Short Horror Stories

Perfect human

"Let us begin the lesson, dear angels." The teacher smiles at his many young students who all calmly sit behind their desks.

What was I doing again?

The lesson starts, with or without my memory.

Perhaps I will remember if I just pretend to know?

Still it's strange, why is it gone now?

I don't remember my name or where I live.

Am I even able to remain calm until the lessons are over?

Struggling, I try to finish my assignments.

Are these really meant for children?

Suddenly the teacher stands up, still smiling.

Did they notice?

"You may now take a break." I feel relief wash over me.

I currently don't really want to tell them, so I follow others leaving the room.

The bathroom is not difficult to find.

The moment I enter I get the feeling someone is staring at me.

I wave, only to find out it was just my reflection, there's no one else here.

Taking a look at myself I note that I'm just like the others in my class.

Dressed in the same uniform.

Is this a boarding school?

During lunch only a couple of kids go off to play in the playground, while the others are either just watching, eating and doing homework.

Honestly I don't know what to do, I secretly feel compelled to go over to the ones who actually act their age...

But something feels really wrong.

Indecisive, I look around and notice a little girl my age quickly hiding away from my gaze.

Slowly, making sure not to alert any of the others I make my way over to her.

As she sees me approach, I notice her trembling.

What is her reason for being so afraid of me?

"Hey... are you okay?" I ask as I stretch out a hand towards her.

"Are you going to eat me too?"

Huh?!

"Why would I do that?" I slowly start to wonder if I might have been a bully.

Slowly she seems to get more comfortable: "So... you're not...?"

I shake my head: "Why would I do something like that?"

"Y-you're not acting like you..."

Ah... so I was a bully? Also someone noticed...

I lower my head, maybe I can tell her?

"To be honest, I don't know what happened, but I forgot somehow..."

"Forgot?"

I nod, a little embarrassed: "My name, hobbies and even my parents..."

It stings as I tell her, I feel the panic I've been holding back for so long flow back into my chest, tightening it.

As I turn my head up again to look at her, there's a hopeful glint in her eyes.

"So... You're still human?"

"Human? Isn't everyone?" I ask, but notice halfway through my words how obvious it was.

Many of my classmates have not acted the way they should at all, even the teacher... There's something so terribly wrong with the teacher.

The girl shakes her head.

"I'm dead."

Only now I notice I can just see the wall right through her.

"I was human until they broke into my body and used it as their own."

What...?!

"What do you mean?"

I can hear some of my classmates starting to walk towards the entrance again.

Robotically, way too grown-up.

With a hurried tone the girl whispers to me: "You have to go or they will notice!"

I nod: "I will see you afterwards."

"You better don't, both for you and me. They might eat me."

Without answering I try to walk towards the group as casually as possible, imitating the rest.

"And remember class, in order to become a perfect person..."

I zone out, the words feel awfully wrong.

Kids shouldn't act like this.

So grown-up, it creeps me out, even as a child myself.

Something is wrong with this school.

Where even are our parents? Are they just like the teacher or students?

But no matter how hard I try, I don't remember anything.

Before I know it the lesson has finished and some of the other kids and my teacher suddenly stand around my table.

Startled, I stand up, but get pushed down again.

A stern look from all of them, nothing child-like about it.

"You went through the same process as us to gain a vessel, why are you acting like this?"