Spooky Short Stories Collection

Abandoned

Abandoned. That's what it is, I thought as I approached the decrepit building. The walls appeared to have been painted but the pale colour had faded with age, some of it peeling, exposing the rusty-red bricks beneath. Grimy windows were dotted around the walls, portals into the darkness within. Many were simply shells, however, with jagged glass protruding from the edges. It had three stories in all, each more looming than the last. Some people claimed they'd seen faces in the higher windows. I didn't believe them.

Slowly, I walked through the clanky gate and upto the mouldy, wooden door. It was slightly ajar, welcoming me in. As I stepped over the threshold a wave of chilly air hit me and enveloped me, a thin mist appearing. It was so cold I could see my breath. I squinted in the half-light but could find no discernable source of the cold air. Shivering, I ventured in further, down the hallway ahead of me.

Soon, I came across an old dresser. Atop it was an empty ornate frame and a candle. Quickly, I struck a match and lit the candle, holding it up to peer at my surroundings. It was then I noticed that the frame wasn't empty. I wiped away the dust on the glass, revealing the words: “Leave now!” etched into the back of the frame in blood-red ink. Stupid kids, I thought, probably thought they could scare someone. Rolling my eyes, I turned towards the wall, holding up the candle to provide some light.

The wallpaper had flowers on it. Pink, purple and blue. Some of the wallpaper was curling at the edge and some sections were completely bare all together. I turned a corner and happened upon a dingy living room. All the furniture was still there, laid out as if someone still lived in the house, although it had been moth-eaten. The sofa and the armchair were covered in the same flowery pattern as the walls in the hall, as were the ones in the room. Everything seemed so much more ethereal in here though. Ghostly even. It seemed that if you reached out to touch anything, it would simply disappear.

As I gazed around the dimly lit room, my eyes landed on one of the far corners. The wallpaper was peeling here and beneath was something red. The same red as was in the picture frame. I reached up and tugged at it gently. It came away easily. Once I had taken it all off, I took a step back to look at what I'd found. More writing. Crimson writing. This time it was streaky. And dripping slightly. It read: “Those who enter, never leave. This house may look nice but don't be deceived.” I tried to explain it away but this seemed far beyond a children's prank. At the bottom of the message, the word “beware” was written; and beside it were two initials, “RH,” I whispered. Another, gust of air knocked me backwards, making me stumble. Eventually, I tripped and hit my head on a mahogany table. I opened my eyes to see a figure towering over me. He wore a black suit but he glowed slightly. I couldn't get up or move at all. It was like he was pinning me to the ground, but he wasn't touching me.
     “You called?” he snarled, a sinister smile creeping across his face. His eyes shimmered and everything went black.

When I came to I was where I remembered. On the floor. In the living room. But something was different. The room was full of people. Their clothes ranged from the 18th century to modern.
     “He got you too, huh?” a young woman asked, sadness in her eyes. She held out a hand and I took it. As she helped me up, others turned and stared. “You're one of us now,” she said, “I'm so sorry.” She paused, “And I'm sorry for the young boy.”
     “What young boy? ” I questioned, glancing around the room but seeing near to no children.
     “That young boy.” She pointed me to the window and I obliged. Outside was, indeed, a boy, not much older than me.

    “Abandoned. That's what it is.” I heard him say. How wrong he was. How wrong we both were...