It was my third or fourth time home alone, I was around 12 or 13. It was night time and I went downstairs to grab some food. I looked at my front door while walking down the stairs and thought I saw someone. I went to the door to see if it was locked and it was. I turned back around and the power went out. It was completely dark, I couldn't see a thing. I heard noises on the outside of my house and thought I heard someone knock on my backdoor. I stayed in front of my door for a while. I called my mom after a while but she didn't answer. At this point, I swear I heard walking in my house. It could have been my dog but I couldn't tell. I very slowly walked to the light switch and flicked it so many times but it didn't turn the light on. I remembered that there was a candle on the dining room table. I made it halfway to the dining room and heard footsteps on the floor I was on. It was still pitch black and I had to feel my way around. I made it to the dining room and heard footsteps in the dining room. I immediately crouched down and crawled underneath the dining table.I sat there for a while, maybe 10 minutes. I didn't hear anything except my breathing. I tucked my face into my shirt to muffle my breathing. I didn't hear footsteps exit the dining room but I heard foot steps in the living room. I peaked out from under the table and reached my hand on top of the table. The candle had a thin, metal base and was about 8 inches tall. I felt around for the candle but I knocked it over. The sound of the candle hitting the wooden table was so loud. I quickly grabbed the iron base and returned under the table. I could hear more footsteps but I couldn't tell where it was going. I felt the candle and realized the candle had fallen off. All I had was the metal base. I slowly peaked out and reached around for the candle. My fingers touched it but it rolled away and fell of the table. I instantly grabbed the candle and tucked my face back into my shirt. After maybe a minute, I started to crawl to the kitchen to grab a lighter. I heard footsteps come towards the kitchen. I threw the metal base in the opposite direction of the kitchen. I reached around for the stove and found the drawer next to it. I searched for the lighter and found it. I lit the candle and grabbed a knife. I went though each room individually checking everywhere. I didn't hear anymore footsteps after I threw the metal base. I made it to my mom's room and found my dog chewing on the metal base. I have nightmares about this event about a couple times a year. Whenever the power goes out, I get extremely nervous. I get startled by things getting knocked over. If I ever get stressed or scared, I tuck my face into my shirt. I'm a cat person now. This was the single most terrifying event in my life and I'm still scared by it.