Murder at the Midnight Door
For the Spooky Micro Challenge #2
"There was only one rule: don’t open the door.”
Never taught to be afraid of my own shadow, but somehow I remain good at it. The way the dark is stuck to my heel, and how I see her dead on the ground — but she moves with me and I could never figure out how.
In the morning she is taller and thinner than me, never afraid when we are out in public. But I wonder why the others don’t see her and I don’t see theirs. Who is this person that changes their hairstyles, with teeth as sharp as sharks but in the shape of me — eyes as white as the chalk that coloured it. Who put that there? if only their mothers taught them well to colour their books and not public spaces.
I hail the taxi to take me to work. After my trip to the morgue, they said there is nothing wrong with the way you feel so deeply for the dead. There’s nothing to worry about when you wished you saw how they died, so that you could justify that it wasn’t your fault.
It’s not my fault, okay?
‘Ma’am, your stop’
‘Oh…sorry. Thank you’
Why won’t this door open? I’m sure this is the right key. They told me that I could come and clean their room and-
*door opens*
The man I murdered stood in front of me, he had a gaping hole through his chest where he was impaled by that gate. The swerve he took when I slammed into his car with my own vehicle. Did I even survive?
Oh God!
I’m burning, pins and needles sharp through my skin. The air stings the man is shrinking and my mind is exploding in sharp burst.
Denial brings suffering.
About the Creator
Caitlin Charlton
poetry too close to home
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Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
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More stories from Caitlin Charlton and writers in Horror and other communities.
Dying Trap
There was only one rule: don’t open the door. With eyes as bright as the moon, lips as pure as the day she lost her virginity, she wish she could see him again tonight in her dreams, she had questions. Tonight at her mothers grave she spoke to the stars.
By Caitlin Charltonabout a year ago in Horror
Comments (13)
Oh lord that is absolutely haunting. I had to read it twice to make sure I fully appreciated the layers. Wow what a powerful twist. Very well done. You are a gifted wordsmith.
I love that opening, with dark stuck to her heels,
The five stages of grief work in many scenarios, our mind plays such tricks. I have a morbid love of cemeteries, i always find one to hang out and do my reading. ghosts are calming, as long as you haven't murdered them. Sorry, could not resist. 🤖😍
I was certainly not ready for that twist Caitlin!!! That final line just left me reeling!! So good!!!
Whoa, creepy. I like the work at the morgue angle. Would be really interested to see what you could do after expanding this into a fuller story. I want to believe the murder, the crash was an accident. But was it???
Excellent! I was hoping to see more in the spooky micro challenge from you, and this did not disappoint :) Powerfully imagery and language. You definitely have a knack for dark stories, your poetic voice works really well towards horror.
Oh wow, that was an awesomeeee twist! So unexpected. I loved your story!
This is a surreal and ghostly masterpiece, Caitlin! The final line stabs like a bayonet! Simply brilliant!
Chilling. It was gripping from the start to end, and that final line denial brings suffering really seals it. Superb work!
Great story!
What a great short story that kept your reading.
Your words are mysterious, inviting, and terrifying -- "Denial brings suffering" --and true.
well written piece, i like it