Short Horror Stories

The Nightmare

Imagine everyone you know in one room. Now imagine everyone you will ever meet in that room, as impossible as it may seem. Now imagine they are all sitting in rows like church on Sunday morning and talking. Imagine you are the only one who knows something is wrong.

As you look ahead, a strange light show captures everyone's attention, like they are being hypnotized, and then, like nothing ever happened, they go back to talking away.

Imagine that while all this is happening, a man is covered in ash, with long black hair covering his eyes and a long nose.

Imagine you can save one person from what happens next.

Here's what may happen. At least.... here's what I did.

As the man steps out, I know I have one chance. One person to save.

As I look around the room, I see my friends on the far left. My best friend, who I've known for years, my crush, my friend, I would call my sister. I then look to the middle rows of the people I don't know. And finally, to my family in front of me. My mom, my sister, my dad, and I make my decision. I save my mom and sister. And at that moment, I don't care if I sound like a horrible person by saying that.

They leave as the man comes up to me. A shiver passes through me at his appearance.

He stops in front of me, and even now, I don't remember all the words he told me that night. All I remember is yelling at him, but no one noticing. I remember him giving me a sinister smile and telling me that I'll never be able to save everyone. That I will stand and watch as everyone in the room dies. Eventually.

He then (and this is the most confusing part of the experience) he then burns me from the waist up, still talking about all the ways he will ruin my life. Then he burns the rest of me.

Now.... imagine that the last thing you see or hear in this situation is everyone you know burning.... as you also burn, and not knowing if the screams you hear are yours or theirs.

Now you know what true nightmare is.