Beware the killer in the back seat

As humans, we all love a good story, especially one that sends chills down our spines. Urban legends have been around for ages, often told in hushed tones and passed from generation to generation. These tales are designed to scare us, make our hearts race, and make the hairs on the back of our necks stand.

Let's take a closer look at some of the most popular urban legends that have spawned from these tales.

One of the most infamous tales is known as "kidney theft," where unsuspecting victims are drugged and their kidneys sold on the black market. The legend has been around for years, and while many believe it to be a mere myth, there have been several reported cases of people waking up after being drugged and their kidneys missing. These stories of organ theft range from Peru to India to South Africa, with some of them involving people lured into traps by organized gangs.

Another chilling tale that has been popular for years is "the killer in the back seat." Typically, the story goes like this: A woman is driving home alone late at night when a car begins flashing its headlights and honking at her. The woman is terrified and eventually manages to escape the driver's advances and makes it home safely. Once there, she discovers that someone was hiding in the back seat of her car, ready to attack. While stories like these may seem far-fetched, there have been confirmed cases of people hiding in the back of a car to commit crimes, making this legend all the more real and terrifying.

One of the creepiest urban legends out there is "the body under the bed." In this frightening tale, hotel guests start to notice the unmistakable smell of decay in their rooms. After much searching, they find that a corpse has been hidden underneath the mattress. Believe it or not, this story has come true. In 2010, the body of 28-year-old mother of five, Sony Millbrook, was found under the mattress in a Memphis motel. Her murderer was her boyfriend who had dumped her body in room 222 after the murder. He would have gotten away with it if only the motel staff had taken Millbrook's family's requests to search the room seriously.

Another well-known urban legend is "Polybius, the cursed game." In 1981, an arcade game called Polybius briefly appeared in Portland, Oregon, causing addiction and strange side effects like amnesia, stress, and even arcade game aversion. The game was quickly removed after it appeared, and its manufacturers were nowhere to be found. Despite the lack of evidence, many believe that the game was an experiment by the government. It remains unclear if this game was real or a hoax, but its legacy sure is creepy.

Finally, one of the most popular urban legends is "Killer in the House." In this tale, a teenage babysitter receives a phone call from a stranger who warns her that there is an intruder in the house with the children. After frantically calling the police, the babysitter discovers that the calls were coming from within the house and that the children she was supposed to be watching are not alone. While this story may seem like it came straight out of a horror movie, it's based on real events. In 1950, thirteen-year-old Janett Christman was babysitting a three-year-old boy at his home in Columbia, Missouri when she was attacked and killed.

These stories may seem far-fetched, but some of them have stemmed from real-life events, which makes them all the more spine-chilling. Urban legends have defied time, proving their fascinating and enduring qualities, even as we enter the digital age.

These tales remind us that things aren't always what they seem, and that sometimes, the truth is darker than even our wildest imaginations. So the next time you hear a story that makes your heart race and your spine tingle, remember that it could be based on something sinister and real.