The Backroom and Other Short Horror Stories

There's Always Tomorrow

The soft beach sand slithered under his feet as he walked by. The gentle waves of the ocean lapped at the shore. The setting sun glowed on his left side, helping him keep warm in the littlest way possible. His breath materialized in the thin air as he breathed. His covered body shivered like a jitterbug. What was strange was that he wore a scarf wrapped around his neck and mouth, yet he could see his breath as clear as day.

He stopped and looked at the setting sun. Out there, only the gray waves and sky were able to be seen. Odd-shaped waves appeared like tiny islands, but they for sure couldn't stay still. Despite the depressing scene, he couldn't feel anything but hope.

"There's always tomorrow," he mumbled to himself, blinking at the yellow star in the sky.

"But what if tomorrow never comes," said a ghastly voice next to him. He didn't have to look to know who said it. 

Beside him was a lost spirit that always followed him. It was nothing more than a black blob with a tiny tail attached to it. The only thing it spoke about were depressing and anxious thoughts. Everyone had one of these spirit things attached to them, but only he could see them. But, he couldn't hear anyone else's but his.

He clenched his fists a little, but he's grown used to the backlash. He's tried snapping back and attacking it, but that does nothing more than make him look like an insane person. Research has gotten him nowhere. He just has to live with the annoying thing.

While staring at the sunset, he pulled out his phone and looked at the latest message he sent, which was to his parents in a group chat. He looked at his parents' information.

Last online one year ago.

Sighing, he put the phone away and focused on the waves.

"Do iiit," the spirit cackled. "Kill yourseeelf."

But only the sound of the waves filled his ears. It was all he needed to hear. It was all he needed to focus on. It was all he needed to feel hope.

"Hey," shouted a different voice. He turned to see a teenage female around the same age as him, standing far away from him. "It's cold out here. What are you doing at a place like the beach during this weather?" She ran up to him.

A spirit larger than life followed her. It only wrapped its long tail around her body, but even that almost covered her. 

There was one thing the boy found out. The larger the spirit, the more you are suffering. Never has he ever seen a spirit as big as the one he was seeing right now. Through the girl's gentle smiles and beautiful appearance, a great deed was weighing on her heart.

"It's not that cold," he said back to her, taking in the icy air. "And I like walking on the beach. No matter the weather."

"She hates youuu," said his spirit. "She's messing with you. You're a foool. Kill yourseeelf."

The girl's smile grew a little wider. "Still, you must be freezing. Where do you live?"

He hesitated. Blinking, he pointed to a direction to his left.

"The old town? But, that place shut down years ago. I didn't know there were still people living there."

He lowered his head. Her eyes widened and she frowned, when she realized he didn't have a home to go back to.

"You're worthleeess." The spirit circled around the boy, increasing in size. "You're homeleeess. You're worthleeess. You're homeleeess."

"Do... you want to stay at my place for the time being?" She held out her hand, but did not have the courage to look him in the eye.

He stared at the hand, unsure of what to do next. He found himself holding hands with the girl before he could make a decision.

"She's tricking youuu," said the spirit, floating in front of him. "She hates youuu. She will kill youuu. Kill yourseeelf."

"Well, shall we get going?" The girl smiled at him again. 

"Yeah." The boy turned off his phone in his pocket.

There's always tomorrow.