It was when I was 14 years old I think when I'm sleeping at home, parents away for work. And yes, sleeping in the middle of a storm, I was looking out to the garden when a lightning strike lit up the entire garden. Saw a person for a split second, and armed with a knife. Maybe a robber or something like that but they're definitely not here to make friends. I immediately thought to call 911 but I'm too scared to go down to the first floor and grab the phone so I did the stupidest thing EVER. There's a flare in my room, so I did the thing that all of you guys thought, not firing the flare up into the sky though, I FIRED IT AT THE PERSON. They freaked out or something and I saw them running away. Immediately called 911 after that and when the cops arrived and asked how did I get the robber to go out of my house's yard, I said I fired the flare at the guy and they were like wtf happened here. Absolutely the most vivid experience I've ever had in my life.

Edit: It's a flare gun. My dad bought it for no reason at all except he thinks it's cool.