Every student has had a substitute teacher—some kind, some strict, some forgettable. But in one school, a different substitute arrived. It’s not just unusual. It’s not just strange—but something… not human.
The Day Everything Changed
The incident reportedly took place in a small town high school in 1998. A well-liked teacher, Mrs. Carter, was unexpectedly absent, and the school announced a last-minute substitute.
When the students walked into class that morning, they found a tall, pale man standing at the front of the room. He wore an outdated suit, his skin almost waxy, and his movements were stiff, as if unfamiliar with how a body should work. His eyes were unsettling—dark, too deep, too focused.
The substitute introduced himself as Mr. Ulrich. But something was off. His voice was too perfect; each word was pronounced as if learned from a textbook. He never blinked. And he always seemed to know what students were thinking before they spoke.
The Unsettling Behavior
As the lesson began, things got even stranger. When a student, Jake, whispered a joke to his friend, Mr. Ulrich turned his head at an unnatural angle and recited Jake’s exact words—even though he had spoken too quietly for anyone to hear.
Another student, Sarah, hesitated before answering a question, trying to recall the information. Mr. Ulrich simply said, “You are thinking of the wrong answer. Try again.” And he was right.
By the end of the first hour, the students weren’t just uncomfortable—they were terrified.
Then, the absolute horror began.
The Vanishing Student
One brave student, Matt, finally spoke up. “Who are you really?” he asked. The substitute turned to him, his expression empty. He then smiled—a smile too broad, too unnatural.
“Would you like to see?”
The lights flickered. A strange hum filled the room. And then—Matt was gone. His desk was empty. His backpack still sat on the floor. But he was nowhere to be seen.
Panic erupted. Students ran for the door—but it wouldn’t open. Mr. Ulrich stood there, watching. And then, as suddenly as the chaos started, he blinked—for the first time.
The lights returned to normal. The door unlocked. Matt was back—sitting at his desk, pale, shaking, his eyes wide with horror. He never spoke of what he saw.
The Substitute Disappears
After that day, the school tried to find out who had sent Mr. Ulrich. But no record of him existed—no employment papers, phone number, nothing. It was as if he had never been there.
When Mrs. Carter returned the next day, she had no memory of being sick. She said she had felt completely fine.
The students never forgot that day. They whispered that Mr. Ulrich wasn’t human, that he was something else. And Matt? He transferred schools soon after, refusing to speak about what happened.
No substitute like Mr. Ulrich was ever seen again. But sometimes, when the lights flicker in an empty classroom, students wonder: Was he gone? Or is he just waiting for the right moment to return?
