Short Horror Stories

The invitation

I thought it strange when I suddenly got an invitation from a friend of mine whom I had long lost contact with.

We hadn't seen or been in contact with each other since our academy days.

Apparently he had gotten married and had a young son. The reason why he contacted me was because he knew I had studied medicine and wondered if I could possibly help him with his sickly child.

The same day as his letter arrived I wrote a response and sent it his way.

I wrote that I accepted the invitation and was planning on taking the first train toward his home.

We were quite close in our academy days after all, I'm still embedded to him for saving my life once.

I hope I can be of some help to him.

As I wake up early the next morning I gather the things I might be needing and take off towards the train station.

I sit down at an empty seat and place my luggage behind my legs.

The train ride feels quite long. When I look outside I can see trees and farms rush by.

Suddenly a young girl comes up to me, no older than ten.

She looks up at me with big blue eyes.

"Is something the matter, young lady?" I ask.

"Mister, you should return home." She answers in a clear, serious voice.

Uncertain on how to respond to the child I only smile back at her.

"You really shouldn't go there, there are bad things where you are going." She insists.

"A friend of mine needs my help and I'm already on my way to him. I can't just abandon him."

Quickly I look around and finally spot a woman who seems to be the mother of the child.

She speedily walks over to us as she spots her child: "Laura, don't be so mean to that gentleman." She scolds her daughter.

"I'm so sorry sir, Laura, my daughter can say some strange things sometimes."

"It's okay." I answer.

"But mommy, he's going to the bad house. They might not let him out."

Somehow the strange words of the child sends shivers up my spine, yet I try to make it look like it didn't do anything.

Is going there really the right choice?

Laura's mother wishes me goodbye and quickly takes her child away from me.

As I look outside my doubts start returning and I start asking myself more and more questions, causing me unable to concentrate.

Thus I decide to read something, anything and end up with yesterday's newspaper.

I read the ads over and over again until the train finally comes to a halt.

I take my suitcase and leave the heavy vehicle behind me.

The place my friend settled is nothing less than a mansion, his family has always been one rather wealthy.

The mansion is in the middle of the woods.