What are the most terrifying true ghost encounter stories you know?

I know a story where a family moved into a new house. At night, they would hear the sound of a rocking chair moving in the attic. One of the kids went up to check it out and saw an old woman sitting in the chair. She disappeared when the kid screamed. After that, they found out that an old lady had died in that house years ago. It's a classic horror encounter story. There are so many elements in it that send shivers down your spine, like the unknown presence in a place that's supposed to be your home.

The most terrifying part is often the unexpected appearance of the ghost. For example, when you turn around and suddenly see a ghostly figure right behind you. It's that sudden shock that gets to you.

One that always gives me chills is about a house where every night at 3 am, the same piano music would play. The owners found out that a previous occupant, who was a pianist, had died in the house under mysterious circumstances.

One of the most terrifying ones I know is about a family who moved into a new house. Their young daughter started talking to an 'imaginary friend'. But then things got really creepy. The daughter would say things that this friend told her, like how they used to live in the house and died there. There were also times when objects in the house would move on their own. The family was so scared that they eventually moved out.

One of the most terrifying paranormal true stories is about a ship. Sailors on the ship reported seeing a ghostly crew on the deck at night. They said the figures were translucent and seemed to be repeating the actions they were doing when the ship had a tragic accident years ago. There were also reports of strange voices coming from the hold of the ship. This made the sailors very uneasy and some even refused to continue their voyage on that ship.

A story that always gives me chills is about a group of friends exploring an abandoned asylum. They got separated, and one of them found a room full of old medical equipment covered in blood. He heard a scream and when he ran to find his friends, they were all standing in a trance - like state, staring at a wall. They never talked about what they saw that day.

One of the terrifying true ghost stories is the story of the Amityville Horror. A family moved into a house where a mass murder had occurred. They experienced all sorts of strange phenomena like cold spots, strange noises, and apparitions. Another is the story from the Tower of London. There are reports of ghosts of former prisoners and executed royals wandering the halls.

I know a story about a bridge. Many people claimed to see a headless horseman riding across it late at night. One driver said that as he passed the bridge, his car suddenly stalled and he saw the horseman coming towards him. He managed to restart his car and get away just in time. It's a very spooky story.

The story of the Winchester Mystery House is terrifying. Sarah Winchester built this huge, maze - like house because she believed she was haunted by the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. There were staircases that led to nowhere, doors that opened to walls, and people reported seeing apparitions all over the place. It's a really creepy place with a lot of ghostly encounter stories.

A particularly scary one is about a family who moved into a house where a murder had taken place. They experienced all sorts of paranormal activities. Doors would slam shut on their own, and they would see blood - like stains on the walls that would disappear and reappear. It was one of the most feared stories in 'haunted lives true ghost stories' as it involved a family's daily life being invaded by the unknown.