In the summer of 2021,
my family embarked on our annual vacation.
Each year, we would explore a different destination for about a week,
and that year, we chose Daytona Beach in Florida.
Being 15 years old and an only child,
it was just my parents and me,
although we were expecting some extended family to join us.
Unfortunately, due to late hotel bookings,
we ended up staying far apart from each other.
Our vacation began with a day filled with exhaustion from traveling,
so we spent most of it napping and relaxing in our hotel room.
As night fell, my parents suggested taking a walk on the beach before heading to bed.
Although it didn't sound particularly exciting,
I was passionate about photography at the time
and saw an opportunity to capture some beautiful ocean shots.
So, I agreed to accompany them,
planning to take pictures while they strolled along the shore.
We walked for about 30 minutes, and then my parents continued further down the beach
while I decided to head back to the room on my own.
Fatigue had caught up with me, and I felt it was time to rest.
As I entered the room,
I debated whether to lock the door behind me but ultimately decided against it.
Since I had the room key and anticipated falling asleep before my parents returned,
I figured I could save myself from waking up to let them in.
Within seconds of my head hitting the pillow, I succumbed to sleep.
However, I was abruptly awakened hours later by my mother whispering my name urgently.
In the dim moonlight seeping through the curtains,
I saw her gaze fixed on me, a look of shock on her face.
We both glanced toward where she had been looking,
only to see a hooded figure dressed in black standing over their bed.
Terror gripped me, and I attempted to scream,
but my voice failed me.
My mother nudged and whispered to my still-sleeping father,
while the figure remained motionless.
Suddenly, my father woke up, and everything seemed to happen in a blur.
The figure swiftly fled from the room, closely pursued by my father.
Meanwhile, my mother shrieked in terror.
I tried to follow my father,
but I lost sight of him before reaching the hotel exit.
My mother promptly called the police, and shortly afterward,
my father returned,
having been outpaced by the intruder.
It turned out that a few other guests at the hotel had experienced similar encounters that night.
Even one of the staff members reported seeing a man
attempting to test the locks of several room doors.
We deduced that the intruder must have entered the room sometime between my arrival and my parents' return.
It made sense—I had left the room unlocked for my parents,
and I was completely unaware, fast asleep on my bed.
The figure must have hidden inside,
which explained why he went unnoticed when my parents came back.
We provided our statement to the police,
but to this day,
we remain unaware of what ultimately transpired.
Needless to say, this chilling experience left us on edge for the remainder of our vacation,
constantly vigilant
and wary of our surroundings.
Watch video now on our YouTube channel