Tales From The Crypt

Short Horror Stories #5

#24

I've been blind since birth. This in and of itself is not what this is about, but it's a crucial part of the story. Throughout my life, I've used lots of different kinds of assistive technology; braille keyboards, voice command apps, adapted smartphones... Recently, I tried human echolocation for the first time in my life. For those of you who don't know what this is, it's a technique emulating that of how bats find their prey in the dark. By making clicking noises with your mouth, you are able to hear the sound bounce off of objects it hits, and in that way "see" where the objects are. A friend of mine, let's call her "J", had seen a couple of videos about it on Youtube, and asked me if I had ever tried it. I told her I hadn't, though I had heard of it.

Long story short, I decided to test it out. It took a lot of concentration at first, but after a few days I felt like I started getting the hang of it.

The next time I met J, she sounded excited and congratulated me when I told her I was doing really well. Practice makes perfect, and I was able to avoid any major obstacles without much trouble. We went to a park, and J asked me to demonstrate what I could "see" around us with my current abilities. I laughed, and told her that I'm not exactly Daredevil, but that I'd give it a go. After a few clicks, I told her I thought there was a small wall or building to our left, and a tall thing in front of us. It was "blurrier" for me to make out, so I guessed it was some kind of bush. J got quiet then, and had a hint of worry in her voice when she spoke again. "Well, you're right about the wall... but there's nothing in front of us at all. Just... grass."

I froze. I knew that I was a beginner at this, but the sound clearly bounced off of something. It was much taller than a person, and only a few steps in front of us. Could I have messed up what I heard that bad?

  I decided to laugh it off with J, and said that I apparently wasn't ready to go out and fight crime just yet. Feeling very uneasy, I hurried us away from there, and we continued our walk. By the time she dropped me off at home, she seemed to have forgotten about it. I doubt I ever will.  

#25

I bolted upright in the bed not sure what I expected to see, but knowing that something had startled me awake. Moonlight filtered in through the window and I shivered despite the unseasonably warm temperature. After a few moments I heard it; a soft tapping of fingers against glass. Slowly I turned my head to the window expecting to see some horrible creature lurking there with sharp fangs and terrible claws — but there was nothing. There wasn't even wind to knock the branches against the window. Cautiously I slid out of the bed and looked out the window, feeling relieved to see there was nothing outside.

"Just hearing things." I murmured coming back to the bed. I wasn't used to sleeping alone but my partner was away on business. Surely it was just the change in routine startling me. Moments before getting into the bed I heard the tapping again, slightly louder this time; less hesitant. I spun around, sandy blond curls sticking to my suddenly sweaty brow. The window was clear. A still and empty sky allowed the full moon to illuminate the ground below revealing no one or thing outside.

This time a loud banging, behind me; llike fists pounding on glass trying to escape. Against my better judgement I crossed the bedroom to the bathroom, resting my hand against the warm wooden door before pushing gently. A bit of moonlight spilled into the room. Nothing different or odd, nothing jumping out but... I shivered again and leaned over to light the candle I knew would be to my left. The warm glow seemed much brighter then normal and I jumped when I caught my reflection.

"It's just me..." I trailed off as the 'me' in the mirror raised it's hand before flashing white fangs and shattering the glass.

#26

I sat on the bus, on my way to school.

Listening to music, and paying little to no attention to the other students.

At one of the stops my mind snapped back to reality.

I looked towards the small house. Tommy's house, I thought.

A hand slipped through the drapes of the window and waved the bus driver to move on.

'He's sick', I thought, paying no large amount of attention to the situation.

The day flew by.

I watched the local news channel after school, and what I heard paralyzed me.

Tommy's entire family was murdered that day by an unknown suspect.

After hearing this news, I moved back up to my room and quietly fell asleep.

The next day, I sat on the bus.

We drove past Tommy's house and the bus driver, unaware of Tommy's families fate, stopped at his home.

As I was about to get up and explain to her what had happened, something caught my eye.

A pale hand slipped through the drapes of the window, and waved the bus driver to move on.

I sat on the bus, terrified.

#27

I have a beautiful smile. Oh, how I miss it. This morning, I wake up and I smile at my bedroom mirror. I am disappointed at what I see. I kiss my husband, I send my two children off to school. I entertain guest friends. I show them all my lovely smile. But I look in the mirror and I do not see it.

"Are you ready?" Harry calls from the parlor.

"Yes, my love." I reply as I clasp a string of polished pearls around my neck.

"Oh fantastic, the children are with Mrs. Knox, and the dinner reservations are all set for eight o'clock sharp." Harry beams as he enters our bedroom. He crosses over to me and puts his arms around my waist and tells me how darling I look tonight.

I embrace him warmly. But suddenly I feel his arms stiffen.

"V-Vivian?" Harry stutters.

"Yes, dear?" I answer sweetly.

In horror Harry raises a shaking finger over my shoulder and points at the old full length mirror against the wall.

"Your reflection... it can't be... is it staring at us?!"

I turn and see her there, gazing intently. She throws herself against the mirror. There is no sound, only deafening silence. Harry, help me! she mouths as she batters the surface with her fists.

I feel my eyes narrow at her. Harry looks back and forth between myself and my abhorrently perverse reflection.

My limbs begin to elongate and dear Harry's blue eyes widen. He shrieks and struggles as I grasp him. My jaw detaches. My face contorts and splits open at my mouth, my teeth like shined and piercing knives.

Vivian claws at the mirror. She beats against it as I devour her helpless husband.

Perhaps now she will learn to smile for me.