Psychological Horror Story
The squeak of a cleaning cart echoed down the dim hallway. Tom slowed his pace on the stairs. Through the half-open door of the next apartment, a woman stepped into the light. She was breathtaking. Pristine, organized, and effortlessly elegant.
"Hello," she smiled, her voice like silk. "I’m Lona. My husband Jozef and I just moved in."
Tom nodded, forcing a polite greeting, but as he unlocked his own door and stepped inside, a bitter sting of envy hit him. His eyes swept over the cluttered takeout boxes, the dust, and the chaos of his lonely flat. Lucky bastard, Tom thought, thinking of Jozef. How does a guy get a wife that perfect?
But Tom had a secret. A genetic curse, or maybe a blessing. His ears didn’t just hear; they amplified. In the dead of night, he could hear the distinct, rhythmic scratching of an ant’s legs moving across the drywall.
Three nights later, the silence shattered.
Through the thick concrete walls, Tom’s ears caught a sound that made his blood run cold—a muffled, desperate shriek. It was a human voice, tearing through raw vocal cords, cut short by a heavy thud. Tom sat up in bed, his heart hammering against his ribs, staring into the dark. What is happening next door?
The next morning, the hallway smelled faintly of copper and bleach. Tom caught Jozef locking his door.
"Jozef, right?" Tom called out, his voice tighter than he intended.
Jozef turned, flashing a warm, neighborly smile. "Yes! Absolutely. You must be our neighbor from next door."
"Yeah," Tom stepped closer, eyes scanning Jozef's immaculate clothes. "Listen... everything okay last night? I thought I heard... a scream."
Jozef’s smile didn’t fade, but his eyes turned ice-cold. "A scream? Oh, the TV volume must have been up. Horror movies, you know? Actually, we're making a special dinner tomorrow night. You should join us."
Tom felt a shiver down his spine, but his pulse quickened with the familiar rush of adrenaline. "I'd love to," Tom said, smiling back.
That night, Tom pressed his ear against the cold wall. The apartment next door was quiet, until a whisper floated through the concrete. Lona’s voice.
"Tomorrow... we are going to eat the neighbor's flesh."
Tom froze. The air left his lungs. His mind raced as the horrific puzzle pieces clicked into place. Cannibals. They weren't just weird. They were monsters.
A normal man would have packed his bags and run. But Tom? Tom was a thrill-seeker. The danger felt like electricity in his veins.
When the night of the dinner arrived, Tom stood before their door. Beneath his tailored jacket, the heavy metal of a loaded pistol rested against his ribs. He gripped a bouquet of fresh flowers, exhaled slowly, and knocked.
The lock clicked. The door swung open.
Tom's breath caught in his throat. Standing there wasn't Lona, but a girl. The most breathtakingly beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on. Her beauty was hypnotic, almost dangerous.
Tom swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure. "Are you... a relative of Jozef and Lona?"
The girl smiled, a look that sent a chill straight down to his toes.
"Yes," she whispered, stepping back into the shadows of the apartment. "Welcome. Come right in."
To be continued...
The photo by pixbay
The link
https://pixabay.com/photos/birds-ornithology-species-fauna-7652535/