One Short Story A Day

September 5, 2024

Prompt: Someone knocks at your door. You open it to find your deceased grandfather who has come back from the dead to pay you a visit. What does he want?

It was a dark and stormy night. The wind howled outside, sending shivers down my spine as I curled up on the couch, trying to stay warm. Suddenly, a loud knock echoed through the house, causing me to jump in surprise.

Who could be knocking at my door at this hour?I cautiously made my way to the front door, hesitating for a moment before slowly opening it. My heart skipped a beat when I saw who was standing on the doorstep. It was my deceased grandfather, who had passed away several years ago. His ghostly figure stood before me, his eyes filled with sadness and longing.

I could hardly believe my eyes. How was this possible? My grandfather had come back from the dead to pay me a visit. I stood there in shock, unable to utter a single word as he stared at me with a haunting gaze.

"Grandfather? Is that really you?" I finally managed to whisper, my voice trembling with disbelief.

He nodded solemnly, his translucent form flickering in and out of existence. "Yes, my child. I have returned to deliver a message to you."

I invited him inside, feeling a mixture of fear and curiosity. As we sat down in the living room, he began to speak in a quiet, eerie voice. "There is something dark and malevolent that lurks in the shadows. It has been watching you, waiting for the right moment to strike."

I felt a chill run down my spine as his words sank in.

What could he possibly mean? Was there something lurking in the darkness that I was unaware of?My grandfather continued, his expression grave. "You must be careful, my child. Trust no one and keep your guard up at all times. Evil forces are at work, and they will stop at nothing to bring harm upon you."

I listened intently, my heart pounding in my chest. The room seemed to grow colder as his presence filled it with an eerie energy. I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that washed over me like a tidal wave.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the house, causing me to jump in fright. My grandfather's ghostly form began to fade away, his voice barely a whisper as he spoke his final words. "Beware the darkness, my child. And remember, I will always be watching over you.

"And just like that, he was gone, leaving me alone in the dimly lit room. I sat there in stunned silence, trying to process what had just occurred.

Was it all just a hallucination brought on by the stormy weather outside? Or was there truly something sinister lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike?I felt a shiver run down my spine as I glanced around the room, suddenly aware of every creak and groan of the old house. The feeling of unease lingered in the air, making me question everything I thought I knew.

As I lay in bed that night, I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that enveloped me like a suffocating cloak. The memory of my grandfather's ghostly visit haunted my dreams, filling them with visions of darkness and despair.

And as the first light of dawn broke through the curtains, I knew that my grandfather's warning would stay with me forever. I would do whatever it took to protect myself from the malevolent forces that lurked in the shadows, always watching, always waiting for the right moment to strike.