Short Stories Under 500 Words

The Woods.

Twigs snapped with every careful step in front of them.

The flashlight in their hand quivering and shaking even when they were stood still.

A loud howling behind them and trees blowing in the wind.

Questioning whether they should shout out for their missing friend, they decided against it. What if someone other than Anthony heard them? And what if that person would come for them?

Slightly hyperventilating now and swear more profusely than before;they placed their steps even more precisely than before.

The flashlight flickered and went out.

"Shit!" They whispered. "Keep calm, Alex. It's just a light, you still have your phone it's okay." They said calmingly to themselves.

Sussing the area for any signs of life first, they reached into their pocket and pulled out their phone.

Surprised, Alex scrolled through their notifications. 36 new messages from Anthony.

But he'd been missing for an hour.

Alex looked through them the first and last one standing out the most, the rest being gibberish.

The first one read. Go into the woods to find your friend, or he might not make it out alive.

And the last one being, turn left now and go in the house.

Alex turned the light on their phone and pointed it left. And behold, an old desolate house stood strong.

Shivering as a cool breeze brushed passed, their heart beat faster by the minute.

Stepping closer and closer every heart beat.

Breathing harder and harder.

Stepping faster and faster.

Whipping wildly wind washed the cobwebs away from the door.

And Alex brushed their hand nervously through their hair and placed their hand delicately on the door handle in case the decrepit house suddenly broke apart. Twisting and then carefully shoving the door open.

They stepped in with a careful anger.

Anthony stood in front of the opened door and screamed. High pitched and clawed at his face as if there was a mask on that he couldn't get off.

Bent over in pain Alex managed to pull themselves back up and was wrestling with Anthony.

Skin peeled off underneath his fingernails and blood covered them both. "Ant, stop man." Alex pleaded.

Anthony stopped clawing for a minute and nodded.

Alex sighed and relaxed.

When Anthony's hands reached up and shoved Alex to the ground. He clawed his hands at their eyes and was ripping and pulling at the precious skin protecting their muscles.

Ruthlessly and disastrously the blood coated the floor like a thick layer of snow on Christmas.

Anthony climbed off of Alex and a figure emerged from the dim corner. A hand landed on Anthony's shoulder, "Good boy." It spoke out. "Now heel." They said as they left the small building.