Book Of The Apocalypse

The not-so-genius detective

I recently decided to challenge myself to write a non-horror short story.

This is my first time attempting to write a story that is supposed to be funny.

When I told my family about this they asked me if I was sick...

Without any further ado, I would love to hear what people think of this attempt at a comedic story:)

Word count: 2076

TW: Profanity (Doesn't go much further than 'shit' though)

“And this is detective Jayden Falkenstein.”

My boss has his hand on one of the shoulders of some kid, while looking like a proud father.

“That’s your nephew isn’t it?” I remark.

The chief looks astonished: “Oh my, you’re already familiar with him?”

“No.” I answer honestly: “But I feel like there’s something you too have in common.”

The man laughs as if I was giving him a compliment: “Oh well, he’s actually a lot brighter than me.”

“You wouldn’t say.” I scan the child before me with my eyes, there’s just something… terribly annoying about him. His clothes are made of many bright colours that don’t go well together, making me believe that he might be color blind. He looks unprofessional and attracts way too much attention.

His face bears the expression of a terrified child trying to hide his fear, with a look of fake confidence that is way too easily shattered.

There’s just no way that he’s a detective.

“So, sir, is he going to work here with us? Like an intern or something?” Or is he here to be baby-sitted by one of us? I secretly add.

“Oh, no, no, no. We need my dear nephew here to help us solve something.”

“Is he good with computers?” The chief is old, maybe that’s the problem? Was an IT-guy too expensive?

“I told you before, he’s a detective.” The man’s face turns serious, he must have noticed that I’ve been having difficulty with believing him.

His nephew must really want to play detective, there’s no way he went to school for it. Let alone leave with diploma in hand.

“You two are about the same age, so I expect you two to get along.”

“Around the same age?” I ask dumbfounded. I know the chief is getting old, but does he really have such difficulty with discerning 15-year olds with those in their twenties? It’s just impossible, he doesn’t even look close. And his terrible sense of fashion…

That and I don’t believe he would even be allowed to take his first driving lessons, let alone be allowed to step inside a bar.

The kid smiles at me: “I’m twenty-five, you know. I heard that you’re two years older.”

What…?!

I shake my head: “You’re not allowed to lie to a police officer, show me your ID.” I gesture to him to hand it over.

“Officer Coldon!” The chief calls out to me in frustration.

But the ‘detective’ hands me something “Here.” he says in a kind tone.

I take the object not really taking it seriously, until the picture and text reaches my sight.

…

…

He really is…

I feel utterly flabbergasted and it takes me a bit to finally find my composure again. While double checking if the ID is real or not.

I cough: “So chief, what’s the plan?”

The man in question looks at me still slightly annoyed: “Well, we got a message from the art gallery asking for help. Someone is threatening to take down the building.”

“I see, have they had the thread on paper or via mail?”

“Paper. The author of the note mentioned something like ‘sneaking inside like a snake’.”

“Can I see it?” I unconsciously reach out, hoping for him to give it to me.

Instead the older man shakes his head: “It’s being analysed by the lab right now. And it’s almost time to go.”

“Already?” The detective asks pouting.

That really can’t be an adult…

Both me and Jaiden get sent back home to change into more formal wear.

I’m lucky that I live quite close by to the gallery itself, I can head straight to the building.

After quickly finding something I believe to be fitting for a guest, I leave my apartment behind and walk to the place the chief wants us to meet up.

It’s in a park close by, I see they were able to get a normal looking van.

Then the other thing that I notice…

As if someone had eaten rainbows and puked them back out…

I frown and try to look away from the almost glowing thing standing before me: “Hell no, you’re not getting in there dressed like that!”

Surprise, surprise… It’s Jaiden standing before me, dressed in a manner even a freezing and naked hobo wouldn’t want. That hobo would most likely prefer to die.

Unconventional, torture to the eye itself. That describes it at best. I can feel the shame… Yet he does not seem to show that at all.

He’s comfortable in that?!

Detective Falkenstein looks at me with a smirk: “Well you’re dressed way too fancy for someone just visiting a museum.”

The audacity.

Suddenly the chief pulls both of us by our collars: “Damnit, both of you, get changed!!”

Both are forced to change on the spot for more casual looking clothes.

As we enter the building I glare at my colleague that did get his way by secretly keeping his God awful looking shirt underneath, slightly better looking clothing.

The chief had decided that the two of us have to partner up. There are others that are doing the same, but are given different routes to walk.

“So, one ticket for an adult and one for a child?” The lady behind the counter asks, taking my thoughts of annoyance to another place.

“I-I’m sorry ma’am, could you repeat that?” I’m pretty sure I heard something wrong.

“One adult.” She nods towards me, speaking almost in slow motion: “And one child.” She nods to Jaiden.

Immediately I shake my head: “That’s a grown man.”

A mischievous smile crosses my colleagues face, one I don’t like the look of.

“Sorry ma’am, my dad is only joking.” He takes my arm and I do my best to resist the urge to slap it away.

The lady behind the counter smiles a little, though clearly with murderous intent when her eyes rest on me.

Then she turns back to Jaiden, a soft smile crosses her face: “Would you like to participate in the scavenger hunt?”

The idiot smiles brightly: “Yes please.”

We get the tickets and I hear the lady whisper to one of her colleagues: “He’s so polite, he really did not get that from his dad.”

The other nods, “Yeah, he probably has a much better mother.”

When we’re finally out of hearing range, I pull the detective closer to me in anger: “That’s illegal!” I whisper-yell: “With our job we need to set a good example!”

Jaiden smiles carefree: “We also aren’t allowed to stand out.”

I hate to admit it, but in a way, just a tiny bit, he has a point. I better talk it out with him later.

Or perhaps I should set him the good example.

Engrossed in the piece of paper that was handed to him earlier, he mumbles: “Hmmm… where should we go next?”

It really isn’t the time to go on a scavenger hunt.

We soon find ourselves inside a long hallway, the walls are neatly lined with many paintings each in slightly different colours and moods.

I can understand why people calls this true art, the way the emotions are showing, the dreams and ideas of their creators all come together in one-

“That one looks super ugly!” My colleague bursts out in a loud laughter.

I look at him threateningly, but he doesn’t seem to notice at all.

“That…” He points at it: “Is truly the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen. No one would want it on a t-shirt. They did call this art right? Is this the collection of the ugliest man-made squirts?”

“Jaiden!” I hiss his name at him to quiet him down, but it only seems to show him that I’m still here.

He turns to me, ignoring the emotions that I’m clearly showing and asks a question in an annoyingly casual way: “So, the scavenger hunt is asking me to give this one a name. I’m thinking of ‘barf in the barn’ or ‘shit cow exploding’…”

He’s asking me.

Damnit, how clueless can a person be?

I take a deep breath to calm myself down: “We should continue to the next.” I try to remind him. There’s no time to be loitering around here, we have a criminal to catch!

I cannot truly see what this painting means, but I bet it has something to do with the painter's hidden anger bursting out. I think to myself as we’ve entered another hallway and a painting has taken my attention.

“Ha, a six-year-old could do better.”

I’m a cop. I remind myself. Murder is a crime.

Though I need to repeat it multiple times in order for it really to seep into my mind.

Continuing on I suddenly notice someone in the crowd acting strange.

A man is staring at a painting, without moving or even blinking at all.

Is he even still breathing?

Carefully as to not get his attention I glance his way a couple of times.

Trying to concentrate, I think about what I should do.

Should I let my other colleagues in- and outside know?

Or should I-

Crunch…

Crunch……

The sound of someone eating right next to me takes me out of my train of thought.

Guess who it is…

Jaiden…

Again.

Yep. That’s right…

He’s eating a bag of chips.

I’m thinking of ripping the thing out of his hands, but he walks off just before I’m able to.

You’re not allowed to eat inside this part of the gallery! I want to yell, but he’s already stepping towards the man I’m suspicious of.

I can see him say something to the suspect and then hold up his bag of potato chips.

The suspect is taken out of his trance and smiles, accepting the offer and taking some of the chips from the bag.

The detective comes back to me: “You know officer Coldon, not everyone is a suspect. That man was simply entranced by the painting. It isn’t pretty, the painting, but to him it feels like something special.”

I would love to be allowed to hit this kid over the head.

I remain silent, trying to show in this way that I still don’t agree.

“We should go this way.”

“Why?” I ask.

Did he suddenly have a good idea?

“The scavenger hunt continues down that hall.”

I follow him, tired out by my own anger and frustration.

I want to be part of what saves this gallery, but now I’m unsure if I can really do it.

“This has to be it!” Jayden suddenly calls out.

“Please lower your voice…” I feel too tired to lecture him again.

He picks up a random looking, empty piece of paper.

“This piece of paper must have another message… like with invisible ink.”

I swear I’m done with this guy.

“There’s no way…” I say, knowing that it’s clearly bull.

Not paying attention, while taking a few steps back, he accidentally bumps into someone.

“Ah, I’m sorry.” He immediately apologizes.

I guess he does have basic manners.

“Don’t worry, it doesn't matter.” The man he walked into answers in a kind tone: “It still happens to me from time to time as well.”

“Still I’m really sorry.”

Are these two going to keep doing this or are they finally going to stop and move on?

We still have to catch someone.

“Oh right, sir, do you happen to have a lighter?” Jayden quickly asks: “I need it for the scavenger hunt.” He points at the piece of completely ordinary paper.

“Oh yeah, I have one.” The man starts digging through his pockets: “Please do return it to me.”

“Thank you.” My babysitting job answers politely.

Carefully he lets the small flame from the dark metal object lick the paper.

As his face turns sour he finally turns off the lighter.

The paper really was just a piece of random paper.

Before returning it, he takes a quick glance at the small object in his hand. For a moment it looks like something clicked inside his mind.

With a smile on his face he returns the lighter to its owner.

“Thank you for letting me borrow this. Unfortunately it seems like this isn’t part of the scavenger hunt.” He hangs his head down showing rather theatrically his frustration.

“I see, well kid, I hope you find it.” The man takes the lighter and calmly walks away.

As the man has gone around the corner, Jayden suddenly jumps and pulls my sleeve: “That’s him!” He stops himself just in time from yelling: “The snake mentioned in the letter, it’s on the lighter! His means of destroying this place is by fire.”

Too tired to struggle, I press against my hidden earpiece and call for backup, giving everyone the best description I can of the suspect.

As we’re finally called back, the chief tells us that our suspects fingerprints matched that of the letter that was sent.

But a better investigation and court will be held later to find out what really happened.

I glance at my colleague.

I guess he might have his charms, solving a case might not entirely be beyond him…

Though dumb luck did most of the job.

But I still can’t get over his horrible sense of fashion!

Delivery

A short horror story I wrote:)

Word count: 1757

TW: Gore, psychological horror

Click, click, click, thunk!

It could not comprehend what it saw above us.

A scarlet red sky greets us as we finally left the dusty old warehouse.

Dark buildings casted their shadows over the old and empty streets, only letting red light stream into view at specifical parts, showing what I wish not to see, almost like a spotlight on a stage.

To be honest I’m glad that the package I have to deliver can walk by itself. The thing would be way too heavy to carry.

Standing slightly shorter than an adult, this porcelain-looking (I don’t know, I’m not the collector, might be porcelain after all) automaton, is the object I’m meant to deliver.

Since the world has gone to hell, I’ve been doing deliveries for people with money and resources that are too scared to get stuff by themselves.

It’s a dangerous job, but to survive in need of things like food. This, right now, is the most comfortable job.

I point towards one of the dark buildings, only one of the door handles on which can be seen the reflection of the red light.

The automaton turns its head slowly upwards to look at me and then turns its head to the door. I can hear the gears working overtime.

Carefully and slowly we make our way to the door.

At the door I stop and the package does the same.

I swear that is some great tech…

While readying my crossbow, I listen to all the sounds around me.

The trusty sound of my crossbow.

The gentle ticking of the automaton’s gears.

The dripping of water… or blood.

Then I turn my concentration to whatever is behind the heavy doors.

The quickest way to the point of delivery is right through this building, so there isn’t much of a choice. Of course I could walk around it, but the chance of being seen by monsters is too big of a risk and I’m unsure if the little one here can run or not.

It was so strange, well the whole thing.

The guy that wanted me to get the automaton… crazy inventors I guess.

I found the machine inside a coffin shaped box.

I was told that the machine could walk and that I should use that to my advantage, so of course I did.

I can’t carry a whole coffin in my lonesome, no matter how hard I train.

A soft sobbing behind the door takes my attention.

I listen more carefully.

There is a distinct difference between the cries of a monster and that of a human luckily.

So, there might be another survivor in there.

My hand hovers over the doorknob, which looks almost to be glowing thanks to the lighting.

I’m scanning it in a way, trying to sense if there’s any heat coming from it.

But there’s no warmth coming from it and as I finally lower my hand I feel the cold iron entering through my gloved hand.

It might sound bad, like it’s completely frozen, but it isn’t. It’s just clear that it has been a long time since the door was opened last.

As quietly as possible I turn the knob and open the door.

The heavy object lets out a, for my feeling, too loud creaking.

Immediately I feel cold sweat in my neck.

Slowly. Slowly. Slowly. Carefully. Careful. Be careful!

I nod to the automaton that it can enter, but it doesn’t understand.

“Get in!” I whisper to it.

I can hear some of the gears turn, finally it responds entering the darkness without a word or hesitation.

I follow suit and close the door behind me again, terrified that something might have heard it.

Suddenly I sense something moving.

There really is still someone in the building.

Let’s hope that it isn’t one of the insane roaming around.

The constant blood red sky doesn’t help much when it comes to calming folks down.

Exposed too long and one might lose their mind… or so is told. I haven’t had any trouble with it yet.

There’s a shadow moving, well more like trembling in fear, behind the altar.

The red light behind him exposes him to be a priest.

Calmly I walk forward, until I make out his wrinkled face.

The look he shows me is one of pure terror.

I lower my weapon.

“Good evening sir.” I greet him, while holding my free hand up in the air to show that I’m not planning to do any harm.

“Y-y-you’re not o-one of t-them?” He asks, still trembling and almost falling over his own words from fear.

“No sir, as you can see I’m not.”

I sense the ticking of gears approaching closer to me and the priest shrieks.

I see him opening his mouth to scream, but I won’t let him. In a flash I rush over to him and cover his mouth with my hand.

“I need to deliver this package in one piece, so please don’t give away our location.” Then I silently add: “That would benefit you too.”

I can feel the thin old body shaking in fear, making me feel bad for scaring him like this.

Slowly he closes his mouth again and falls to his knees.

Quivering he puts his hands together, but just before his two hands touch, he drops them to the floor again.

“We’re just passing through, I don’t have a problem with you praying.” I tell him in a gentle tone.

The old man shakes his head, his state says it all, he’s seen too much.

“I-I don’t think God i-is h-here.” He cries.

I’m not a person of faith, I never was, so I’m not sure what to tell him.

“Do… Do you think I-I’m wrong?” He asks after listening to my silence: “T-that there never t-truly was a G-God?”

I sigh, just what the hell am I supposed to answer to a priest who has lost his faith?

“Sir.” I bow down to him, holding out a hand for him to help him up: “I just deliver packages. I don’t know what is the truth and what isn’t.”

He doesn’t take my hand and instead turns his head to the dusty floor: “Perhaps the teachings were wrong after all…” He mutters more to himself than to me.

I scratch the back of my neck: “Well…” Don’t say it, just don’t: “There’s a place with other survivors I can bring you to, if you want that is.” Only in my head I add ‘You can talk about this stuff with them’.

But he shakes his head.

“Leave! You won’t understand!” His voice is suddenly filled with anger and frustration.

“We’ll be going anyway.” I shrug.

“Leave!” He yells again and I suddenly hear something big climbing over the roof.

I curse and quickly grab the automaton’s arm.

“We gotta go!”

We rush further back.

Back door. Back door.

Where the hell is the back door?!

Part of the ceiling breaks down and a huge, spider like monster drops down, casting the room in even more shadow.

I hear the priest scream.

The monster turns to him.

I can’t see anything, but the next thing I hear confirms my suspicion.

The crushing of bones.

The tearing of flesh.

The dripping of blood.

As I turn back to the machine, it seems almost as if it found the door.

It’s holding it open and looking at me with its normal expressionless face.

“Great job, buddy!” I whisper to him, taking his arm again and rushing back out into the crimson coloured streets.

In order to keep to the shadows, we enter another building.

I believe this was a university at some point, built around the 13th century.

It’s much bigger than the church.

Again I hold my weapon ready.

You never know, it’s because this building is so big, it could be a nest for those things.

“Let’s be quiet.” I whisper to the mechanical being next to me and immediately think about how strange it is to talk to it. It’s a machine, not a human or a pet.

But it’s nice to have something to talk to, even if it’s just a bundle of gears and porcelain. As long as it’s not a hungry monster I’m okay with anything.

While wandering around I sense something moving inside one of the rooms.

I stop in my tracks and as the automaton notices, it too stops.

I remain silent and listen to the soft noise.

There might be another person in that room.

Quietly I walk towards the door and open it.

A person inside is sitting behind a desk that I'm pretty sure used to be a teacher’s.

This person doesn’t look as frightened as the priest from before, or perhaps I’m imagining it.

“Oh… so you’re human?”

I nod: “What did you expect? Or what did you hope for?” I did notice the man’s disappointment even though it was just a slight hint.

He seems to have noticed that I noticed and turns his gaze back to something on the desk: “I used to teach here, you know.”

“I see.”

“Do you have any memories of attending school?”

I shrug: “Nothing that stands out, just a more peaceful life and worries about nothing.”

The man smiles, his face looks red in the light.

“I see, that must be nice.”

I take a step closer.

“What are you reading?” I ask curiously.

“A book of faith.”

“Faith?”

“It’s all true you know.”

“They mention the apocalypse and the end of the world.” As he speaks he loses his composure and starts speaking rapidly in a desperate tone: “It’s all because people went to church less and less. I never did after all and you certainly don’t look like the type that would. Oh God, I should have gone and prayed, but instead I’ve weakened the Lord’s power to protect. This is divine punishment.”

“I see.” I answer: “If you want to, I can take you to where the other survivors are.”

The teacher shakes his head: “Never! We are meant to perish! It’s the only thing that can save this forsaken world!”

Crap that only made him yell even louder.

I notice a strange shadow in the corner of my eye.

Something from outside is trying to climb inside.

Arms that almost look human, but also very far from it.

I warn the man by pointing behind him.

“God is the one who decides my faith! You should join me in it!” He stretches out his arms to grab me, but instead the creature behind him has already taken hold of him.

I don’t want to see what happens next, so I quickly rush out of the classroom, taking the automaton with me.

We rush out, further, out of the city.

Into a forest, here even the leaves are red, but not scarlet like the sky.

As I believe that we’re far enough away from the shadows of the old city, we slow down.

I take a seat on a tree trunk and let my traveling companion sit next to me.

“Don’t mind all those people, buddy, just decide what you want to believe for yourself.”

Slowly I see the automaton’s head go up and down and then up again.

Wait…?!

Is it nodding?!

Do you remember?

I hope you all had a great christmas!!

Here is another short horror story I wrote recently, that I thought to be fitting:)

Word count: 362

TW: horror

Do you remember?

The falling snow?

The warmth of the fire?

The kind smile on your mother's face?

That day we met... do you remember?

That day, many, many years ago.

When you came by and we became fast friends.

You were so kind.

I didn't have any friends, but you wanted to be mine.

I have always really appreciated that from you...

Your kindness.

Your openness to whomever, whatever...

Remember when we first played outside together?

The crunching of freshly fallen snow underneath our feet.

The woods surrounding your house, slowly getting darker and darker.

That day we completely lost track of time.

That day was truly amazing.

Remember that day when there was a snowstorm outside?

We couldn't play outside, so we sat by the warm fire in the living room.

We played with your toys and told each other stories.

I still remember all of them.

Do you?

Do you remember our first sleepover?

We talked and talked, until your mother came to your room, telling us to be quiet.

At night it would start storming and you tried to keep me from getting scared.

So warm, so gentle.

But now... you've changed.

You've... gone cold in a way.

Still breathing, yes, but you feel like a colder person now.

Do you even remember who you used to be? What you used to be like?

Has it really been that long?

Is there something I should remember?

When you just looked at me, you made a face like you were looking at vermin.

Remember the crunching of snow, remember the crackling of the fire, remember our laughter from those many, many days gone by.

I guess it's time.

Nothing else to be done other than this.

If I leave you like this...

You're going to be wasting away.

You're going to rot.

You're going bad.

You'll be spoiled before long.

I guess to you I might not even be vermin, I honestly think more that you might see me as a monster.

I'm different from you.

I scare you.

I scared your family.

Well I might be truly a monster to your kind.

Hiding in the shadows.

Eating creatures that are still alive.

Drinking their blood.

Most of your kind don't do that... right?

Or perhaps they do in some other way?

Do you remember?

Because I don't.

My head is too busy thinking.

Thinking about how I will stop playing with my food.

Yes, you guessed right.

You are.

Because if I don't... you'll expire.

The puddle

A short horror story I just finished writing:)

Word count: 469

While waiting outside, I spot something strange.

A puddle lighted by a street lantern moving in a rather strange manner.

It doesn’t take long for me to notice that it’s probably just the wind playing with it, just as the wind is playing with my hair.

Blowing it in and out of my face continuously, almost like a small child that just got its hands on a new toy. Tirelessly as if to signal that it will never bore.

Again my gaze wanders back to the puddle.

It ripples in a strange manner, almost as if something alive is in it.

But I know for certain that it can’t be anything, since it should be as shallow as any other small puddle on the neatly tiled streets.

Perhaps an inch deep at most, but most likely even more shallow.

The water starts to move around quicker and more wild, making me almost believe there to be a fish flopping about.

Perhaps it is a bird, who knows.

As I start to feel the slightest bit of guilt, of possibly letting some small animal die, I get up.

I slowly stand up from the cold bench and walk over to it… slowly… very slow.

Now the water seems to almost be dancing, dancing inside the small puddle.

Up and down it goes, now I’m sure the wind doesn’t have the power to do something like that.

As I gaze into the dark puddle, I can’t seem to find the bottom of it.

Is it just too dark outside already for me to spot this?

No, I can see inside the other puddles perfectly fine, the many lines of them neatly in rows.

Before I know it the darkness inside it seems to grow, the puddle has gotten larger and larger..

It can’t be!

I try to take a step back, but it’s as if the puddle itself has taken me within its cold gaze, staring back into my very core.

Nothing I can do about it, I stare back, into the cold wetness of its never-ending insides.

Something deep and dark is within it.

Would I seem possessed to those around me?

Well, I’m sure I’m alone though. It’s too late for someone to see me, for someone to stop this staring contest.

The water has calmed down again, as if seeing me has made it sink deep into thought.

Calmly it ripples again at the rules of the wind.

Then rapidly something comes out of the puddle.

An arm.

A human arm.

Grasping in the air for some unknown reason.

Perhaps for help.

Without thought or perhaps still possessed by the water I take it, trying to take it out of there.

It’s coldness seeps deep into my body as it grabs my arm with full strength.

For a moment nothing else happens, just me staring at the body part clenching me.

With a quick yank it suddenly pulls me closer.

Closer and closer.

Until I too am taken into the darkness of the puddle

Angelic monster

A short horro story I wrote:)

TW: Blood & psychological horror

I've been such a coward.

Never before have I stooped this low.

Never before have I done something like this out of fear.

Yes, it's all because of a fear that can thoroughly be explained and the reason is an understandable one.

But somehow the feeling I got from doing it hasn't left me.

It's like it's slowly rubbing my back, poisoning my skin.

It has burned itself deep into my soul and the chills I got from that day still haven't disappeared in the slightest.

I dislike this feeling.

I hate this memory.

It feels like I will have to watch my back until my last breath.

That day I went with my students to do research on a strange cave that had been recently found, I'm a teacher you see.

We were driven there by the group that secretly had been holding my family hostage, I knew, but pretended not to and I was lucky that none of my students noticed.

The group wanted me to investigate this cave in order for more power.

It was said that monsters had been created from this cave.

The research I had done before had proven that somehow it's real.

That's when they found out.

My God, why did I have to find it?!

Why did I have to be the one to do this?

If I could go back in time...

Well it doesn't matter anymore now, everyone is dead.

All my students have been killed, every single one of them.

I still remember all their faces, I still remember their ideas, their wishes and the possible futures they could have had.

Well... I don't really want to go on about them anymore.

We found and caught the monster that was needed for the group's project. They needed a weapon and that's the one they wanted.

A monster that could destroy cities with ease.

Somehow the one we found looks much different from what had been foretold in the stories I had studied, no hairy paws or yellow eyes, but it was a monster nonetheless.

A monster of great skill and strength beyond that of a simple human being.

Now years later, the monster sits before me.

It has an almost angelic appearance, with white wings on its back like a lower class angel from the bible.

Its skin is dark grey, its form almost human, and covered with small white feathers, except for on its neck, face and claws. The head somehow has longer feathers growing out of it, like the hair on a human's head.

Its claws are like a combination of that from a bird and the hands of a person.

Having five 'fingers' on each hand that are more longer and slender than that of a human being and of course ending in sharp nails.

The other researchers and I have been unable to find out the gender of the creature, which is another strange thing. But then again, it's just a monster, nothing more, nothing less. It has already killed so many.

It snuffed out their lives like it was nothing and it will surely do so again.

Somehow, by continued teaching it has mastered the human language.

And now it sits before me, eerily calm.

There is a thick glass wall between us, since this monster is being used by the group as a weapon and is of course still a danger to everyone.

"Professor, what is it that you wanted to talk about?" the monster asks politely.

I can feel myself growing irritated by its tone.

Since when did it believe to address me by 'Professor'? That was reserved for my students, not this monstrosity.

Still I decide to let it slide for now, I don't want to anger it.

"Well..." I hesitate, while mustering up the courage: "It's about that day."

"I see." The monster looks down, does it remember? Does it feel guilt for what it has done?

"The day you found me, I assume." It guesses.

I nod: "That day I will never forget how you slaughtered my students." I almost growl at it whilst glaring.

"I didn't." It answers as if trying to hide its guilt.

I hate it.

I hate this monster.

"I want to know what went down there." I demand it: "How did you get there and why were you there?"

The monster hesitates for a moment but then begins to answer: "Well, I don't remember too much about that place. I believe that there are things I don't know about it at all."

"Be more clear."

"Yes, professor, I'm sorry."

"Quit calling me that." I guess I'm saying it now anyways.

It stops for a moment, almost looking shocked from my sudden burst of anger. Well it probably doesn't feel that anyway, I must have imagined it.

Then it nods as I sign to it that it should continue.

"From what I heard about the cave, it could be used as a way to conjure up monsters or demons."

"Go on."

"I don't think you would want to hear it."

"Continue." I say glaring at the monster.

It sighs in discomfort and then does as told: "I believe that there is something inside that cave that has the ability to turn something or someone who enters into a so-called monster."

"Yes, we noticed with the rat."

"Pro- erm, I mean sir, why did those students got sent inside? If you knew-."

I don't let it finish: "It was an emergency."

I was powerless that day, I couldn't do anything. It's not my fault.

"So, then do you remember entering the cave?"

To my displeasure the monster shakes its head: "No I don't. There are no memories from before I awoke."

"Awoke?"

"The moment I heard their screams."

"Well you are the monster of that place after all."

"Sir, I actually don't believe that to be the case."

Annoyed, I look at it: "And what the hell does that mean?"

"Like some of the other scientists say, I don't believe to have come from there, nor am I the creature you have been looking for. I'm just too different."

"They are just toying with you, giving you false hope, you're a monster after all."

Is it just me or did it seem slightly annoyed when I called it what I did?

No that can't be.

For a moment it remains silent.

"But then, isn't the monster in this situation yourself?" The monster then asks me as if it was something completely normal.

"What?! No! You're the monster, you are the reason they died." I panic, wondering what it is trying to do to me..

"I didn't kill them. I tried to save them all."

"Bullshit! You killed them, you were covered in blood when we found you!" I yell as I feel my face growing red. Why would it say such terrible things?

Somehow the monster remains completely calm.

"I didn't kill them." It repeats: "I tried to save them, but the one who went rampant was already killing the others even before I awoke."

"SHUT UP!"

But the monster continues: "I saved one person though, the girl, one of your students, she left the cave alive."

Rage has filled my mind and I'm unable to think clearly.

"I didn't do anything wrong!!!" I yell, slamming my fist against the glass.

But then calmly the angelic monster throws the undeniable truth in my face:

"Wasn't it you who pulled the trigger?"

Iris Coldon

My most recent short horror story:)

Word count: 761

TW: psychological horror

From the moment I closed my eyes to the accident I had gotten myself into I knew that it would never be the same ever again.

Never would I have guessed though, that I would survive pretty much unharmed.

Well… that’s still a bit of an understatement.

My arms and legs work the way they’re supposed to.

But my mind… not so much anymore.

I’ve started to see things.

The world and the people have changed since the moment I woke up.

It’s almost as if I’ve entered another world entirely.

But I know better now… or at least I believe I do.

It’s the same world, I’m just wrong.

It has been told to me over and over and over again.

The world hasn’t changed, just the way I perceive it.

The memories from back then are still all so fresh in my mind.

The people who walk this earth have all become eerily distorted to me.

Mouths gaping, eyes bulging.

Some had been reduced to mere shadows, others to grotesque monsters.

The world around me, the city, has turned to look in a worse state than it actually is. Houses broken down, abandoned by humanity.

Then there are these things I see happen.

Accidents like the one I had been in and even worse.

And yet all of it only happened in my head.

Life after the accident had been terribly difficult, I had to stay in the hospital even though I believed whole-heartedly that I was fine.

Monsters in stained lab coats came in and out of the room instilling me with the worst of fears.

I was soon after placed in an asylum, due to not being able to take care of myself anymore.

That’s where I met her.

A young woman who worked there, her name, Iris, Iris Coldon.

The first time I met her I was quite shocked to see her and felt quite dizzy.

Unlike the rest of humanity, she still looks human.

She spoke to me softly and kindly, it was like… whenever I am around her the world turns to the way it is supposed to be.

No monsters.

No abandoned buildings.

No more horrible accidents.

When she went away again I had a hard time sleeping and felt terrible.

Why couldn’t she just stay here?

Why couldn’t I go with her?

I know, I know… It’s just… to suddenly be thrown back into the world I was slowly getting used to was just really difficult.

Luckily she came back again the next day and the day after that. Well many days, almost visiting me every day, I found it to be very difficult when she didn’t.

Quickly I found it difficult to focus, always reacting to every sound hoping that it was her. I couldn’t, still can’t, concentrate on what the fellow patients here are telling me.

Those monsters won’t understand me anyway.

Today I made a decision.

I am going to tell her that I love her.

Because that must be it… right?

I love her and that’s what makes the world normal again… right?

Carefully I listen to everything going on outside of my room.

A doctor shuffles past my room.

A couple of patients wander past my door.

And then finally I recognize her footsteps.

With the usual smile, Iris opens the door.

“Iris! G-good morning.” I start rambling.

“Good morning.” She answers without paying attention to my stuttering: “Everything alright in here?”

I nod and she gives me another bright smile.

I look down and start fidgeting: “Actually… I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?” She asks, clearly interested in what I have to say.

Does she feel the same way about me?

For a moment I hesitate, but then gather my strength: “Iris… I… I think I like you. Like, like you… Love you.”

I’m too scared to look up at her.

I’m too scared of rejection.

For some strange reason she remains quiet.

Is she contemplating my confession?

I look up at her and smile worried: “Is something wrong?”

She smiles at me and I feel shadows returning to my world.

“Please don’t go!” I call out to her as I take her hand.

Somehow her hand feels strange.

Not warm, not cold either.

I can feel my body turn cold as I see her disappearing into thin air.

The hand in which I held her is now a small bottle.

For some reason I feel like she will never return to me again.

Dammit, there’s still so much I had wanted to ask her.

Before looking at it, I let the small bottle go from left to right in my hand.

Something feels terrible.

Then I finally decide to look at it.

It’s a bottle for medication.

The label says Cisordinol.

I stare vaguely at it for a moment, until the terrible truth finally hits me.

C I S O R D I N O L

I R I S C O L D O N

Book of the Apocalypse - Chapter 4 Nightmare

TW: Gore, blood

Word count: 778

First chapter:

I look up from the book, this wasn't really the kind of story I was suspecting.

"How far did you get?" Quiller asks me not hiding his interest at all.

"I finished... the first."

He sighs: "Not the fastest reader, are you?"

I look at him, annoyed: "I read at my own speed.... reading just like eating? The slower you read, the more you... enjoy it."

"Alright, alright. So, did you-?"

"Nah."

"What?"

"I thought... it was going to be cooler, maybe something with heroes. Even a book about a ghost might... be interesting."

Utter defeat is written all over the 'imaginary' guys face, making me chuckle.

"You're mean."

"Kind people in an apocalypse are useless."

He looks at me for a moment and then asks: "So, you're going to throw it out now?"

I look at him: "Nah. It might become more... entertwini- entertaining later on." Speaking is still difficult, especially when I try to speak without mistakes.

He gives me a sad smile.

"Why do you care?"

He hesitates for a moment to answer.

"Well, like I said, It's a pretty good book."

I nod: "Yeah, you really aren't the... writer, right?"

He looks at me in shock: "N-no... I mean..."

"Just kidding, It just said Ex Libra's Q.F. Shannon. But that might mean it used to be yours." I'm not sure, but believe I might have used a wrong word there.

"I've never owned anything." Quiller protests: "I've always been imaginary."

If I were to throw away this book right now, I would probably lose my imaginary friend with it. Or at least that is my theory. I only met him after opening this thing after all.

Yeah, it might be strange for an adult to have one. But if this keeps me from going insane, then so be it.

I will be the most childish adult in this entire apocalypse.

Even if I'm all alone in it now.

I get up from the couch and start placing traps around.

"What are you doing?"

"Making sure I won't get... my sleep disturbed... by one of those... those half-dead jerks."

"I see." Quiller mutters, slightly hesitant probably due to me cursing again.

I lie down on the old couch.

Even though it's all dusty, I haven't had such a nice bed in ages.

I've gotten used to my jacket on the floor for a while now and it doesn't take long for me to fall asleep.

I'm sitting in something I recognize as a car.

I seem to be sitting here with a bunch of people with wiped out faces.

Even though that is the case I feel strangely at ease with them.

One of them turns to me and calls me by my name.

"Yes?" I ask and the other shows me a toy, a toy car? If I'm correct.

I look outside the windows and notice that we're driving.

We move around the corner and I see strange people standing outside.

Their eyes glow strangely blue.

The car crashes into something and the strange people outside start running towards us, their mouths covered in blood.

From one moment to the next, I notice that I'm standing outside and it's dark.

It's raining outside.

I hold up my hand to the rain.

It drips onto it and then a flickering streetlight shows me that there is something wrong with the rain.

It's red.

It's thick and red.

Falling out if the heavens like rain, blood keeps pouring down.

It starts to stick to the streetlight, making the only light in my world slowly disappear.

I run towards it for rescue, but it all turns dark just before I can reach it.

In the distance I hear growling...

My eyes flash open and I quickly sit up, completely out of breath.

What a horrible nightmare.

I guess even though I have a decent place to sleep, the nightmares are something I will never be able to get away from.

I look at the light entering the room via the clock.

I guess it's morning already.

This must be a good place to stay then.

I sit up and silently take out the old, worn map from it.

With a pen I mark the spot and write 'Clock/Attic' next to it, while using the book as support for the paper.

"Good morning." Quiller says, seeming a bit down.

"'Morning." I whisper, while looking at him questioningly.

"Don't worry, nothing happened while you were asleep. You did seem to be having a nightmare."

I shake my head: "What did you expect?" I nudge my head a little towards the window: "Be happy for the strength we gained from... a little shut-eye."

Unfortunately he doesn't seem to want to take the joke as a joke. Perhaps he didn't even notice.

"Life shouldn't be like this." He mumbles more to himself than to me.

I look at him with a sudden question burning in my mind: "Did you sleep on the floor? Or float?"

"Float? I'm not a ghost you know."

"Oh really?"

"I'm just a figment of your imagination."

"You keep that up, but really... it's getting harder to believe every time."

Seashell

Here's the most recent short horror story I wrote:)

Word count: 772

TW: Gore

Many years ago the harsh summer heat had killed most of the crops needed to feed a small town.

All were coloured brown and mushy even before being picked.

Autumn was quickly approaching and the people had to come up with a solution in order to save up enough to be able to live through the soon to arrive winter.

The town had gathered to speak of the matter and to find a possible solution.

"Maybe we should ask the other towns for help." One of the men offered.

"No, their crops have all perished as well. If not they must have the devil in their grounds." Another shouted, refuting the other.

Idea after idea was being turned down with refutes like 'too dangerous' or 'against all that is holy' or 'just plain stupid'.

This conversation that existed mostly of panicked yelling continued on for a bit, almost turning into a fight.

"Maybe we should try the sea?" A young child offered, it was a wonder that they were even heard. Their tiny voice was so soft, yet somehow still being audible to the people.

The room turned silent.

Perhaps it was the idea itself that had spoken the loudest, attracting everyone's attention.

The town usually fished during winter, but perhaps this was their only option right now.

Without food, they just wouldn't last.

And thus the decision was made.

All the capable men of the village would be sent out with the few ships they had, one to fish and another to travel further.

It didn't take long before departure.

Women and children stayed behind and wished the travellers 'See you soon'.

One of the families that was split that day was that of the shoemakers. The husband and oldest son went on the ship, while the wife and four other children stayed behind in the village.

The oldest son was about fourteen, back then seen almost as a grown-up and had to help at the ship like everyone else.

Their ship was the one traveling further.

At first all seemed to be going well.

For food they fished and in their first catch, the shoemaker found a beautiful seashell. He immediately knew that he wanted to give it to his wife when he would return, so he hid it in his pockets.

A couple of days went by and then it all went wrong.

A storm had caught the ship and its crew before they could flee.

Waves as high as castle towers threw themselves at the ship, causing the ship to make an eerie hollow sound at first and then the sound of something breaking could be heard.

One wave after another crashed the ship further, making it move sideways, causing the big wooden construct to lie down in the water.

The panicking crew ran around, tumbling, screaming.

The shoemaker dropped the shell he had found and tried to jump after it.

Just in time he caught it from falling off, but a piece of splintered wood impaled him and dragged him into the hungry ocean.

He was not the only one to succumb to this fate.

On the golden beach the shoemaker's wife looked towards the dark clouds in the distance.

Are they okay? She wondered, would the crew come back all right with a solution for the winter?

The woman stopped walking, while the wind gently blew her hair and skirt into a dance.

She bowed down, something in the cold, wet sand had taken her attention.

Something stuck out.

It was a beautiful seashell, one foreign to the village people.

It glistened welcoming in the sunlight, its smooth service almost seemed to reflect herself back to her like a mirror would.

There was just something soothing about the object lying before her.

The woman reached down for the shell and felt the cold touch her fingers, she was going to take this with her.

Would the sea take it back if she didn't take it?

Or would another be captured by its beauty and take it with them?

The shell had appeared before her and only her, so it's hers now.

Arriving back home she placed it above the fireplace in the living room.

As she put it down, she heard something strange.

Was it the rain?

She quickly glanced outside to the darker growing sky, yet no drop of water had shown itself.

Was that the sound of wood breaking?

The woman looked around, but found nothing breaking. Neither by child nor wind.

The dark clouds started to swallow the land.

The woman picked the shell up again.

The shell was making the sounds.

She held it next to her ear.

At first she heard nothing.

But then she heard the voice of her husband.

"Dearest, the ship went down." He spoke as if he was in the freezing cold.

"Our son is still at sea."

"If not saved quickly, he too will join the rest of us."

Coffins for robots

Happy new year!!

Here's a short horror story I wrote that's part of the book I'm currently writing: 'Book of the Apocalypse' (You can read this without having ready anything from the book itself).

Word count: 1300

TW: Gore, blood, spiders, bodyhorror

Quietly I let my electric motorcycle come to a halt, leaving me and the world around me alone with the light of the moon and the stars.

I really need a place to stay the night, even though sleep is hard to find and even feared in times like these. Still it’s nice to have a place to rest.

I park my bike, locking it is unnecessary, there might just be me left after all.

Me in the whole wide world.

Me and the monsters.

Me on my own.

Well no time to be sulking about it, I will be fine on my own… probably.

I look at the dark building before me, once this would probably have been a proud church. People must have gone here in search of sanctuary and now it is my turn.

The place looks abandoned, even though most of the windows seem to be intact.

Well, lucky me.

No sleeping with the whispering wind that takes away my warmth tonight.

I decide to quit standing around doing nothing and make my way towards the giant doors.

One of them is slightly ajar.

I glance inside…

No movement.

It looks empty.

But somehow it freaks me out.

I don’t like this place, something about it just feels worse than wrong.

I sigh and try to get myself to toughen-up again: come on Sara, now is not the time. You’ve slept in places far worse than this.

Against the screaming feeling in my gut, my tired head takes control and I walk inside the cold building.

It’s freezing in here, it must have been a while since it had felt a warm body walk inside.

I wrap my arms around me in order to keep myself warm.

Accidently I startle myself by almost tripping over an old stone, making it echo and letting me know by sound just how big and empty the place really is.

It reminds me a bit of the place I slept in a couple of nights ago even though completely different it gave off the same hollow vibe.

It was a small cabin in which a murder had taken place, yeah the body like the smell was long gone, but the markings and stains still remained.

And the feeling.

The feeling of the terror the victim felt.

The feeling of the twisted villain that had committed it for its own filthy reasons.

God, the feeling I get from these places never seems to leave.

It’s almost as if they’re following me around everywhere I go, as untold stories lingering besides me, waiting for a moment to strike me at my lowest.

I’ve always known, even at a young age, even before the world went to shit, if someone had died at a place I was visiting.

And I can say with full certainty, that people have died here as well.

Unlike the other place, there have been more than one.

Perhaps even the whole church at some point.

Carefully I scan my surroundings, checking every bench and every corner, listening to any possible sound from an enemy.

There seems to be nothing here in this giant building.

Nothing at all.

Somehow… it’s just too quiet.

As I’m inspecting the kitchen I suddenly hear something loud coming from outside.

I better check it out in order to see if it’ll be a danger to me.

Taking a side door outside I find myself within a strange looking graveyard.

There are both big coffins standing above ground, made out of some kind of stone or perhaps metal.

There are also normal grave stones, but these seem to be in a much worse condition than the coffins.

Vigilantly I walk towards one of them.

I open the coffin’s lid.

It’s heavy and I need to push it away with my entire weight.

Panting I watch as the heavy lid falls loudly onto the floor.

I need to know what’s going on here. I keep telling myself even though I feel myself wavering.

Quietly I take a peek.

An ever so soft blue light is coming out of the coffin, so soft, it barely reflects back.

Someone is inside.

Or perhaps something?

A human figure seems to be lying inside.

Unmoving.

Unbreathing.

But for some reason, I know that it’s not a corpse.

Or at least that there’s no feeling that they once were human.

Believe me, I know when it is.

I can feel it.

This before me, although looking very human, is nothing more than a doll.

Soulless.

Never to move.

Except for in horror movies back in the day.

Suddenly I hear something move.

A shadow is standing in the distance.

The shadow of someone dressed rather old-fashioned.

A nun.

She seems to be carrying something heavy.

There is no way that she is human.

With my hand I immediately touch my trusted gun, calming me down a little, I don’t take it out just yet.

Quickly I glance back at the inside of the coffin.

Were the dolls eyes always open?

Swiftly I look back at where I spotted the moving shadow, only to find it having disappeared.

I sneak behind the coffin, hoping the nun hasn’t taken notice of me yet.

Hiding, I look around.

I better not stay here for long.

My bike. I need to get back to it!

The faster the better!

Scanning my surroundings I decide on multiple paths I could possibly take.

It’s good to have more than one plan of escape.

I should quietly zigzag around the graves, there are enough places to hide. For me as well as the nun…

I take another glance around and then finally make a run for it towards another coffin.

It’s closed like the rest, but this time I decide not to waste any time and just continue.

Quietly I rush towards another, still paying attention to everything, sound, feeling, sight. The things that have saved me countless times.

I hide behind another and another, until I’m finally at the one closest to the church.

I spot the familiar shadow of my bike, standing at the place I left it.

Another look around and I book it towards my vehicle.

But before I reach it a strange sound makes me stop.

It’s coming from right next to my bike.

Something like laughing, though it clearly never belonged to a human being.

It’s her again…

A shadow is towering over my main way of escape.

I now get a good look at it.

The nun’s clothes look haggard and her body exists out of both machine and human parts.

A zombie.

One of her eyes suddenly drops onto the floor, there isn’t much bounce in it, so it just drops into a mush.

A black fluid starts to slowly leave the empty hole and I spot many small spiders crawling inside.

I almost jump back.

The zombie nun then opens her mouth, licking her lips showing how hungry she is.

Before I know it I’m running away as fast as I can.

I glance behind me to see what she’s doing and find her almost catching up to me.

I should have never glanced back…

Something has taken hold of my arm.

It’s a doll.

But not the one from the coffin I had opened.

Could it be that all these coffins were filled with dolls?

Could they somehow be like the zombies?

I try to get loose, but another pair of arms grabs me as well.

Taking my gun, I start firing at everything that moves, but it’s useless.

I’m quickly disarmed.

My trusted weapon drops onto the grass with a soft thud.

Panicking, I start hitting whatever I can, but everything is just going too fast.

I can’t feel anything.

A strange half-digital sounding laugh coming from the nun’s croaked throat brings me back to reality.

I can feel my body turn cold.

Fuck!

It knew! It knew all along!

How could it have predicted this?

Zombies should be unable to do so!

Just what the hell is this?!

A face appears before me.

The weathered mechanical nun looks at me with a crooked smile as she slams her weapon down onto me.

Once more she opens her mouth and somehow words spill out of it and I can clearly understand.

“Now pray.”

The doppelganger

Here is the most recent (short horror) story I wrote:)

Word count: 2825

TW: Blood & gore

Vigilantly I take one last look around the house.

Making sure again not to miss any little sound or the movement of someone or something, making sure that there really is only me.

My mother should be at work and my sister at school, double checking really won't hurt me.

If I want to do this ritual, I need to be all alone, or at least I don't want anyone to find out or intrude.

Right... the ritual... I hope it works.

I recently found a strange ritual while surfing around on the internet. Well there are many of those to be found, but this one stuck out to me.

It's a ritual to summon a doppelganger.

I know the dangers that come with it, I know that I probably shouldn't, but in a way I can also not, not do it.

I'm tired, school and work are a pain, all those birthdays of family and family friends have been taking more from me than I'm able to eat cake. So I could definitely use some assistance.

I know that there's a high chance of this ritual being one big hoax, that it won't work at all, but I have to at least give it a try.

If my mom found out she would probably be mad at me, saying things like: "Luna, you're sixteen. You're too old to be believing such nonsense!"

And she's probably right.

As I've finally concluded that I really am alone, I let out a sigh of relief and close my bedroom door.

Quietly I take out the stuff that I have to use from underneath my bed. Thank god no one noticed, I should find better hiding spots for things like this.

It takes me longer than I hoped to set everything in place.

A mirror in the middle huh...

I let the darkness swallow my room, and slowly light every candle.

Yesterday I had already drawn the circle that was meant to be around the mirror and me and it seems to still be there underneath my carpet, still intact luckily.

I'm going to have to clean this before my mom decides to snoop around.

Meaning, ASAP after this ritual is finished.

As I finally finish my preparations I take my place in the circle right before the mirror and say the spell I memorised.

I'm glad I prepared everything far in advance.

After having finished speaking I quietly stare into the dark mirror.

The whole house is silent, but not even that, it's almost as if everyone in this town has decided to hold their breath.

Even the wind has decided to remain silent.

Is it because of what I'm doing right now?

I can't help but secretly smirk.

The dark mirror seems to reflect only the candles back at me, but then it gets strangely dark.

Even so the candles still remain as bright as ever.

I see, so it's time...

I take another step forward and slowly reach for the cold object.

Well, it's not the only freezing object right now, it's as if my entire room is in an ice age right now.

I spot little clouds leaving my mouth every time I breathe out.

The tiny flames of the candles flicker as a cold gust of wind leaves the mirror.

Though the flames quickly fight against the wind and become bigger than before.

I can finally see something inside the mirror.

Something is moving.

I feel a sense of dread, but I try my hardest not to show it outward.

If something goes wrong now, it could be disastrous.

Suddenly something shoots out of the mirror, grabbing at whatever it can hold onto.

Right, if this happens....

I hold the cold and slimy hand coming out of the mirror.

"Good morning." I say, making sure not to let it know my fear: "I'm Luna, you will be my assistant from now on."

The hand is still far from human as it clasps onto me with fingers far too long and thin.

I can't help but shiver from its coldness.

"L-lu...N-na." It says in a voice no human ever would.

I nod slowly: "Yes, that's me... but soon also you."

"Luna." It's voice is mimicking my own, slowly sounding more like mine.

So creepy...

Its monstrous face slowly comes out of my mirror, looking at me with still empty eye-sockets.

I want to scream, but keep myself from doing so.

So close, so close, so close....

By the light of the candles I can see how the monster slowly takes on my form.

It's truly a horrifying thing to witness.

Something taking your form, taking your identity, something that has never been human before.

Still, I feel glad that it works.

I have tasks for this future doppelganger.

A couple of hours later, the thing in my room still isn't really me completely, but the resemblance grows closer by the minute.

I try to teach it my manner of speech and my manner of movement, something it seems to have difficulty with.

Slowly I teach it how to help with the cleaning up of my room as well. I mean, it's part of the reason for summoning it in the first-place.

"Luna, are you home?" I hear my mother call from downstairs.

"Be quiet...!" I hush the monster, hiding it in my closet: "Yes, mom, I'm coming!" I call to my mother.

I rush downstairs to greet her.

She smiles at me.

"I don't feel like cooking tonight, so we're going to order pizza. You wouldn't mind that, right?"

I smile back: "Of course not. I do have a lot of homework though, do you mind if I eat upstairs?"

"Hard at work I see, well then, it's okay. But take it easy, alright?"

I nod and head back upstairs.

Back to my doppelganger.

I try to teach it as much as possible and as the pizza arrives we eat mine together.

After finishing it I go downstairs to bring the empty box.

My mom is sitting in front of the tv with my sister, she turns to me.

"Hey Luna, how's your homework going?"

I smile: "Pretty good, I think I'm almost finished."

I see her face suddenly turning grave: "Luna dear, please be careful whenever you're going out with friends."

I wonder why she's saying something like that: "What do you mean?"

"There's been a murderer going around, that's what the news has been telling just a couple of minutes ago."

"I see., I'll be careful."

"Thank you." My mom smiles and turns back to the TV to continue watching the show they were watching.

The next morning my doppelganger looks the exact same as me and I decide to send it to school. It shouldn't hurt too much, it's a short day, perfect for training to be me. Meanwhile I can do the things I want to do.

Side doppelganger:

On the second day of my existence I'm sent to a place human beings call 'school'. Supposedly it's a place where older humans send their young ones to learn about the world and working in it.

To be honest I seem to be feeling the emotion humans call 'anxiousness', supposedly it's normal for doing something for the first time. Or at least that is what my master has told me.

I've been given a 'phone', a device meant to 'call' other humans and I'm also able to use it to find 'the way' with the help of a 'map'.

How peculiar.

I've memorised all the 'students' Luna has told me about and has shown the pictures of.

Supposedly she doesn't talk that often with others, so I shouldn't try too hard to befriend everyone.

I take the bag given to me with me and make my way towards the building called 'school'.

It doesn't take me long to find it, many people from around my masters age are walking inside one-by-one like ants.

When entering the room I'm supposed to be I'm greeted by her classmates and I greet them back in the way that was taught to me.

After about four hours it's time to go 'home' again, Luna told me that four hours was a short day and 'home' is the place where you live.

I enter the house with the help of a 'key', a small object that can open 'locks'.

"Hi Luna, how was school today?" A lady Luna calls 'mom' greets me.

"Hi mom, it was nice."

She looks up a bit surprised: "Not just okay?"

Was this not what my master normally responds with?

I hesitate for a moment, I have to make it look natural... Yet I wasn't informed how to handle this situation.

"It was nice, I had English literature." When I was summoned yesterday I learned that Luna likes to read, so she probably does not dislike that class too much.

'Mom' laughs: "You look so shocked, I'm just glad to hear that you had a nice day. Did you read something nice?"

I nod and quickly think back to the book we read: "William Wilson." I answer honestly.

"Ah, I didn't know you enjoyed such classics."

"I didn't know either."

She smiles at me, I guess this is a sign that I have to ask something back.

"How was your day?"

'Mom' smiles and tells me about it. Supposedly it's normal for humans to complain about their days, I do not understand why, but I will remember it for future reference.

A couple of days end up going by, almost each one I'm going to school or visiting my masters family.

I feel like I'm doing something wrong, my classmates seem to be getting closer to me. Luna always says that they don't care about her, but it seems like she has been mistaken. I remember their likes and dislikes and talk about it with them, causing me to learn a great deal about them. Something which they seem to appreciate.

Honestly I might even be able to call them what humans call 'nice' or 'kind' even. They show a great deal of care after all.

Luna decided to remain in her room, going out unseen from time to time. Though there are also times when it is my turn to hide and for her to fulfil the role as herself.

I wonder what she does whenever I'm at school or working at her job or even when I'm visiting her family.

I'm able to fool every one of them almost perfectly. Though I do have to be careful, I'm not fully human yet after all. My blood still has to gain the right colour and I have the ability to go through mirrors, but I know I will soon lose it.

One of the longer days at school I talk with some of Luna's... no... I guess it would be better to say 'my' friends. They didn't seem to have spent time with the real Luna after all.

"Luna, what do you think about it?" One of my friends asks.

"What do you mean?" I didn't really follow everything.

"Well y'know. The recent murders."

I look at her: "They do scare me a little."

My friend smiles back at me in a slightly concerned manner: "Me too girl, me too."

"If you want to, I don't mind walking together, we do need to go the same way for a bit after all."

A brighter smile appears on her face: "That would be great!"

In the back of the class I can hear some people whispering about me or about Luna.

"Luna has gotten very sociable recently, hasn't she?"

"Yeah, it's almost as if she's been replaced with a completely different person."

"Well she changed for the better if you ask me. She always seemed way too proud of herself and her little bubble."

I can feel my stomach turn as I hear the word 'replace' leave their lips.

I know I shouldn't let it get to me, but I also need to convince everyone that I'm really Luna.

My friends seem to have noticed the whispering too and that it makes me uncomfortable, so they make their way to those to have a 'stern-talking to' with them. Truly just telling them to shut 'the hell' up and mind their own business.

After school I walk with my friends until our ways split.

When I'm on my own again I suddenly walk into my master.

Shocked, I look at her, she looks angry and starts walking towards me rapidly.

"I told you...!" She whispers threateningly: "We should not be seen together!"

I nod.

"You enter the house first, I will take the window." Luna hisses to me as she finds herself a place to hide.

Obediently I enter the house first, I'm greeted by Luna's sister.

"Hey sis..." She greets me with a sombre look.

"Hey, is something wrong?" I ask in a kind tone I was taught by my friends.

The girl gives me another sad smile: "Yeah, have you seen Nibbles anywhere?" Nibbles is her hamster, or so was I told.

"No I haven't" I shake my head while answering.

"I see... He's still missing, if you find him, please bring him to me."

"I will." I answer, for some reason the look on her face makes me 'sad' too.

The first time I felt that.

Something about this whole thing is wrong.

It's like a little voice in the back of mind is constantly 'nagging' in the back of my mind. Telling me that something is very, very wrong.

I decide to go against my master's wishes and do my research on the ritual that summoned me.

I need to do it in secret, so as not to let her know.

Back at school I start searching on one of the computers about the ritual.

After school, I walk back with my friends again. I begin to fear for their safety, but I try to keep it to myself.

It's getting dark outside and Luna has yet to return.

Against her wishes I use with great difficulty a little of the power left in me to see around what part of this town she could be and sneak out of the house.

It's really dark now, even the moon seems to have hidden itself behind a cloud, fearing for the worst.

Within about half an hour I find myself at the abandoned warehouse.

She really is here... isn't it?

Quietly I slip inside, making sure not to make a peep.

As my eyes get used to the even darker inside of the building, I see something that scares me.

A shadow, my height, my body type, standing above a smaller shadow, someone that seems to be lying down.

The shadow that looks like me, plunges a knife into the body beneath her.

"What the hell?!" I can't help it, I've given away my location.

The shadow turns to me.

There's no mistaking it.

That's Luna.

That's my master, the one who summoned me into this world.

I'm her alibi.

My hunch was right and the horrible memories of my research come back fresh into my mind.

"What did you sacrifice?!" I start yelling, unable to control my own emotions any longer.

Luna just smiles at me, somehow in a way I never believe I myself could. Crooked, horrid. Are some of the words that come to mind.

"It is said that a sacrifice has to be done to complete the ritual! So who or what did you kill?!" I continue my rant.

The shadow lying on the floor has long stopped moving.

I have to let someone know what's going on! But how?!

Without putting any real thought into it, I decide to throw the object known as 'phone' towards the shadow that I look like.

Luna avoids it without problem.

"That, dear doppelganger, was the last thing you should have thrown away in this situation."

Just what does she mean with that?

Luna continues: "And they said that you would be the 'perfect' doppelganger. Bullshit. You are just getting in my way. You were summoned to serve me and only me. How come that you decided to make your own decisions?"

Her speech is quiet, yet threatening, somehow making my body turn cold.

Right, if I were to find a mirror... I look around, scanning my surroundings quickly.

As if reading my mind, Luna laughs: "There are no mirrors in this building."

She's almost within arm's reach, so I swiftly take a couple of steps back, bumping with my back into a wall I didn't know was there.

Suddenly her face changes from smiling to one of hatred and she slashes her knife into my shoulder.

I scream in pain, but am able to get further away from her.

I press my hand against my wound.

Running for my life, I find myself cornered again.

"I know this place better than you." Luna says in her threatening tone.

She pushes me down without problem.

She's clearly used to killing people for a long time now, yet I've never even come close to learning about it. Not that I would want to.

I look at my hand that was pressing the wound.

My blood slowly starts to turn red.

I've lost my powers.

I'm now completely human.

There couldn't be a worse time.

The one whose likeness I am to represent bows down before me: "Don't worry, to summon you I didn't kill a human. Animals work pretty well too, they leave less of a mess."

Her bloodstained blade glittering in the little light entering the building.

My body has started trembling uncontrollably.

What was this emotion again?

Fear?

My master readies herself and then slashes me one last time.

The last thing I say is something I don't have any control over.

"Please..." I mutter: "I don't want to die..."

And then the blade plunges itself into my body, spraying red all over the room.

It hurts and yet I don't feel anything.

It's all going too fast.

Finally the place turns dark.