaky, so I let it slide. Next thing I know, two men are standing outside of the back door wearing Saw masks looking in at me. I freaked The Fuck Out and before I knew it I was in the kitchen holding a knife. Turns out is was just my brother and is friend (both 20) deciding to scare the shit out of me while I'm sleeping alone in my neighbors house

Christine Pfeffer · Answer

My stalker coming and banging on the door and screaming outside for me to come out.

Felix Fisher · Answer

I was home alone during a tornado one time, and it ended up ripping my porch off and flung it across the yard. Some pieces were on my car, and some hung on the power cables. I really thought I was going to die alone that night and no one would know / find me.

Isahella · Answer

When I was about 14-15, we moved to a brand new house, first people to live there. But myself and my siblings always got a weird vibe from it, especially my parents room (we hated being in there alone).  I was home alone one day, doing homework in the living room, when I heard my phone ringing from my bedroom. I decided not to answer it at that moment because I was in the middle of a problem, but would in a minute.  As soon as the ringer stopped, I heard a slam (like something being thrown). I immediately stood up and went to my room and found my phone on the opposite side of the room, propped up against the leg of my tv.  This wasn't the only incident in this house, but was one of the ones that sent chills down my spine.

Hidajet · Answer

I heard a noise outside sometime after 10 on a Saturday night. I looked out the window and saw someone run off the front porch. I was 13 at the time

Darian · Answer

a home invasion.

Jacquenetta · Answer

I was sitting on the couch watching tv. I heard my dad open the back door to come in. I heard his footsteps as he walked to his room. I expected it to be him because its usually around the time he comes in the house, so i didn't turn around. Then suddenly the footsteps stop and i didn't hear him sit down or close the door just absolutely quite. I stood up and went to see if he needed help or if he was sick. There was no one. I was standing there confused when i heard the door open again and my dad actually walked in the house and saw me standing there confused.

Hyacinthia · Answer

"I was in my apartment alone with my newborn daughter. I was watching tv and out the corner of my eye I "saw" a huge spider. I'm talking the size of my hand. I live in Illinois, south of Chicago. There's no wild large spiders like that around here. So yeah... I freaked the f*ck out. I ran to my sleeping daughters crib, dressed her with the door shut and the crack under the door plugged up. I called my husband frantically and my mom and they did not believe me.  I packed up my daughter and drove an hour away to my moms bc I was so scared. My husband came home and literally tore the couch apart and the apartment to no avail. I was so shaken.  About a year later, I was taking a college course (psych I think) and the professor was talking about postpartum symptoms. Turns out one of them is hallucinations.  I felt so stupid even after all that time. "

Ateş böceği · Answer

Currently home alone when I'm usually not.. debating if I should leave this question and get a good night's sleep or take a peak and scare myself shitless....

Vic · Answer

When I was like 10 I was home alone and some really persistent sales dude was ringing our doorbell and wouldn't go away. (My parents instructed me to never open the door). He stood on our front door for probably three or four minutes looking in the window

mahnaz · Answer

Came home to find the attic open. Mind you, this was a new house and we had never gone in the attic. Police came and searched, found footsteps and food wrappers in the insulation.

Dulsea · Answer

"Definitely not as terrifying as most entries here but when I was alone and was like 11 the pipe for the heating broke and started gushing hot water on the floor of my room. I panicked for about 30 seconds and then understood that I can close that thermostat on the radiator and it slowed the water to a slow drip. Parents were back soon and dad was really proud that I thought of doing that, the thermostat is not the same as a valve, but closed to "winter" mode it allows only a very slow trickle of water. The weirdest thing was the sound it made escaping and hitting the floors - like someone dropping over a bag of glass balls or rice or something like that. Not exactly hissing or water flowing, I didn't even understand at first what that sound was. "

Amata · Answer

About 8 years ago I had a horrible case of strep throat. Could barely talk and was just trying not to die. Wife leaves with the kids one evening and I take some meds and go to bed. I get woken up about an hour later by a male voice. I go to my bedroom door and see my DVD player and a stack of movies on the back of the couch. I continue to hear the guy talking. I grabbed my pistol and proceeded down the hallway. I jump out and tried to yell for him to get on the ground. Except it came out sounding like a creaky whisper/cough all at once. Dude drops the movies he's holding and instantly pisses himself yelling for me not to shoot. About then my sister in law comes out of our bathroom screaming about it being her new boyfriend who I was supposed to meet a few days before. My wife told them they could borrow some movies and instead dude almost got shot.

Kumri · Answer

I was a teenager who was home alone during the day because I was sick, and the neighborhood sex offender (who I'm still wondering how in the fuck he moved around KIDS. We lived in a town of about 50 so...) started knocking on my door, tried to OPEN the fucking door, and went around to all of our doors trying to open them to get in. Freaky as fuck.  My Dad taught me how to use his handgun in case he ever tried that shit again.

eila · Answer

A creosote chimney fire. The flue for the oil furnace had gone too long without cleaning and the creosote clinging to the flue liner caught on fire. Thankfully, the fire dept. responded quickly and was able to put out the chimney fire before it got totally out of control.

Cicek · Answer

I remember during a snowstorm like 3-4 years ago I was home alone and it was going down really hard. It was me and my brother none of my parents were home and a huge tree fell on the side of my house creating holes. I didnt know what to do at that time.

Cisem · Answer

Basement light turned on with all the other lights off and you have to go down stairs to turn it off

IMA · Answer

My shower mat always moves. And it always moves in the same direction. I'll move it back and no one will go in my bathroom and a couple hours later it'll be in a different spot again.

Atsuko · Answer

"Not supernatural are anything just a timely coincidance. Last October I found a Ouija board in Goodwill. Brought it home. A few days later I was home by myself and through what the heck I'm mess around with it. So I set down on the floor and I'm not even joking when I say this. As soon as I said"Is there some one here" the power went out. Like a week.later found out wind had knocked down a powerline. Not gonna lie I pissed my pants from fear. "

Salvatore · Answer

A couple years back I woke up at 3am to see someone walk past my bedroom door, I called out in my just woken up, not thinking haze thinking maybe my boyfriend had come over while I was sleeping but got no response so knew it wasn't him.  Got out of bed, stupidly forgetting to take my phone or any kind of defensive item with me and went into the front room where the light was on to be met with a random guy staring at one of the walls, I asked him who he was and got no answer.  At this point I'd actually woken up enough to realise I could really be in trouble so ran back to the bedroom, grabbed my phone and ran outside on the phone to the police who showed up within a few minutes. Turns out the guy was mentally ill and to this day neither myself or the police know how he got in.

GENOVEVA · Answer

Somebody tried to break into the house while I was by myself.  The whole place was quiet and dark at nighttime. I walked past the front door to go upstairs for bed, and the handle suddenly started jerking around like The Hulk was trying to get in. Then whoever it was started to either kick or shoulder the door, and it was making the whole frame jiggle. I completely froze and my mind went blank. Just standing there like an idiot and staring.  My dog bolted down the stairs like it was her time to shine, scrambled on the tile, and let loose the most vicious barks I've ever heard. Whoever it was left. She was a very good girl. I miss her.

bich · Answer

You know those tongs in the kitchen that have a spring but a latch to keep them together. I had a pair of those and I put the latch on and put them down on the counter. I went away for a bit and came back and then they jumped off the counter at me. Biggest jump scare of my life. The latch had come undone and they sprung open. But in the millisecond when inanimate objects suddenly come to life and jump at you you don't realise this and totally freak out

EMELY · Answer

"Not exactly alone. But I was home with my newborn son and someone knocked on the front door. I was expecting my mother, but she usually comes in through the garage. I thought it was strange, but yelled "come in!" Because why wouldn't I? Then this cracked out old woman comes stumbling through the door, and asks me for a ride to the nearest gas station. I told her I didn't have a car seat for my son so I couldn't go anywhere. So she starts screaming "THAT'S JUST INAPPROPRIATE!" And doesn't stop even when I'm telling her she needs to leave or I'll call the cops. After a minute or so, my mother actually pulls in the driveway, the crackhead sees the car and bolts back out the door, and I never see her again. That night my truck got broken into. Can't for sure say it was the same woman, but I have her description to the cops anyway. "

Ignacio · Answer

I had the police knock one day while I was alone. The cop had a guy in the back of his car who said we were holding his friend captive.....I showed the cop my ID and explained that it was just me and my husband he wasn't home but they could look if they wanted to and he said no that was ok and then asked questions about my neighbors.

SONG · Answer

I was asleep at home alone. When I turned over in bed, I casually opened my eyes a little whilst turning and they were shut again just as quickly. In that split second, I could have sworn I had seen a man stood at the bottom of my bed. I laid still. Awake with my eyes closed. Trying not to act like I was awake and trying to listen for any sound in the room of someone breathing or moving. Couldn't hear anything. I was too scared to open my eyes and look, consoled myself that there wasn't any way someone could have gotten in without me hearing a window smash and fell back asleep. When I got up in the morning though the front door was open. They didn't take anything and left no signs of being there. Was still very very creepy though. Edit: typo - the guy wasn't a stud he was stood! Edit: thanks for my first award!

Cissie · Answer

Was home with my infant twin daughters who were sound asleep. I was watching tv in the lower level of my tri-level home. On that level, the windows look out to the backyard and as I got up to go to the kitchen, something caught my attention. What looks like a pale left arm is being subtly illuminated outside in the far right window - maybe 6 inches away from the window. It it angled straight down as if to steadying itself. My heart sunk. Then I could feel my heartbeat in my neck.  I ran up the few stairs to the main floor and grabbed my phone and returned to see if it was still there. Nope. Nothing. I've never been remotely shaken like I was then. Called the non-emergency police and when they arrived, walked to the backyard with the officers but didn't find anything. They were great and kept saying calling them was the right thing to do, it's what were are hear for, etc.  Don't know what it was, but the image is seared into my memory.

Heike Kuster · Answer

I HATE when there's a random noise in the house like a door slamming shut.  And the unsettling feeling of not being alone when you've already checked if everyone's gone

Varinia · Answer

Got a 5 channel sound system. Nothing too fancy but the best I'd ever had. Watched a action film and heard a creaking door to my left in the distance. I had to clear my home as I thought there was an intruder. Nope, just better stereo sound. Edit: It's a 5.1 system. The two behind me cause all the problems. They are oriented towards the outside of my house. Sorry for any confusion in my lack of terminology.

Cristi · Answer

My roommates were out of town and my dog started growling in the middle of the night at something at the end of a dark hallway. She never behaved like that so I was genuinely freaked out. Then I started hearing noises coming from my kitchen on the other side of the house. I was fully convinced someone was in there so like any idiot in a movie I got a flashlight and a weapon and went to investigate.  As soon as the flashlight hit the kitchen area something freaked out and knocked a bunch of shit over. I was terrified and then my flashlight hit the culprit. A huge fucking raccoon had snuck through the doggy door and was eating my dogs food in the kitchen. We made eye contact and it immediately fled outside.

Astou · Answer

A few years back I was home alone during a power storm. I went into the bathroom to take a dump and at the exact time I was shitting I sneezed, well the power went out as well. The house was pitch black and I literally thought I shit myself blind. I couldn't see my hands so in a panic I was yelling nooooo this cannot be true I was in a panic feeling for the toilet paper to wipe and flush. After completing the task I just sat on the toilet trying to figure out how to tell everyone I know that I literally shit myself blind by sneezing while shitting. After about 2 minutes of complete darkness and dread and panic lightning struck outside and lit up my hallway. Best damn feeling ever

RENNA · Answer

The front door of my apartment complex is broken, so anyone can walk in. People keep trying to open my front door or looking though windows. It creeps me out. Landlord will probably fix it this week and I can't wait!

Kidisti · Answer

I lit 2 long taper candles for some ambiance while I was playing guitar late at night. I was facing the other direction looking out the window while playing and shortly later turned around and went back towards the candles and discovered one of them was completely gone. The stand was still there, but no melted wax, just a bare candle holder and the other one was still lit and no shorter than it was when I lit them. It was almost 3am and I was so terrified that I got in my car and left and drove to my dad's house.

Doreen Weiss · Answer

One evening an explosion at a petrochemical plant (located a mile from my house) blew out the double window in my living room while I was in the room. I definitely thought we were being bombed until I remembered where I live. I had just let my dog out to the backyard and he was completely traumatized. For the following two months I had to carry him outside and sit in the grass with pieces of chicken just so he would potty. Edit to add: My house is currently for sale for unrelated reasons!

Torey · Answer

I moved into our house a month before my husband did and I was painting our guest room with the windows wide open. I was busy painting, listening to music when I realized it had gotten dark outside. I heard the leaves crunching outside but didn't think anything of it because we have a lot of neighbors who walk their dogs. When I went to close the windows I saw a man standing in my backyard under the tree maybe 5 feet from our back door staring up at me. I fell to the floor and realized the back glass door was probably open and nothing but the screen which he could have easily just walked into my house. Crawled to my phone and called my husband who then called 911 while rushing home to me. We have a 6 ft tall fence around our yard, this person hopped it to watch me. I couldn't sleep right at night for months.

Brear · Answer

"I was babysitting a kid who had a video monitor and was told that she wouldn't wake up while the parents were out and if she did to call them right away. I was watching tv with the monitor set off to the side to keep an eye on her and right around 11, the cameras view shifted a few inches. It then began to slightly jiggle like someone was messing with it. I was squinting at it trying to decide what I was actually seeing, and I kid you not, the whole screen burst to static for a few seconds, and the kid started WALING. She stood up and was screaming in her crib just like one of the kids from the sims. When she didn't fall back asleep after a few minutes I called mom and she said "okay were on our way home anyway. We think she has nightmares sometimes it's fine." Never again. "

TRUDI · Answer

Someone attempting to break in. I have a 75lb boxer and have never seen anyone run as fast as that man did.

Mair · Answer

"When I was like 9 my parents were both at work one day and I was chilling at home by myself when the intercom rang (we lived in an apartment block). It was some lady asking if I've ordered a pizza. I calmly told her that I didn't. Then she said, "Oh... Well, do you want a free pizza? Just let me in and I'll give it to you". 9 year old me was fucking terrified by this. Not because I found the idea of free pizza particularly scary, but because my dad used to tell me really drastic cautionary tales for why I shouldn't open the door to strangers (and other stuff). So I was genuinely convinced that the woman wanted to come in so she could murder me. "

Aivi · Answer

When I was 19 in my first apartment I had someone knock at the door. I looked through the peep hole and saw this burley, heavy set man who abruptly started screaming to let him in. He was screaming things like he was going to beat my ass, and kick the door down if I didn't open. I called the cops and as soon as someone got on the phone he started body slamming my door to break in.  I was freaking out and crying as they quickly had 5 cops show up within 5+ minutes. As soon as he heard the sirens he quickly walked away and they met him at the bottom of the stairs.  Apparently he was after the previous renter but was extremely intoxicated. They arrested him and thankfully he never came back. I ended up breaking my lease and moving out 3 months later.  It was in a very nice neighborhood but it quickly made me wish I was back home with family instead of being on the other side of the United States.

Meri-Tuuli · Answer

My bf worked away from home a lot and I always struggled to sleep on the first night he was away. On this occasion I was woken by the sound of a man shouting and then someone banging on wood or a front door. I jumped up and looked out my bedroom window..... just in time to see a man dressed all in black walking through our garden towards the house. I ran to the front of the house to look out of the front window and make sure he kept going. He did, but he met up with another man dressed in black walking towards my house. I was terrified and called the police, they arrived in a matter of minutes and checked out the back garden but they were gone. Turned out a neighbour had caught them both trying to steal his car and one had escaped through the gardens while the other had run through the roads and they had met up outside my house. I didn't sleep at all that night and my brother came to stay the next night. I'm so glad I live in an apartment now, much more security.

Fexhrije · Answer

"I have been pretty fortunate based on these comments but I was home alone one night while my wife and son were visiting my MIL. I walked back to our bedroom to see someone rummaging through my sons room on the video baby monitor. Immediately grabbed my firearm and yelled to the otherside of the house "I AM ARMED. COME OUT SLOWLY!" Over and over while slowly making my way back to his room. Got there flipped on the light and ... nothing. Searched the whole house pumped full of adrenaline. Finally satisfied I was alone I went back to my room and THE GUY WAS BACK in the room. I took a closer look and I am ashamed to say I was looking at myself. The camera is a live feed on our wi fi and it was steaming on a huge delay. I have never known it to do that and it has not done it since. Tl dr went looking for myself and came back empty handed. "

Talbot · Answer

The cleaning lady tried to commit suicide in our bathroom. She died four days later.

Rivy · Answer

When I was like 14, I was home alone one night around 10pm stood in my kitchen making some cereal. It's dark outside and then all of a sudden the loudest sound. Some drunk woman literally launched a hammer through my kitchen window. Was so loud and glass was everywhere. I followed her down the street whilst calling the police. Pretty strange. (Edit for everyone asking why I followed) - So the reason I actually followed her was because you could see really clearly through the smashed window as it was now wide open. She looked like a very fragile little old crackhead lady that could barely walk or see straight and she started stumbling away mumbling some shit once she had done it. Plus I didn't really know how the fuck I was gunna explain this shit to my parents if I didn't have a solid answer haha. But yes, it was a very distressed walk whilst following her. Definitely an action caused by adrenaline too.

Marie Pfeifer · Answer

I work from home, so I'm home alone A LOT. One day I was working, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed some movement in my backyard.  There was a man jumping over my fence into my backyard.  Panicked, I call my then boyfriend now fiance and tell him what is happening. While I'm on the phone with him, I get a knock at my front door. It's a woman from Century Link informing me that technicians will need access to my backyard. I tell her someone just jumped over my fence so I think they're already there.  Way to give me a heart attack, Century Link.

Ines · Answer

When I was young, I came home from a party in the middle of the night, when my dad were out of town. I started making a midnight quesadilla when I heard someone cough in the basement. I yelled and ran outside, and they took off through the back yard. Come to find out, my dad's ex gfs daughter stole her key to our house and came to rob us. She was busted a couple years later doing this to her SIL.

Doreen Schmitz · Answer

This was when I was kid home alone. I usually move around a lot while I sleep. I woke up and hadn't moved. I thought it was cool it would be super easy to make my bed. I grabbed the bedding moved it back a little before tossing in place. There was something black sticking out. I tossed the bedding back further. There was a massive black wasp in my bed. An inch from where is was sleeping. Buzzing loud pissed off. I put the bedding back done and proceeded to try and crush it until the buzzing stopped. I grew up on a farm bugs usually don't bother me. But I checked my bed for weeks after that.

Christine Ebersbach · Answer

When I was about ten years old someone kept ringing the doorbell for like ten minutes. Was fucking creepy.

Fiina · Answer

I was 13 and my dad was at work and my little sister (then 8) was at my gram's house. My dad and my older sister (then 16) had recently stolen back her dog (the sweetest Aussie shepherd mix you ever met) from the guy my mom had given it to after she abandoned my older sister on the side of the road. This man did not treat the dog well and the dog still gets scared before eating to this day.  So while I was home alone, the man comes up the driveway and knocks on the door. I gave the 'one minute' gesture and then grabbed the dog (literally had to carry her because she hates stairs) and my janky flip phone and locked myself in the upstairs bedroom to call my dad while freaking out and then calling the cops and getting mad at them because I was 13 and scared and alone. Edit for clarity

Gina · Answer

I woke up on the couch after a night of not good sleep. I looked onto our counter and thought I saw my brothers decapitated head on the counter. I was terrified, but turns out it was a watermelon

Laura Traugott · Answer

My mum once shouted my name when I was home alone. She was in another country, it was midnight, and I live in a 7-bedroomed house.

Prema · Answer

My ex boyfriend showed up in front of my apartment and texted me he was there because he wanted to talk. I told him I wasn't home(thankfully it was during the day so I had no lights on) and he called me a liar. He stayed outside for nearly an hour until he gave up and drove off. I stayed in my bathroom the entire time while on the phone with my best friend. Looking back I should have called the cops but I was a scared 17 year old.

Dala · Answer

"One night i was home alone grillin and chillin. Drinkin beer and smokin dope, about half lit. Wearing my hoe clothes. It was a great time. As soon as i sat down to eat I heard a woman yelling for help and pounding on doors. Once i realized she was wasnt a threat to me i sprinted up the road to find her. She was covered in blood and told me her husband was trapped in the truck he flipped. She kept trying to get me to help her pull him out of the truck and I said "Lady, I know this is an emergency but I ain't no EMT" The worst part was I live in the woods with know cell service, but luckily I was able to get to my landlords attention so he could call 911 from the landline. I was up until 3 am that night because i could not wind down after the fact.  Everyone survived and the guy got out on his own, but it was the scariest night of my life. "

Noelani · Answer

I was watching a show where a mother literally became her home and the walls would move in order to protect her kids from the outside world. I felt MY house shift, almost like in slow motion, kind of like on the show and I thought 'well this is just a side effect of too much tv,' but then I screamed when pictures started falling off the mantle.  So I quickly changed the channel and it was actually an earthquake.

Maria Eichmann · Answer

Five simultaneous creaks (floor boards) in the hallway. Sounded exactly like someone sneaking along in the hallway. There wasn't anyone there. I did run out of the house though.

Nora · Answer

My dog had a seizure. I was eight. Edit: she is still alive and has since been diagnosed with epilepsy.

RACQUEL · Answer

"I woke up to someone pounding on my door at 3 a.m. My boyfriend worked overnight at the time, so he was gone. I reached for my phone and it wasnt where I left it, so obviously my first thought was that someone was in my apartment and took my phone "The Strangers" style. I quickly snapped out of it, as the person continued constantly pounding on the door, and realized that my phone just fell off my bed. I grabbed it and called the police to let them know about the disturbance and that I was afraid to open the door and they sent someone out. I stupidly didn't even get out of bed to go look through the peep hole because I was too freaked. I then called my boyfriend and was informed that he accidentally ordered food to our house instead of his work.  "

Kristin · Answer

After watching the first doctor who episode with weeping angels I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep for three days.

Hadie · Answer

I was alone dew months ago and it was raining heavily. Was was watching a movie with headphones on in the middle of the night with lights off. Suddenly I heard voice that didn't fit into the movie. I took of my headphones and I still could've hear it. It wasn't human but it wasn't natural either. It came from next room. There was also light coming from there.  Turns out it was just my sister's furby (one of those smaller, newer ones with glowing eyes) It was raining so heavily that vibrating window woke it up.

Danice · Answer

I took in a friends cat that she did not want and I thought was being mistreated. My first cat. I was living alone for the first time in a very long time so I was uneasy for about the first year. One night I heard a horrifying scream and went from sound asleep to standing next to the bed. I have no memory of moving I jumped up so quickly. It was my cat hollering at another cat walking across the back yard. Scared me to death

Marym · Answer

"I was chilling on the couch, doing whatever, when suddenly a "really heavy person" starts sprinting in our attic. Sounded like steel-toed boots and everything. I'm a really small woman, so I immediately freaked out, thinking there's a gigantic man stomping around my home. Then the screaming starts. Literal fucking screaming, like something from the Exorcist, and there's MULTIPLE voices.  I sneaked outside and cried, extremely shaken, and called the cops. Guess what's in my attic. Not a big rape-y rapist, no. Raccoons.  Also, the raccoons were mating. That's what the screaming came from. I bawled to the cops about horny raccoons. "

Selin · Answer

I get auditory hallucinations when im tired thats brought on by my anxiety, the one that caused the worst anxiety attack id had in months was just as i was drifting off to sleep a guy yelled HEY right into my ear and i launched myself out of bed before realizing what had happened

Pratthana · Answer

I had a really bad sinus infection once. Couldn't clear my system out for a week or more. Decided to try generic Mucinex.  I lost three days. I came to, standing in the middle of my studio apartment staring at the wall. I could barely remember anything. Just felt like I was a passenger in my body kind of. I had worked all three of those days. Piloted public transport, cooked, translated stuff, used knives. All in this weird fugue state. When I came to I spent a good hour at 3 in the morning trying to figure out what happened, what caused it. The only thing I had done differently was trying to clear up sinus infection with the meds. Poured those right in the toilet, and it never happened again. It was terrifying for me. The pure and utter confusion.

birgitte · Answer

I woke up at 4 am because of the screaming on TV. They were showing twilight and Bella was giving birth. Truly terrifying experience

EthanHall · Answer

Fell down the stairs in the middle of the night. Broke my leg. Had to crawl to my phone to call an ambulance and then to the door to open it. Fun times.

Anne Wechsler · Answer

Sleep Paralysis. Waking up from a nightmare soaked in sweat, with a weight on my chest and completely unable to move. Sometimes I see shadowy shapes or feel there's someone watching.

TERESA · Answer

I had a choking scare when I was like 11 and I was home alone and watching TV while eating Skittles.  I liked to put a bunch in my mouth and make like a Skittle ball that I would chew on. Something on the show I was watching made me laugh and I swallowed the ball and it got lodged in my throat. I then experienced a few seconds of sheer terror because I realized that there was nobody here to help me at all and I was probably gonna die. Then I remembered some cartoon or something where someone jammed their stomach on a chair and got something unstuck from their throat. So, I lunged at the corner of the recliner as hard as I could with my stomach and it actually worked and popped the small ball out. It was super lucky because I really had no idea what I was doing, but one of the worst feelings I have ever experienced. Definitely never ate Skittles that way again after that.

Cazima · Answer

nothing quite THAT terrifying yet (pls age well) but once i left all the bathroom windows open wide by mistake when it was very windy and i woke up in the middle of the night to the bathroom door slamming open and shut and felt like i was gonna piss myself with fright. i stayed in bed like i was paralysed and i could feel this cool breeze coming into my room (all the cold air being let in lol). i prayed to whoever above to remove who or whatever it was from my home and asked for my life to be spared (yes im a fuckin pussy y'all). i got under the covers and called my aunt and asked her to come over as she had a spare key and she did. her and her husband came with weapons and charged up stairs into the bathroom, no fear. they realised it was the wind pushing the door around, i still stayed with her that night lol :|

Safana · Answer

I was in high school at the time. Three AM, I've just finished a term paper that's due the next day. I fall asleep on the couch for a few minutes but slowly claw my way back to consciousness. As I trudge through the kitchen in complete darkness, half asleep and looking forward to passing out in my bed... BOOOM!!!!  The loudest explosion I've ever heard. (In retrospect, comparable to a 12 gauge shotgun). I hear stuff shooting in every direction. Including small bits of something whizzing past my head. I damn near had a heart attack.  Turns out my younger brother had made root beer as a class project (elementary school). He left it on a window sill and it fermented until it Built up enough pressure to rupture the glass bottle. The stuff flying around was glass shards. The shattered a ceramic plant pot and embedded themselves in various surfaces. Fortunate I was unhurt. But for a moment I was completely confused and absolutely terrified.

Anna-Kreetta · Answer

"My dad dropped me off at home after bringing my sister to a party and I walked in to a CD blaring super loud on our big old fashioned speakers. The CD was super hot when I took it out so it had to have been playing for a long time, but I hadn't heard it going when we left. Turns out my sister had left the CD in and then while we were gone there was a tiny power outage that made the music start again. Kinda silly, but all that was going through my head was, "My favorite band is really gonna be the soundtrack to my death? Nice" "

ROSE · Answer

"The neighbours dog being hit by a car, because of the sudden sound of screeching tire, bang, loud yelp/scream, then guy screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" at the top of his lungs followed by a chorus of screaming and crying. By the time I got to the window they were carrying him away. It was really, really sad, and just hearing such a guttural scream of grief from someone in the middle of the night was terrifying in itself and still haunts me. Poor family and dog :(. "

Souheila · Answer

I heard a loud crash and glass breaking in the basement. It ended up being a box of glass canning jars falling off of a rather precarious stack of other boxes.

What is the most terrifying thing you’ve ever experienced while home alone?

JamesWilson

Catlaina

Endora

Karita

Collin

Gerhard

Yale

Christine Duerr

Angelika Eggers

ROSANNA