Are you ready to experience the spine-chilling terror of Shivers, the new compilation of horror stories shorts by Bella Riley?
These stories will take you on a journey into the darkness, where the things that go bump in the night are real and lurkin...
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Alexa Conners had always been intrigued by the mysterious and unknown. As a seasoned reporter, she had covered her fair share of strange and unexplained phenomena. But the opportunity to interview Charles Matthias, the reclusive scientist and author known as the "modern-day Nikola Tesla," was too good to pass up. Rumors swirled that Matthias had discovered the secrets to unlocking other realms of existence, and Alexa was determined to get the biggest story of her career.
She arrived at the sprawling Matthias estate on a moonless night, the darkness broken only by flickering gas lamps along the driveway. The massive stone mansion loomed ominously, and as she approached the entrance, she felt a shiver run down her spine. She couldn't shake the feeling that the house seemed to emanate an unsettling presence.
The door creaked open, and Charles Matthias greeted her with a smile. "Miss Conners, welcome to my humble abode," he said, extending his hand.
"Thank you, Mr. Matthias. It's an honor to meet you," Alexa replied, trying to shake off her unease.
As she entered the dimly lit mansion, a palpable atmosphere of decay and neglect surrounded her. The air was stale and heavy, and the shadows seemed to shift and dance as if alive. Charles led her through the labyrinthine hallways, lined with ancient paintings and artifacts, towards the study.
Once inside, Alexa began the interview, asking about his research and discoveries. Charles spoke in hushed tones, explaining that his experiments had allowed him to peer into other dimensions, exposing him to entities beyond human comprehension.
"They're indescribable, Miss Conners," he whispered. "These beings exist in the far reaches of the cosmos, unfathomable and relentless. They seek to breach the barriers between our worlds."
As the night wore on, the conversation took a sinister turn. Charles spoke of dreams filled with monstrous shapes, and of strange symbols that seemed to come alive when drawn. Alexa felt a growing sense of dread, the air growing colder and heavier with each passing moment.
"What do these beings want, Mr. Matthias?" she asked, her voice wavering.
Charles leaned closer, his eyes wild with a mixture of fear and exhilaration. "They want to be free, Miss Conners. They want to enter our realm and feast upon the minds of humanity."
Alexa shuddered. "But how could that happen?"
Charles grinned, revealing yellowed teeth. "Why, with my help, of course."
Alexa's heart pounded in her chest. She realized she had unwittingly walked into a nightmare, and that Charles Matthias was not the genius she had imagined, but a puppet for these otherworldly beings.
"What are you planning to do?" she asked, trying to maintain her composure.
"The portal, Miss Conners. I will open the door to their realm and invite them in," he replied, his voice echoing through the dark room.