Gothika

"A hauntingly beautiful short story."

"A terrific short horror story that has a deep meaning."

For years, I waited for this moment, but it did not come completely as I had expected. Let me tell you about it, the night that changed everything:

I was in my room in a beat-up apartment doing my usual research. I have always been fascinated by vampires and werewolves that I would spend many sleepless nights to dig in from book after book. It was around 2 AM when I suddenly heard a knock on my door. It was Mr. Davis, a police investigator with whom I sometimes enjoy a cup of coffee with at a nearby café.

"What are you doing here at this time of night, sir?" I asked.

Mr. Davis was trembling and handed me a piece of paper with some strange writings on it. While I examined the paper, Mr. Davis looked around my room as if searching for something or simply admiring the books I have on numerous mystical subjects. He looked at my table and saw what I was currently working on. "A book on vampires," he said. "Ah, yes, your passion."

"I find them interesting," I responded.

"You are exactly the man I need for this case," he answered.

"What case? And, what is this strange writing you are showing me?"

"Come," he said, "and I will show you something that happened just a few minutes ago."

"Sir, it is late, can't it wait until tomorrow?" I asked.

"I'm afraid there is not much time for waiting."

I grabbed my coat and we rode his car. He drove into the dark and deep woods. It was quiet in his car. I tried to make him open up and explain what was going on but he was quiet.

Suddenly, he turned to an even darker place, and there he turned off the car's headlight and the engine. It was filthy quiet. He whispered to me to keep quiet and not to say anything. He leaned towards me and slowly opened the car window. It was quiet, and cold.

"What is –"

He covered my mouth and whispered, "Keep quiet now or lose your life."