The cabin smelled faintly of cedar and lavender, a timeless blend of warmth and serenity. Alina shifted slightly, adjusting the light blue lace of her nightgown as she perched herself on the edge of the bed, gazing out through a large rain-spattered window. Beyond it, the forest was dark and endless, its trees swaying in rhythm with the stormy winds. In the glow of the fireplace, her silhouette seemed fragile, almost ethereal, as if she could dissolve into the night itself. Yet, her heartbeat was anything but calm.
Only hours before, she’d arrived at this secluded cabin nestled deep in the mountains. It had been a gift from her sister—a weekend escape she hadn’t known she needed. A weekend alone, with no deadlines, no traffic, no insistent voices demanding her time. Always the reluctant loner, she had told herself she could manage a few peaceful evenings in the quiet. And now, she wasn’t sure if peace was the word for what she felt.
There was a noise, faint at first but persistent—a scraping sound, like a branch teasing the side of the house. Alina froze, her breath catching. The storm, she reassured herself, it’s just the storm. But the sound came again, closer now, deliberate and slow. She turned toward the door, every nerve in her body braced for what would come next.
Gathering herself, she rose quietly. Even in the dim light, the intricate lace of her nightgown seemed to shimmer ever so slightly. Tiptoeing toward the dresser, she grabbed the heavy flashlight her sister had pragmatically packed for her. It felt solid and reassuring in her hand. With a glance toward the window and the endless storm beyond, Alina resolutely swung open the door to the cabin.
The wet air hit her like a slap, its chill biting through the thin fabric of her gown. Rain pattered against the wooden deck, creating tiny waterfalls over the edges. But the sound—a raspy, metallic scrape—came from just around the corner. Willing her legs to move, she stepped outside, her bare feet skimming the cold, rain-soaked planks.
“Hello?” she called, her voice trembling. Immediately, she regretted speaking. The forest answered only with the rustling of leaves and the distant growl of thunder. She moved past the corner of the cabin, flashlight aimed ahead, scouring the dark shadows. There, by the tool shed, something gleamed in the beam.
She edged closer, heart pounding so loudly she was sure whatever was in the shadows could hear it, too. Then she saw it—drag marks in the mud, streaking out from the shed’s half-open door. Holding her ground, she tried to summon the courage to investigate, but an unmistakable sound—a low, guttural growl—froze her in place.
In an instant, the shadows seemed to coalesce. A figure emerged, neither fully man nor beast. Its form was cloaked in the dark, but its eyes gleamed with a terrible, unnatural light, pinning her where she stood. Alina stumbled backward, dropping the flashlight. Darkness consumed her as the beam rolled into the mud.
And then it came—a thunderous roar and a charge. Alina barely made it back to the cabin, slamming the door shut behind her as a heavy weight collided with it. The wood groaned, and she pressed her back against it, eyes wide as the world seemed to cave in around her. Outside, the growls became hisses, and then silence.
Minutes passed, or maybe hours, before she dared to move. The storm eased, the rain tapering to a soft drizzle. But the marks in the muddy ground outside would remain as proof: she was not alone that night. Alina sank to the floor, clutching her knees to her chest, the light blue lace of her nightgown still glimmering faintly in the dim light of dawn. Whatever had come for her, it hadn’t gotten in. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was still out there… waiting.
Genre: Horror
The source…check out the great article that inspired this amazing short story: The Allure of Lace Nightwear: A Seductive Elegance for Quiet Evenings
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