Short horror stories

I am Liam

    Walking through the forest was the worst. It was cold, wet and trees nearly blocked out all the sun. Not to mention it was also down pouring so that really didn’t help either. As I stepped over a fallen tree, I suddenly remembered my mother telling me that I should only go through the forest if I was to complete a sacrifice. 

    “Liam. How many times must I tell you? Never go into that forest. Ever. That forest is sacred and it is keeping us alive.” My mother said as an infuriated glare settled onto her face. “If I ever catch you near that forest whatsoever, you will be the next one sacrificed. Do I make myself clear?” I nodded meekly, in fear that she would hurt me more if I didn’t agree. 

    I shuddered from both the cold and from the memory of her threat. But that happened almost 20 years ago. It was my turn to contribute to the sacrifice. Every 50 years, someone from the bloodline of my family must be sacrificed to keep the family young, beautiful and lively. No one knows what happens if we don’t contribute to it and no one wants to know. 

    As I grew closer to the sacrifice site, I felt eyes boring into the back of my head. It was time. I hoisted the bloody body of my mother onto the large flat rock in the center. The sound of footsteps and whispering suddenly surrounded me. I knew not to look up at them, as my eyes were trained onto the body of my mother. I had attempted to knock her out, when she didn’t go down. I stabbed her in the thigh, making sure I missed the area that would cause her to bleed out. Then I cut the back of her ankles and the hamstrings so she couldn’t get away if I were to accidentally drop her on the way. 

    “You’re late.” A deep, rumbly voice said in an angry tone, the voice reminded me of fireworks though only the ones you could feel in your chest. I nodded, agreeing with the creature before me. I was two weeks late, but I had to wait for the perfect time to strike down my mother before she could attack me. “If you have anything to say that would prevent me from killing you, now would be the time to speak up.”

    “I beg of your forgiveness, o great one. I was waiting for the perfect moment to strike my mother down. It had to be a moment I knew her guard would be down so that she would not be able to fight back in time. If my words are not good enough, then I will be struck down, keeping my honor.” I said, in a strong and sturdy voice. Weakness couldn’t be shown, the great ones would not tolerate it.

    “Your words are deemed true.” The great one in front of me said after what seemed to be an eternity. “Return home, and in the next 50 years, you will return with a new sacrifice. A child would be best but any is deemed fit.” The second I heard the word child, my head shot up to defend that I would not sacrifice a child. I saw two red eyes before I was killed on the spot. Then, I woke up.
   
    I groaned softly, that dream again. I’ve had it for the last 200 years. A dream that I was that pitiful human. Liam, I think his name was. He seemed so familiar for some reason.  My leader killed him on the spot for no human can see our faces and live. I shook my head before standing up. I stretched out my legs and arms, relieving my stiff muscles before walking over to a water bowl. I stared at my reflection. Two red eyes, two holes where a nose would be, no lips with a large smile carved through where my cheeks used to be. My smile was made up of large sharp fangs. Upon my head was a multitude of long, decorated horns. There was something familiar about my face. I sighed quietly as the constant thought I had ran through my head. 

    ‘I truly was a freak of nature.’ I thought with a sullen look, or as sullen as a face like mine could get. Then it suddenly dawned on me. 

I… am Liam.