Wait, People Actually Lived Through This?! The Most WTF Real-Life Scary Stories

I was 10, walking home from the bus with friends when the local troublemaker chased us with a gun. We ran to a neighbor's house for help, but she thought we were pranksters trying to break in. Nope! We sprinted to my friend's house where her mom called the police. The cops showed up, arrested the teen, and I got to ride in the police car. Talk about an adventure!

Went to a friend's sleepover and decided to sneak out for a late-night stroll. We stopped by some trees where older kids hung out, but things took a turn when my buddy went to pee and spotted a weirdo watching—definitely not your usual peeping Tom stuff. We ran like runners being chased, the creep pursued us all the way back. When we hid in the basement, lights off, we saw movement outside the window! We yelled for the friend’s dad, who found fresh marks on the window. No cops called that night, but the next morning police questioned us about a missing kid. That night changed us forever. My friend struggled big time, I still have nightmares about it.

After a late night, we found fresh blood drops leading to an elevator covered in bloody handprints. The trail ended at a bloody door with hand smears. We rang anyway and an elderly man answered, drenched in blood from a bike accident. Thanks to quick ambulance help, he survived. He even gave us champagne for playing heroes. Who took the risk? Us!

When I was 22, I told my parents I was moving out. My dad, who had legal guardianship over me because of my disability, threatened to kill me with a tire iron. I basically dared him to do it. Luckily, he didn't. Later, I broke down crying while driving away. It was a tough time, but moving out was the best decision I ever made.

Driving late after a movie, we saw a guy snort coke next to us. He stared right at us, then started following and honking his horn nonstop. When he pulled up at a light beside us yelling to roll down my window, I was ready to face it all. Nope—he just wanted to tell us our tail light was out. Talk about a twist!

Just got off the school bus, walking home when a guy in a dark blue car slowed down to match my speed and asked if I wanted a ride. I said no thanks, almost home. He kept pushing, so I pulled out my old Nokia and pretended to call my mom. That seemed to freak him out, and he sped off. From that day on, pepper spray was part of my daily carry.

My 14-year-old cousin was babysitting me and my little brother when her dad started yelling threats over the phone about killing us all with a knife. We locked down the house, even moved my brother from his room to mom's to keep him safe. The scariest part? When mom got home, the dad had sold all her stuff — bed, dresser, TV — everything was gone. He's clean now, but I still can't stand him.

Since Halloween, there’s been this weird man lurking behind my house every night when no one else is home. My dog, who never barks, is ready to attack when he's around. I saw him hiding behind bushes once and felt my heart pounding like crazy. After surviving a traumatic assault I thought I had control over my fear—but nope, this is some next-level creeper stuff. Therapy sounds like a good plan now.

At 16 or 17, I was drunk with mates in a graveyard when a huge dude and his friends came up. They put my friend in a headlock, said they’d shave his head, and things escalated fast. Next thing I know, I'm getting punched hard by a guy twice my size. He held me by the neck, kept hitting me, and then kicked my skull 11 times. I still have headaches years later. He paid a tiny fine for my dental bills but the trauma stuck with me.

Been through three home invasions: two times by groups with knives, once with guys armed with guns and petrol. Got stabbed in the hand during one, lucky to have snapped my reflexes just in time. Many tell me to buy a gun, but honestly, that’d have made things worse. I just try to stay alive and hope those idiots change someday. Still here, still kickin’.

One afternoon at a coffee shop, a stranger looks me dead in the eye and says, 'You're being watched.' Heart jumped out of my chest! Then he chuckled and said my brother was standing outside staring at me. Crisis averted!

Hungover and half-awake, big guy with a gun tells me to hand over money. Took my laptop bag, jerseys, and weirdly enough, all my socks. The robbery that makes you question humanity.

In high school, a girl at Walmart thought she was being followed by sketchy men. She asked my dad to walk her to the car. Turns out an old van was parked nearby, and when the creeps saw dad with her, they sped off. The police got involved, and I was grounded from solo shopping after dark for a long time.

Worked with a heavy partier who invited me to his band's country bar. The night was fun until I got real sick and drunk off my face. A regular noticed and called my friend to pick me up. Last thing I remember is leaving the bar with that dude looking for me. Scary stuff.

First apartment, right after coworkers. Their dealer came knocking pissed off asking for 200 bucks. I tried to calm him, told him prison’s not worth it. He finally left. Didn’t sleep well until I got out of there.

I was out early trail running when I saw a normal-looking guy off to the side. When I stopped at my usual water spot, he appeared sneaking toward me. I bolted—the scariest sprint ever. Cops said he probably watched me before and was stalking me. Never going back there.

Sitting in a parked car with my mum and sisters, some older guy walked up and tried opening every door. We locked everything and hid in our seats terrified. We were all under 8 years. I just knew if he got inside, it would be bad.

Leaving Walmart late at night, a woman struggled with a baby carrier in her cart and asked me for help. The whole thing felt off, no baby sounds, and a dark SUV with someone inside nearby. I told her to ask the driver but got creeped out and shut my car door. Called my mom and kept watch until they left.

My friend was coming home on crutches when a drunk man sneaked up and pepper-sprayed him, then took him inside to rob him. I heard the shouting, ran downstairs, tackled the dude down the stairs and we fought hard until he ran away. My friend was okay but had eye pain for days. We got out of that neighborhood quick.

At a motel job, a masked guy waved a knife, robbed me, and hit me over the head with the knife handle. He threatened to come after me later. Police showed up, but he vanished. A year later, another scary attack happened at the same place. I rarely talk about it, but man, that was terrifying.

Late in the park alone with my German Shepherd, a man jumped the fence and started walking toward me. My dog got between us and growled intensely. The man backed away and ran down an alley. My dog stayed tense all the way home. Looking back, that dog might've saved my life.

After my DUI in 2009, I found myself in the drunk tank with a guy full of face tattoos. He called himself the 'Sac City Psycho' and offered me his roll of toilet paper as a pillow. He promised to keep me safe because he could tell I was new to jail. For a few hours, I was his buddy. Super cool guy.

I trained a student truck driver who asked me how much damage a truck could do in a shooting. He barely spoke and recorded me texting. I recorded him and sent it to my boss. He got fired the next day. Still had nightmares for days, worried if he was following me home.

Checking out an arson site, I heard two guys arguing about avenging someone for snitching. One pulled a gun near me. I tried to stay quiet but tripped and was spotted. The guy aimed his gun at my truck, so I hit the gas and escaped. Definitely one of my scariest work moments.

Kid playing outside sliced his foot open. I cleaned and bandaged it. His giant skinhead dad showed up, yelling and pushing me. After checking the cut, he said all good, shook my hand tight, and left. That was one wild day on my stoop.

Me and my friend went to the creek; creepy drunk teen showed up and gave me the bad vibes. Another big guy ran up, grabbed the creepy one, and told us to leave. Later, creepy teen was involved in a robbery-turned-murder. Thank goodness for the big guy!

A driver I worked with joked around by pointing a gun at my head. We laughed it off, but I told my boss and stayed away until he was fired. Turns out he later killed himself and his baby's mom. Some stories stick with you forever.

Mentally disturbed older brother beat me as a kid. Once he tried to cut my throat but our older sister stopped him just in time. Mom let him back in the house without any help. I was 7 and developed serious trust and safety issues — even now, I can't sleep in unlocked rooms.

While having dinner at home at 7, robbers in masks and guns broke in. Mom didn’t realize, let them inside. I was small enough to hide in my bedroom and locked the door, too scared to move. Tense times, wish I’d called for help but was in shock.

After I said we were done, my ex came out holding something behind her back. I didn’t even wait to see what it was and ran home fast. I never went back. To all the critics, try being 5’1”, weak, and scared of a strong ex with a knife. No shame here.

A drunk driver tried to run me off the road on my moped. Managed to get onto the pavement and hid behind a parked car just in time. Heart still racing just thinking about it.

When my dad had a heart attack, I had to translate everything in the ER between Polish and English. Talk about pressure and panic! All of us were on edge but we pulled through.

Spent some months hanging out with crime guys who carried uzis. One night on an errand, I was told I’d help with something shady. I got out at a stoplight and didn’t look back. Thought I was about to get killed or do it. Definitely did not want to stick around and find out.

Went to brush my teeth leaving my door cracked open. Came back to some drunk dude stumbling out of my closet looking creepy. Tried talking him down but I was stuck locked in my room. A friend knocked, he left immediately, and I breathed easy. Grateful every day for that friend.

Leaving a party at 12:30am, cramped on a tram, wild drunk guy comes charging across the tracks yelling and punching at the tram door right where I was standing. Thankfully, door wouldn’t open. Heard insults fly and the dude got sent packing. Tram ride was as tense as it gets.

I was chilling at home alone one summer when two guys showed up, knocking and trying to kick down the doors. A third was acting lookout. I called 911, screamed for help, and waited for the cops. They left eventually but holy heck, best night ever?

Late at night, a mysterious small woman with piercing blue eyes showed up asking to crash at my place. She had bags of groceries but acted super suspicious, repeating questions and wanting me to help put a hotel on GPS. Behind her, a tinted-window car hid another woman. Felt like human trafficking to me, so I got outta there fast.

I was finishing an essay around 1 am when some guy climbed a trash can to peek through my bedroom window. I screamed and threw a slipper at him — he ran off. Another time on a city bus, an older man got way too close and gross, so I got off as fast as I could. Creepy vibes all around.

At a convenience store, a guy with hat pulled low comes in, reaches into his jacket, then says, 'You know those days when you should’ve just stayed home? I think this is one of them.' Heart pounding, I waited it out. He pulled out his wallet and asked for cigarettes. False alarm!

My landlord’s brother, high on drugs, held me hostage for several hours. I charmed him by talking about French toast and bong hits to keep him distracted. Luckily, I got out without getting hurt, but it was terrifying and something I won't forget.

Driving with a friend, we stopped at a dead-end parking lot. A guy came over panicky, offering candy and asking about a store. Something felt off. Another man appeared with a huge stick trying to flag us down. We got out fast and warned a jogging woman heading toward the scene. Never going back.

A drunk guy tried to rob me at 3 am with a gun or maybe just his hand. I started screaming wildly and refused to hand over any money. We sat there arguing for half an hour, until a taxi drove by. I got in, ignoring his threats. Seattle nightlife, am I right?

As kids, we snuck into an abandoned hotel and found a guy with a theater mask slowly turning around behind us. We ran fast, and one friend started crying from the shock. He probably meant no harm, but still, major creep vibes.

While doing contract work in a prison, I walked closer than three feet to Edmund Kemper. The sense of evil hitting me was like getting punched in the face, almost took my breath away. I stayed calm but can’t forget that feeling. No thanks, Kemper!