2025 Spooky Story Competition

runner up!

Torn and bleeding, her eyes still wild and desperate, she slid behind a rock and for a moment she believed she was safe. Panting heavily, crouching against the rock, the tumbled down rock gave way. The desolate expanse of gravestones felt even bigger than it did before. She quietly stood up again, the growing sickly red gash on her knee was getting increasingly painful but she pushed on in fear of what she would encounter if she didn’t. Red faced with sweat dripping down her aching body, she sprinted towards a sturdy oak tree nearby. The small stone that she thought would cover her was no longer good enough. When she arrived at the sturdy tree, she checked her surroundings with which, fearful, bloodshot eyes. After not seeing anything, the girl sat down to rest her body which felt like it had been cut up with only threads of skin holding her together. Twisting roots from the tree served as a seat, she sprawled her legs out, not having the energy to move them. She wishes dreadfully that she could shut her tired eyes and sleep, maybe even forget where she was, but it wasn’t safe enough. The tree’s ancient arms were spread out above her with a steady swaying rhythm as if someone was swinging from them. The leaves served as a roof as they rustled and whispered amongst each other.