An Archive of Horror

The Whisper

It was alike a night similar to all those before; laying on my bed, reading to begin with, before marking my page and putting it upon my nightstand. Shuffling down in the bed, wiggling in attempts to get comfortable and ensure all part of my body was engulfed by the duvet. The air was thick with humidity, and so I laid there for a while- too hot one moment, and too cold the next. Constantly shifting myself from under the duvet to on top of it.
What felt like hours ticked past, as I continued the cycle of my duvet situation. Eventually I slipped into a light sleep-state, not particularly dreaming nor being within the pitch darkness that engrossed my eyelids as they were closed.

Suddenly; I woke up. Having heard what I thought was steps within the hallway outside my room; this wasn't unusual in the slightest, as my bedroom was situated directly next to the bathroom- rather unexpectedly I had sensed a drop in temperature as the footsteps seemingly disappeared into the night. At the time I was unsure as to whether I had imagine it due to being half asleep, or whether it had actually occurred. The following factor however ensured my belief- because without warning a soft, airy voice whispered out into the midnight air within my bedroom; unable to distinguish any physical words due to the tone. A gasp escaped my lips, as I shot up to a seated position. Gazing around the room, in a desperate attempt to find the source of the eerie whisper, hoping it was none other than my younger brother playing a horrid joke. Nothing... No one was inside of my room- the door was shut just as I had left it, and my window and curtains were both closed too. I shivered, whilst nervously attempting to calm the indescribable sense of fear that my mind was inducing in me.
What is one to do in this scenario...? Scream out from mummy and daddy?! No, I couldn't possibly interrupt them. So I did what any other scared child would do- I lifted my duvet and pulled it over my head as I rested back down onto my pillow. My breathing loud enough to restrict any further whispers that may have occurred. And just like that, and after all these years.... I still instinctively pull the duvet over me. Not wishing to ever hear that whisper again.