A creepy symbol written in what appeared to be blood on a bedroom wall sparked fear in one Reddit user, but the real cause turned out to be even more disturbing. This bizarre situation unfolded in an old house from the 1800s and had internet users debating between ghost stories and strange science.
A Reddit user with the name Distinct-Sir-69 recently shared a very unsettling experience online. It started when his wife noticed something strange above their closet. She asked, “Why is there a backwards C above our closet written in blood?” It was an alarming question that no one expected to hear first thing in the morning.
The couple had gone to sleep around 11 p.m. the night before, and when they woke up at 5 a.m., the creepy red symbol was suddenly there. It hadn’t been there when they went to bed. The post included a photo of the mark: a backwards letter C, drawn in what looked like dried blood.
Instead of panicking or jumping to the worst-case scenario, the Reddit user decided to ask for help. He turned to the Reddit community for answers. While many people might have called a paranormal expert, he wanted a grounded, logical explanation first.
He mentioned that their home was very old, built in 1885. The house had a lot of issues: plumbing, electricity, bugs, and even structural problems. So he kept an open mind. Nothing was ruled out.
He also added that neither he nor his wife had ever sleepwalked. And there was no attic access unless he decided to build one himself. Still, the image of a ghost creeping in during the night was hard to ignore. He joked that maybe it was a poltergeist named Carrie.
It turned out that asking Reddit was the right move. The ghost theory didn’t last long. Several commenters had their take on the creepy symbol. One person quickly offered a strange but surprisingly common explanation: it might have been left behind by a ladybug.
One user wrote, “Honestly it looks like ladybug pheromones.” Others agreed and shared their own similar experiences.
Ladybugs can release a red-colored liquid. This trail is usually a pheromone they use to attract mates. If your home has a ladybug infestation or even a few hanging around, one of them may have crawled across the wall and left the mark.
Another person added, “Same thing happened to me. I wouldn’t worry about it. Especially if there’s an influx in ladybugs where you live.”
Someone else chimed in, “They release these pheromones in that exact color to find a mate. Same thing happened to us except we saw the lady beetle release it.”
One detail made the theory even more believable. A user asked if the house was yellow, and surprisingly, it was.
“Oddly enough, it is a fainted yellow house. Holy sh*t,” the original poster responded.
Ladybugs are known to be attracted to yellow surfaces. That could be part of the reason they were around the house in the first place.
Even though many people agreed it looked like ladybug pheromones, there was one issue. Pheromones are usually chemical signals meant to be smelled, not seen. Most of the time, these are invisible to human eyes. So it seemed odd that the trail was so clearly visible.
Then another theory popped up, and it was weirder than the first.
One commenter said, “My best educated guess is stink bug poo.”
That idea took the thread in a slightly more disgusting direction. According to this person, the shape could still be natural. Some bugs release thick liquids or even waste that can look like paint, rust, or blood. But how it ended up looking like a perfect backwards C was still a mystery.
Another user weighed in, saying they thought it might be moth-related. When moths emerge from a chrysalis, they sometimes leave behind fluid. But the user didn’t see a chrysalis in the photo, so that theory didn’t hold up. Still, the idea that some insect had made its mark while the couple was sleeping didn’t sit well with anyone.
In the end, the Redditor marked the mystery as “mostly solved.” The likely explanation? Some sort of insect had left the red trail on the wall overnight.
He wrote, “I think we’ve got enough to label this as solved! For the most part. Some sort of bug is watching me sleep. Slightly more unsettling than ghosts, but I’ll take it.”
The first thing my wife said to me this morning was “Why is there a backwards “C” above our closet written in blood?”
byu/Distinct-Sir-69 inwhatisit
Even though the idea of a spirit named Carrie haunting the house was spooky, knowing that a bug might have crawled around their bedroom wall while they slept was creepier in its way. At least with ghosts, you don’t have to worry about poop or bug trails showing up in your space.
The story touched a nerve online because many people shared similar experiences. One person said they found a red mark near a window during spring. Another recalled a similar incident in a cabin that had a ladybug invasion one summer. Even though the shape in this case was unusual, the general idea, bugs leaving strange marks, turned out to be something more people had encountered than expected.
This might not have made national news, but it was the kind of eerie moment that sticks with you. It proves that not everything that looks haunted is supernatural. Sometimes nature is just gross, mysterious, and oddly artistic.
This odd event reminds us that the most disturbing things are not always what we think. Paranormal fears grab attention, but real life is often stranger.
An old house with insect problems is the perfect setup for a scary scene. But instead of ghosts, sometimes you get a curious ladybug or a poop-dropping bug leaving behind odd stains. Staying calm, asking questions, and considering the logical answer first helped this couple get peace of mind, even if the answer was kind of gross.
If something weird shows up on your wall overnight, take a moment before freaking out. Check for bugs, consider your home’s age, and yes, maybe ask Reddit.
You might not like the answer, but it could save you a ghost hunt.
