Some slight background for everyone. I recently graduated and have finally found a small studio i could afford while working at my job. I have been living there for two months now and have really gotten comfortable there. That is until the scratching started.

This past week I’ve been hearing an odd scratching sound late at night from underneath my bed. At first i just thought is was a remnant from a dream making me hear things for a split second when I woke up. I didn’t think much of it and tried to go back to sleep. Then right before I got back to dreamland it would start again, just for a split second snd just long enough to wake me up again.

I thought the sound must have been coming from my neighbor’s apartment below me, so this last Saturday I went down to talk to him. Mr. Kuusik is older and retired, with that he has become a bit of a character, but I’m a pretty quiet guy and we both got along just fine.

I talked to him briefly about the weather and traffic, before bringing up the noise. His face turned white, and he got real quiet talking in hushed tones, but kept insisting that he didn’t know what was going on and if there was an animal that I’d have to talk to the Super.

Suspicious, and not exactly what I wanted to hear, but at least I could go downstairs to the front office and maybe get some answers.

It isn’t incredibly large or fancy but the office is big enough not to feel cluttered, and our super has the only desk in there. He was on the phone So I had to wait a couple minutes but I had nothing else to get done but some easy grocery shopping for the week. He was nice despite working on the weekend, and asked me what’s up after the phone call was over.

He listened to my entire story, taking me too seriously and without asking any questions. When I finally had finished he got up and closed the door before saying anything.

He wasn’t his usual self, telling jokes and being friendly. His voice turned stern, and he warned me not to raise too much of a fuss about it. I remember exactly what he said “Old buildings creak. You’ll be safe as long as you don’t go looking for problem”. I’m not sure I believed him at the tine even, but he hadn’t lied to me before. Still before I could leave he held the door closed “Remember, Don’t Look”.

His deamenor almost flipped like a switch as he opened the door and told me to have fun at the grocery store.

Fast forward to two nights ago, I’ll admit I didn’t think much of the noise before bed. I enjoyed playing some league of legends with my friends and even had an edible after I got home that I had bought earlier in the week. Quick shower before bed to wash the salt off, and before I knew it I was fast asleep.

When I first woke up my alarm clock said 1:08. The scratching had started again. I tried to ignore it. I tried to go back to sleep. I tried putting some noise cancelling headphones on. Instead of hear it, it almost felt like it was scratching the very bottom of my bed. Right below my head.

At 1:30 I had decided, I would look despite my super’s warning rattling around in my head.

It took until 1:45 for me to finally work up enough courage to give a look.

Something large skittered away too quickly make out what exactly it was. The most I could figure out is that it was almost as large as a four year old, almost black and blurry looking? It wasn’t quite fur and I’m not sure how else to describe it. The most startling thing was the large yellow eyes that had glared at me for what seemed like an eternity before it had finally moved faster than I could see.

I spent the rest of the night with the lamp on and without leaving my bed; awake and waiting for it to come back. I’m pretty sure I could hear my heart thumping all night but it never came back.

I called out of work, I can’t even fully remember what bullshit excuse I told my boss, but I had to figure out what was happening. I spent all of today trying to research what exactly it could have been but nothing seemed right. I grabbed my pepper spray I keep in the car, and searched the entire apartment from top to bottom. Pepper spray and frying pan in hand.

I couldn’t find anything, no scratch marks, nothing to suggest any thing had been under my bed. The rest of the apartment was completely clean too, it’s winter so all my windows are closed and locked. No damage, nothing ajar for whatever it was to get out.

I stayed up all last night waiting for any thing. I had my camera and phone ready to get a picture of whatever it is. Nothing

I’m starting to feel a bit crazy, and am unsure what to do. I’m exhaisted, but I don’t think I can go to sleep here anymore.

I just want to feel safe, instead it feels like im being watched constantly now. I should have taken my super’s advice.