A gust of wind ushered Alison inside. “Mom? Dad? Jamie?” Only silence answered. Her heart racing, she creeped over to the dimly lit hallway. There was the missing comforting scent of her mother’s cooking, replacing it was something damp and unsettling.
As she made it to the end of the hallway, she saw Jamie, her younger brother, sitting on the coach in the living room, eyes glued to the TV. “Hey, whatcha watching? Alison asked. He didn’t acknowledge her at all, eyes still tethered to the screen.
She anxiously checked the clock, it was almost 6! Her mom should be in the kitchen starting dinner, yet when Alison went to go check, the kitchen was empty. “Mom? Dad?” she called again, feeling panic rise.
Then she heard a soft thud and saw her father emerge from the shadows, his eyes dark and skin shimmering oddly.
“Dad? Are you okay?” she asked cautiously.
“I’m fine, sweetheart. Just tired,” he replied, smiling in a way that chilled her.
Watching her dad join Jamie in the living room, she noticed Jamie’s face was now obscured. “Jamie, what’s wrong?” It was unlike him to prefer watching TV over talking. He did not reply, but kept staring blankly ahead.
Her mother appeared, expression tight. “Dinner is almost ready. Set the table, Allison.”
Alison went to the dining room, unease heavy on her. Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the living room. Rushing back, she found her father rigid, staring at Jamie, who was breathing heavily, eyes wide.
“Jamie?” she whispered, fear creeping in.
In that moment, Jamie’s features began to distort, skin rippling like water. Staggering back, Alison felt her heart race.
“Time to eat Allison,” her father said, grinning grotesquely.
“No! What’s happening?” she cried, backing away.
But there was nowhere to go. Her mother’s voice hissed from the kitchen, “Join us, Allison. It’s a feast!”
Jamie lunged at her, now a monstrous version of himself.
Allison dashed for the front door, but it clicked shut on its own. “Don’t you want to stay with your family?” her father taunted.
“Get away from me!” she screamed, panic rising.
She turned to the kitchen window, but it was sealed tight. Her family advanced, grotesque and hungry. Grabbing a knife from the counter, she trembled. “Please, stop! You’re not my family!” she shouted, tears streaming down her face.
They closed in, shadows dancing, their growls filling the air. “Join us, Allison,” they whispered.
In that moment, she knew there was no escape. The last flicker of hope faded as they lunged, laughter echoing around her, a sound that would haunt her forever. The night enveloped the house, resonating with the silence of a family lost to insatiable hunger.
By Hailey Zeller, 2nd Place Winner of the 2024 Spooky Story Contest
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