Short Horror Stories

The shadow by my window

It has been a couple of nights since it started.

I live on my own, in an apartment on the fourth floor.

I've been living here for a couple of months now and before nothing special happened.

My bedroom has three long, thin windows, all on the same side.

They reach from the floor to the ceiling.

Of course because of this I also have longer curtains to cover them up, which I usually close at dusk.

Tired, but unable to sleep, I lay in bed.

When I turned towards the window I suddenly stopped halfway.

There was a figure standing outside.

I blinked, unsure if what I saw was real.

I've never seen someone standing by the window... It isn't even possible for someone to do so.

There's nothing someone would be able to stand on, even a cat would find it difficult.

Slowly the figure seemed to raise an arm(?) and started knocking on my window.

Softly, gently, but I could feel a chill run down my spine.

Unlike some, I am not a brave person.

Bravery and stupidity are close friends. I remember telling myself.

When I was finally able to avert my gaze, I turned my head the other way, so I could see the time on my alarm clock.

3:01.

It was the middle of the night, no opening doors or windows.

I looked back at where the figure had stood, but noticed it gone.

Could I have hallucinated it?

I'm not a stranger to strange dreams, but I've never had one feel this real.

The next night, the figure appeared again.

Knocking, just as gently as before.

The wind blowing past my window sounded strangely like whispers.

I'm unsure... but I think the new one had already taken its place outside another window.

This one did not move though.

Did the first one take a friend with them?

Unlike the other one, it seemed more animalistic, making scratching noises outside my window.

Like a cat trying to claw its way in.

That was the last time I saw the two strange shadows and before I knew it I had completely forgotten about them after a couple of weeks.

I lost track of time, working on the project, while listening to music with headphones in.

Suddenly the music stops and I take it off to see what's wrong with it.

3:00

"We knew you were awake." A whisper behind me tells me.

Slowly I turn around and see a shadow behind each window.

They're with three now.

The last one is bigger than the other two.

Unable to help myself, I ask: "Hello?"

All three shadows who had first remained still, now all start moving.

I can hear the glass tremble.

I can hear the glass being scratched on louder, as if something is trying to engrave its claws inside it.

The gentle knocking from before has changed into slamming.