Phobophobia A Horror Anthology

Agyrophobia - Fear of crossing the street

Agyrophobia - Fear of crossing the street

Very little blue sky was visible. The grey clouds dominated the sky. As a result of this, the day was as dark as dusk. Caroline stood on the sidewalk. Cars zoomed by. She needed to get home before the rain started. Another car shot by her. She always got a little nervous crossing the street. The people in this city drove too fast. Did anyone stay within the speed limits?

Caroline spotted a girl across the street. She stared at her. How strange! The girl was facing away from the street. Her back was to the busy roadway and she was just standing there, swaying slightly on the spot. Caroline felt the girl’s actions were a bit dangerous. She wanted to yell at her to pay attention but she did not bother. 

Stupid is as stupid does, thought Caroline.

 Caroline stepped out into the street when it was clear. That was when it happened. If anyone had been watching, the events would have seemed to play out in a flash but to Caroline it all occurred very slowly.

The girl turned just a little at first. Caroline caught a glimpse of an eye behind the girl’s dark hair. The eye was glaring at her. Caroline paused. This was a very foolish thing to do in the middle of the street but Caroline did it anyway. As Caroline paused, the girl spun round, her hair and dress billowing in the wind. A spine-tingling chill ran through Caroline. The girl’s face was rotten! Her nose was missing. In its place was a gaping hole. Her eyes were sunken in. She was stark white. She grinned madly, revealing her black and yellow teeth. Caroline just stood there. She did not want to continue to the other side where this vile creature stood and she did not want to turn her vulnerable back to this corpse of a girl. The speeding car relieved Caroline of this difficult choice

The girl watched Caroline get hit. She frowned and then she hobbled away on her broken and bent limbs, all set in the wrong places.

Don’t worry, dear reader, this is a happy tale. Caroline did not succumb to her injuries. She lived, packed up her stuff, left the city and moved back in with her parents. Currently, she sleeps and eats in the living room. She never leaves the house. She sometimes peers out the window, thinking her eyes are playing tricks on her, thinking she sees the bent and broken girl standing across the street, facing forwards instead.

(C) All Rights Reserved Joanna Jadoo