Short Horror Stories

A knock at midnight

There is a knock on the door.

Soft and gentle.

Surprised, I look up from the orange flames which had taken my full tired attention.

The dancing of the flames and the warmth had almost made me doze off into a dream.

I look around.

Outside I can hear the wind.

I cannot even hear the birds.

Which is strange, I should at least have heard the owl close by.

The world outside my windows has gone pitch black.

I wonder if I were to go outside, if I would be able to see the stars.

The interior of my home is small, all the rooms are in the same space, except for the bathroom.

I'm a hunter and this is my cottage.

I live deep in the woods and normally I don't get any visitors, so it's even stranger that it seems to be that someone is at my door right now... In the middle of the night.

It's so quiet I start to think that I might have imagined it.

Perhaps it was just a bird, perhaps even one of those who are able to repeat such a sound perfectly.

Another knock.

A little louder this time.

Carefully I get on my feet, the crackling of the flames feels to be the only thing keeping me brave.

No one should be here at this hour in this place.

Just who would be out there?

Ever so slowly I make my way towards one of the windows closest to the door.

I have yet to close the curtains and feel a bit chilly by the thought of whatever is out there, being able to see in here perfectly.

Something being able to look at me even though I am unable to look at them.

As expected, I'm unable to see anything.

My eyes are too used to the bright light.

A thought enters my mind.

What if it's someone who's lost?

What if it's someone in need of help?

Or perhaps someone here to warn me, against... I don't know... a fire?

Shakingly I place my hand on the door handle and turn the key.

Slowly I open the door, revealing the dark abyss outside.

At first I don't see anything, but then as I lower my gaze I can see the person who knocked on my door.

It's a small child.

Or at least it looks like it.

Something about it feels just wrong.

Perhaps even uncanny.

The child, looking perfectly calm, tilts their head.

"Mommy?" The small voice asks.

I am not a mother, could they have mistaken me?

I'm not imagining it... something is wrong about the creature before me.

The longer I look at it, the stranger it becomes.

I don't think that whatever is standing before me... can be classified as human.