Here is the creepiest read I ever had. I was a teenager working as a security guard at a coal mine. I was the only one there and got snowed in for three days (and nights). Coincidentally I was reading the Shinning. I had just gotten to the part about the woman in the room and it freaked me out so I decided to take a break from the book and do my rounds. The sodium arc lights made the snow look like old, yellowed paper fluttering from the sky. I drove this rickety pickup to different parts of the mine, some of which were miles back in the mountains. The falling snow smothered the headlights and I could barely see a foot in front of me. There was one particular door I had to check in a poorly lit area. It was partially open and this thick red liquid was dripping down the steps leading to it. The liquid looked exactly like blood in the sodium lights. My stomach did a flip and the hair (quite literally) stood up on the back of my neck. I moved slowly up the steps toward the door. I stepped in the slimy goo. When I lifted my foot it made a wet, sucking sound and didn’t seem to want to let go of me. The congealed slime covered the top four risers and I had to step in it again and again. It had this sharp smell that made me sick to my stomach. Then I got to the top and reached for the door. The wind picked up and the snow swirled around me. It stung my face and blinded me momentarily. I batted it away like a swarm of flies and nearly fell down the stairs. My teeth were chattering - as much from fear as the cold. I steeled myself and grabbed for the door. It let out a shriek of grinding metal that shot through me like a rusty spike. And as the door came open, I saw something tall standing among the shadows. My heart gave one big thump in my chest and then I realized I was seeing two barrels stacked on top of each other. There was a viscous industrial lubricant leaking from them. A cleansing sigh washed over me and I finally breathed.

That was the most actual terror I've ever felt in my life and I WISH I could feel it again. I haven't been that scared since, and I've almost died a couple of times. THAT is why I love reading horror.

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