Short Horror Stories

For Darkness Lingers

In the dense woods behind his house, Jimmy ventured further than he had before. As the shadows lengthened, he realized he was lost. Panic set in as unfamiliar trees loomed ominously. Hours passed and exhaustion gripped him until he stumbled upon his front door. Relieved, he entered, only to find his family frozen in place, eyes devoid of life. As he cautiously stepped into his home, an unsettling stillness hung in the air. The familiar furniture and worn-out rugs seemed warped, casting eerie shadows. He called out to his family, but only silence replied. Dread crawled up his spine, amplifying the quiet unease that filled the house. Jimmy ascended the creaking staircase, each step echoing in the unnatural silence. The hallway stretched endlessly, and as he approached his parents' room, the door swung open with an agonizing creak. His heart pounded as he entered, revealing an empty room with a single, flickering candle casting long dancing shadows. A cold gust swept through the house extinguishing the candle. In the pitch-black darkness, whispers surrounded him, murmuring his name with an unsettling familiarity. Panic surged as he stumbled backward, colliding with a wall that felt unnaturally moist. Trembling, he fumbled for a light switch, revealing a room covered in pulsating, otherworldly vines. As the vines constricted, a ghastly figure emerged - a distorted reflection of Jimmy. It grinned maliciously, whispering secrets only he knew. Frozen in horror, he realized this entity was a manifestation of his deepest fears and regrets. The vines tightened, suffocating him with the weight of guilt. In a desperate bid for escape, his mind raced. He recalled a childhood rhyme whispered by his grandmother about a way to banish shadows. Trembling, he recited the words, his voice echoing through the house.

In shadows deep, where secrets sleep

A rhyme to banish fears so steep

With heart sincere, speak words profound

echo them where the darkness is found

In twilights hush and moonlit wane

release me from this haunting bane

By whispered verse and courage bold

let light within my soul unfold

As verses flow, the shadows flee

A charm to set the spirit free

Yet, beware the echoes in the night

For darkness lingers, out of sight.

The ghastly figure contorted, howling in pain, and the pulsating vines recoiled. As the room returned to its normal state, Jimmy found himself alone in his parents' room. Tremors subsided as he cautiously descended the staircase. The once-distorted house now stood eerily silent, its unsettling atmosphere lifting. Outside, the moon cast an ethereal glow on the woods, now tranquil and familiar. Jimmy hesitated wondering if his journey had been a nightmare. Yet, a haunting whisper still lingered in the wind.