Posted On: November 4, 2023

To begin, this happened about ten years ago and I've only ever told this to a few people face to face.

Most people think it's a tall tale.

It was honestly one of the most unsettling things that has ever happened to me and changed me from a condescending sceptic into somewhat of a believer.

Background:.

When I was a 22 year old second year uni student (no drink, no drugs) living in the Stoke area of the U-K.

I rented an old middle terrace house in second year with my then girlfriend and some friends.

It was a creepy and dark house as it only had windows at the front and back.

It had a dingy and damp old basement with lots of old furniture stuffed inside and a black cat would show up at the back door every night meowing (which I befriended and fed).

It was also creepy because of the dark and muddy cul-de-sac that served as communal courtyard and car park.

All of this didn't overly bother me however, I grew up in a pretty creepy old house built in the early 1800's.

It did, as I later learned, bother my downstairs housemate and his girlfriend who heard regular footfalls at night in the hallway and adjacent living room only to find nobody when he'd sneak out to look.

I also discovered a year after this event that the students who lived there the year prior all believed the house was haunted and were glad to move out.

Main story:.

My term time ended 4 weeks after all of the other tenants because I had to do clinical placement.

This meant I lived in this large house alone which I loved. I'm an introvert and love alone time.

It started great.

For two weeks, I enjoyed it despite the background creepiness.

I would just reason any creepiness away as I still do now.

However, after the two week mark, I became aware of a creeping sense of dread that I couldn't rationalise or find cause for.

I'm not an overly anxious person and I enjoy my own company and nothing wired had happened.

I began to feel very unwelcome and very much not alone.

I felt how a prey animal must feel when they feel eyes on their back.

I began to feel so scared that even in the day I would take the three mile walk onto campus and sit and work in the library if not on placement.

I'd come home and be afraid.

I even devised a system for moving around the house at night without ever being in an unlit area.

I also did this during the day in the windowless areas.

I had to move from my large comfy room into the smallest bedroom, lock the door and sleep with my back to a wall.

Often with the light on.

I was inexplicably afraid.

On the final day the I had to lock all windows, turn off all plugs, get some stuff from the basement and lock the back door before I left.

I was utterly terrified and felt like I was moving in slow motion the entire time.

I went around systematically ensuring a light was always on.

And that I wasn't in darkness.

I had piled all my stuff (back pack and duffle bag, the rest was mercifully packed in my car the day before) at the front door.

This is where it gets really scary and I cannot explain what happened adequately.

It was late afternoon and still light outside but the house was dark.

I steeled myself to turn the hallway light off.

But the lightswitch was about 4 meters from the front door at the foot of the stairs.

It was night dark upstairs (normal because no windows and all doors shut).

I turned the light off and scurried away without turning my back to the stairs, the daylight still lit the hallway from the open front door but as I got to the door the strangest thing happened.

My neck hairs stood on end.

To my shame, if I needed to pee at the time I think I'd have peed myself.

I could feel, see (I can't explain) a black and viscous shadowy cloud slowly making its way down the stairs towards me.

I felt such malevolence.

I basically tripped backwards into the street and into daylight, shut the door and everything felt fine.

Like nothing had just happened.

I locked the door and posted the key through the letter box and have never seen the house again.

The only way I can explain the feeling is to liken it to a Dementor and Ringwraith attack.

Except there wasnt a caped humanoid figure chasing me.

I couldn't see it but I KNEW.

The fear and dread was indescribable and I have never since experienced anything like it.

I had, have no mental health issues, I was happy and not stressed at the time etc.

I even feel crazy and embarrassed relating the story.

Any other experiences like this?

Post from user Excellent_Bird_8071 at at reddit.

Comments:

History describes this as Miasma!.

Comment from user Electronic_Crew_3141 at at reddit.

Posted On: November 4, 2023

To begin, this happened about ten years ago and I've only ever told this to a few people face to face.

Most people think it's a tall tale.

It was honestly one of the most unsettling things that has ever happened to me and changed me from a condescending sceptic into somewhat of a believer.

Background:.

When I was a 22 year old second year uni student (no drink, no drugs) living in the Stoke area of the U-K.

I rented an old middle terrace house in second year with my then girlfriend and some friends.

It was a creepy and dark house as it only had windows at the front and back.

It had a dingy and damp old basement with lots of old furniture stuffed inside and a black cat would show up at the back door every night meowing (which I befriended and fed).

It was also creepy because of the dark and muddy cul-de-sac that served as communal courtyard and car park.

All of this didn't overly bother me however, I grew up in a pretty creepy old house built in the early 1800's.

It did, as I later learned, bother my downstairs housemate and his girlfriend who heard regular footfalls at night in the hallway and adjacent living room only to find nobody when he'd sneak out to look.

I also discovered a year after this event that the students who lived there the year prior all believed the house was haunted and were glad to move out.

Main story:.

My term time ended 4 weeks after all of the other tenants because I had to do clinical placement.

This meant I lived in this large house alone which I loved. I'm an introvert and love alone time.

It started great.

For two weeks, I enjoyed it despite the background creepiness.

I would just reason any creepiness away as I still do now.

However, after the two week mark, I became aware of a creeping sense of dread that I couldn't rationalise or find cause for.

I'm not an overly anxious person and I enjoy my own company and nothing wired had happened.

I began to feel very unwelcome and very much not alone.

I felt how a prey animal must feel when they feel eyes on their back.

I began to feel so scared that even in the day I would take the three mile walk onto campus and sit and work in the library if not on placement.

I'd come home and be afraid.

I even devised a system for moving around the house at night without ever being in an unlit area.

I also did this during the day in the windowless areas.

I had to move from my large comfy room into the smallest bedroom, lock the door and sleep with my back to a wall.

Often with the light on.

I was inexplicably afraid.

On the final day the I had to lock all windows, turn off all plugs, get some stuff from the basement and lock the back door before I left.

I was utterly terrified and felt like I was moving in slow motion the entire time.

I went around systematically ensuring a light was always on.

And that I wasn't in darkness.

I had piled all my stuff (back pack and duffle bag, the rest was mercifully packed in my car the day before) at the front door.

This is where it gets really scary and I cannot explain what happened adequately.

It was late afternoon and still light outside but the house was dark.

I steeled myself to turn the hallway light off.

But the lightswitch was about 4 meters from the front door at the foot of the stairs.

It was night dark upstairs (normal because no windows and all doors shut).

I turned the light off and scurried away without turning my back to the stairs, the daylight still lit the hallway from the open front door but as I got to the door the strangest thing happened.

My neck hairs stood on end.

To my shame, if I needed to pee at the time I think I'd have peed myself.

I could feel, see (I can't explain) a black and viscous shadowy cloud slowly making its way down the stairs towards me.

I felt such malevolence.

I basically tripped backwards into the street and into daylight, shut the door and everything felt fine.

Like nothing had just happened.

I locked the door and posted the key through the letter box and have never seen the house again.

The only way I can explain the feeling is to liken it to a Dementor and Ringwraith attack.

Except there wasnt a caped humanoid figure chasing me.

I couldn't see it but I KNEW.

The fear and dread was indescribable and I have never since experienced anything like it.

I had, have no mental health issues, I was happy and not stressed at the time etc.

I even feel crazy and embarrassed relating the story.

Any other experiences like this?

Post from user Excellent_Bird_8071 at at reddit.

Comments:

History describes this as Miasma!.

Comment from user Electronic_Crew_3141 at at reddit.