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How-tos for all things horror; tips and tricks to help you write like Stephen King, tell a scary story, keep the monsters at bay and more.
How to Throw a Paranormal Party
Paranormal Theme Party A paranormal party is a very creative theme for a party as there's so much you can do with this. From ghosts to fortune telling, zombies, aliens, and more, you've got a theme that will definitely capture your guests' imagination with a creepy atmosphere and supernatural activities. Ready to get started?
By Janis Masyk-Jacksona day ago in Horror
Karak Highway: Malaysia’s Most Haunted Road — The Ghost Stories That Still Terrify Drivers at Night
Then there are the roads where you must take them, and there are roads where you take them but hope to not see anything strange along the way. Karak Highway in Malaysia is just like that. Spanning the landscape of the mountains connecting Kuala Lumpur to Pahang, the road is a vital passage for many motorists who use it daily. Though it may appear serene during daylight hours, due to its scenic surroundings, it becomes something else after midnight. There is a long history of motorists narrating stories of strange cars, apparitions, children appearing by the roadside, and other inexplicable occurrences that have established the highway's reputation as a legend among the country's haunted roads. In turn, the road itself is an ancient one. Built in the 1970s to replace the previous Kuala Lumpur-Karak route due to its dangerous mountain road, the construction of this road started in 1974 and the road itself was finished in the late 1970s. The road had many engineering feats but one of the most impressive was the Genting Sempah Tunnel, which was the first highway tunnel in Malaysia and was opened in January 1978. However, under the surface of this modern road lies a memory of horrible crashes. One of the most tragic accidents on this route took place in 1990. The crash involving a bus, a lorry and several other cars resulted in 17 people's death. And with time stories about car crashes and fatalities started becoming a part of the road's ghostly lore. Next were the tales. Of these, the tale of the mysterious yellow Volkswagen Beetle stands out. A tale has been told by motorists, wherein a yellow Volkswagen comes up unexpectedly on the road in the middle of the night. This car could be driving slowly in front of the car they are driving in, almost as if tempting them to overtake. However, upon doing so, a strange thing happens. Sometimes, the car disappears. At other times, motorists have reported finding no driver inside the vehicle. Such tales have been told so often that this mysterious yellow Volkswagen seems to form part of the legend of Karak Highway. However, there is no independent confirmation of the supernatural nature of this car. There is another terrifying tale involving a young boy. One popular version of this tale has it that while travelling at night, a motorist meets a child by the roadside. He stops his car because he was scared and the boy tells him that he needs help or asks where his mother is. Upon leaving, the tale links the boy to an old incident wherein a mother and her child had died or got separated. It is this particular aspect of the legend about Karak Highway that leaves its mark on some people’s psyche: the idea that one may encounter a kid alone near a dark road where no kid should be present at all. The legends also talk about something similar to Pontianak, moving shadows and eerie noises coming from the roadside. Motorists said that some times they were faced with the appearance of figures in front of them that vanish after only a few seconds. Are these really ghosts? As far as we know, there is no scientifically proven existence of supernatural creatures living in Karak Highway. Most legends remain either an oral tradition or internet rumors whose details vary every time they are retold. And yet legends do not require scientific proof to scare. Karak Highway runs through dark woods and mountains. At night, there can be fog making visibility poor, headlights can only light up a portion of the road, and a car’s sound might sound weirdly distant. Throw in the accidents and ghost stories that have occurred over the years, and your simple ride turns into one scary experience. Maybe that’s why the stories still persist. Since once you’re on Karak Highway at night, in the dark, alone, you might find yourself wondering what’s lurking ahead around the next bend. And if a yellow Volkswagen happens to appear before you… Would you dare to pass it?
By Kyrol Mojikal5 days ago in Horror
Chiang Mai University Haunted Dormitory: Who Is Walking Upstairs After Midnight?
Over the years, Chiang Mai University has not just been a place to learn. Established in 1964 as the first public university in the north of Thailand, the University has evolved along with the city. The dormitories that exist at Chiang Mai University have played an integral part in the lives of its students, considering the way the university had been structured with a residential setup allowing for living, learning, and forming friendships among students. Today, there are many student residences within the university, which include some of its older male and female dormitories. While the university calls its dormitory system “living, learning and caring,” history of the university is also responsible for giving it another name—one associated with mysterious noises, bizarre events, and ghostly appearances late into the night. One of the most popular legends is attached to Female Dormitory 7. Based on the legend, there was a case of a young female student who was either raped or attacked by an unknown person and subsequently murdered in the dormitory. The circumstances under which the supposed murder took place are different according to the version of the legend and there is no official document confirming the crime as described in the legend. Nonetheless, the legend has been widely adopted by the university community. However, the most horrifying aspect of this legend occurs after midnight. It has been said that, once the dormitory corridors are completely quiet, there may be heard a peculiar rhythmic sound from the staircase. "Pok... Pok... Crued..." The sound has been compared to a person climbing the stairs. Based on the legend, it is the ghost of the murdered student that makes such a sound, supposedly returning to the place of her death. There are versions of the legend which state that the sound starts at the bottom of the staircase and grows louder the closer it gets to the top. These people were warned not to investigate the issue. This legend became so widespread that it found its way into Thai popular culture. The legend of Chiang Mai University ghost was turned into a horror film anthology titled "Haunted Universities" in 2009. However, what about the proof of the presence of a ghost? There is no scientific proof such as any photos, recordings or forensic investigations showing the existence of a supernatural being in this dormitory. The majority of the evidence can be attributed to testimony of students and stories that are handed down from generation to generation by the residents of the dorm. Some students claimed that they heard mysterious sounds, like footsteps in deserted hallways, doors opening and closing without any visible reason and some odd noises from staircases during the night. Moreover, there is an interesting historical fact that makes the ghost stories associated with Chiang Mai University so persistent. In the early days of the university, some areas near its premises remained relatively undeveloped and wooded. University officials confirm that the legends of ghosts and specters had spread among the student population, and that spiritual rituals had been conducted at the university to reassure the terrified students. None of this proves that the dormitories are haunted. Old buildings could be creaky, and wind, plumbing, and animal sounds along with noises made by other tenants could be the cause of such odd sounds. But this might be exactly why the Chiang Mai University dormitory ghost story is so powerful. The buildings are real. The history of the university is real. The students who claim to have heard something are real. What cannot be proved is the identity of the source of the noise. And for the students moving down the empty stairs of the dormitory after midnight, this difference does not matter. Because when the corridor falls quiet and that first “Pok… Pok… Crued…” sounds out of the dark downstairs, the oldest question of Chiang Mai University gets asked again: Was it just a noise… or was there a visitor coming up the stairs?
By Kyrol Mojikal11 days ago in Horror
They Built a Luxury Hotel… Then Abandoned It: The Haunted Phuket Resort
There are a lot of beaches and luxury resorts on the island. Every year millions of tourists come here seeking sun, relaxation, and adventures. However, there are some locations in Phuket which are less known because they have an unusual, dark, and even mysterious atmosphere. One of such places is an abandoned Phuket Peninsula Spa & Resort which is located nearby Nai Yang Beach and is known for paranormal legends and ghost stories. This abandoned resort looks interesting because it was not just an old hotel which was closed after many years of working. This place was supposed to be a luxury development which was never finished and opened for people. The abandoned and unfinished resort was left to nature and to the weather. The resort was supposed to be an upscale development which would be located near Nai Yang Beach and Phuket International Airport. According to reports of the early 2000s, about 56 luxury apartments and seven villas were planned to be constructed. The location was quite attractive because the development was going to be located among tropical landscapes and near Phuket beautiful coast. At first, it seemed as though the project had a promising future ahead of it. The Hyatt Hotel chain had reportedly been involved with ideas of running the development, and Phuket Peninsula Co. had been behind the project. Nonetheless, major issues arose in relation to the development, including whether the area was encroaching onto land linked with the Sirinat National Park. The building was eventually halted and the luxurious resort left unfinished. An odd-looking abandoned building resulted from this venture. While many of the abandoned buildings tend to be completely ruined, portions of the resort had reportedly remained looking as though construction simply stopped. The resort had bathrooms, mirrors and other fitting amenities installed in the rooms and even some remnants of the luxury that it was supposed to provide remained visible. Except for that – nobody came. With time, the area started growing vegetation. The walls of the buildings became weathered, their windows broken and rooms darker than ever before. However, another very strange incident occurred in February 2013 on this property. According to The Phuket News, about 60 to 70 percent of the roof was damaged in the fire. The fire was highly unusual, because it appeared that the electricity supply had been cut off in this property for many years. In this regard, it was impossible that the fire was caused by some electrical malfunction. As a result, the police began investigating the theory that the fire was caused by accidental ignition by those who entered this abandoned place. Thus, another element of mystery was added to this abandoned property. It should be mentioned that all mysterious stories about this abandoned place started appearing when this resort was abandoned. It was reported that the visitors to this place felt very uncomfortable atmosphere and even fear in this resort. In addition, some guests heard strange sounds in empty rooms or hallways. Others felt as if they were being watched during the exploration of this deserted place. Among the most common legends that are related to the resort, one says that the spirits of those who had some connection to the abandoned resort come back at night. It is said that there are some odd figures that can be spotted in the rooms and around the resort as if it was still operational in some parallel world. The legends go even further and say that ghostly guests gather inside the abandoned complex, making use of the rooms and other services, although the resort has not been in use for years. Also, there are legends of some spirit that was tied to the owner or people involved with the construction of the resort. The spirit is supposed to haunt the resort and scare anyone who enters the abandoned buildings or tries to take away anything from the resort. Nevertheless, there is a difference between legend and proof. There is no scientifically proven information about the haunting of the Phuket Peninsula Spa & Resort. There are no scientifically proven pictures, videos, or investigations which prove the existence of any ghosts in the place. The majority of the stories are associated with visitor experiences and some other urban legends. However, there could be many different normal explanations for all the strange stories which have been told by the visitors. Any abandoned buildings have the ability to make weird noises due to the changes in temperatures and the movements of the wind through damaged windows and even animals in empty rooms. Darkness can turn normal things into scary images, while the information about the haunted site can make people overly attentive. However, the absence of any proof has not prevented the resort from becoming part of the list of mysterious abandoned sites of Phuket. Maybe the most intriguing aspect of the Phuket Peninsula Spa & Resort is not really about a ghost at all. It is about an idea of luxury which never materialized. This place was built for vacations, for relaxation, for creating positive memories. Yet, it turned into empty structures, deserted and ignored. Rooms intended to be filled with guests gaze out at the tropical landscape but no one occupies them. This abandoned resort proves how fast things can fade away as soon as plans, finances, and legal issues start clashing with each other. But there will always be people who are interested in the unusual, paranormal. An abandoned luxury resort, incomplete rooms, an incident with a fire, many years of neglect and rumors of unexplained encounters – it is the perfect recipe for creating a modern legend about a haunted place. What is not known yet is whether the weird phenomenon observed by people visiting this place is really a ghost or something else. But if at any time you find yourself close to Nai Yang Beach and start hearing tales about an abandoned hotel hiding behind the bushes, keep in mind that the real story of the Phuket Peninsula Spa & Resort already has enough mystery in it. And after the night covers the ruins of the deserted hotel, it becomes clear why some people are convinced that the hotel was never really empty. Maybe the visitors just left. Or maybe, according to the legend, they never did.
By Kyrol Mojikal13 days ago in Horror
Inside Japan's Most Gunkanjima Primary and Middle School: The True Story Behind Japan's Most Haunted Abandoned School
The Gunkanjima Primary and Middle School is located on Hashima Island also known as Gunkanjima or "Battleship Island". This school is one of the unsettling ruins in Japan. The island is famous for its history and its eerie concrete skyline.. The deserted school is what people talk about when they share ghost stories and paranormal legends. The empty classrooms, broken windows and silent hallways make it a haunting place.
By Kyrol Mojikal2 months ago in Horror
The Terrifying Mystery of Oinosaka Bus Stop: Japan's Most Haunted Roadside Legend
Hidden along a mountain road in Japan is Oinosaka Bus Stop, one of the countrys lesser-known paranormal hotspots. Oinosaka Bus Stop has a reputation for being a spooky place. People who live near Oinosaka Bus Stop have been telling stories about it for decades. These stories are about things that cannot be explained. The History of Oinosaka Bus Stop Oinosaka Bus Stop is near Oinosaka Pass in the Kansai region of Japan. This area is surrounded by forests and steep hills. A time ago people used to walk through the mountain pass to get to other towns. It was an important route. However it was also very dangerous. The weather was bad. There were landslides and accidents. When buses started running they replaced the walking routes. Oinosaka Bus Stop became a place where people could wait for the bus.. It is really far from everything and it gets very dark at night. There are no houses nearby. There are no streetlights. This makes it a scary place. It is the place for ghost stories. People who live near Oinosaka Bus Stop say that a time ago a girl was hit by a car near the bus stop. She was trying to cross the road because she missed her bus. Even though people tried to help her she died. Now people think that her spirit is still at Oinosaka Bus Stop waiting for a bus that never comes. There are no records that prove this story is true.. People have been telling it for so long that it has become a part of the local folklore. The story has changed over time. Each generation adds new details to make it even spookier. Ghostly Encounters and Paranormal Evidence A lot of people say that they have seen the ghost of a girl wearing a school uniform at Oinosaka Bus Stop. They say she appears at night standing under the bus stop shelter waiting for the bus. When people try to talk to her she disappears. Some taxi drivers say that they have picked up a passenger near Oinosaka Bus Stop. The passenger does not say where they want to go. They do not talk at all. Then when the driver looks in the mirror the passenger is gone. People who drive by Oinosaka Bus Stop at night say that they have seen a girl standing on the side of the road.. When they get closer she disappears. Some people say that they feel really sad or scared after this happens. Others say that the temperature in their car drops suddenly. People who try to find ghosts at Oinosaka Bus Stop say that they have recorded voices. They sound like a girl whispering in Japanese. Some people say that their cameras stop working or they take pictures of lights that they cannot explain. At night people say that they can hear footsteps coming from Oinosaka Bus Stop.. When they go to look there is no one there. Others say that they can hear the sound of a bus engine even though there are no buses scheduled to stop at that time. Some people say that they feel really cold when they stand near the bus stop shelter. This cold feeling goes away after a seconds and it is not because of the weather. The Role of Folklore The story of Oinosaka Bus Stop is like a lot of other Japanese ghost stories. In Japan people believe that when someone dies suddenly or in a way their spirit can get stuck in the world. These spirits are called yūrei. They often go back to the place where they died. They do the same things over and over again. The story of the girl waiting at Oinosaka Bus Stop is like this. Whether or not the girls spirit is really there the story is about loss and sadness. It is about things that are not finished. These are themes that are found in a lot of folklore. A Place That Continues to Inspire Mystery Today Oinosaka Bus Stop is a place that people visit because they want to see something. Most people do not see anything. Some people say that they feel like they are being watched. Others say that they experience things that they cannot explain. There is no proof that ghostsre real.. Oinosaka Bus Stop is still a really spooky place. The combination of the story the paranormal activity and the scary atmosphere makes it a place that people will keep talking about. Oinosaka Bus Stop is a place that makes people wonder about the difference, between what's real and what is not. It is a place that will keep on being a mystery and people will keep on visiting it because of that.
By Kyrol Mojikal2 months ago in Horror
Takayama Horror House (Gifu Prefecture): The True History and Ghost Stories of Japan's Haunted Attraction
Buried deep inside the historic city of Takayama, in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, the Takayama Horror House is one of the creepiest modern attractions in the country. Contrary to castles and deserted hospitals, which gained their horrifying reputation due to hundreds of years of tragedies, the Horror House uses folk ghost beliefs, urban legends, and stories, which cause doubt about the reality of everything terrifying visitors. Despite the initial purpose of entertaining thrill-seekers, the haunted house has been shrouded in many paranormal stories throughout years of existence. The attraction was inspired by the traditional Japanese horror that is based on fear of the mind, but not on fear itself. Yūrei, Japanese ghosts, usually appear in stories that describe people's souls which are unable to leave their world due to betrayal, vengeance, or suffering. The creators of the Takayama Horror House used this concept for the creation of elaborated sets, darkened corridors, empty rooms, and eerie sound effects typical for traditional Japanese horror movies. Based on locals' testimonies, this attraction was created as a replica of an ancient abandoned medical building where inexplicable vanishings and deaths happened. Visitors are encouraged to explore the dark corridors while trying to uncover the fictional history of this building. Though the official history is meant as a fun experience for visitors, some employees and guests report experiences that could not be simply attributed to the effects of acting. Unexplained whispers are one of the most frequently heard stories. Guests have claimed hearing whispers that called their names even though there were no actors around. Usually, such whispers are heard from the rooms that appeared to be empty according to the images captured on the security camera. Some guests report hearing whispers that were very close, as if someone was whispering right into their ears. The second common occurrence involves the sighting of a young lady in white. She appears for just a few seconds at the end of a hallway and then vanishes around the corner. According to staff members, when they search the place, they do not find anyone there. The mysterious figure matches the image of traditional Japanese ghosts and has been considered among the most popular legends about the Horror House. It should also be mentioned that there are cases when employees faced some strange occurrences after closing time. Lights turned on on their own during regular checks, doors opened for no particular reason, and sounds of steps were heard in places where no people could possibly be. It is believed by some paranormal aficionados that the very nature of the attraction can trigger supernatural events. According to the Japanese myths, places which keep their focus always on fear, death, and spirits will eventually develop an aura of negative spiritual energy. If the above-stated assumption is true or not, is impossible to verify, but it adds to the mystique of the Horror House which has been increasingly famous among ghosts hunters coming to feel supernatural presence amid the deliberately created fears. Electrical phenomena are yet another common theme in visitors' stories. There were cases when visitors encountered troubles with their cameras including loss of power and appearance of inexplicable images like shadows or humanlike figures. It is quite possible that there could be other reasons for such events, but nevertheless it helped to feed assumptions about the presence of supernatural forces at work within the premises of the attraction. Psychological reactions are just as prevalent. Many visitors speak of a strong feeling of being observed throughout the experience. Chilling sensations have been reported without the need for cold weather or air conditioning, while other people claim to feel sad upon entering certain rooms of the house. Paranormal enthusiasts view these psychological occurrences as potential signs of spiritual presence in the area, whereas those with a more skeptical mind set believe they are easily produced by the attraction’s atmosphere. As opposed to many other haunted attractions located within Japan, there are no known cases of real murders or accidents or even supernatural incidents that occurred at this location prior to its development into a tourist attraction. The majority of frightening reputation of the place is based on personal experience of visitors and local legends about the area. As it happens with most haunted spots, separating fiction from reality is not an easy task. In today’s time, Takayama Horror House still attracts many visitors who look forward to the best horror experience in Japan. Whether the supernatural encounters at Takayama are real paranormal activities or merely due to the great dramatic effects, it is still questionable. In any case, the haunted spot has found its permanent place in the list of modern haunted places in Japan, where legends and imagination meet to give an incredible feeling to the visitors.
By Kyrol Mojikal2 months ago in Horror
Mori no Hakan (Ura Sano Villa): The Haunted Abandoned Mansion Hidden in Wakayama's Forest
Buried under the thick foliage of the Wakayama Prefecture in Japan is an eerie abandoned place in Japan that is not widely known about. This location is known as Mori no Hakan or more simply as Ura Sano Villa. The reason why Ura Sano Villa is quite famous is due to its reputation of being a place where many weird things happen. Although there is no concrete evidence for most of the terrifying events occurring at the location, the fact that the place is abandoned in itself is enough to attract people. Unfortunately, there are not many reliable historical facts about the origins of the abandoned villa. Different from other haunted spots, which usually boast extensive and proven pasts, there are few official sources regarding the date of construction and the initial owner of the villa. It seems that according to all the information available, the site used to be the personal holiday retreat of somebody, and then it was simply left there to decay with time passing by. As years went by and the structure remained vacant, many stories about it started spreading among the local inhabitants and adrenaline junkies. People either said that something bad happened in the house, or there was something spiritually eerie about the whole forest around it. There is no historical evidence whatsoever that could prove the truthfulness of any of those stories, but they are an important part of the recent folklore associated with the place, attracting many paranormal fanatics from all over Japan. People who visit the house often experience a sensation that they are being watched. Some people have also heard the sounds of footsteps coming from the deserted rooms where there were no people at all. The same people say that sometimes they hear whispers, crying, or faraway voices although everything is eerily quiet around the deserted structure. The most popular ghost story that tourists tell is a black shadow, which usually emerges on upper floor levels and dark passages. Visitors usually claim that they saw a silhouette of a man standing still and then vanishing in just a few seconds. Moreover, many tourists state that the figure appears just in the peripheral vision and thus make people think whether they witnessed the paranormal occurrence or invented something. Another common event that happens in Villa Planchart is the spontaneous opening and closing of doors and windows. Even in spite of its poor state, people exploring the place report strange sounds of doors slamming. It has even been told that tourists have seen rooms being closed despite the fact that minutes ago they were opened. Additionally, electronic equipment including cameras and voice recorders tend to malfunction at times. Mori no Hakan's surroundings add much to its sinister appeal. Tall trees keep out most of the sun, making the place feel isolated even in broad daylight. Tourists frequently describe how quiet the place is, except for the sound of wind whistling between the trees. There are those who say that they have been hearing footsteps behind them while walking in the forest but have not seen anyone. Though there are many ghost tales about Mori no Hakan, it must be noted that none of the paranormal stories have been proved scientifically. The majority of the stories are based on witness testimony and rumors spread on the internet. Yet despite this, the abandonment, mystery and haunting nature of this place make it one of Wakayama Prefecture's most haunted sites. Even in today’s world, the spirit of the place of Mori no Hakan still serves more as a symbol of mysteriousness than of the real supernatural phenomena. It doesn’t really matter whether people come here because of belief in these ghosts or just because they like the feeling of visiting such abandoned sites, but one thing is clear: this villa continues to enchant those interested in Japanese legends.
By Kyrol Mojikal2 months ago in Horror
"Don't Read This Alone: What Happened to Me at [Place]"
# The Night I Questioned Everything *What started as a normal night ended with me questioning everything.* --- It was a Tuesday. I remember that detail clearly, because Tuesdays were never supposed to matter. Tuesdays were for laundry, for reheated leftovers, for falling asleep on the couch with the television murmuring something I wasn't watching. Nothing happens on a Tuesday. That's what I believed, right up until 11:47 PM, when my front door creaked open on its own.
By younas khan3 months ago in Horror
The Last Stop
I. The Night Bus Daniel Voss missed the last train by four minutes and cursed his luck under the flickering station lights. The only option left was the night bus — Route 13, a line he'd never heard of, idling at the curb with its headlights cutting weakly through the fog. The driver was an old woman with milky eyes and skin like folded paper. She didn't ask for his fare. She just nodded toward the seats, as though she'd been expecting him. The bus was nearly empty a man asleep against the window, a woman knitting something gray and shapeless, a child staring out into the dark with no expression at all. Daniel took a seat near the back and tried not to think about how none of them had looked up when he boarded. The bus pulled away into a fog that seemed thicker than any fog had a right to be. II. Wrong Streets Twenty minutes in, Daniel realized he didn't recognize anything outside the window. The streets were the right shape storefronts, lampposts, the occasional parked car but the names were wrong. A bakery he'd walked past a thousand times now read BREAD in a language that wasn't quite English, the letters swimming slightly if he looked too long. He pulled out his phone. No signal. No map. The little blue dot that marked his location simply wasn't there, as if the GPS itself had forgotten where the Earth was. He glanced at the other passengers, the knitting woman, the sleeping man, the silent child, and noticed they hadn't moved an inch since he'd boarded. Not a shift in posture. Not a blink. "Excuse me," he called to the driver. "I think this is the wrong route." The old woman's eyes found him in the rearview mirror. "Every route is the right route," she said. "Eventually." Daniel's stomach turned cold. He pulled the cord for the next stop. The bell rang, sharp and metallic, but the bus did not slow down. III. The Passengers He stood, gripping the seat rail, and made his way toward the front. As he passed the sleeping man, he noticed the man's chest wasn't rising. As he passed the knitting woman, he saw her needles moving through nothing no yarn, no thread, just two metal points clicking together in the shape of work that had never existed. The child turned its head, slow as a clock hand, and looked directly at Daniel for the first time. Its mouth opened, but the sound that came out wasn't a child's voice. It was layered, like a recording playing under another recording. "You'll get used to the dark," it said. Daniel stumbled backward into his seat, heart slamming against his ribs. He thought of every late night he'd ever spent waiting at empty platforms, every time he'd told himself one more stop, one more hour, the work will wait, life will wait, sleep will wait. He thought of how many small surrenders it had taken to end up on a bus with no name, heading nowhere, four minutes after the last real train had already left. The fog outside had turned to something closer to smoke, curling against the windows like fingers testing for a way in. IV. The Fare The bus finally slowed. Outside, Daniel could see nothing but darkness pressing flat against the glass, no buildings, no streetlights, no sky. The old woman turned fully around in her seat for the first time, and her face, in the dim cabin light, seemed to shift younger, then older, then something that wasn't a face at all, just an idea of one. "This is your stop," she said. "I never paid," Daniel said, voice shaking. "You said I didn't need to." "Everyone pays," she said. "Some pay first. Some pay last. You're a last-payer, Daniel. I could tell the moment you sat down." The doors hissed open onto nothing a darkness with depth but no floor, no walls, just an absence waiting to be filled. Daniel understood, with the clean horror of absolute certainty, that if he stepped through those doors he would not be coming back, and that no one would ever know to look for him, because no one ever really notices the moment someone boards the wrong bus. He ran. Past the silent child, past the knitting woman and her empty thread, past the sleeping man who would never wake, and threw himself against the rear emergency exit. It opened impossibly, mercifully onto the ordinary, fog-wrapped street he recognized, the real station lights blinking weakly half a block away. He hit the pavement hard and didn't stop running until he reached his own front door. V. After Daniel never took the night bus again. He left work early from then on, never let himself be the last one on a platform, never told himself "one more minute" again. He still doesn't know whether Route 13 exists in any schedule, whether anyone else has ever boarded it, or whether it's still out there, circling, waiting for someone willing to cut it close just one more time.
By Asghar ali awan3 months ago in Horror
The Mirror's Hunger
I. The New House Mira Castellan had always loved old things old houses, old furniture, old stories nobody believed anymore. So when she inherited her great-aunt's crumbling Victorian on the edge of Hollow Creek, she packed her bags within a week, ignoring the warnings of relatives who called the place "unlucky."
By Asghar ali awan3 months ago in Horror
