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Chapter 1 .
New beginnings .
My name is Sarah , and I am a 28 year old marketing specialist .
In 2018 , I resided in a charming 2 bedroom apartment in downtown Los Angeles .
This residence featured large windows and offered a delightful view of the city .
While I appreciated the vibrant atmosphere of Los Angeles , the financial burden of living alone became increasingly challenging .
Consequently , I decided to seek a roommate .
I posted an advertisement on Craigslist and received several responses .
1 applicant , a 25 year old named Mark , distinguished himself from the others .
He appeared to be an ideal candidate .
Clean , quiet , and respectful .
Our initial meeting went well , and we quickly established a rapport .
Subsequently , Mark moved in on July 1st .
Initially , everything proceeded smoothly .
Mark was amiable , and we frequently engaged in conversations or watched television together .
Although he exhibited some idiosyncrasies , I attributed these to his introverted nature .
Chapter 2 .
Strange Behaviors .
As the weeks passed , I began to observe peculiar behaviors in Mark .
He would frequently stay up late at night , either typing on his laptop or watching videos .
On several occasions , I overheard him whispering to himself or muttering unintelligible phrases .
When I inquired about these actions , he dismissed them , claiming he was either working on a project or talking to himself to maintain focus .
Over time , his behavior grew increasingly erratic .
He neglected to wash his dishes and often left trash scattered around the apartment .
His mood swings became pronounced with sudden transitions from calm to irrational anger .
Despite my attempts to address these issues , he consistently dismissed my concerns , attributing his behavior to stress or fatigue .
Chapter 3 .
The nightmares begin .
1 night , I was awakened by the sound of Mark screaming in his room .
I rushed to his door , but it was locked .
I could hear him crying and pleading with someone , although there was no 1 else in the apartment .
I tried to calm him through the door , but he continued screaming .
The next morning , he behaved as though nothing had happened , leaving me confused and concerned .
In late August , the situation took a darker turn .
Mark entered the apartment 1 evening , muttering to himself and pacing back and forth .
I attempted to ignore him , but he began knocking on my bedroom door , whispering my name repeatedly .
When I opened the door , I found him standing there , his eyes wild , and his face contorted into a grotesque grin .
He started ranting about how I was just like the others , and how he had been waiting for me .
I was paralyzed with fear , unable to move or speak .
As he closed in on me , His hands reaching out like claws .
I snapped out of my trance and fled the apartment , not stopping until I was several blocks away .
I never returned to that apartment and never saw Mark again .
Later , I discovered that he had a history of mental illness and had been off his medication for months .
His behavior had been escalating , and I was the final trigger .
Chapter 4 .
Lessons learned .
Reflecting on the events , I realized that I should have recognized the warning signs earlier .
Mark's quirky behavior and mood swings were red flags .
But I had dismissed them , thinking he was merely an eccentric roommate .
I learned a valuable lesson .
Trust your instincts and do not ignore warning signs .
The experience left me deeply shaken and I still have nightmares about it .
However , I am grateful to have survived and learned from my mistakes .
By sharing my story , I hope to warn others about the potential dangers of living with a stranger , and the importance of trusting one's instincts when something feels off .
Chapter 5 , a new perspective .
Following my experience with Mark , I moved in with a college friend , Emily .
We shared a small apartment and got along well .
However , strange occurrences began to happen again .
Initially , it was small things , like finding cryptic notes on my car windshield or my desk at the library .
The notes contained messages such as , I'm always watching you or you're mine .
I tried to dismiss them as pranks , but the notes persisted .
They appeared in my mailbox , on my phone , and even on my pillow .
It felt as though someone was following me everywhere , monitoring my every move .
I became increasingly anxious and fearful , constantly looking over my shoulder .
When I discussed it with Emily , she shrugged it off , suggesting that I was being paranoid .
Despite her dismissal , I knew what I saw and felt .
Someone was stalking me .
Chapter 6 , unveiling the stalker .
As the days went by , the notes became increasingly frequent and menacing .
They conveyed messages such as , I know what you did last night , and , you can't hide from me .
I felt trapped in a relentless cycle of fear .
1 night , upon returning home , I found Emily waiting for me in the living room .
She asked about my evening , but her demeanor was unsettling .
She seemed nervous and fidgety with her eyes frequently darting toward the door .
It was then that I realized Emily was the 1 stalking me .
She had been monitoring my every move and sending those ominous messages .
Overwhelmed by a mixture of fear and anger , I packed my bags and left that night , never looking back .
I did not inform anyone , not even the police .
I simply wanted to forget and move on .
Chapter 7 .
Another encounter .
Years later , during my junior year at the University of Michigan , I met Michael .
Both engineering students , our friend ship blossomed through late night study sessions .
We decided to rent a house off campus with 2 other friends .
Initially , everything seemed fine .
Michael was quiet and introverted , but a great listener and always willing to help .
However , as the semester progressed , I noticed strange behaviors .
Michael would spend hours in his room , sometimes not emerging for days .
When he did come out , his eyes were sunken , and his skin was pale .
1 evening , I found him staring at a blank wall .
His eyes fixed on something invisible .
He did not respond when I spoke to him , sending a chill down my spine .
Chapter 8 .
Descent into madness .
Michael's obsession with true crime podcasts and serial killers became disturbing .
He spent countless hours listening to episodes , taking notes , and researching cases .
He grew convinced that our neighborhood was haunted by a serial killer , and his paranoia escalated .
1 night , I woke to find Michael standing in my bedroom doorway , his eyes wide with fear .
He whispered , I saw him .
I saw the killer .
Despite my attempts to calm him , he was adamant that our house was being stalked .
As months passed , Michael's behavior became increasingly erratic .
He etched strange symbols into the walls , and his room transformed into a shrine to true crime memorabilia .
His obsession consumed him , and our friendship began to deteriorate .
The final straw came when I discovered a hidden journal in his room .
The entries were cryptic , describing a dark dark presence haunting him and urging him to commit unspeakable acts .
It was clear that Michael's descent into madness was complete .
Chapter 9 , the final escape .
Terrified of what Michael might do , I moved out of the house .
Our friends tried to intervene , but he refused help .
The last I heard , Michael had been institutionalized .
His mind consumed by the darkness he had invited in .
In retrospect , I realized the horror was not supernatural , but the slow unraveling of a troubled mind .
Michael's obsession with true crime and serial killers had become a self fulfilling prophecy , driving him to the brink of madness .
Epilogue .
Moving forward .
These experiences left me scarred , but they also imparted valuable lessons about trust , intuition , and the fragility of the human mind .
By sharing my story , I hope to warn others of the potential dangers lurking in the shadows of seemingly ordinary life .
Always trust your instincts and never ignore the warning signs .