The depth of short stories and micro-fiction 2

Snoozing With The Creature of the Night

As the sun set on the quiet suburban street, Diana couldn't help but feel a sense of unease wash over her. The rumours had transpired for weeks since the new family had transferred next door. Everyone in town was convinced that they were vampires.

At first, Diana had dismissed the whispers as mere gossip. But as the days went by, she noticed incomprehensible things about the new family. They only came out at night, their windows were always covered in thick curtains, and they seemed to have an aversion to garlic.

Despite the eerie atmosphere surrounding the new family, Diana was surprised when she received an invitation from the kids, Emily and Tim, to spend the night at their house. The invitation was written in purple marker on a black card, and it read: "Come join us for a night of fun and games! Don't worry, we won't bite... hard."

Diana's initial instinct was to decline the invitation, but something about the message drew her in. She had always been fascinated by the supernatural and the unknown, and the prospect of spending the night in a supposed vampire's lair was too enticing to resist.

As she walked up to the house, Diana couldn't help but feel a shiver run down her spine. The windows seemed to loom over her like empty eyes, and the front door creaked ominously as it swung open. Emily and Tim greeted her with wide smiles, their eyes gleaming in the dim light.

"Come on in, Diana!" Emily chimed, taking her hand and leading her into the house. "We're so glad you could make it!"

As they walked through the dark hallway, Diana noticed that the walls were adorned with strange symbols and artefacts. There were ancient-looking books on shelves, their leather covers embossed with mysterious symbols, and the air was thick with the scent of incense.

They finally reached a door at the end of the hall, which swung open to reveal a cosy bedroom filled with stuffed animals and board games. Diana breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that maybe the rumours were just that – rumours. Maybe this was just a normal family after all.

But as they settled in for the night, Diana began to feel a creeping sense of unease. Emily and Tim seemed to be watching her, their eyes gleaming in the dark. And then, there were the whispers. Faint at first, but growing louder, the whispers seemed to come from all around her, speaking in a language she couldn't understand.

As the night wore on, Diana tried to shake off the feeling of unease. They played games, told stories, and giggled like normal kids. But now and then, she would catch a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye – a flash of fang, a flicker of scales.

It wasn't until they decided to play a game of "Truth or Dare" that things took a dark turn. Emily and Tim seemed to take the game to a whole new level, asking questions that made Diana squirm with discomfort. "Have you ever kissed a boy?" Emily asked, her eyes glinting in the dark. "Have you ever seen someone die?" Tim chimed in, his voice dripping with morbid curiosity.

Diana tried to laugh it off, but the questions seemed to crawl under her skin. And then, it was her turn to ask. "Are you guys vampires?" she asked, trying to keep her voice light.

The room fell silent, and for a moment, Diana thought she saw something in Emily's eyes – a flicker of warning, a flash of danger. But then, the girl just smiled and leaned in close. "Would you believe us if we said yes?" she whispered.

Diana's heart skipped a beat as she shook her head. "I don't know," she lied, trying to keep her voice steady.

As the game went on, Diana began to feel a growing sense of unease. She tried to convince herself that it was just her imagination, but the whispers in the darkness seemed to grow louder, the shadows on the walls twisting into sinister shapes.

It wasn't until the clock struck midnight that Diana realized she was trapped. The doors and windows seemed to be sealed, and the only way out was through the front door, which was now locked and bolted.

As the night wore on, Diana's fears were confirmed. Emily and Tim began to change, their bodies contorting into grotesque shapes. Their skin turned pale and translucent, their eyes glowing in the dark.

Diana tried to scream, but her voice was trapped in her throat. She was paralyzed with fear, unable to move or escape. And as the vampires closed in, their fangs bared and ready to strike, Diana realized that some secrets were better left unspoken.

The next morning, the police found Diana's parents frantically searching for their daughter. The house next door was empty, the windows open, and the front door unlocked. But as they searched the house, they found a note on the kitchen table, written in Diana's handwriting: "I'll never tell."

The neighbours reported seeing the new family moving out in the dead of night, their furniture and belongings vanished into thin air. As for Diana, she was never seen again, leaving behind only the whispers of a dark and sinister secret.