Horror story

Once a vibrant and lively place, the garden now lay barren and desolate. It was as if the flowers and trees had all but withered away, leaving behind a landscape of gloom and despair.

The garden was situated on the outskirts of town, and despite its eerie reputation, people would still occasionally venture inside. But there were whispers of strange occurrences within the garden's walls, and rumours of a haunting that would deter most from ever setting foot inside.

One particular day, a young couple named Lily and Jack decided to take a stroll through the garden. The couple was fascinated with the paranormal, and the garden's reputation as a haunted place only made it all the more intriguing to them.

As they walked through the garden's gates, they were immediately overcome with a sense of unease. It was as if they had just entered a different world, one where time stood still and all was quiet.

The couple made their way down the garden's path, admiring the sculptures and fountains that once glistened in the sun. But now, they appeared to be decaying, as if time had taken its toll on the once-beautiful works of art.

As they continued walking, they came upon a small clearing where a lone bench sat. On the bench sat an old woman, her face obscured by the shadows of the trees above. The couple approached her cautiously, not knowing what to expect.

"Hello," Lily said tentatively, "we didn't expect to see anyone here."

The old woman turned her head slowly towards the couple, revealing a face that was wrinkled and worn. "You shouldn't be here," she rasped. "This place is cursed."

Jack scoffed. "Cursed? What kind of curse?"

The old woman's eyes narrowed. "The curse of the garden," she whispered. "It's said that those who enter never leave."

The couple exchanged a nervous glance, but they didn't want to show fear in front of the old woman.

"We'll be fine," Lily said bravely. "We just want to explore a little bit."

The old woman cackled, a sound that made the hairs on the back of their necks stand up. "Explore? You know nothing of what lies ahead."

With that, the old woman got up from the bench and disappeared into the shadows.

Lily and Jack continued their walk, but now they were on edge. They couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, and the once-silent garden now seemed to be filled with whispers and murmurs.

As they approached the center of the garden, they saw a figure standing in front of them. It was a woman, dressed in a long white dress, her hair flowing in the breeze. Lily and Jack froze, not knowing what to do.

The woman spoke, her voice as soft as a whisper. "I've been waiting for you."

Lily and Jack were transfixed, unable to move. The woman approached them slowly, her hand outstretched.

"Come with me," she said. "I'll show you the way."

Without thinking, Lily and Jack took the woman's hand and followed her deeper into the garden.

As they walked, the garden seemed to come alive. The flowers bloomed, the trees grew taller, and the sculptures shone in the sun.

But as they reached the center of the garden, they saw that the woman's face was not as beautiful as they had first thought. Her skin was pale and her eyes were black, as if they were empty voids.

And then the ground began to shake. The trees shook violently, and the sculptures crumbled to dust. The once-beautiful garden was now nothing but rubble and ruins.

Lily and Jack tried to run, but they couldn't move.

The woman's grip on their hands tightened, and they felt as if they were being pulled deeper into the garden's cursed realm. They tried to scream, but no sound escaped their lips.

Suddenly, the woman stopped and turned towards them. Her voice had changed, and it was now a deep, guttural growl.

"You have trespassed upon this garden," she said, "and now you shall never leave."

Lily and Jack tried to break free, but it was no use. They were trapped, and they knew that they were about to meet a gruesome fate.

As the ground shook beneath them, the woman's form began to change. Her skin turned a sickly shade of green, and her eyes grew even darker. And then, with a deafening roar, she transformed into a hideous creature.

The creature had the body of a woman, but the face of a demon. Its mouth was full of razor-sharp teeth, and its claws glinted in the dim light of the garden.

Lily and Jack closed their eyes, unable to bear the sight of the monster that stood before them. But when they opened them again, they found themselves back at the garden's entrance.

They stumbled out of the garden, disoriented and terrified. They looked back at the garden, but it was once again silent and still.

Lily and Jack never spoke of their experience in the garden again. But they knew that they had witnessed something beyond their understanding, something that they would never be able to explain.

Years later, the garden was bulldozed and replaced with a shopping mall. But those who had ventured inside the garden never forgot the haunting presence that lingered within its walls. And to this day, people still whisper about the cursed garden and the demon that looked within.