This is a new monthly addition to the magazine. I, Hazel (obviously), will be sharing some real-life experiences I've had, including the mortifying, unsettling, and spine-chilling ones! Now, let’s get started!

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(This was set when I was about 10.)

I lay in bed, staring at the wall across the room. Shadows flicker, moonlight swirls, and I clutch my velvety, snug, chunky blanket’s corner in a fist, shrinking under the covers.

Why. Was. It. So. Terrifying?

I inhale deeply and shut my eyes, forcing my mind to resist the image of Miss Fox’s heels going clickity clack on the floor outside my bedroom. I mean, the floor wasn’t even made of wood… Why was I worrying so much?

Scarlet and Ivy-related nightmares continued to run through my mind. My heart starts pounding, my head starts throbbing, my hands start palpitating, my breathing quickens, and I force myself to open my eyes to convince myself that nothing is going to happen.

Stop, I think to myself. Just stop.

I fix my gaze on the wall again, and shadows start moving even quicker this time, flitting in all directions. Taunting me. Teasing me.

I close my eyes, compelling my breath to slow down. Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm…

Upon opening them once more, I promptly hid under the covers, refusing to leave for the duration of the night.

A strange shadow caught my attention on the wall—an odd, unsettling one that gave me chills. It appeared as if someone was moving on my balcony behind me—someone who assumed the appearance of Donald Duck, but eyeless…

I tried to convince myself that it was meant to be humorous. Wow, a random shadow that resembled Donald Duck from Mickey Mouse? Just a coincidence, and just my imagination… right?

However, there was no way of knowing whether I was going nuts, or whether the plot twist in my story had finally arrived. I refused to check the balcony over my shoulder.

—

Ugh, I swear this encounter creeped me out for real… and gave me the heebie-jeebies for DAYS. - H.E.A

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(This was set when I was about 10 or 11.)

Halfway through my glass of milk, I peer through the crack in our living room’s door.

There stood my uncle, having just finished giving me a lecture.

He eventually left to do some work in the garage with my parents—and he left the door open behind him.

Guilt overcame me as soon as he left, and I willed myself not to cry.

I kept my eyes fixed on the door. I took a sip of my milk, a pounding pain splitting my forehead open.

My gaze slowly glided across the room from the door to the shoe rack that was on its right.

And then the SICKEST, scariest thing in my entire LIFE happened.

The door creaked. Just a tiny bit. It opened considerably wider, creaking open to the right. Its edge brushed against the shoe rack… the same object that I had been staring at.

My heart started pounding against my chest. What? Did I do that? Above all, two words kept running through my head: OH NO. The door was even more ajar now. What if someone randomly came inside and TRIED TO KIDNAP ME? WHAT IF THEY ATTEMPTED TO MURDER ME?

I began worrying internally–no, no, no!

I willed the door to close, my eyes gliding to the left this time. And the door shifted once more to the left. CREAKKKK. CREAKKKK. It didn’t completely close, but that didn’t change the fact that it had creaked to the left. Naturally, the movement was minimal, yet it persisted. Was I magic? Was magic actually REAL? Or was I simply delusional?

—

OMG, this was one of the best and worst moments in my life. Right after that, I continued attempting to move the door, but I was unsuccessful. Surely, that was only the wind... Or was it me? - H.E.A

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(This was set when I was about 6 or 7.)

I was merely a first grader, sitting in class on the floor. At the front stood our teacher, droning on and on about the importance of bees. I was extremely immersed in the lesson, when suddenly…

I let out a huge rip. FAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRTTTT!!! My bottom dropped.

Not only did my entire body feel as if I was flying, but it was far worse than that. The teacher gave me a quick glance, and a couple of others in the room recoiled.

My face flushed, and my hands began shaking as I pretended not to notice anything—my gaze fixed on the front.

—

Ever since then, I’ve made sure to be careful about letting out gas in class. Lesson learned… -H.E.A

(Editor's Note - THE best embarrassing story I’ve heard in a while! Great job, Hazel.)

(Proofreader’s Note - Wow. What a joy to proofread! I think I started tearing up with laughter after that last story. You’re truly brave for sharing this Hazel.)

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(This story is from when I was around 2 or 3 years old in Nepal, so the memory is a little fuzzy, which is why certain parts are omitted.)

“BANG!” went something in the kitchen. I flutter my eyes open and peek over the edge of my hammock where I had been sleeping soundly. I could see a pan on the kitchen floor. My grandparents had most likely dropped it out of clumsiness…

Suddenly, the floor started trembling. The trembling then got worse and worse. The walls appeared to be shaking now, as did the ceiling. The hammock I was in was no different.

The next couple of events happened in a blur. I was swept out of the hammock in my grandma’s arms, and she and my grandpa swung the door open and sprinted down the staircase of our apartment…

—

My grandparents and I, along with everyone else affected, were lying on the grass outside our demolished flat. The structure was still intact, although half of it was utterly destroyed. The earthquake had been bad… but not that bad.

People occasionally came by, wheeling portable food booths and always offering us something to eat and drink. It was very kind and generous of them.

—

While lying on the grass during the nights spent outside to sleep, I gazed at the night sky, mesmerised by the beauty of the stars that dotted the black canvas.

—

Although this earthquake was my first, it wasn’t my last. Later on, when I was about the same age, I experienced another earthquake in Nepal. I suppose that I’m somewhat proud of myself for making it through, although these natural calamities really do have their after-effects… - H.E.A

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(This happened about 4-5 years ago.)

I was watching television when an advertisement popped up about the recent bushfires in Australia, which were close to where I was living.

“We live with bushfires, so we live bushfire ready,” the ad ended, leaving an image of a forest burning down in my head. Kangaroos hopped around frantically, trying to save their joeys who were being burned to death. Trees went down and koalas with them. It was impossible to see the sun because of the haze that screamed death and destruction.

—

“You are not permitted to go outside for recess and lunch today,” the teacher informed us. “The bushfires are restless. The sky is clogged with smoke— it’s not safe for your lungs.”

I was annoyed and wished to myself, hoping that the fires would stop already.

—

Honestly, I’m just relieved I wasn’t living WHERE the fires could reach me, even though the smoke did. My heart goes out to all those people who weren’t as fortunate <3 - H.E.A

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(This was set about 2 weeks ago.)

My mum and I had just entered our apartment when I noticed something on the wooden railing of the stairs. Excitement began to bubble up inside me when I realised what it was.

“Mamu look, it’s a mantid!” I yell, ecstatic. I examine the insect closely. It was brown, slender, and like a stick but a little fatter. Based on its size and body structure, it was clearly a male. It was using its legs to hang upside down from the railing. Nerves and excitement caused my body to pump adrenaline when I looked at it.

“Agh!” My mum screamed. “I have a phobia of insects!” She then peered closely. “Ew, it’s disgusting!” She remarked in Nepalese.

“It’s… adorable. But terrifying,” I say, grinning to myself.

—

My mum and I hadn’t seen the mantid for a few days, so when we saw it on the front door of the apartment, it was quite a shock. We realised that it hadn’t eaten or drunk water in a while, so my Mum (attempting to overcome her phobia), scooped the mantid up with a long stick and brought it outdoors. She set it on the bark of a tree and hastily dropped the stick.

I recall feeling sad when I had to bid it farewell. But we had done the right thing.

—

Although, I do still wish we had kept it as a pet right then and there :> - H.E.A

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Written by Hazel Antler.
Edited by Marlee Potter.
Proofread by Daphne Clarke.