There was only one rule: don't open the door. It wasn't until the fourteenth day of the experiment that they thought of breaking it.
The chamber was sealed and closed. On day five, the subjects complained of paranoia and frequently whispered into the mics. On day nine, they started screaming relentlessly, as if attacking each other. They covered the windows with what could only be assumed to be a mixture of blood and fecal matter.
Three days had passed in complete silence. Special Operative Kabalevsky was the first to suggest opening the chamber.
"We have to know if the subjects are still alive."
"We know that they're alive," said Researcher Roshchin, "The screens show that oxygen is still being consumed by all five subjects, at an even greater rate than when they first went in."
"Then we need to check the microphones," Kabalevsky continued, "They've been too quiet."
"Maybe they're... sleeping?"
All eyes turned to face Officer Inkin. He was the latest recruit, and the least qualified. Kabalevsky often asked himself why the boy was even there.
"They're not asleep," Kabalevsky said, "The gas has been pumping in there consistently. It kept them awake over a week."
"But-"
"The gas works. ради бога, we know they're awake in there! So open the door."
Inkin cast a hesitant look at Roshchin, his heart racing in his chest. Roshchin pressed the intercom button, and stated "We are opening the chamber now. We're turning off the gas. Step away from the opening. Do not move or you will be shot."
The sound of the door unlocking echoed in Inkin's ears. Kabalevsky gripped the handle, endured a moment of hesitation, and pulled. The other two gripped their guns.
They couldn't see what he was seeing. Just the horrified look on his face.
One of the subjects snarled in a low growl, "That was a mistake."
The other two officers could only stare and blink as the subject ran at Kabalevsky and ripped his throat out cleanly through his skin. The other subjects began screaming.
A/N
When I found this challenge, I knew I wanted to write an entry based on the Russian Sleep Experiment. You can find more information about the experiment here.
It was definitely hard to manage the small word count, and there's so much more to this experiment, but I hope it still had enough of a creepy effect!
Thank you for spending some time with me!
♡♡♡ Belle ♡♡♡
About the Creator
Belle
I host unofficial challenges and enjoy writing microfiction and poetry.
Top Story Count: 16
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Outstanding
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Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
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Niche topic & fresh perspectives
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Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
The Voice That Waited
Seen (1) At the edge of a quiet town stood an abandoned radio station, forgotten by time and avoided by locals. The building had been shut down for over twenty years, yet people claimed that at exactly 2:17 a.m., a faint broadcast could still be heard on an old frequency. No music. No news. Just a voice. Daniel was a small content creator who specialized in audio storytelling. He didn’t believe in rumors, but he believed in stories. When he heard about the mysterious broadcast, he decided to investigate—not for views, but for curiosity. One cold night, Daniel entered the radio station with his recorder and headphones. Dust covered the equipment, and spider webs hung from the ceiling. Everything looked dead. Silent. At exactly 2:17 a.m., the old transmitter crackled. A voice broke through the static. “Hello… is anyone listening?” Daniel froze. The voice was calm but tired, like someone who had been waiting for a long time. “My name is Arthur,” the voice continued. “I used to work here. If you can hear me, please don’t turn this off.” Daniel whispered into his microphone, “I’m listening.” The voice seemed relieved. “For years, I spoke into this microphone, hoping someone would hear me. When the station shut down, everyone left. Everyone except me.” Daniel’s heart raced. “Are you… alive?” There was a pause. Then a soft laugh. “That depends on what you mean by alive,” Arthur said. “I passed away in this building many years ago. But my voice stayed. This place remembers me.” Arthur explained that he had been a late-night radio host, speaking to lonely people, travelers, and insomniacs. The night the station closed, he stayed behind to record one final message—something meaningful. But no one ever aired it. He died alone, with his words unheard. “So I kept talking,” Arthur said. “Night after night. Waiting for someone to listen.” Daniel felt a heavy silence fill the room. “What do you want from me?” Daniel asked. Arthur answered gently, “I don’t need fear. I don’t need fame. I just want my message to reach someone. Anyone.” Daniel nodded, even though Arthur couldn’t see him. “I’ll share your story.” For the first time, the static disappeared. Arthur’s voice became clear. “Tell them this,” he said. “You are not invisible. Someone, somewhere, needs your voice—even if you don’t know it yet.” The broadcast ended. The room fell silent. Daniel left the station before sunrise and spent the next day editing the audio. He uploaded the recording as a simple podcast episode titled *The Voice That Waited*. He didn’t add music. He didn’t add effects. Just the truth. Within days, thousands of messages poured in. People said the voice helped them through loneliness, grief, and dark nights. Some cried. Some found comfort. Some found hope. Daniel returned to the radio station one last time. At 2:17 a.m., there was no broadcast. The transmitter stayed silent. But Daniel smiled. Because he understood something important: Some voices don’t fade because they are loud. They survive because someone finally listens.
By Do bol ho jaaye 3 days ago in Horror
Comments (6)
Belle, you did a great job this. I was bought in right from the beginning. This was definitely worth the read.
I think you nailed it!
Thank you for linking to the Creepypasta Wiki! 🥰 The folks over there do great work, archiving the Internet's horror fiction and preserving the classics. It warms my heart to see people acknowledging and supporting the project.
Perfectly spooky! I love your story, Belle! It is so challenging to whittle a story down to 300 words, but you pulled it off incredibly well.
The moment I saw your cover pic, I knew it was gonna be about the Russian Sleep Experiment! This was sooo awesomeeee! I've written about it too because I found it so fascinating!
As I read this it had the feel of a real story. It sound like one of those experiments that took place in the 40's or 50's. Good fit for the challenge, Belle!