Don't Scream (Short Horror Stories)

Ouija

The true story of the night two boys played with an Ouija board. Names have been changed....

******

"Are you sure about this, dude?"

"Of course I'm sure."

"Aren't these dangerous?"

"What are you?  Some kind of chicken?"

"I ain't scared, Alex."

"Then shut up and pay the man."

The year was 1972, and two teenaged boys by the names of Alex Rios and Wyatt Jones were buying the latest Black Sabbath album at the record shop when they noticed a peculiar item on one of the shelves, a wooden box with one word carved on it.

Ouija.

Wyatt had heard stories of people playing with Ouija boards in the past, stories that ranged from nothing happening to full demonic possession.

He didn't want to appear cowardly in front of his cousin, but he wasn't too keen on the idea of messing with the unknown.

The cashier held out his hand. "Are you gonna buy something today or not? I've got other customers."

"Alright. How much?"

"Thirteen bucks, kid."

Thirteen.

That was a bad sign.

Wyatt handed the man a twenty dollar bill, and they scurried home with their purchases. They sat around for a while listening to their new album and eating potato chips. Wyatt almost forgot about the board until his cousin said, "Break out the oo-gee."

"The oo-gee?"

"Yeah, the oo-gee board."

"It's pronounced 'wee-gee', dumb ass."

"I know that. I'm just making fun of it."

"I wish you wouldn't, dude."

"Why not? You afraid a monster's gonna jump out of it?"

"No."

"Then take it out."

Wyatt took the board out of the box and laid it across his bed.  They sat on either side of it and read the instructions before placing the tips of their fingers on the planchette.  "Ask it something."  Alex said, not wanting to make the first move.

"Like what?"

"Ask it if it has a name."

"Okay," Wyatt looked at the board. "Spirit of this board, are you with us?"

Both boys tensed with the planchette moved their fingers to the word YES.

"What's your name?"

J-O-H-N

Alex removed his fingers from the planchette and scratched his head. "John? What kind of name is that for a spirit?"

"Who cares, dude? You ask it something."

Alex placed his fingers back on the planchette and said, "If you're really here, do a figure eight."

Their eyes widened when their fingers moved with the planchette in several figure eight motions.

"Knock yourself off the board." Wyatt said.

The planchette shot off the board in a swift motion.

"Woah," Alex picked it back up and put it back on the board. "Do it again, John."

The spirit obliged them.

The planchette shot off the board.

The boys did this several more times, until Alex had an idea. He walked over to the record player and put on the Black Sabbath album, adjusting the needle until it played a song titled, "Lord of this World."

When Alex placed his fingers back on the planchette, both of them were stunned when it began to circle around the number 6.

Over and over again.

"Wait," Wyatt said, "Grab your Bible."

"Why?"

"I want to try something."

Alex grabbed the green pocket sized Bible that his mother had given him for his birthday.  "Here."

Wyatt placed it on the Ouija board.

The planchette stopped moving.

"John," Wyatt said, "Are you still here?"

No movement.

Alex gave it a try.  "John, how old are you?"

Nothing.

"Are you afraid of God or something?"

Nothing.

Wyatt removed the Bible. They placed their fingers back on the planchette. "John, are you here?"

Their fingers moved.

YES.

Alex looked over at the mirror that was hanging on the back of his door. Then he asked, "John, will you show yourself in that mirror over there?"

YES.

Wyatt felt his chest tighten, but he didn't want to chicken out. "Okay, we'll count to ten."

Both of them began counting.

"One....two......three.....four....five....six...."

Suddenly, the door flew open. Both boys nearly jumped out of their skin, but relaxed when they saw Alex's father standing there. "What are you boys doing in here?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Nothing." Alex replied.

"Well, it's getting late. Wyatt, you'd better be heading home before your mama worries."

"Yes, sir."

Wyatt headed home with a massive sense of relief in his bones. He didn't know whether God intervened on their behalf before "John"could show himself, or if his uncle showing up was a mere coincidence.

Either way, he was glad.

*****

Three nights later Wyatt returned to his cousin's house. They sat around and listened to another album until Wyatt said, "Hey. Get the Ouija out."

Alex shrugged. "I threw that shit away."

"What!? I paid thirteen bucks!!"

"I put in under my bed the night you left, and it was making weird noises. It's in the trash can outside, if you want to help yourself to it."

"Nah, I'm good."

*****

AN: This is a light hearted story based on a night my dad and his cousin decided to play with an Ouija board. Every bit of it is true, down to the uncle busting in.

He thought they were smoking pot 🤣

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it.