A Compilation of Short Stories

The Blind Girl in The Mist

“Never go anywhere near the mist.” I was raised with that saying engraved in my mind by my father. Whenever I try to recall him in my memory, there was only that warning. Father never liked the mist. When I was eight, we were driving up a hill when the mist suddenly set in and we had to stop by the roadside. He didn’t start the car no matter how much mother yelled at him. From the back seat, I saw his hands trembled with sweat. Only when the mist disappeared did he manage to calm himself and continue driving. Mother was saying how we’ve wasted so much time for nothing and I thought nothing of it. But now when I recall the moment, why was he so scared? 

“Behind the mountain, deep in the forest, it is said there’s a cabin where one girl lives alone,” said grandmother. I went to visit her, where my father used to grow up. 

“A girl? Alone? But no one ever goes to the forest, doesn't it?” I asked. The forest is isolated, no one dares to approach. Almost as if they were scared of something.

“That’s right, rumor has it there’s a violent wild beast there but only in the mist.” She lowered her eyelids as she seemed to be remembering something. “Your father once got lost in the forest as a boy and came back two days later traumatized.” She continued, taking a deep breath. “Your eyes are full of curiosity, I’d advise you to stop what you’re planning.” 

“I can’t ignore this feeling anymore grandmother, I just—” 

“I do not wish to lose anyone else to that mist.” She said before I could finish my sentence. “I understand,” was the only thing I could say when I saw her making such a painful face. I’m sorry.

At dawn, I left the house quietly. Taking my car, setting the forest as my destination. It was still morning by the time I arrived. I parked my car by the road, taking a deep breath as I exited my car making my way into the forest by foot. 

The forest was nothing but trees. Not even birds, I noticed. As I walked, I marked the trees in my path with a knife, making a deep noticeable slice. I walked and walked, looking  for the said cabin. If anyone were to know anything about the beast it would be the girl living here, I thought. But I found nothing by the evening. 

I decided to make my way back and as I walked following the marked trees, my surroundings started to seem cloudy. ‘Is this the said mist?’ I wondered. 

Rustle and crunched leaves were heard behind me. I turned, surprised at the sound and found a girl peeking behind a tree.

“Hello,” I said. The girl came out from behind the tree, looking at me. No, not looking, her eyes are wrapped in white cloth. “Who are you?” She asked.

“My name is Luc, are you the girl living in the cabin?” I said and she nodded in reply. 

“Then, can I ask you about the rumored beast here? I didn’t see anything here.” I asked. She walked closer to me, a few meters away.

“The beast wanders in the mist, it’s almost time. You shouldn’t be out. Would you like to stay for the night at my cabin?” She offered. I thought about refusing her offer but it’s true the night is about to set in. So, I accepted her offer. 

At the cabin, she showed me to a room where I’ll be occupying. A cozy bed, a fur carpet, a small desk with a chair and no window. She left me alone in the room saying she’ll wind up something to eat for dinner. It seems I was so tired during the day seeing as I’m fast asleep laying in the bed. By the time I woke up, dinner was ready and I sat with the girl in the dining room. Dinner was meat. Bloody meat with nothing else. 

“The meat is best eaten fresh,” she said as I stared at my plate. I poked through my meat and saw a piece of what seemed to be a part of a nail. A human nail. 

‘What?’ A rush of puke climbed my throat but I held it in. I looked at the girl, ravenously eating her dinner. I couldn't stand the sight and rushed out of the room, aiming straight for the front door. I ran out into the night forest in mist. Trailing back the way we came earlier and the marked trees.

After some time of which felt like hours, the cabin came into view. ‘Am I lost?’ I pondered. I ran away again only to come back to the cabin once again. This time, I saw the girl standing at the cabin’s porch holding a machete. Her mouth was smeared with blood. My blood ran cold, my hands trembled.

“What is happening?” I said quietly to myself on the verge of collapsing. But I couldn’t allow myself to collapse then, so I ran for my life. 

At each turn I took, she was there. She could’ve attacked me but she didn’t. She’s enjoying this. Only when I lost my footing and tripped did she approach me with a sinister smile. She caught me by the wrist and I tried to fight it off. But to no avail, she was so strong despite her petite appearance.

“I want to keep you.” She said trailing my cheekbone with her machete. “I will never let you escape as I devour you slowly. One part at a time.” She continued, giggling as she dragged me back to the cabin. I never get to apologize properly to my grandmother for going against her.

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Author's note: This was written for a short story competition. I won second place with this. Lol. I feel like i wanted this to reach a greater audience.