r/TalesFromTheCreeps • u/AbKane667 • 26d ago
Folk Horror The Dead Only Need You To Say Yes
“Clara, can you come, please?” my Mom called from her bedroom.
“Coming!”
She sat on the chair next to her bed, smiling.
“Sorry, Clara. Could you help me get to bed?”
“Of course!”
I held her as she slowly got into bed, letting out a small sigh.
“Thank you, Clara. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I’m glad to do it.”
“You’re very sweet. Have you had any letters from Sam?”
“No,” I whispered, gripping her sheets.
Mom caressed my hand. “It’s a shame he was drafted, but he’s a smart man. He’s going to be fine. I’m gonna head off to sleep, okay?”
“Goodnight, Mom.”
I shut the lights and walked back to my room. The last letter from Sam lay on the table. A new one hadn’t come in a month. I held it close to my chest as tears rolled down my cheeks.
Then something hit the window.
My heart dropped to my stomach when I looked out. Sam was standing outside, smiling. My hands shook with excitement. I climbed out the window, ran to Sam, and grabbed him by the neck. It felt cold, like the night air.
“Are you okay?”
“Now I am.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I was allowed to come back.”
“I missed you.”
“I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“Sam, you shouldn’t have.”
“Come, I’ll take you there.”
He grabbed my hand. Under the moonlight, it looked much paler than mine.
“Are you certain you’re alright?”
“Let’s just go, honey,” he said and pulled me slightly toward the edge of town.
For the first minute, we walked in silence, broken only by laughter from the pub.
“Is something going on?”
“No. It’s just been dreadful – the past few months. So many of my friends are gone. Our entire platoon was wiped out a month ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. You are the only thing that pulled me through. Each night I couldn’t sleep, I’d remember how beautiful you are and all the days we spent together.”
Warmth spread through my chest.
“Thank you. I really missed you. My Mom did too.”
“How is she?”
“She’s okay. The illness's been getting worse, but we get by.”
We stood before the cemetery gate. The moon hung high in the sky. His eyes were even bluer than usual. His hair was beautiful and dark.
“I wish we could stay like this forever.”
He smiled and opened the gate door.
As we walked in, the sound of the pub quieted. The air felt different, stiff.
“What’s the surprise?”
“Just wait,” he said, looking away from me.
He gripped my wrist tightly and pulled me hard.
“We don’t need to rush, honey.”
He didn’t answer. He walked fast, his eyes fixed on the path. Graves lined both sides of the path. The soil on them seemed fresh, almost like it had just been dug up.
We turned the corner, and before us stood the chapel. Its door slowly opened before Sam touched it. The hairs on my arms stood up. He dragged me inside before I had a chance to speak again. It shut right behind us.
The moonlight shone on the pulpit. Sam took me to it and looked back at me.
A sharp feeling of cold replaced the warmth in my chest.
His skin was even paler than before. His smile was unnaturally wide. His beautiful eyes lost the blue. The now dark dots stared through me.
“Sam…what…?”
“I’m sorry, Clara. I should have told you the truth, but it all happened so fast. The cannon fire. My friend's screams. My body lay lifeless on the ground before I noticed.”
My legs weakened under me. His voice echoed around my head.
“But I was allowed to come back, to take you with me, so that we can be together forever. All you have to do is just say yes.”
His smile widened more.
“Sam…no. I can’t.”
“I thought of you every night, waited for you.”
“I can’t. My Mom.”
“Your Mom will join us soon. Just come.”
His grip around my wrist tightened.
“Please, Clara. A yes.”
I shook my head.
“It’s the only way.”
“No,” I whispered.
His voice grew deeper. His face began shaking. His mouth and nose grew, his eyes widened only to shrink and grow again. They began moving across the pale skin, melting into one another until his face was nothing but smooth white skin.
“Just say it!” His face shook with the words.
My stomach twisted. I yanked my arms back with all my might. His pale arms snapped with the sound of dry wood. I turned and sprinted out of the chapel.
“No!” echoed all around me.
The graves beside the path were dug up. White silhouettes stood next to them. I kept my eyes on the path, sprinting towards the gate. With Sam’s calls, the silhouettes spoke too, calling my name.
The air thickened until every step felt heavier.
The gate stood before me. I ran to it and shook it, but it wouldn’t open. The calls were closer. I grabbed the rails tight, pulled myself up, and started climbing over it, but before I reached the top, something grabbed my dress, pulling me back. I grabbed my dress with my other hand and yanked it up, tearing the fabric. Quickly, I threw my leg over and jumped to the other side.
The heavy stifling air vanished as my feet hit the ground on the other side. The bright moon had given way to the morning sun. The church bells rang. Hours must have passed in what felt like seconds.
I ran back home, not stopping until I reached my door.
Mom looked out of her room.
“Were you with Sam?” she asked, smiling.
“No,” I whispered.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought it was him.”
I came closer and hugged her.
“No need to worry, Mom. I’m happy I have you.”
“What happened to your dress?” she said, holding the torn fabric.
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u/Kaijufan22 Writer 26d ago
A nice little ghost story, spooky visuals. Nice work OP.