Marked By A Ghost

Submitted into Contest #221 in response to: Write a story from a ghost’s point of view.... view prompt

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Fiction Horror Mystery

Mary had always been a skeptic when it came to the supernatural. She never believed in ghosts, spirits, or anything of the sort. However, everything changed when she moved into her new apartment.


As soon as Mary settled in, she began to notice strange occurrences around the apartment. At first, it was small things like objects that seemed to move on their own or strange noises that she couldn't explain. However, as time passed, the incidents grew more frequent and more unsettling. The apartment seemed to have a life of its own, and Mary couldn't shake the feeling that she was never truly alone.

Despite her skepticism, Mary began to wonder if there was something supernatural at play in her new home. She tried to rationalize the strange occurrences, telling herself that it was just her imagination or that there must be a logical explanation. But the more she tried to ignore it, the more the supernatural activity seemed to intensify. Mary was left with no choice but to confront the possibility that her apartment might be haunted.

One night, Mary woke up to find a dark figure standing at the end of her bed. Her heart skipped a beat, seeing the silhouette slowly move in the grim darkness. She tried to stay still, hoping that it was just her imagination. But as the figure drew closer, she realized that it was not just a figment of her mind. She could feel her palms getting sweaty and her breaths getting shorter. She wanted to run, but her feet felt glued to the ground.


The figure stopped just a few meters away from her, and she could see it more clearly now - it was a tall man with broad shoulders and a hooded cloak. His face was obscured in the shadows, and he didn't say anything. The silence was deafening, and she could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears. She mustered all her courage and spoke, "W-who are you?" She couldn't see any features, but she could feel its presence. She tried to scream, but nothing came out. The figure vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving Mary in a cold sweat. She threw herself on the switch beside and the lights turned on.


Mary froze with terror! The figure, instead of using the door, had vanished through the right wall. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief, thinking that maybe it was just a nightmare. But when she opened them again, she saw that the wall was still intact, and there was no sign of the man. She couldn't explain what had just happened, and her mind was racing with questions. Was she going crazy? Was it some kind of trick? Or was it something else entirely?


She knew that she had to find answers, but right now, all she wanted to do was to get out of that place as fast as possible. She turned around to leave, but as she stepped forward, she noticed something strange on the ground. It was a small, black feather, and she couldn't remember seeing it there before. She picked it up and examined it closely. It looked like it had come from a raven or a crow. She shuddered at the thought and hurried out of the room, determined to forget the whole incident.


From that moment on, Mary felt like she was being watched all the time. Every room in the apartment felt like it had eyes on her. She tried to ignore it, but it was impossible. She felt like she was going crazy. Every time she turned around, she half-expected to see the hooded figure standing there, watching her with his piercing eyes. She tried to convince herself that it was just her imagination, but deep down, she knew that something was wrong.


As days passed, the feeling of being watched only intensified. Mary started to have nightmares, and she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that hung over her. She began to see strange things - shadows moving in the corners of her vision, objects shifting on their own, and strange noises in the middle of the night. She tried to brush it off as her mind playing tricks on her, but it was becoming increasingly difficult.


Mary's friends and family noticed that something was off with her. She had become withdrawn and jumpy, and she refused to talk about what was bothering her. They tried to comfort her, but nothing seemed to work. Mary felt like she was drowning in her own fear, and she didn't know how to get out of it.


One day, she decided to confront her fears and went back to the room where she had encountered the hooded figure. She didn't know what she was hoping to find, but she knew that she had to face it head-on. As she entered the room, she felt the familiar sense of dread wash over her. But this time, something was different. She felt a strange energy in the air, like there was a presence in the room with her. She looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary.


Just as she was about to leave, she heard a whisper in her ear. It was a voice that she had never heard before, and it sent chills down her spine. The voice said, "You should not have come back here." Mary froze, not knowing what to do. The voice continued, "You have disturbed something that should have been left alone. Now, you must pay the price."


Mary's heart raced as a cold hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder. She turned around to face the hooded figure, and this time, she could see his face - it was gaunt and pale, with sunken eyes that seemed to stare into her soul. Despite her efforts to scream, no sound came out. The figure leaned in close and whispered, "You belong to me now."


Mary stood frozen with terror, unable to comprehend what was happening. She felt as though time had stopped, and all that existed was her and the sinister figure before her. She tried to back away, but the figure's grip only tightened, making her feel as though she was being suffocated.


As the figure whispered those ominous words, Mary's mind raced with fear and confusion. She wondered what the figure meant by "belong to me now" and what he was going to do with her. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. Suddenly, the hooded figure released her and disappeared into the darkness.


Mary took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She looked around, trying to get her bearings. She realized that she was standing in the middle of a deserted alley, with no one around.

As Mary stood there, trying to make sense of what had just happened, she felt a chill run down her spine. She knew that she had to get out of there and find help. But as she turned to leave, she saw something that made her freeze in her tracks.


A ghostly figure appeared before her, glowing in the darkness. Mary could hardly believe her eyes. The figure seemed to be beckoning her, calling her towards it.


Mary tried to run, but her legs wouldn't move. She felt like she was rooted to the spot, unable to escape the ghostly presence that was now closing in on her.


As the figure drew closer, Mary could feel its icy breath on her face. She tried to scream, but no sound would come out.


Suddenly, the figure reached out and touched her on the forehead. Mary felt a surge of energy flow through her body, and then everything went black.


When Mary opened her eyes again, she was lying in a hospital bed. She had no memory of what had happened after the ghostly figure touched her.


But she knew one thing for sure: she had been marked by the ghost, and her life would never be the same again.

October 21, 2023 14:30

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