What exactly are ghosts? Are they terrifying figments of a twitchy or overactive imagination? Or are they the manifestations of souls who are unable to progress to the next stage? Why are only a few people able to see or sense them if they really exist? Why do certain spirits emerge just on the date of a catastrophe and then vanish?

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Whether or not you believe in ghosts and ghouls, strange things happen from time to time that you can't explain. When you read these spine-chilling tales of ordinary people encountering the supernatural, keep the lights turned on.

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As the discussion about ghosts and other paranormal beings continues, these questions are likely to remain unsolved. Many others, however, have had uncanny real-life experiences that have shocked and even convinced some sceptics that ghosts may exist. So, here are ten true-life creepy paranormal encounters that are likely to make you frightened.

It wasn’t a little girl

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At a small, rural lake in New Mexico, I was camping with my husband and his family. Our group consisted of roughly ten people, while theneighboring campsite had a group of six people. It was late at night, and both groups were engaged in customary activities such as preparing food, drinking a few beers, and swapping stories when we all heard what sounded like a little girl pleading for help. Neither party had children with them, but we were all convinced we were hearing a small child and decided to examine the area where the noises were coming from as a group. 

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We all observed a very tall, pure white figure standing maybe 100 feet distant from us in the field, making the noises, in the field behind our tents. We all agreed that this creature was around 6 feet tall, slender, and as white as a ghost. We moved closer to investigate, but whatever it was we saw began to back away as we got closer, and it vanished into the trees. We couldn't sleep because we kept hearing a tiny girl pleading for help all night. 

Evicted by a ghost

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I married shortly after graduating from college. We moved into a basement apartment right away because it was the only option that fit our budget. My wife was afraid because this place had a poltergeist. Whatever was living with us made it apparent that it preferred to be alone. Dishes, glasses, and other things would disappear off the shelves. My wife was struck a number of times. We always had the uneasy feeling that we were being observed. When we strolled through the apartment late at night, there were incredibly bright flashes of light that illuminated the entire space. 

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My wife and I were going to bed one night when we heard a voice from nowhere say, "[My name], move," as soon as we went into the bedroom. My wife and I exchanged a few words... "You've got it, bud," I said firmly. We remained with family for two days after moving out. The house was demolished after the elderly lady who owned it died a few months later. It's still a barren lot with only grass and a tree on it. Every now and then, I drive past it.

Creepy Phone Call

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Simma Lieberman was in love and happy in the late 1960s. Johnny, her hippy boyfriend, had proposed to her, and they planned to marry soon after moving in together. Simma was at her mother's house late one night when the phone rang. Simma picked up the phone and heard Johnny on the other end. He sounded rushed, as if he were a long way away. Through the din of static, she fought to understand what he was saying. Before the connection went dead, she heard the words "I love you" and "I'll never be rude to anyone again."

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Simma attempted, but failed, to contact Johnny. She finally dozed off and awoke with a dreadful ache in her chest. Shortly before the call came through to Simma, she received word from Johnny's mother that he had been killed the night before. Simma was convinced throughout her life that Johnny had reached her after his death to say farewell. 

My mother attracted evil

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I lived with my mother after my parents divorced when I was a teenager. I have a number of paranormal experiences. Several times while reading in my bed, the room began to feel extremely "icy." Then I'd feel as if something or someone who despised me was staring at me. I'd leave the room and return an hour later when I got that urge. I used to notice a shadow figure sneaking along my bedroom walls throughout the day.

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My dog was being impersonated by something in the flat. When I entered my room, I heard a rumbling growl from beneath the bed. My dog couldn't have made such a loud noise. It sounded like a really large dog or a man doing his hardest to imitate a dog. My dog would cry and pace in the room next to mine at other times, but would not respond when called, as if he was terrified of something in the hallway. When I moved in with my father, the paranormal activity stopped.

It was good to see an old friend

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I attended my high school reunion when I was 37 years old. I flew in and rented a car from the nearby airport. It was a 35-mile journey through an extremely remote and nearly deserted section of the nation. I notice someone flagging me down on the side of the road about three miles outside of town. It turned out to be one of the guys I used to hang out with in high school. We start talking when Jim (not his real name) gets in the car. I hadn't seen him in almost a decade, yet he looked the same, if a little older. When we arrive in town, I invite him to join me at the VFW for a drink. "No, just take me home," he adds. I turned in the direction of Jim's parents' house, which was only a few blocks from my grandmother's, but he said to take him to the outskirts of town. I noticed a mobile home park nearby and assumed that was where he resided. When we got to the end of the exit, he remarked, "Simply drop me off here. It was great to see you once more "He then goes away into the darkness.

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I go to the VFW and run across some of my old classmates, with whom I strike up a conversation. As we discuss who will attend the reunion, I remark that I had just picked Jim up and put him off three miles east of town. Everyone falls silent, including the karaoke singer, who comes to a halt and puts down his microphone. My cousin's skin turns as white as a brand new t-shirt. 

"Jim died eight years ago on that bend, Barb. His automobile rolled. We were all present at his memorial service "I was informed. I began to feel quite dizzy, so I stepped outside to my car to take some deep breaths. On the seat is a copy of the local newspaper from eight years ago, which contains Jim's obituary. The paper is still in my possession.

It came for us in the graveyard

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We were driving through a big graveyard in my friend's beat-up Subaru. We came to a small pond after stopping and walking down a hill. On the other side of the pond, someone was seated on a rock. The figure was completely black, and we couldn't make out any details other than the fact that it appeared to be a man wearing an old-fashioned top hat. We made the mistake of waving and shouting "Hi!" He sat motionless on the rock, showing no sign of acknowledgment. He sprang to his feet, began rushing toward us on the lake, and then vanished in thin water approximately halfway across the pond. I yelled and dashed back to the car with my pals.

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We heard something thumping on the back of the car, and the car wouldn't start. It wasn't a steady bang, but we could hear it every few seconds or so. From what we could see in the dim light, no one was outside, but something was making a noise on the car. I took out my phone and began contacting my mother to come help us, but there was no signal. We didn't have any cell service. The next 30 minutes were spent attempting to start her vehicle. We didn't hear any hammering after that, but we felt a lot of pressure surrounding us. 

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Finally, the car started and she hit the pedal to the metal. We sped out of the graveyard so fast. Immediately crossing the gates, all of our phones regained cell service. One thing I know for certain is that someone or something was out there, and it was not an animal or a human.

Death came for him

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At the time, I was standing in my parents' room, chatting to my ailing father. He had stage 4 esophageal cancer and was dying. Something seemed to be following me. Something around 4'6 and totally black is peeping over the corner, its hands on the door frame, as I looked towards the living room doorway. It slipped back around the door as I went towards it. There was nothing when I stepped beyond the threshold. When I returned to the room and told my father, he was absolutely perplexed. It was reported by others who stayed in my house during my father's final days that they had seen it.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned

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We found out shortly after we moved in that a woman had died there at the hands of her abusive husband. She despised males. My father would wake up with scratches all over him, and anytime my brother was cruel to my sister or me, he, too, would wake up with scratches. My brother smacked our sister with something one day, and she was hurt. He had a severe bloody nose when he woke up later that night.

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