I actually wrote a short story when I was like 20 based off of an experience I had. Story was just a narrative version of what I’m going to say.

I had just gotten home with groceries. Standing outside my front door and pulled off my headphones and out my keys. Typical sounds of the world bled through. Kids behind me that were playing. The usual. Went into the house and turned right to go into the kitchen. House was weirdly shaped and the kitchen stuck out further than the front door. The window even looked the same direction. Window was also open. That’s what confused me. The kitchen sounded dead silent but the window was open. I should have heard the same sounds I did before but there was nothing. I turned around and walked out of the kitchen to go to the front door and was met with my living room a shade of dark I had never seen. Was like a void was laid over everything. Consuming light and sound. I stopped, kinda shook, and saw something move. It was nothing. Literally. A void in the shape of a person shifted in the living room. Their movement made them really obvious because while everything was dark, this was pure blackness. I stood there, beyond shocked, for a few minutes. Staring at it. After a bit it moved again and I gasped. That noise I made was like something that popped a balloon. The noise of then world faded back in, bleeding through the window behind me, but the dark room wasn’t gone. The void wasn’t gone. I asked who it was and it disappeared.

Later than night I’m in bed and the room gets eeriely quiet. I look round and my closet door is open. Inside its dark. Too dark. The darkness moves and I swear it’s staring back at me. “There are many things in this world to fear. I am not one of them” drifted through the air towards me. It wasn’t like it was said. It’s like an overheard conversation when you’re walking past a restaurant. The pitch even waving as if whoever said it was moving away from me. I had no roommate home at the time and it was 1am. My bedroom window overlooked a dense forest. My back yard also had a massive fence. There was no reasonable explanation as to where the sound came from or why it sounded like it was moving away.

Stared at the void again for a bit before it just faded away. Eventually fell asleep but I don’t remember it. When I woke up everything was fine and normal with two exceptions. The overheard light in the living room had burned out and the sticky wall light in my closet, one you press to turn on, had also burned out. Living room bulb got replaced but the light in my closet couldn’t. New batteries didn’t change it despite it being a relatively new purchase. From the dollar store so fair.

Couple years later I ended up in an abusive relationship that ended with me being homeless for years. It was… Difficult. Eventually I escaped and was settling into my new place. It’s about 7pm so nowhere close to dark but the sun is going down and making everything dim. Everything had been set up. Was start of summer so the windows were all open. Crickets chirping outside. Occasional cicada. Went to the kitchen to get a drink and all sound bled away again. I was confused for a couple seconds before realizing how familiar it felt. I turned around, pretty quickly, and same deal. Whole house was dark, way darker than it should have been. Stood there again, both hoping the same thing was happening and hoping it wasn’t. Again, a void moved. Like a swath of the night sky had been cut out in the shape of a person. This time it was sitting on the couch and stood up. Started moving towards me and said “Welcome home”. As it got closer, the darkness faded and light came back to the room. Again, it was dim but it was nowhere near the dark that it was a moment before.

I’ve never felt afraid. I’ve felt confused and shocked but never afraid. I don’t know why. Whatever is going on, whether it be supernatural or hallucinations, it doesn’t feel menacing. If anything it feels protective.