Introduction

Urban legends are stories that mix fact and fiction. Some serve as warnings, others as spine-chillers. As part of my Halloween collection, I've put together a list of 10 of the creepiest urban legends from around the world.

10 Creepy Urban Legends from Around the World

Kuchisake-onna – The Slit-Mouthed Woman (Japan)

This terrifying spirit is said to be a woman who suffered a gruesome fate, having her mouth slit from ear to ear. Wearing a mask on the lower part of her face, she approaches victims asking, 'am I beautiful?' If they say no, she kills them instantly. If they say yes, she reveals her disfigured mouth and asks again. Confused or frightened, many fail to answer. The Slit-Mouthed Woman will then attack and slash her victim's mouth. If her victim does say yes, however, she will either leave them alone or, in some instances, secretly follow them home and murder them. Some say distracting her with candy or confusing answers might save your life, but there are no guarantees.

La Llorona – The Weeping Woman (Mexico)

La Llorona is a ghostly mother doomed to wander riverbanks forever mourning her drowned children, whom she tragically killed in a jealous rage. Her cries echo at night. It is said that those who hear her wails and wander too close to the river will be dragged into the water.

Bloody Mary (United Kingdom & United States)

Bloody Mary is said to appear in mirrors when her name is chanted three times. She is a spirit of pure hatred, often described as having pale skin, long, dark hair, and hollow, black eyes. Some say she wears a white gown, splattered with blood. Bloody Mary can curse, harm, or even steal the soul of those who summon her.

The Green Children of Woolpit (United Kingdom)

In medieval England, two mysterious children with green skin reportedly appeared in the village of Woolpit in Suffolk. They spoke a strange language and only ate raw beans. As time went on, one of the children died, but the other eventually learned English and explained that they came from an underground world where the sun never shone.

The Red Room Curse (Japan)

Ever sat alone, mindlessly scrolling on your phone or computer? This is when the red room curse strikes. A pop-up appears on your screen. "Do you like the red room?" it asks. That is all it takes. Victims of this pop-up are reportedly found dead in rooms drenched in their own blood.

Teke Teke (Japan)

This tale is a horrifying legend of a schoolgirl who was cut in half by a train. Covered in blood, she now crawls around on her elbows, moving with superhuman speed. It is said that as her body scrapes against the ground, it makes a "teke teke" sound. She haunts train stations at night, supposedly severing her victims in two.

The Black Volga (Eastern Europe)

During the Cold War era, an ominous black limousine, known as the Black Volga, was said to roam the Eastern European streets, abducting children. The driver remained unidentified, although some claimed vampires drove the car.

The Babysitter (United States)

It is said that a teenage girl was babysitting for a quiet suburban family when the phone rang. Over the line, a man's voice whispered, 'Have you checked the children?' She put the phone down, thinking it was a prank call, but the phone kept ringing. 'Have you checked the children?' the man kept asking. Panicked, she eventually called the police. When they traced the call, the officer shouted: 'Get out of the house! He's calling from upstairs!'

Sukima-onna – The Woman in the Gap (Japan)

The Sukima-onna ('The Gap Woman') is a pale, eerie figure who lurks between furniture or under beds. If you happen to spot her once, she'll start to follow you. You'll see her again, and again, and again. She'll always be watching you. Waiting. Until the day finally comes when you get too close to a gap that she can pull you through. And no one will ever see you again.

The Truck (United States)

Late at night, when a woman drove home after shopping, she noticed a truck tailgating her. It was flashing its high beams and swerving erratically. She began to panic, thinking the driver was dangerous. She put her foot down on the accelerator and sped away from the truck. Little did she know that behind her was a masked man with a knife. The truck driver was trying to warn her.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it, 10 creepy urban legends. There's nothing to fear, though; they're just stories. Right? Tales told to scare children, nothing more. But sometimes, when the lights flicker unexpectedly, or the silence is broken by a creak in the hallway, those stories start to feel a little bit more real. When that red room pop-up appears on your screen, or you see a pair of eyes looking back at you from the crack in the wall. That's when your heart goes cold. That's when you realise, it's already too late. Some legends, it seems, don't stay in the past. They follow you home. In fact, they may even be watching you right now.