Sometimes, a story makes an impression with you long after you’ve read it, not because it’s terrifying at first glance, but because its buried darkness creeps up on you the more you think about it. In this article, we’ll collect 12 true stories that resolve in your mind, raising more disturbing with every passing thought.

Story 1:
I was alone in a taxi at 1 a.m., and the driver kept looking at me through his mirror. At some point, he smiled and said, “If you’re uncomfortable, miss, you can order another ride. I don’t mind.” I ignored him and stayed silent.

But then I froze when I suddenly remembered why he looked so familiar. This guy was a convicted robber—I had seen his face all over the news. I remembered he was wanted for robbing several banks. I really panicked inside but tried not to show him any fear.
As the ride continued, another memory surfaced, and my blood ran cold. The man on the news hadn’t been arrested because he was found dead. But here he was, driving the car. It had to be him—I was sure of it. My hands trembled as I tried to make sense of what was happening.

He then suddenly stopped the car and started staring at me. I thought this was my end, but then I realized I had arrived at my destination. I quickly gave him my money and left.
The first thing I did was search his name online. It was him—there was no mistake. He even had the same tattoos. But the news reports were clear: he’d died a year ago. Even now, I shiver every time I think about that night.

Story 2:

For illustrative purpose only
A few years ago, I was on my way to catch the bus to get to school. I saw one of my neighbors (a really grumpy old guy) as he walked right past me. He had this big smile on his face, which never happens. I looked back at him, and he was already about 30 feet away. It seemed weird, but I didn’t think too much about it.

Later that day, I got home and was talking to my mom about how our days went. I mentioned the small “interaction” I had with our neighbor, only for her to tell me that he had passed away the previous night. The chills down my spine have never been stronger. © Glittering_Project_4 / Reddit

Story 3:

Story 4:
When I was nineteen, I was walking home from the library, and a cop pulled up to the curb, asking to see my ID. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I showed it to him.
After a moment of verifying that I was who my ID claimed I was, he apologized and handed me a printout of a missing teen, a couple of years younger than me.

She could have been my identical twin. I told him I didn’t blame him for thinking I was her. I don’t remember her name—I was too shaken up by the picture. But I still wonder what she’s doing and if she’s okay. It was nearly twenty years ago. © lydsbane / Reddit

Story 5:

For illustrative purpose only
In the very early ’90s, I was backpacking through Egypt and spent a good deal of time in Dahab by the sea. Accommodation was very sparse—a double bed in a 10 ft x 12 ft room. One time, I woke up in the middle of the night to see a guy dressed in a white uniform, complete with medals, standing at the end of my bed. I yelled, “No, go away!” at him, and he disappeared. © Captain65k / Reddit

Story 6:

Story 7:
Sophomore year of college. I was walking home from class when I got a call from my roommate saying, “Open your bedroom door”. I told him I wasn’t there, and he instantly started freaking out because he could hear someone dribbling my basketball in the room.

When I got home, his face was pale. We opened the door, and I noticed some of my clothes had been moved, along with the basketball. © Unknown author / Reddit

Story 8:
I was on a family road trip with my mom, dad, and a friend of mine. We were talking about where we originally came from, and I asked my dad if he had any family left in Czech (where his father had escaped from). He said not that he knows of.

I kid you not, literally 10 minutes later, his sister (my aunt) called him and told him he has a brother that my grandfather left in Czech—and they had just received a letter from him that very day.

Weirdest thing to ever happen to us. © mikebpechousek / Reddit

Story 9:

Story 10:
I live on the top two floors of an apartment building with two private patios. I woke up around 3 a.m. one night to my dog barking in my face—something she basically never does. She led me to the upper patio, so I assumed she needed to go outside and let her out. Instead, she closely inspected the patio before rushing back inside and to the stairs, where she barked at me to follow.

I realized she thought we had an intruder, so I grabbed my bat before heading downstairs. My dog investigated all of the downstairs before freezing and growling at the glass door to the lower patio. I looked out and could make out the silhouette of a man standing still on my patio. I walked over to the light switch and turned on the patio lights.

By the time I looked back, the patio was empty. It’s basically impossible for someone to get to that balcony without going through my apartment. I have no idea what I saw, but it must have been something—because my dog saw it too. © dring157 / Reddit

Story 11:

For illustrative purpose only
I was hanging out at a friend’s house in their basement with my friend, his girlfriend, and mine. We were all playing an RPG. It was the middle of the day.

We heard the door open upstairs, footsteps on the floor, the cellar door open, and my friend’s dad call downstairs, “Pete, you home?” My friend answered affirmatively, and then we heard, “Come upstairs a minute, I need your help.”

We all headed upstairs. There was no one there. No car in the driveway, no one in the house at all but the four of us. All four of us heard the same thing.

My friend’s dad found the story funny but unbelievable when he eventually came home later that day. © Galaxy_Ranger_Bob / Reddit

Story 12: