Spending time away from people is usually a very peaceful experience. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a break from the city to spend a sunny day in the forest, with birds chirping, a stream flowing nearby, and fresh air all around? That’s the dream.
But swap that scene for an eerily still night, with not a soul around for miles and the sudden snap of a branch in the dark, and it stops feeling relaxing pretty fast. Plenty of Redditors have found themselves in moments like these in extremely isolated places—and across several threads, they’ve shared the creepiest things they witnessed.
Take a look below.
#1
More mysterious than creepy. We were camping in Montana near Yellowstone park in a small campground. It was the off season and there were maybe 5 other people there, including a couple 3-4 spots down who had a large dog with them in their RV. I walked by and the dog was friendly so I petted it and talked to it and went on my way.
Later that night I am sitting watching the sun set and reading on my Kindle when a cold nose bumps up under my arm, like dog does when it wants attention. I figured it was the dog and started scratching its head. Before i could look around, my friend came around the corner and froze with a look of fright on his face. I was scratching the head of a pretty big grey wolf. I had no idea what to do, I didnt want to keep touching it but I didnt want to stop and p**s it off either. I scratched for maybe 5-10 more seconds and it just looked at me like "Thanks, bro" and walked off into the woods. We went to a hotel that night...
Later that night I am sitting watching the sun set and reading on my Kindle when a cold nose bumps up under my arm, like dog does when it wants attention. I figured it was the dog and started scratching its head. Before i could look around, my friend came around the corner and froze with a look of fright on his face. I was scratching the head of a pretty big grey wolf. I had no idea what to do, I didnt want to keep touching it but I didnt want to stop and p**s it off either. I scratched for maybe 5-10 more seconds and it just looked at me like "Thanks, bro" and walked off into the woods. We went to a hotel that night...
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57points
#2
The creepiest thing I've ever seen out at sea in the middle of nowhere is bioluminescent plankton.
Made the whole ocean glow bright blue-green. And dolphins swimming by were lit up by the plankton like they themselves were glowing.
Made the whole ocean glow bright blue-green. And dolphins swimming by were lit up by the plankton like they themselves were glowing.
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33points
#3
Definitely "Green Flash". Its not creepy or anything but when you actually see the horizon just light up in neon green for a half second you kinda feel...astonished.
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31points
#4
So I worked at a ranch in southern Arizona, right on the border. I didn't really consider it to be secluded because I had horses and cows. In hindsight, I guess it was really lonely because sometimes they'd talk back to me.
Anyways, doing fence borders with a guy from another camp and we had to go down into this dry river bed. As we round the bend we see a bunch of beat up trucks sitting there armed to the teeth. Turns out we ran into some kind of big deal for a cartel. The other guy told me to keep steady and we just walked straight through them on our horses. Everyone staring at us, looking like they were ready to shoot us up if we made one false move.
I asked about it when we got to the other side without turning into swiss cheese and the more experienced rancher told me: "The Cartel only cares about Border Patrol and Cops. They know this is a ranch, and they know we roam around here, and they know we don't say much." Reason being, if they ever assumed the ranchers were the snitches, they could easily find our little ranch houses. Only had 1 person to so many acres. Could have been offed and left there for many days before someone noticed. With all that in mind, I had a very passive relationship with those kind from then on.
Anyways, doing fence borders with a guy from another camp and we had to go down into this dry river bed. As we round the bend we see a bunch of beat up trucks sitting there armed to the teeth. Turns out we ran into some kind of big deal for a cartel. The other guy told me to keep steady and we just walked straight through them on our horses. Everyone staring at us, looking like they were ready to shoot us up if we made one false move.
I asked about it when we got to the other side without turning into swiss cheese and the more experienced rancher told me: "The Cartel only cares about Border Patrol and Cops. They know this is a ranch, and they know we roam around here, and they know we don't say much." Reason being, if they ever assumed the ranchers were the snitches, they could easily find our little ranch houses. Only had 1 person to so many acres. Could have been offed and left there for many days before someone noticed. With all that in mind, I had a very passive relationship with those kind from then on.
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28points
#5
I told this on another account once.
While on deployment my ship found a ship adrift off the coast of Australia. As an engineer trained for vbss I was tasked with assessing the ships mechanical status on boarding.
It was deserted. Fish in the hold and stuff set out like people were just there. There was food on the galley area that was still warm, etc.
We never found the crew so we towed the boat in for the authorities.
Absolutely scared people and those who didn't board the ship didn't believe us when we were telling them about the state of it.
While on deployment my ship found a ship adrift off the coast of Australia. As an engineer trained for vbss I was tasked with assessing the ships mechanical status on boarding.
It was deserted. Fish in the hold and stuff set out like people were just there. There was food on the galley area that was still warm, etc.
We never found the crew so we towed the boat in for the authorities.
Absolutely scared people and those who didn't board the ship didn't believe us when we were telling them about the state of it.
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28points
#6
Hearing the faint sonar pings from the Russian subs in the middle of the night out in the Baltic Sea.
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26points
#7
From May 2010 to May 2011, I worked as a security guard at a hydroelectric dam in Virginia. It was a fairly isolated location; if you needed an ambulance, you could expect at least a 20 minute wait. About a month after I was hired, one of the guys at the dam told me that most security guards out there quit after a few days because they got so creeped out being alone at the dam at night, and he was glad I was sticking it out.
In truth, it could be creepy. Sometimes at night, when I was patrolling the basement level of the dam itself, I’d think about the fact that I was fifty feet below the water-line on the low side, the only human being in about a mile and a half radius. Sometimes I’d hear weird noises in the woods, or catch a flash of a shadow while I was inside the dam. It takes a lot to scare me, though, and I knew I was either hearing critters in the woods or my mind was playing tricks on me.
One night, however, something happened that scared the living hell out of me. It was a little after 11 p.m., and I was sitting in the guard house reading a book. Suddenly, I heard a tap at the door.
What was creepy about the guard house at night was that when you had the lamp inside turned on, people could look through the windows at you, but the glare made it difficult for you to see outside.
When I heard the tap at the door, I thought it was a bug hitting the glass; it was so faint, and I knew there weren’t any contractors at the dam. I had the place to myself.
Then the tap came again, more insistent this time.
I grabbed my flashlight and opened the door. There was no one there.
Then I let the door slip from my hand and shut behind me. To my left — previously concealed by the door as I had opened it — was a huge man, at least 400 pounds, wearing a gray sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. The sweatshirt was smeared with fresh blood.
My heart started hammering. My blood ran cold. I was so scared I couldn’t speak.
As it turns out, he was a local fisherman who had been fishing off the bridge over the tailrace and he was wondering why the power company hadn’t started back-pumping into the lake yet, because they usually started a little before 11 and that was what always drew in the big striped bass. He was smeared with blood because he’d already caught and gutted a couple and wiped his hands on his shirt. He felt really bad when he realized that he had approached me basically in the same way that a creeper in a horror movie would have.
I am thankful to this day that I was unarmed security, because if I’d had a gun, I would have either shot him or accidentally shot myself while trying to shoot him.
In truth, it could be creepy. Sometimes at night, when I was patrolling the basement level of the dam itself, I’d think about the fact that I was fifty feet below the water-line on the low side, the only human being in about a mile and a half radius. Sometimes I’d hear weird noises in the woods, or catch a flash of a shadow while I was inside the dam. It takes a lot to scare me, though, and I knew I was either hearing critters in the woods or my mind was playing tricks on me.
One night, however, something happened that scared the living hell out of me. It was a little after 11 p.m., and I was sitting in the guard house reading a book. Suddenly, I heard a tap at the door.
What was creepy about the guard house at night was that when you had the lamp inside turned on, people could look through the windows at you, but the glare made it difficult for you to see outside.
When I heard the tap at the door, I thought it was a bug hitting the glass; it was so faint, and I knew there weren’t any contractors at the dam. I had the place to myself.
Then the tap came again, more insistent this time.
I grabbed my flashlight and opened the door. There was no one there.
Then I let the door slip from my hand and shut behind me. To my left — previously concealed by the door as I had opened it — was a huge man, at least 400 pounds, wearing a gray sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. The sweatshirt was smeared with fresh blood.
My heart started hammering. My blood ran cold. I was so scared I couldn’t speak.
As it turns out, he was a local fisherman who had been fishing off the bridge over the tailrace and he was wondering why the power company hadn’t started back-pumping into the lake yet, because they usually started a little before 11 and that was what always drew in the big striped bass. He was smeared with blood because he’d already caught and gutted a couple and wiped his hands on his shirt. He felt really bad when he realized that he had approached me basically in the same way that a creeper in a horror movie would have.
I am thankful to this day that I was unarmed security, because if I’d had a gun, I would have either shot him or accidentally shot myself while trying to shoot him.
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25points
#8
I singlehanded a boat from Mexico to north Florida. A few days into the trip, horrible weather, broken stuff and too many big ships around resulted in 54 hours without sleep. During the last part of that period a high school girlfriend, a former coworker and I had a long conversation.
Except they weren't there and I hadn't seen them in 15 years.
Except they weren't there and I hadn't seen them in 15 years.
23points
#9
Friend and I went camping when we were around 18. Found an awesome flat area off the side of a rather steep hill that overlooked the lake nearby. I can't remember the name of the lake (not important), but it was large enough that we couldn't see the other side. We were there for a couple of days, were fishing, setting a couple snares, pretty much pulling a Survivorman. On the third night we hadn't lit the fire yet, we wanted to see the stars. Being Toronto kids, we rarely got to see too many. Sure enough, moonless night, no light-source around anywhere, and there are the stars. I pointed out a few passing satellites (I miss having such great vision), he named off the constellations that he knew. We were chatting then we saw it. On the horizon, a small, and very bright, red dot appeared. Looked like a gun laser dot. We both sat there racking our brains and making "Aliens" jokes. But sure enough it was getting closer. Soon it was the size of a dime, then a quarter, but it's taken the shape of an eye, and yet it got closer and closer. We started thinking that maybe it was a forest fire or something. maybe it really was Aliens with a nervous laugh. I remember him getting his hunting knife out of its sheath, and I did the same, ready for anything. Finally it's the size of a football, actually lighting up the area we were in. We were able to see the red glow off the trees, and .. the lake ..
About here is when I realized we were looking at the rising blood moon. The lake was perfectly still and the moon was reflecting off of it. He physically slapped himself into a facepalm. We were city kids after all.
About here is when I realized we were looking at the rising blood moon. The lake was perfectly still and the moon was reflecting off of it. He physically slapped himself into a facepalm. We were city kids after all.
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21points
#10
My wife, my daughter and I joined our troop for a Cub Scout Halloween event at a Boy Scout camp in Colorado. It's a large hilly area tucked away in the canyons. There are lots of camp sites up the hill but further down the road are some cabins. We were allowed to stay there for the night since it's more comfortable than tents. Well these cabins are about a 1/4 mile away from any of the other buildings or tent areas. So we are nowhere near the rest of the group and it's just the three of us in the cabin.
We get ready for bed and as I'm starting to fall asleep I realize how eerily quiet it is. It is completely still outside. No wind, no rustling of trees etc. Well I eventually fall asleep.
I am then awoken very suddenly by a scream inside the room. I sit up and ask my wife if she is ok. She responds yes and checks on our daughter. She is fine. It is now dead quiet again. No noise. The scream is gone. So in a panic I start walking around the room in the dark. Nothing in the room but us. Maybe it came from outside. So I peek out the window and out the front door. No movement nothing. But it's pitch black. I can't see anything.
Time to buck up the courage, grab my phone as a flashlight and go check outside. I stand there frozen for a minute and finally work myself up to grab my phone and go outside. I grab my phone, turn on the screen and see a Halloween update alert from the Simpsons Mobile game.
What I heard was Homer Simpson screaming from my phone because one of my buildings was done in the Simpsons game. Needless to say I uninstalled that game and haven't played it since. It took a good two hours for my wife and I to call back asleep.
We get ready for bed and as I'm starting to fall asleep I realize how eerily quiet it is. It is completely still outside. No wind, no rustling of trees etc. Well I eventually fall asleep.
I am then awoken very suddenly by a scream inside the room. I sit up and ask my wife if she is ok. She responds yes and checks on our daughter. She is fine. It is now dead quiet again. No noise. The scream is gone. So in a panic I start walking around the room in the dark. Nothing in the room but us. Maybe it came from outside. So I peek out the window and out the front door. No movement nothing. But it's pitch black. I can't see anything.
Time to buck up the courage, grab my phone as a flashlight and go check outside. I stand there frozen for a minute and finally work myself up to grab my phone and go outside. I grab my phone, turn on the screen and see a Halloween update alert from the Simpsons Mobile game.
What I heard was Homer Simpson screaming from my phone because one of my buildings was done in the Simpsons game. Needless to say I uninstalled that game and haven't played it since. It took a good two hours for my wife and I to call back asleep.
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18points
#11
I was on an Outward Bound trip in the White River National Forest in Colorado. A part of OB trips is a solo, which can be anywhere from 12-48 hours in which the participants are by themselves with a journal and some snacks.
I set up a sweet tent in a tree grouping. It had rained the night before so the ground was pretty soft. After setting up I walked around the area. I felt pretty tired, and decided to take a nap... for 8 hours. I woke up in the middle of the night to a bunch of twigs cracking. It turned on my torch to look to see if it was the instructors or any kind of animal. I even called out, "Hey, you good?" (not sure why I said it that way). Nothing.
In the morning I found some big cat tracks right by my tent that were not there when I took my nap. It was really unnerving knowing that a mountain lion was near me when I was sleeping. I told the guides about it and they got really particular about keeping our food away from where we were sleeping.
I set up a sweet tent in a tree grouping. It had rained the night before so the ground was pretty soft. After setting up I walked around the area. I felt pretty tired, and decided to take a nap... for 8 hours. I woke up in the middle of the night to a bunch of twigs cracking. It turned on my torch to look to see if it was the instructors or any kind of animal. I even called out, "Hey, you good?" (not sure why I said it that way). Nothing.
In the morning I found some big cat tracks right by my tent that were not there when I took my nap. It was really unnerving knowing that a mountain lion was near me when I was sleeping. I told the guides about it and they got really particular about keeping our food away from where we were sleeping.
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15points
#12
Sorry for a "not me but someone else's story" story, but here it is anyway: I used to work for the US Forest Service and sometimes worked with an older gentleman that had lots of interesting stories from his many years of life. But by far the most chilling tale was from when he was working in a very secluded area of wilderness and was walking through the forest when a thunderstorm hit. He had seen a opening in the hill a little while back and headed to it to take shelter. Once inside he shined his flashlight to check he wasn't going to wake up a bear or something and found the skeleton of a man, sitting in a lawn chair, with a rifle rigged up so he had been able to shoot himself. The skeleton was still wearing jeans and a flannel shirt.
I've met a lot of bull shitters in my time and this guy wasn't one, he'd honestly just led an interesting life.
I've met a lot of bull shitters in my time and this guy wasn't one, he'd honestly just led an interesting life.
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14points
#13
I was running on a logging road in central Wisconsin and stopped because I felt like I was being watched. It was just an instinctive feeling. That's when I noticed a large wolf step out of the forest about 50 yards ahead of me. It was just staring and I stared back. After about 30 seconds of us checking each other out it just slipped back into the woods and was gone. I kept running in the same direction but never really shook the feeling of being watched. I guess it's not that scary because wolves rarely attack people, but you betcha it was creepy enough being alone out there.
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14points
#14
Im really late to the thread, but one of the dads in my scout troop spent some time doing photography for National Geographic. He would hike out to remote places alone and take photos for a few days. Well one time he was developing his photography and he saw a bunch of photos of him sleeping. He said he quit shortly after that.
14points
#15
Cody, Wyoming, Midnight...
I had just finished a very long day at work. I am a medical courier, and I am regularly on the road, staying in hotels, and life is never dull. This particular evening I wound up on a 500mi drive that ended in Cody Wyo, at around midnight.
It had been cold, it was December after all and this is Wyoming. The roads had been very so-so that night, they weren't clear, but they weren't treacherous, it was one of those drives in the dark where you are on edge the whole time. Staying alert for 500 miles in the dark, on roads that were nearly abandoned at this time of night, with light snow and heavy winds, it takes a lot out of a person. This particular week it had been very busy, I had been in 4 states that week by the time I reached Wyoming that evening.
The drive to the patients house was up a windy slick road, and the drive was uneventful. After I had dropped the medicine off to them and called the boss to let them know I had made it in and was heading to a hotel to get some sleep. Pretty usual conversation, we talked briefly about how much they would reimburse me for the hotel room. They always say $80-$100 its pretty typical, and fair, since the cheap hotel in Cody Wyo is about that price.
I however am 31 and a good nights rest, a good free breakfast, and a nice AM soak in a hot tub are requirements for when I catch myself in a hotel room. I know that by the time I get to the hotel I have put on serious miles, so I treat myself, one, because if I am staying in a hotel it has been a profitable day and I can afford to treat my self just a little, and two, I feel better after a good nights rest, a great breakfast, and a nice soak. I will not name the chain of hotels I stay at, but I frequent one chain because its the best value hotel in my home town, which is back in Nebraska. Tonight I pulled into the hotel, which I have stayed at 3 or 4 times now, so I am familiar with the place. I had called ahead about 8 hours before when I was leaving Denver to call and book a room, and let them know they would be expecting me at midnight. I walk into the hotel with my bag, dusting off the snow that had fallen on me while I got my stuff out of the car and walked inside.
Its very quiet, there's no music and the tv isn't on in the lobby. I wander to the counter, leaving a trail of wet shoe prints behind from coming in out of the snow into the lobby, my shoes squeaking as I approach the counter. When I get to the counter there is no one at there. On the counter is a bowl of ice cream, with a brownie from the restaurant connected to the hotel, the local paper is open to the comics page, and the Sudoku is half filled out with a pen sitting there. Hanging on the back of the chair is a small ladies coat with fake fur fringe around the hood, on the floor next to the chair are a pair on smaller pink and black Nikes, and a black purse.
I figure that she, by the assumption of the coat, shoes and purse, is in the bathroom, so I stand at the counter quietly, waiting on her to return. I fiddle with my wallet getting out my card to pay for it and my ID. I scroll thru on my phone and hook to the free wifi. 5 minuets go by. Then 10. At 15 minuets the phone starts ringing. I still had no idea where she was, and I had begun to get irritated, it had been a long day and I wanted to get rested before I got up and drove home in the morning.
After the phone stopped ringing, and I started to get frustrated, I began to wander around the lobby, and behind the counter shouting "Hello, is any one here?" as loudly as possible. The area behind the counter is an employee only area. I venture back behind the counter where a hallway leads to the back of house area connected to the offices, staff elevator, bathrooms, laundry and the restaurant. I venture down the hallway shouting hello, still no one answers. It is now 1230am.
As I return to the counter and begin looking for a posted phone number for a manager, or some one of authority, the phone rings, the cordless phone still laying next to the paper she had opened. Frustrated, and exhausted I answer the phone, hoping its some one who could tell me where the woman is who is supposed to check me in. Its not. Its another guest, who had tried calling earlier for a wake up call in the morning. I explain to the gentleman on the phone my situation, and how I can not help him. He states he is coming to the lobby to help me look for the "girl" at the counter. I had not found a number to call.
5 minuets go by and the strange older man, with odd glasses and long unkept hair comes into the lobby from the first floor hallway. At this point I had been behind the counter, and had been shouting to the point I feared I may wake up other guests. I had wandered thru the back area, the lobby and the front part of the restaurant, all while shouting, and no one responded. This guy had given me the creeps, and I was exhausted but on high alert, there was an employee missing, and a creepy guy who just happened to appear in the same time she is missing. Feeling nervous about this gentleman I stay prepared for any strange behavior and keep myself at least arms distance from him the entire time. I explain where I have looked. That I have yelled. At this point I begin to go thru what I call "worst case scenario preperation". This guy could of easily overpowered a small woman. I may be standing here with a crazy person. I keep my space, and my back towards the main entry just in case. I am a grown man, just under 6ft, I have had self defense courses, and I have a CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) after encountering a bear at a patients house in the fall. I have no reason to believe I am in immediate trouble but this guy just gives me the creeps. It is at this point I debate calling the cops. Its now 1245am.
The gentleman tells me, maybe shes in the bathroom, which i respond to that I had thought that myself, but I had walked by and yelled loudly when I walked thru the back and no one responded. He insists we check the bathrooms. My red flag goes off and I put another foot or two of space between us as I let him lead us down the hallway to the employee bathroom. My heart and mind a racing at this point, did this dude k**l her and now hes gonna try to k**l me, I start to worry about my safety as we go down a hallway that leads to small rooms and with one exit in and out. We reach the bathroom.
He knocks and annonces himself, then opens the door. The bathroom is empty. We check a few more rooms and the elevator and find nothing. We venture back to the lobby where I stand behind the counter looking for any phone number that could be a manager or supervisor. After about 10 mins I find a number and some one answers, Its now 1255am the half asleep voice on the other end of the phone is the maintenance woman for the hotel. Confused as to who I am and why I am calling I explain the situation as the creepy man stands on the other side of the counter staring at me in a dead cold manner. The maintenance woman says she will be there in 10 minuets or so. I hang up the phone.
I walk around the counter still confused looking at her stuff there, as if she just vanished. Its at this point I decide to wander towards the lobby/seating for the restaurant. Once in the doorway I turn the corner and down at the end of the booths there are a pair of legs hanging out of the booth. I had walked with in 15 feet of there while checking around before the creepy guy showed up.
I see her legs hanging and instantly the pit of my stomach turns sour and a sense of dread comes over me. Suddenly the creepy guy walks right up by me. Thinking the worst I take a few quick steps away from him and down the row of booths in the dark restaurant. With him at the other end, I look in the booth where she is laying. She is maybe 20 and very pretty. I shake her foot, she doesn't respond. I shake again, saying 'HEY!" Nothing.
Its at this moment the creepy guy starts down the booth that I finally feel I may need to defend myself. I kneel down to draw from my ankle holster as he quickly comes down the row of booths, and its at this exact moment the girl wakes up and accidentally kicks me in the chest knocking me gently on my a*s and stopping Mr Creepy in his tracks, also stopping me from drawing a weapon. She had been asleep. Mr Creepy was just a guest. Moments later the Maintenance Woman arrived and by 115am I was in my room trying to decompress.
TL:DR? Hotel Clerk wanders off late at night, she is found alive and safe, but not after I prepare myself to find her dead and almost draw a weapon on a creepy guy.
I had just finished a very long day at work. I am a medical courier, and I am regularly on the road, staying in hotels, and life is never dull. This particular evening I wound up on a 500mi drive that ended in Cody Wyo, at around midnight.
It had been cold, it was December after all and this is Wyoming. The roads had been very so-so that night, they weren't clear, but they weren't treacherous, it was one of those drives in the dark where you are on edge the whole time. Staying alert for 500 miles in the dark, on roads that were nearly abandoned at this time of night, with light snow and heavy winds, it takes a lot out of a person. This particular week it had been very busy, I had been in 4 states that week by the time I reached Wyoming that evening.
The drive to the patients house was up a windy slick road, and the drive was uneventful. After I had dropped the medicine off to them and called the boss to let them know I had made it in and was heading to a hotel to get some sleep. Pretty usual conversation, we talked briefly about how much they would reimburse me for the hotel room. They always say $80-$100 its pretty typical, and fair, since the cheap hotel in Cody Wyo is about that price.
I however am 31 and a good nights rest, a good free breakfast, and a nice AM soak in a hot tub are requirements for when I catch myself in a hotel room. I know that by the time I get to the hotel I have put on serious miles, so I treat myself, one, because if I am staying in a hotel it has been a profitable day and I can afford to treat my self just a little, and two, I feel better after a good nights rest, a great breakfast, and a nice soak. I will not name the chain of hotels I stay at, but I frequent one chain because its the best value hotel in my home town, which is back in Nebraska. Tonight I pulled into the hotel, which I have stayed at 3 or 4 times now, so I am familiar with the place. I had called ahead about 8 hours before when I was leaving Denver to call and book a room, and let them know they would be expecting me at midnight. I walk into the hotel with my bag, dusting off the snow that had fallen on me while I got my stuff out of the car and walked inside.
Its very quiet, there's no music and the tv isn't on in the lobby. I wander to the counter, leaving a trail of wet shoe prints behind from coming in out of the snow into the lobby, my shoes squeaking as I approach the counter. When I get to the counter there is no one at there. On the counter is a bowl of ice cream, with a brownie from the restaurant connected to the hotel, the local paper is open to the comics page, and the Sudoku is half filled out with a pen sitting there. Hanging on the back of the chair is a small ladies coat with fake fur fringe around the hood, on the floor next to the chair are a pair on smaller pink and black Nikes, and a black purse.
I figure that she, by the assumption of the coat, shoes and purse, is in the bathroom, so I stand at the counter quietly, waiting on her to return. I fiddle with my wallet getting out my card to pay for it and my ID. I scroll thru on my phone and hook to the free wifi. 5 minuets go by. Then 10. At 15 minuets the phone starts ringing. I still had no idea where she was, and I had begun to get irritated, it had been a long day and I wanted to get rested before I got up and drove home in the morning.
After the phone stopped ringing, and I started to get frustrated, I began to wander around the lobby, and behind the counter shouting "Hello, is any one here?" as loudly as possible. The area behind the counter is an employee only area. I venture back behind the counter where a hallway leads to the back of house area connected to the offices, staff elevator, bathrooms, laundry and the restaurant. I venture down the hallway shouting hello, still no one answers. It is now 1230am.
As I return to the counter and begin looking for a posted phone number for a manager, or some one of authority, the phone rings, the cordless phone still laying next to the paper she had opened. Frustrated, and exhausted I answer the phone, hoping its some one who could tell me where the woman is who is supposed to check me in. Its not. Its another guest, who had tried calling earlier for a wake up call in the morning. I explain to the gentleman on the phone my situation, and how I can not help him. He states he is coming to the lobby to help me look for the "girl" at the counter. I had not found a number to call.
5 minuets go by and the strange older man, with odd glasses and long unkept hair comes into the lobby from the first floor hallway. At this point I had been behind the counter, and had been shouting to the point I feared I may wake up other guests. I had wandered thru the back area, the lobby and the front part of the restaurant, all while shouting, and no one responded. This guy had given me the creeps, and I was exhausted but on high alert, there was an employee missing, and a creepy guy who just happened to appear in the same time she is missing. Feeling nervous about this gentleman I stay prepared for any strange behavior and keep myself at least arms distance from him the entire time. I explain where I have looked. That I have yelled. At this point I begin to go thru what I call "worst case scenario preperation". This guy could of easily overpowered a small woman. I may be standing here with a crazy person. I keep my space, and my back towards the main entry just in case. I am a grown man, just under 6ft, I have had self defense courses, and I have a CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) after encountering a bear at a patients house in the fall. I have no reason to believe I am in immediate trouble but this guy just gives me the creeps. It is at this point I debate calling the cops. Its now 1245am.
The gentleman tells me, maybe shes in the bathroom, which i respond to that I had thought that myself, but I had walked by and yelled loudly when I walked thru the back and no one responded. He insists we check the bathrooms. My red flag goes off and I put another foot or two of space between us as I let him lead us down the hallway to the employee bathroom. My heart and mind a racing at this point, did this dude k**l her and now hes gonna try to k**l me, I start to worry about my safety as we go down a hallway that leads to small rooms and with one exit in and out. We reach the bathroom.
He knocks and annonces himself, then opens the door. The bathroom is empty. We check a few more rooms and the elevator and find nothing. We venture back to the lobby where I stand behind the counter looking for any phone number that could be a manager or supervisor. After about 10 mins I find a number and some one answers, Its now 1255am the half asleep voice on the other end of the phone is the maintenance woman for the hotel. Confused as to who I am and why I am calling I explain the situation as the creepy man stands on the other side of the counter staring at me in a dead cold manner. The maintenance woman says she will be there in 10 minuets or so. I hang up the phone.
I walk around the counter still confused looking at her stuff there, as if she just vanished. Its at this point I decide to wander towards the lobby/seating for the restaurant. Once in the doorway I turn the corner and down at the end of the booths there are a pair of legs hanging out of the booth. I had walked with in 15 feet of there while checking around before the creepy guy showed up.
I see her legs hanging and instantly the pit of my stomach turns sour and a sense of dread comes over me. Suddenly the creepy guy walks right up by me. Thinking the worst I take a few quick steps away from him and down the row of booths in the dark restaurant. With him at the other end, I look in the booth where she is laying. She is maybe 20 and very pretty. I shake her foot, she doesn't respond. I shake again, saying 'HEY!" Nothing.
Its at this moment the creepy guy starts down the booth that I finally feel I may need to defend myself. I kneel down to draw from my ankle holster as he quickly comes down the row of booths, and its at this exact moment the girl wakes up and accidentally kicks me in the chest knocking me gently on my a*s and stopping Mr Creepy in his tracks, also stopping me from drawing a weapon. She had been asleep. Mr Creepy was just a guest. Moments later the Maintenance Woman arrived and by 115am I was in my room trying to decompress.
TL:DR? Hotel Clerk wanders off late at night, she is found alive and safe, but not after I prepare myself to find her dead and almost draw a weapon on a creepy guy.
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14points
#16
I like exploring derelict houses. There is a lot of development where I live so there are a few empty houses awaiting their fate at any given time. Right now I can think of 4 within walking distance of my house.
One night I visited an old farmhouse from the 1850s. It was in quite good condition but sadly was about to be demolished for a new housing estate. I usually go alone but this time I brought my wife with me to see if she would like it. I had briefly been in the house before but wanted to go back to have a proper look for anything I could save before the bulldozers arrived so I was carrying a pry bar.
I am always cautious that I could disturb squatters or vandals (it hasn't happened yet and I have been in at least 50 houses) so I did a quick look through the house and propped a chair behind the front door as the lock mechanism had been taken. The side door was open but I figured that if someone walked in that way I would hear the crunch of the broken glass on the floor.
We were standing in the kitchen and we clearly heard footsteps walking through the dining room towards the kitchen. My wife freaked out so I held the pinch bar up and walked towards the dining room door saying "Yes, can I help you?" which I figured was defiant enough to let whoever it was know that I wasn't scared of them (which may or may not have been the case).
The Dining Room was empty. The noise stopped and the only sound I could hear was the flapping of the roller blind in the wind due to the broken window. "See, it was just the blind" I said, banging the blind against the window to prove my point.
The wife was not convinced and practically dragged me out of the house. We jumped in the car and she locked the doors. "It wasn't the blind" she said. "It sounded different. I heard footsteps". She was right.
I later went back to the house alone and returned with some nice french doors which, after a lot of restoration work, are now part of my own house. Weeks later Carinya Cottage was demolished in a zero-salvage demolition and replaced by 97 tiny new houses, all of which look the same.
One night I visited an old farmhouse from the 1850s. It was in quite good condition but sadly was about to be demolished for a new housing estate. I usually go alone but this time I brought my wife with me to see if she would like it. I had briefly been in the house before but wanted to go back to have a proper look for anything I could save before the bulldozers arrived so I was carrying a pry bar.
I am always cautious that I could disturb squatters or vandals (it hasn't happened yet and I have been in at least 50 houses) so I did a quick look through the house and propped a chair behind the front door as the lock mechanism had been taken. The side door was open but I figured that if someone walked in that way I would hear the crunch of the broken glass on the floor.
We were standing in the kitchen and we clearly heard footsteps walking through the dining room towards the kitchen. My wife freaked out so I held the pinch bar up and walked towards the dining room door saying "Yes, can I help you?" which I figured was defiant enough to let whoever it was know that I wasn't scared of them (which may or may not have been the case).
The Dining Room was empty. The noise stopped and the only sound I could hear was the flapping of the roller blind in the wind due to the broken window. "See, it was just the blind" I said, banging the blind against the window to prove my point.
The wife was not convinced and practically dragged me out of the house. We jumped in the car and she locked the doors. "It wasn't the blind" she said. "It sounded different. I heard footsteps". She was right.
I later went back to the house alone and returned with some nice french doors which, after a lot of restoration work, are now part of my own house. Weeks later Carinya Cottage was demolished in a zero-salvage demolition and replaced by 97 tiny new houses, all of which look the same.
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14points
#17
Two years ago I lived in a fly-in community in Northern Manitoba. I lived there for 2 years and tried to experience everything the location had to offer. I got into hunting and took to exploring around on the ski-doo that was at my disposal. One day I went grouse hunting down the ice road on the ski-doo. I had been out for a while in -35 C and managed to get a grouse. After I got the grouse, my only thoughts were on getting home. It was only then I realized how cold I was. I was already shivering and I was about 17 km away from the town. I hadn't seen anyone all morning either. As I started back I could only go so fast, otherwise the wind would wick away any heat my gear had trapped. That was the first time I really felt mortal. That was the first time I realized that if I stopped moving, I would die. It took me well over an hour to get back near civilization. When I finally got in the door I was frantic. My wife realized I was in the beginning stages of hypothermia and pushed me to alternate between jumping jacks and push ups while she prepared me something warm to drink. That was probably my creepiest experience. That is the last time I will go out alone like that. If this community ski-doo had of quit on me (which was very possible) I would have needed some quick thinking to make it out of there. Lots of dumb choices that day.
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12points
#18
Out at sea late at like maybe 2am and just seeing a fin pop up above the water near your boat in the complete silence and black ocean.
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11points
#19
I was on a the bow of a sailboat crossing the atlantic in pretty heavy winds, going about 15 knots. Crew had to be stationed alone on the bow in two hour shifts at all times, keeping an eye out for anything in the water. About 10 meters away from me I see a weird glint in the water. Then I realize it's a partially submerged shipping container. Before I had time to even open my mouth, we passed it by, missing it by a few feet.
And that's the story of how I nearly got shipwrecked in a storm in the middle of the atlantic ocean.
And that's the story of how I nearly got shipwrecked in a storm in the middle of the atlantic ocean.
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11points
#20
I worked in New York Harbor for quite a few years on tugboats, assisting large ships in and out of the harbor. I work offshore now and (un?)fortunately haven't seen anything too creepy out here.
To set this up, spoiler being that its not supernatural, New York Harbor is BUSY. All commercial boats communicate with each other on one VHF station (if you're interested , get a VHF handheld and tune into VHF13 sometime). Where we're going, what we're doing, how we're going to meet, etc. Everyone uses this station: rugs, badges, ships, ferries, coast guard, (well crewed) yachts, etc. So its jam packed, always sqwaking. Pretty annoying sometimes.
I came into work a day after Hurricane Sandy hit NYC. Disregarding the hazards of driving the roads on Staten Island where the boats are stationed, the entire harbor was shut down due to fears of debris and shoaling caused by the storm surge. For the next week, I sat on the boat, getting paid, waiting for the harbor to open.
The point I'm getting to is that the radio was dead silent. One of the busiest and congested waterways in the US and nobody was moving. Nobody was talking. You could turn the interference rejection all the way down, the volume all the way up and only hear a faint background buzz. It just felt..wrong. Unnatural. A bit of a post apocalyptic vibe.
Anyway, that's my creepy sea related story.
To set this up, spoiler being that its not supernatural, New York Harbor is BUSY. All commercial boats communicate with each other on one VHF station (if you're interested , get a VHF handheld and tune into VHF13 sometime). Where we're going, what we're doing, how we're going to meet, etc. Everyone uses this station: rugs, badges, ships, ferries, coast guard, (well crewed) yachts, etc. So its jam packed, always sqwaking. Pretty annoying sometimes.
I came into work a day after Hurricane Sandy hit NYC. Disregarding the hazards of driving the roads on Staten Island where the boats are stationed, the entire harbor was shut down due to fears of debris and shoaling caused by the storm surge. For the next week, I sat on the boat, getting paid, waiting for the harbor to open.
The point I'm getting to is that the radio was dead silent. One of the busiest and congested waterways in the US and nobody was moving. Nobody was talking. You could turn the interference rejection all the way down, the volume all the way up and only hear a faint background buzz. It just felt..wrong. Unnatural. A bit of a post apocalyptic vibe.
Anyway, that's my creepy sea related story.
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11points