Beware: You won’t be able to escape these haunted houses.

Haunting is one of the most common paranormal beliefs around the world. Almost every town and city has at least one reportedly haunted house. The rumor that a house is haunted occurs after a violent tragedy like a murder or suicide. The ghosts of past inhabitants are not yet finished with their time on Earth and are said to be stuck in limbo, forced to roam the halls of their old homes due to unfinished business. Sometimes these spirits can become aggressive, turning on the visitors and new owners of their homes and wreaking chaos.

There’s something eerie about a haunted house story that keeps us coming back for more. Maybe it's because it's about a place that's supposed to keep you safe but has turned against you. Or maybe, because we’ve all experienced the creaks and moans at night, we secretly think is the work of ghosts.

Haunted houses have inspired literary works and films for decades, furthering our fears and fascination with them. Shirley Jackson’s 1959 horror novel and its Netflix adaptation, The Haunting of Hill House, is a perfect example. Jackson uses terror to highlight the complex relationships between her character's psyches and the mysterious events that haunt the house.

Stories of ghosts and demons living in the walls of hotels, mansions, and homes are just as popular as ever and perfect for all horror lovers.

If you’re a fan of haunted house lore and tales, check out the frightening stories below:

• The most haunted houses in the world
• The Haunted House Diaries reveals generations of unsettling phenomena
• Spooky haunted house books that will leave you sleeping with one eye open

And once you’ve escaped those haunted halls, visit the stories below for even more spooky stories.