~shiiiiivvvvvvvver me timbers~

As someone who gets scared by the most ordinary things and is chronically dramatic, I thought it would be a lovely idea to share some of my scary experiences at Columbia. Grab your Trader Joe’s mini pumpkins and Target Halloween decor because things are about to get spooky.

Cujo (If Cujo Was A Rat Instead Of A Dog)

On my fourth day at Columbia, I decided to eat dinner with a few people on Butler steps late at night (it was probably 8 pm) in pitch darkness (if you ignore the bright lights shining from Butler).

Midway through a conversation with someone, I felt a shiver go down my spine (not due to someone opening the library door and releasing a blast of cold air). Having to engage in small talk and repeat my intended major again and again was horrifying but not enough to give me goosebumps.

Someone (or something) was watching me.

I glanced at the top step of the staircase and was met with the cause of my unease: a rat. The creature just stood there, staring into my soul with its beady eyes.

I should have known that the vermin was out for blood. I should have known to run. Instead, I pointed at the rodent (like a true suburbian) and exclaimed “look! It’s a rat! Awww!”

The rat recognized my moment of weakness and charged.

The rodent had to of been possessed by some sort of demon because the way it bolted towards me with no fear was simply unnatural.

The world seemed to slow down at that moment, and the screams of the people around me faded into the background. The rat flashed its yellow teeth at me, and I knew that it wanted to gnaw at my flesh (or at my pizza). To this day I wonder what would’ve happened if I hadn’t leaped out of the way just in time…

Furnald Ghost Held Me Captive In The Elevator

My next bone-chilling experienced happened in my very own dorm. I was getting ready for an 8:10 am class (honestly, that is scary enough on its own) when I decided to take the elevator. A friendly janitor joined me, and the elevator made its way to the main floor with ease.

When we arrived at the main floor, the elevator door DID NOT OPEN. My heart dropped. I swear I could hear Spencer Reid’s voice (from Criminal Minds) reciting the number of elevator deaths and injuries per year.

Then I remembered being told that Furnald is haunted.

My life began to flash before my eyes, and I envisioned the Furnald ghost laughing at me as I struggled to keep my composure.

A moment later, the janitor leaned over and pressed the open elevator door button a few times. The ghost must have been intimidated by the janitor’s actions because it let go of the door (that it was definitely holding shut) and allowed it to open. I owe that janitor my life.

Furnald Ghost Wanted To Take A Shower With Me

I had just finished watching Insidious with some friends, and it was around 2:30 am when I headed into the bathroom to take a shower.

I decided to NOT turn the bathroom lights on (for some masochistic reason) and proceeded to brush my teeth in the dark. Of course, after watching Insidious, I was a little jumpy (to say the least). I thought that my reflection was a ghost more times than I would like to admit…

I finally made it into the shower and proceeded to wash my hair. It must have been close to 3:00 am (you know what they say about 3 am) when I heard a little click sound, and I began to shiver. I peeked my head around the shower curtain, and it took my sleep-deprived brain a couple of seconds to process what I was seeing.

Somehow, the shower door swung open in the middle of my shower.

I knew at that moment that there were only two logical explanations: demons or ghosts.

I rushed to close the door and contemplated sleeping in the shower to avoid whatever supernatural creature was definitely lurking around. The Furnald ghost was back at it again…and it was a freak.

spooky campus via Public Domain Pictures