Short Horror Stories

The Whispers of Willow Lake

The night before, Archie's sleep was plagued by a nightmare that clung to him like a shroud. A disembodied voice echoed in the darkness, whispering a chilling prophecy: "Tomorrow, your little friends will lose their lives." 

He awoke in a cold sweat, the words lingering in his mind.

Shaking off the unsettling dream, Archie went about his morning routine. He picked up the children from their homes, their excited chatter filling the bus as they headed towards Willow Creek Elementary. The sun was shining, and the world seemed normal, but the memory of the dream lurked at the back of his mind.

As he drove along the winding road that skirted Willow Lake, a sense of unease crept over him. The air grew heavy, and a whisper pierced the cheerful noise of the children. 

"Archie..." The voice was soft, almost seductive, but it sent shivers down his spine.

He tried to ignore it, but the whisper grew louder, more insistent. His hands began to move on their own, the steering wheel turning towards the lake. Archie fought for control, but it was as if an invisible force was guiding him.

The children's laughter turned to screams as the bus veered off the road. A young voice, filled with naive delight, cut through the chaos. "We're playing in the lake! Yay!" The other children joined in, their cries of terror morphing into gleeful shouts.

Archie struggled to regain control, but it was too late. The bus hit the water with a sickening crunch, and the world went dark.

He woke to the sensation of cold water filling his lungs. Panic seized him as he realized he was trapped. The children's voices had gone silent. With a desperate surge of adrenaline, he managed to unbuckle his seatbelt and swim towards the surface.

Gasping for air, he looked back at the submerged bus. The children were still inside. Guilt and horror washed over him. He had failed them.

Archie stumbled towards the road, his clothes soaked and his mind reeling. A patrol car appeared, and he frantically waved them down. The officers were shocked by his disheveled appearance and his incoherent story. But when they saw the submerged bus, they immediately called for help.

Archie sat in the back of the ambulance, his gaze fixed on the lake. The rescue team was working tirelessly, but he knew it was too late. He had led those children to their deaths.

A sudden gust of wind whipped across the water, and Archie's breath hitched. Standing on the shore was a hooded figure, its face obscured by shadow. "I told you, yes?" the voice whispered, echoing his nightmare.

Archie's heart pounded in his chest. He tried to speak, but no words came out. The figure raised a skeletal hand, and a chilling wind swept across the lake, carrying the whisper away. Then, it was gone.

Archie was left alone with the weight of his guilt and the horrifying realization that he had been a pawn in a sinister game. The whispers of Willow Lake would haunt him forever.