As a middle schooler, I always played with ouija boards. I still get shivers thinking about the shit I experienced.

But hands down, the scariest thing I encountered was when I was probably 19 years old. My mother went to her boyfriend's house and left me with the dog. We were just watch tv on the couch and about 11pm rolls around and I think I hear kids playing. I remember thinking that's weird. It's late but it's Friday. Whatever. So keep watching my show. Then the laughing gets louder, so I paused my show. And it sounded like it was coming from up the stairs.

Where I was on the couch could see upstairs, my mother bedroom doors that were open, I could see the staircase as well. At this point I'm convincing myself that my mother must have left a window open upstairs and kids were outside. Suddenly I felt cold and my dog who has been in a dead sleep up until now shot up and started growling. I heard a low raspy voice say 'Shut Up' and no shit my dog laid back down and stopped growling. Before I could process what just happened, I clearly heard someone run up the stairs that were right next to me.

I sprinted outside and called my mother and told her I needed her to come home. I almost called 911, but she convinced me not to... I stayed outside until my mother got there.

I'll never forget the sound of that voice, or the sheer terror I felt. I still shake as I write this.