Story time for when you need to stay awake...

Horror short stories to not fall asleep to.

[aquicktasteofthepoison]

Epilogue

Sometimes, it is merely a case of poor communication. Sometimes, it is on purpose, sometimes by accident, or by someone not asking the right questions quick enough. But, it is nice to see that my apprentice managed to succeed in her fate. Calliope may have cause an imbalance, but Polyhymnia, as she is now known, has brought balance to it. For as the lies began to unravel, so did the distractions from the necromancer’s plans for this small town. When Polyhymnia is done with her degree, I shall take her from here...see how far we can travel and how much she can be taught. But for now, the young Judge must learn how to trust in herself. From there, I will teach her all I can.

Dear Diary,

Like holy fuck this has been a week. Everything just hit the fan and while we lost Dana, Sarah is at least alive. She’s...different now, but we don’t care. We don’t have time to care. There is enough shit in this town that will fuck us all up, we don’t need to turn on each other. Besides, that cock of a wolf is right, shit only got really bad when...we got bad. It was like a fucking cult though, once you got sucked in...it was...ugh, I can’t even describe how stupid the shit we did was. Either way, we’re disbanding, and if those assholes come anywhere near Sarah, we know at least some of their tricks. Now if only we could stop Sidney from being so loopy about that one chick.

“I had a really great time, Amelia,” the boy said as the young blonde looked up at him, standing on the front doorstep of her home. She knew her father was nearby, watching, but she didn’t care.

“I did too, Jacob,” Amelia said as she played with her pigtail slightly, seeming apprehensive. What do you do now? It was the end of her first date and...she just kind of stared up at him. He seemed nervous too, the both of them flushed as they tried to figure out the next step. It was with a bit of anxiety that she leaned up, and gave him a firm kiss on the lips, finding it strange. It was both warm, wet, soft, and...reminded her of her trip to the watchtower. As his arms went to wrap around her, she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, praying the moment didn’t end, though she could hear her dad’s footsteps incoming. He could scream all he wanted, she just wanted to feel like a normal teen girl for a minute longer.

As the week from hell ended, the predators, the prey, they all made their choices. The choice to think ahead, the choice to not assume the worst...and the choice to leave behind what was holding them back. Rash thought only gets you so far, assumptions lead to death, and staying only chains you further to the things that shall doom you. Not always, but sometimes, the tales in the World of Darkness have a happy ending, you just have to hunt them down...and look in the right perspective.

[aquicktasteofthepoison]

Name: Amelia Williams, age 15

Shadow name: Astra

Cabal Card: The Hanged Man

Path: Obrimos

Vice: Pride

Virtue: Faith

Sometimes, I wonder if I am in some freaky version of the Craft or something. I walked to the Golden watchtower when I was only eight, and then my life changed a lot. I’m always having to prove myself though, as most when they meet me make a lot of assumptions about my abilities. It can help though, nothing surprises adults more than a kid with fire at her fingertips. The trick is making sure my parents don’t notice all I can do in the blink of an eye.

[aquicktasteofthepoison]

Phyras gripped his nose with a towel as three people managed to walk into his safe haven, his eyes looking over to see Astra and Hausos, along with a third girl. One he recognized from around the school...and the Beta Theta Kappa symbols on her shirt said everything he needed to know. Astra immediately rushed over to Prima, who was trying to clean the blood out of her ears and started her intensive jabber that gave Phyras a major headache. Kairos was the first to notice the girl, his steps careful as he approached the wide eyed ginger.

“I am glad to see you chose this path,” Kairos gave a grin as Phyras sighed, exasperated by tonight’s events.

“Was this all an elaborate scheme to get you a new apprentice?” His teeth were gritted as Kairos just shrugged, “Oh...you’ve got to be kidding me.”

“It was a possibility, nothing more,” Kairos grinned as he looked over at his colleague, “Besides, we need more who are awake than those who are asleep.”

“I hate you.”

“Love you too, Phyras.”

“So...did you get the job done?” Phyras looked over at Hausos, giving a glance a father would give a child asking if they had brushed their teeth before going to bed.

“If you are asking if the sorority house is currently up in smoke, then yes,” Hausos remarked as she crossed her arms, “Now what happened?”

“Prayers,”  Brujo grimaced as he stood up, still trying to clear the blood from his eyes and ears, “I’ve heard of this style before, we’re being attacked by fucking Catholics.”

“Wait...the church can do that?” Astra’s eyes grew wide, “Maybe I should tell my dad I’m sick every mass...”

“Don’t do that you silly twit,” Phyras snapped, “It’s bad enough we all started bleeding in the middle of a prayer, if more of us start disappearing when church related things are happening...they’ll suspect something.”

“Like bleeding from the nose isn’t going to cause suspicion?” Hausos replied back, pointing to the towel.

“Inconvenient nose bleed.”

“Yes so I just had an inconvenient period and ear bleeding?” Prima looked over at him and shook her head, “We cannot solve everything with the mundane explanations and more importantly, we don’t know any other consequences of this prayer.”

“It already has one major one,” Brujo shook his head, “Those bastards know who we are, maybe not what we are, but they know there is something supernatural about us.”

There was a silence that echoed through the whole room as people were thinking, then a voice perked up.

“They know you are witches,” Sarah said softly, “I...Mother Williams told me to stay behind...d-did she...”

“Probably yes,” Brujo sneered as he walked over to the little redhead, his dark eyes cold as he studied her, “And now, you’re with us so you’re probably going to end up slaughtered as a traitor. Welcome to the fucking party little girl.”

“Lay off, old man,” Hausos glared at him as she stepped in front of Sarah, “Girl has had a rough night, as have all of us though trust me, I’d take nose bleeding over seeing hairy naked werewolf dick any day. So step off or I will make you step off.”

“Enough children,” Phyras looked at the group who all turned their attention to him, “Now, we’re going to have a sleepover. I would not suggest going home, especially since they do know what we are and I do NOT want to have any more run ins. Astra, I’ll call your father and let him know you’re with me. Prima, contact the rest of the group, especially any who were at the memorial tonight. The rest of you, get comfortable. We’re hunkering down.”

Phyras dropped the towel at that point, going upstairs to grab a few supplies as his mind raced. Everything he feared was coming to pass, and the odds, well, he wondered how much magic it would take to have the odds in their favor.

[aquicktasteofthepoison]

“The vigil never falters, no matter how dark the night, sisters,” He spoke in kind, reassuring words, “We will expose the sin and wickedness in this institution in her name. Father guide our hand as we each light a candle to honor her light that was snuffed out far too soon.”

An echo of amens were repeated as the girls nodded, each dressed in black and prepared for what was to come. As they all made their way out the door, Mother Williams put her hand in front of Sarah.

“No my child, one must watch the home,” Williams’ old grey-blue eyes stared Sarah down, “Those monsters who are against us are not likely to honor the dead, think of how the candles were tossed aside this morning. No, little one, I need someone to guard the fortress.”

“Yes Mother,” Sarah nodded, curtsying as she did so.

“Good, dim the lights and set the traps,” Williams smiled faintly as she walked toward the door, “And remember to keep the gun close, my dear daughter.”

As Williams closed the door behind her, her expression stiffened. The sickly little wolf was still among her lambs. She hoped the demons killed her, ate her from the inside out, for daring to try to corrupt her enterprise with her treasonous witchcraft. As she looked behind her, each light going out in the home, her weathered face glared at the monster she left as bait. Wolves were stupid things, after all, they would attack the child while she saw to the rest of the witches in town.

It didn’t take long for them to arrive, a funeral procession to the main courtyard of the campus. So many candles were there, so much sorrow was too as plenty were crying. Williams kept her face firm, she was after all, the strength her little lambs needed in these trying times of war and blood. But each death is a little easier, each death makes you a better hunter of the wicked. 

“In the name of this child of God, let us pray,” Father Thomas spoke firmly after the talking from the girls had ended and now it was the time to pray, Williams kept her head down and her eyes forward, as she recommended her daughters do. Looking to the side for a quick moment, she saw all of them, staring down those who came before them to be unknowingly judged. As the Father spoke the benediction, loud and clear as though the Voice of God was among them, the first stirrings in the crowd began. Then, there was a scream. Hiding her internal smiles, her gaze looked up, faking shock and concern as all went to plan.

“P-professor?” Came the first words out of Laurie’s mouth as she looked at Professor Montebank with wide eyes as she saw blood coming from his nostrils, “Y-you’re bleeding...”

It was then the panic began, as most humans and witches did at the power of God being shown. Blood came from the ears, eyes, noses, and even some crotches were quickly stained red. She noted that the witches all scattered to the north-west, in groups of two or three. Williams looked up at the father, who had closed his book while the girls all looked at him with wide-eyed fear.

“Now you know the names of those who use witchcraft,” Father Thomas looked over at Williams, “Miss Abigail, lead these girls home and bring me a list of names. We will snuff them out quickly.”

“Yes father,” She replied as she heard sirens, her eyes darting as her gaze followed a firetruck.

Good, maybe the witch burned herself.

[aquicktasteofthepoison]

Sarah Winchester, age 21.

Vice: Greed

Virtue: Hope

I saw the light of God, and I followed it to help my sisters. Now I realize, He has granted me gifts like St. Joan of Arc to help on our quest to rid this world of the monsters that prey upon us. Yet...I wonder if I will suffer her fate if they are found?

[aquicktasteofthepoison]

From the Office of Dean Morris Chef

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

It is with great sorrow I must confirm that the rumors around campus are true. I received confirmation this afternoon that one of our own, Dana Polk, was found dead outside of Nyx’s bar on Sandy Street Saturday morning. Classes will be cancelled for the week, and there will be a vigil tomorrow night on the central lawn by the Eagle statue. All of us here at Higher Hopes University must reach out now, more than ever as a community. Grief Counseling walk ins will be available at the counseling center within the student affairs building.

Dean Morris Chef

[aquicktasteofthepoison]

Reactionary

Kairos: I did all I could but the girls took a bad branch of fate.

Astra: So...what actually happened?

Calliope: Sweetie, you really don’t want to know the details.

Astra: Come on! I can handle this! *flails*

Kairos: A girl died, one was gravely injured.

Phyras: Fuck, Hausos, thought you were on this?

Devilman: Shit Phyras, never hear you swear in here

Astra: Someone’s angry XD

Hiero: So, one dead, one injured. How are the authorities handling this?

Calliope: Bungling as usual.

KingMe: I was keeping an eye on it this morning, girl looked like she was thrown from a building. Just...a splatter zone

Astra: Ew

Calliope: Told you you didn’t want to know.

Phyras: Are we sure the wolves did this?

OnlyLoversLeft: Well leaving a grizzly scene like that is their thing.

Kingme: That’s racist

Hiero: more like the truth

Devilman: what the fuck are we supposed to do?

Phyras: Meet up and figure out how to deal with this. Prima, prepare the shop. Hausos...bring the wolves with you. We said we’d help with clean up IF they kept the mess contained to the sorority. They didn’t, we need to have a word.

Astra: Wait we are going to meet up with -them-?! They eat people!

Astra hides behind Prima

Prima: Don’t worry child, we have ways of dealing with them. A few wolves aren’t likely to attack. They’re brutes, but not stupid.

OnlyLoversLeft: Are you sure?

Calliope: Only one way to find out. Bring all your monkshood ladies and gents...oh and seriously, Devilman, easy on the pot before you show up. Last time I got a contact high around you.

[aquicktasteofthepoison]

Blood for Blood

Jesse stared at the bed where Ellen lay, her body mangled but her spirit still holding on. The tears stopped at this point, the only thing she could manage to express was a slight frown, though for the most part, her expression was blank. The other girls were home, preparing far more seriously than before. Laurie was on every single social media app, keeping track of any news, any word of what happened and how the police were investigating it. Nancy and Erin were off investigating what the police were up to. Ginny was talking with the Dean, begging him to have the school suspend classes until they could be sure they were safe. Kristy and Sidney were helping each other with prayers, the house needed to be blessed further if they were to survive. Sarah was working on making better traps than a firecracker to the door. That left Jesse. Staring at Ellen while she slept. And...Dana...Dana was...gone.

“Nothing more heartbreaking than losing a friend in a war,” Jesse hadn’t seen Mother Williams walk in, but part of her didn’t care, “It...is the cruelest lesson we all have to learn. We’re fighting monsters that don’t care for us.” The stern woman looked away from Ellen and to Jesse, her grey-black hair tied up in a bun far too tight, her ice blue eyes stern as the fifty something woman looked at the college student with something resembling pity.

“I...I told them to stay back,” Jesse stuttered, not just out of her thoughts of the situation, but of the woman’s prescence, “Ellen was just...just so angry and...she must have convinced Kristy and...”

“Dana Polk,” Mother Williams stated, her voice firm, “Do not be afraid to say the names of the dead. They are the reason you keep fighting. They are the battle cry that brings us all together. They are that power that keeps our prayers strong. I remember all the lives that have been lost during my time at war. I say them in my nightly prayers before bed. I repeat them during my weakest moments. Keep them on your lips and in your heart, Miss Bradford. Always.” The woman put her hand on Jesse’s shoulder, the two and a half remaining digits gripping almost like a claw as she tried to comfort her, “Now...as for Miss Ripley, she needs some prayers, correct?”

Jesse nodded as they knelt down to pray, putting their hands on Ellen as they began to pray in unison.

“St. Luke, Patron of the Academics, the Healers, those who wish to learn the darkness and heal wounds from it, our sister is in need of your help. She fought with honor and determination but was harmed by a beast of a wolf. Please, bless this child and give her your strength as God gives to all who fight the Goliath as David did, all who are subjected to the lions as Daniel was, and all who sacrifice as did your Son, in His name, for all of those of mankind who walk this earth. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti, give her the strength to fight again, to live again. Amen.”

When Jesse opened her eyes, it felt like the room had brightened considerably. Ellen’s body only bore scars of her injures, the injures themselves were gone. She could hardly believe it as Ellen opened her eyes, looking over at Jesse.

“Jess, I...I’m sorry...” Ellen’s first words to her were an apology as Jesse just reached to hug her tightly.

“It’s okay Ellen, it’s okay,” Jesse repeated as she started to cry, holding onto Ellen as though she were afraid to let the girl go again.

“Learn from this Miss Ripley,” Mother Williams stated as she stood, both girls looking up at the woman, “While your passion is admirable, think before you go on a hunt. If there is anything to come from your guilt at Dana’s death, let it be the reminder that we are fighting monsters, not gangbangers. Don’t underestimate our enemy.”

Ellen nodded as the tears flowed, a faint smile appearing on the matron’s face as she left the room. As Mother Williams looked around the home, the girls preparing for what hell was coming, she went toward the phone. Her hand took the home phone, dialing the numbers as she stared at the Chapter room.

“We are going to need more supplies for the Sorority,” She said, not even bothering to say hello, “The girls here are going to be throwing a party...and no expense should be spared.”

[aquicktasteofthepoison]

Found

It was when Sidney was almost home when tears started flowing. She was dead. Mother Williams, her sisters...whatever that woman did...she betrayed them. All their secrets, everything...and Sidney didn’t even know who she gave it to. When she arrived at the front door, she found Jesse standing out front. Arms crossed, her brown eyes piercing her through the darkness.

“Did you find the dog?”

There was always a code, nothing was ever said openly. Secrets, lies, it reminded Sidney of home. Lies about money kept by her mother, lies about alcohol use by her father, and lies about how proud they were that their only child was getting into...English. So much for helping them solve their problems. She just caused more problems, that’s how it always felt. Sidney just shook her head.

“S-Spike found him...” She hiccuped as she started to cry, tears would not stop and her nose was difficult to breathe out of, “H-he had...had...me spill all the exam questions for theory.”

Jesse stood there for a small infinity, assessing the freshman. The school year had barely started, and they were already in crisis. Yet they were paying a dangerous game. The blonde stepped forward, pulling Sidney into a hug.

“Easy,” Jesse said as the girl just cried, “We will figure this out, come on, let’s go inside.”

Sidney nodded as she was lead into the home, tears still flowing as Ellen and Ginny rushed to her side, Ginny’s arm bandaged from where the monster had gotten a bite in. 

“What happened, Sid?” Ellen demanded, “Jess, what’s going on?”

As Jesse shut the door behind them, she glanced around the room at the girls. There were ten in the room, mostly strangers until they got the exclusive honor to be the founding members of Delta Alpha Kappa. Now that they were getting to know each other, Sidney wondered if she would see all of them survive what was coming.

“We’ve been found out,” Jesse said firmly as the girls stood in shock, a few on the nearby staircase gasping, “Vampire, used something on Sidney to make her tell all.”

It was then that the tough looking green haired Ellen jumped Sidney, but not in the way she expected. She hugged her, tightly.

“Fuck girl,” Ellen stated, “And you survived?”

“S-she let me go...told me to come here...enjoy...enjoy some time with my sisters.”

“What a cunt,” Kirsty rolled her dark eyes, as she popped the bubblegum that was in her mouth, “Like seriously, she’s going to let you come here to warn us and send us into a panic like a bunch of little prissy bitches? I say we prepare for war.”

“That’s exactly what we’ll do,” Jesse ordered as she looked around the room, “Ellen, Nancy, Ginny, get the sage, salt, holy water, silver...whole nine yards. Laurie, Erin, Kristy, go into the chapter room and search all the books for as much information as possible. We need to know how to defend this place. Sarah and Dana, go prep snacks, we’re gonna need some. Sidney and I are going to talk to mother, I want to know our options when I come back. Got it, sisters?”

“Yes sister!” Came the war cry from the girls, all of them scurrying off together to find what they needed. Sidney looked up at Jesse, tears still in her eyes.

“W-will she be mad?”

“Oh, fuck yeah,” Jesse replied, “As I am probably, but we need to prepare for things before you get put on bathroom cleaning duty for a month.”