Short Horror Story

By Selin Genc

I drove across the appealing country roads, the azure sky filled with clouds above. A nice peace washed over me as the cool breeze whipped my hair around, the strands veering side-to-side. I noticed something was missing… Ah yes, the radio. I reached over and turned the knob, resuming the music. But something hot and runny pulled me out of my zestful reverie. As my eyes caught sight of it, a deep sense of foreboding ran down my spine. Blood. The liquid coated my hands and was pouring out of the cracks in the radio, pooling onto the floorboard. Before I could scream, my car crashed into something, sending the vehicle spiraling against the road. My vision blurred as I found my way out of the car. A large, dark figure was standing in the middle of the road, staring and smiling at me. I slowly advanced toward it, my fear replaced by adrenaline. The figure addressed me as if we were friends from long ago.

“There you are,” It said, its voice full of prestige as if it had been waiting for years to find me. I stood still, glaring at the figure for no particular reason.

“Who are you?” I finally said, voice not as confident as I wanted.

“No one,” It smiled, showing its many teeth.

“Go away.”

“No,” It said simply.

I grew frustrated and raised my voice, “Go. Away!”

It looked at me with fake sympathy, growing closer, “No, I’m afraid you’ll never get rid of me. No matter how hard you try, I will be there. For every birthday, every funeral, every sleepover you attend. I’ll be by your side for your wedding, I’ll watch your baby while you're on your dates. When you bake desserts I’ll sit on the counter, watching you carefully. As you party with friends, I’ll stand in the corner, waiting for you to notice me. And when you do, we’ll make eye contact, and I’ll smile. I’ll always smile. I’ll never stop smiling. And then, as your body is being lowered into the ground, I’ll frown, because you won’t see me anymore. But until then, my mouth will always be stretched in a smile. Good night, sweet dreams.”

. . . . . . . . . . .

I woke up in a cold sweat, my heart beating at a million beats per minute, it felt like my heart was about to explode into a million pieces. What a strange dream… I think to myself as I walk to the bathroom. Finally, I was fully calm. No more creepy monsters, no blood, just me and myself, alone… Well that was until I lifted my head to see the mirror. It was staring at me, and just as it promised, a smile was plastered on its face.....