Horrific Shorts: Zombie Edition

Emily always found comfort in the silence of her bedroom. It was her sanctuary, a place where she could retreat from the world and immerse herself in books, music, and her thoughts. Tonight was no different—except for the strange sense of unease that crept over her as she scrolled through her phone, lounging on her bed.

She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The shadows in the room seemed to stretch further than they should, and the soft hum of the air conditioner felt more like a whisper than a calming drone. Dismissing the thoughts as the result of watching too many horror movies, she decided to unwind with some music.

As she unlocked her phone, it suddenly froze, the screen stuck on a glitchy static image that made her heart skip a beat. She tried pressing the power button, but it wouldn't respond. The feeling of unease deepened into something more sinister. Just as she was about to put the phone down, the screen flickered, and a single word appeared: **"Listen."**

Emily's breath caught in her throat. She stared at the screen, her mind racing. Before she could process what was happening, the phone's speaker emitted a soft, eerie hum, followed by the faint sound of someone breathing on the other end. She hadn't made a call—her phone was supposed to be off. Yet, there it was, a presence on the line that she couldn't see but could feel.

She wanted to throw the phone away, to scream for help, but her body was paralyzed with fear. The breathing continued, slow and deliberate, as if whoever—or whatever—was on the other end was savoring the silence between them.

Summoning all her courage, Emily whispered into the phone, "Who is this?"

The breathing paused for a moment. Then, a low, gravelly voice replied, "I'm already here."

Her blood ran cold. She felt a sudden chill in the room, as though the temperature had dropped several degrees in an instant. The shadows on the walls seemed to move, closing in on her as the voice continued to speak.

"Do you like your room, Emily? It's such a nice place to hide... but you can't hide from me."

Emily's heart pounded in her chest as she looked around the room, her eyes darting from corner to corner, searching for any sign of an intruder. But there was nothing—just her, the shadows, and the voice on the phone.

She wanted to hang up, to run out of the room and never look back, but she couldn't move. It was as if the voice had rooted her to the spot, trapping her in her own bed.

"You've been so lonely, haven't you?" the voice continued, its tone dripping with malice. "But don't worry... I'll keep you company. Forever."

A sudden, sharp noise behind her made Emily whip around, her heart leaping into her throat. The closet door, which had been closed just moments before, was now slightly ajar. She stared at the dark gap, her mind screaming at her to get up and run, but her body refused to obey.

The voice on the phone chuckled softly. "Come closer, Emily. I'm waiting."

Her hands trembling, Emily forced herself to rise from the bed. Every instinct screamed for her to flee, but something—some terrible compulsion—drew her toward the closet. She took a step forward, then another, each one heavier than the last.

The phone's screen flickered again, and the voice spoke one final time. "You're mine now."

With a trembling hand, Emily reached for the closet door. The darkness inside seemed to pulse, alive with a malevolent force that she couldn't comprehend. She hesitated, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

But it was too late.

The door flew open, and the darkness engulfed her, pulling her into a void of terror and despair. The last thing she heard before the phone fell from her hand was the voice, no longer on the line but whispering directly into her ear.

"Welcome home."
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The room fell silent, the phone lying forgotten on the floor. The shadows retreated, the air grew still, and the only sound left was the soft hum of the air conditioner. Emily was gone, her sanctuary now a tomb of quiet horror.

And in the darkness, the closet door slowly creaked shut.