Short Horror Stories

Dandelion from Hell

It was during the late evening when I had embarked on my walk. I had been planning on heading home before dark but by the looks of it, that wouldn't happen. I had walked maybe half a mile to the forest at the edge of town only stopping once to get a 69¢ cherry slush from the gas station. It'd been maybe an hour since I entered the forest, now around six or seven pm. I wasn't sure where I was. Somewhere along the way I had ventured off the path and had gotten myself lost. The only things I had to accompany me were my half dead phone playing some music and the soft crunch of sticks and leaves beneath me. It was growing colder as the time passed. Being in early March, the winter hadn't entirely passed. Soon a thin layer of fog began rolling in. I knew this was going to cause me some trouble. I was already lost and with the fog becoming thicker and thicker each passing second there was little to no hope that I'd ever find my way out of there. It only took a minute, seconds even, before the fog was so thick that I could hardly see my hand if I held it out. I used my phone as a light, hoping maybe someone would see it. I recall shouting in the hopes that someone would hear me. "Hello? Is anyone out there? I'm lost and I can't see anything!" Perhaps a park ranger or another civilian would hear me. I hadn't seen any signs of life since it started getting dark. At that point I had become desperate for company, even if it were a squirrel scurrying away from my voice, or a bird taking flight to find a quieter perch. "Hello?!" I shout again. Nothing. Maybe I should have taken that as a sign, maybe I should have stopped and found shelter till the fog cleared. Maybe my shouting is what drew it near. I don't know but whatever it was, I wish I never called out to it, as soon I had seen a dim light in the distance. I could see it sway and move and soon as I got closer I could see the silhouette of a human holding a light. "Hey! Over here! Oh thank God I am so glad to see another person. I thought I was all alone and lost. Hey you don't happen to know which direction town is in, do you?" I got no reply. The silhouette had ceased movement but no words left their mouth. "Hello?" I walked closer. Maybe I should have ran, I probably would have escaped it, but I was foolish. I drew near, now able to see that the source of light seemed to be a ball of fire at the end of a stick. The flames sway and flickered, crackling and whirring. The silhouette seemed to be of a woman, but I could make out no features. The fog was still far too thick to see any details, but even then I should have seen the fire move. Before I knew it the ball of fire came flying only inches from my face, singeing the tips of my hair and barely missing the tip of my nose. I stumbled back, falling flat on my ass and scraping my hand on sharp rocks and twigs as I caught my fall. Not even seconds later I had jumped up, darting off in the opposite direction of that, that hellish ball of fire. It was clear it was made of matches and metal, however the matches didn't seem to be burning, seemingly to be designed after an ever burning dandelion. A dandelion from hell. I ran, as fast as I could trying to escape it, but I could hear the crunch of twigs and leaves as they kept pace, the crackling of the flaming false flora never quieting. I could feel the heat as they swung it at me, barely missing the fabric of my thick jacket. Every time I felt the flames graze the back of my neck, I pushed forward, hoping that they would cease chase and I could escape. Abruptly the footsteps behind me seemed to disapear, almost instantaneously, as if my prayers came true and a god made the psycho behind me dissapear. Something told me, however, that it wasn't over. That if I stopped, even for a second, I would be caught, and that ball of fiery death would crash against my skull. Somehow I knew they hadn't given up chase and were just laying in wait for me to stop to take a breath. I continued to run, out of breath and tired, lungs burning and legs feeling as if they were bleeding. I wouldn't stop until I knew I was safe. Eventually I came to a cave, finally feeling as if I could sit. I grabbed a large stick at the entrance and I entered. I used my phone as a flashlight to see as I sharpened the stick on the cave walls before sitting, facing the entrance. I haven't let my guard down since. I went out once to grab some sticks to start a fire so I could stay warm. I don't know how long I can stay awake for, so I'm getting this all out as fast as possible. My phone is at 10% and it won't last much longer. I don't have enough service to call police, and even if I did I doubt they'd find me through this relentless fog, especially now that it's night. If I don't make it out of here, mom, dad, I love you. I'll miss you. Jason, take care of my cat, okay little bro? And I'm sorry for eating your cookie and saying it was the dog. I don't know when I'll be seeing you all again, if ever, but I hope I do. Bye for now, and maybe forever.