Submitted by Ambitious_Ad691 t3_yaiii8 in nosleep

All my life I’ve really loved dogs. Growing up, my family never had one, but I had plenty of cousins who did, and whenever I’d go over, I’d prefer to hang out with the pooches.

Now I’m 23, and I’ve just moved into my own place. I figured living in an apartment by myself would get lonely, so I got myself a dog, a small black border collie I could tell would eventually grow up to take care of her owner. I live on the first floor of my apartment complex, so I have access to the front and back car parks as a somewhat yard to let my dog out if it gets too overwhelming inside.

I’ve had her for a few weeks, and she’s normally a well behaved pup, but recently she’s been whimpering and scratching at the door late at night. I usually try to take her out for a walk before it gets dark, but ever since the weird behaviour started, she refuses to come along. Instead, when I call her name with her leash in her hand, she just sits and stares out the window facing the carpark.

Since I was a big fan of dogs growing up, I guess I expected I’d know what to do in any situation, but this one stumped me. I’ve started taking her out to the back carpark for a few minutes whenever she starts whimpering, where she’ll run around and eventually usually tire herself out. That was until four nights ago.

On this particular night, when she started whimpering and scratching, I went to let her out, but as soon as we reached the building’s back door she froze. She just sat in front of it, staring out into the dimly lit lot.

“C’mon, Annie!” I repeated, but she didn’t move a muscle. I went to close the door, but right before I shut it completely, she started growling. It wasn’t like any other growl I’d heard from her before. It was a low, guttural, almost predatory one that sent a chill down my spine. She kept growling at the door, even after I’d pulled it completely shut. I didn’t know what to do, she’s never behaved this way before, and it was creeping me out. She wouldn’t follow me when I tried to take her back inside, and I couldn’t just drag her back into my flat, so I tried the door again. I opened it, and that’s when she started howling. Her howls sounded almost painful, and I knew it wouldn’t be too long before the ruckus would start to wake up my neighbours. I tried to calm her down but to no avail, and sure enough, I soon saw the floor manager come into sight.

“Ma’am, could you please take the dog outside?” He asked through gritted teeth. I forced a smile and nodded before walking her outside. She was still howling, but at least now we were far enough from the building where my neighbours hopefully wouldn’t hate me too much.

“Alright Annie, please relax.” I sighed; she wasn’t going to stop. That’s when she started to yank against her leash. I gripped it tightly but her little legs moved faster and faster. I looked up towards the direction she was trying to run in, and that’s when I caught a glimpse of it. Beneath the flickering luminescence of one of the lot’s lights, a long, black figure stood. From where I was standing, it almost looked as though it was slanted backwards, as if it were only a shadow with no one in front of it. The light above it continued to flicker, and Annie’s howls grew louder and louder.

A loud smash stopped Annie’s howling, as the flickering light suddenly burst. Shards of glass scattered across the floor of the lot, and I immediately tried to ran back to the building, but Annie didn’t follow. She sat in the same spot, seemingly frozen again. Above us, more of the lot’s lights started to flicker, then burst. With every flicker, I would catch another glimpse of the figure moving closer and closer as the lights created a runway for it towards us. It only moved in the darkness, and it seemed like it was stopped by the lights, but it’s speed gradually increased as the lights continued to break. I realised my time was running out, and I had to make a choice. I let go of Annie’s leash and ran as fast as I could back to the complex, behind me the sounds of glass smashing continued. I was almost at the door when I heard the most terrifying noise imaginable. I’m not sure whether it was Annie or that creature, but whatever it was, it sounded painful. It sounded like it was being torn limb from limb, with a metallic roar accompanying it.

I made it to the door of the complex and practically threw myself inside and slammed the door shut behind me. Outside, I heard nothing but silence. I bit my lip and walked back to my apartment, my entire body shaking. I leaned against my door for a few seconds before I heard a knock. From the other side of the door, I heard my neighbour asking me if everything was okay. When I opened the door, she gave me a worried look, and her hands was Annie, who looked shaken up, but seemingly happy to see me. I nodded and thanked her, and she left Annie at my feet before walking off. Annie barked and hugged my leg, but I couldn’t find it within myself to pet her.

It looked like my dog, it barked like my dog, but it couldn’t have been my dog. Not my Annie. It noticed my fear and sniffed me, and I tensed up, but I didn’t make a noise. It licked my hand then went and laid in Annie’s bed.

It’s been four days since this all happened, and tonight I’m wearing ear plugs to bed. I don’t want to listen to the howling again tonight, and I especially don’t want to listen to the horrifying noise that comes after it. Some nights, the screams that follow are short, but they never stop sounding painful, and now they’ve started sounding human.

26

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

Just_Kiki23 t1_itbi0d6 wrote

I Am scared the earplugs wont help…It seem like u are the only one hearing it…is there church In your town? Can you go here and ask for help? Oh and do not turn off the lights at night. Make sure Annie is always In light, not In dark.

5

Ambitious_Ad691 OP t1_itbk4x0 wrote

I haven’t slept yet… but my lights have been on for the past four days because I’m terrified of what might happen if I turn them off. Unfortunately there’s no church here since I live on the outskirts of a small town… but I’m trying to find a new place to stay that’s far from here.

3

OurLadyoftheTree t1_itdkc0w wrote

How could you just leave her like that?!

Hell, even if she was a German Shepherd, I would've grabbed her before running inside. I definitely wouldn't be able to live with myself after hearing her get "torn limb from limb." Poor Annie =(

5

Ambitious_Ad691 OP t1_itenoxo wrote

With every second passing I wish I hadn’t but I had no choice, she just wouldn’t move.

3

newbieboi_inthehouse t1_iteo6k6 wrote

Yeah, it broke my heart that she left the poor dog behind as well. But in OP's case, fear overwhelmed her and triggered her survival instinct to run.

3

oneeyecheeselord t1_iteoztw wrote

You left your dog? Monster.

2

Ambitious_Ad691 OP t1_itgad3t wrote

It’s eating me up inside but I suppose whatever is roaming around my apartment now is a constant reminder of my mistake.

2

oneeyecheeselord t1_itjti37 wrote

You should have faced it together with your dog. With your love and support upgrading the dog-human bond, you both would have defeated it.

1

Dark_Night_280 t1_itgw389 wrote

If you insist it's not Annie then kill it.... Poison its food or something, but don't let that thing live.

Do you have gun ?

And it's good that you haven't turned the lights of yet. Does it let you go out on your own ? If so, leave and either get help or don't come back. I'm afraid the latter won't get rid of it though....

Good luck OP.

1

Ambitious_Ad691 OP t1_itj7ta7 wrote

Thank you.. Unfortunately I don’t own a gun nor is it legal to own one where I live, but I’ve been looking around online to find painless methods to… get rid of it… even though it’s not my Annie, it still looks like her.

1

Dark_Night_280 t1_itjwyo5 wrote

I hope you find something. 🤍🍃 But be careful with the searches, make sure it's never watching.

1

Ambitious_Ad691 OP t1_itjx5g4 wrote

I’ve started simply locking my bedroom door before I browse my phone at night, it doesn’t come in but sometimes it comes up to the door and then the footsteps stop, and I don’t hear them recede.

2