Everything is exponentially creepier when you're walking home alone or in the dark. Instead of getting yourself -- or worse, your mom -- all worked up imagining "Law and Order" outcomes, you can download Companion for just a little bit of peace of mind.

Designed by students from the University of Michigan who just wanted to make everyone feel a lil more safe, the free app lets you connect with a virtual buddy to let them know how your trek home is going and send out messages or contact the police if you're in trouble -- pretty standard fare for safety apps.

But it also offers some really cool ~new~ features: an "I feel nervous" button that lets you give your friends and fam a heads-up if something's giving you bad vibes, and a system that works with your phone's censors to check up on you if you fall down, start running or if your headphones are pulled from your phone. Whoa, future.

Lexie Ernst, one of Companion's founders, took some time out of her first day back at school to explain why Companion is so damn useful.

"Unfortunately campuses have a large number of young people partying and drinking and high crime rates," Ernst said, citing some super unsettling crime alert emails she and her friends would receive from campus police. "I think this app is especially important for college students because we’re so tech-based and tech-focused. It's about time safety came into the 21st century."

Companion combines what we're already doing -- looking at our phones and keeping in touch with our friends 24/7 -- with a real safety goal in mind. Best case: You have an extra layer of security if you're feeling nervous or jumpy. Worst case: If something bad happens, the people who love you most can take action right away.

So if you've ever spent a few extra hours worrying about your friends making it back home from a hangout sesh -- or if you are that wayward friend (we ain't judging) -- you may want to check it out!

(BTW we asked and, like, duh, their parents are totally thrilled. )