The Haunted Dream
Here is the Short Scary Story (With Audio & PDF) – The Haunted Dream (horror story to read)
The Soft Beginning
Mira had always been a dreamer but tonight felt different. As she fell asleep, a disturbing chill settled into her bed. Her blanket’s comfort disappeared and she felt a cold creep into her bones. The darkness around her became thicker and she found herself outside her room.
She found herself standing at the edge of a dark twisted forest. The trees stood tall and rough and their branches like bone hands pushing against the stormy sky. The air was thick and oppressive and the clouds above held the promise of rain. Mira felt shivers run down her spine as the first cold sharp drops fell.
“Where am I?” Mira spoke to herself, hugging her arms close to her body and looking at the approaching forest.
A cool wind blew the leaves but it carried a strange whisper that sounded like voices. She turned to look behind her hoping to see the familiar comfort of her home but all she saw was darkness stretching in all directions. She was trapped.
Mira, with no other option took an uncertain step into the forest. The ground under her feet was soft and wet and she was making each step slow and unsteady. The rain fell harder now, soaking her hair and clothes but she kept going. The trees appeared to close in on her and branches twisting together to form a covering that restricted out what little light. It was so dark that she could barely see the path.
“Hello?” Mira called out and hoping for a response. A sign that she was not alone. The only response was the whispering wind and distant roar of thunder.
The forest seemed alive with each gust of wind causing the branches to move and moan as if the trees were in contact with each other. The whispers became louder, mixing with the rain and the noises of the trees. Mira’s heart blasted in her chest as her fear driving her deeper into the forest.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in the distance, a dark outline in the rain. Mira stopped, her breath got in her throat. The figure stood motionless, its shape almost invisible through the rain.
“Who’s there?” Mira shouted, her voice struggling.
The figure did not respond. It simply stood there and unmoved. Sending waves of fear through Mira. She took a step back, her instincts screaming at her to run but her feet felt solidly grounded.
The figure then moved towards her without warning, slowly at first, then quickly, almost gliding over the ground. Mira could see more as it got closer, a pale face with hollow eyes, its mouth open in a silent scream.
Mira screamed and turned on her heels, running through the forest. The mud took her shoes, slowing her down but she continued on, the figure’s silent pursuit driving her forward. The rain smashed her face and the wind roared through the trees, turning the whispers into anxious, panicked cries.
“Help me!” Mira cried out, hoping against hope that someone would hear her.
The forest remained dark and ruined, providing no comfort. She could feel the figure approaching, a cold presence breathing down her neck. She didn’t dare to look back, terrified of what she might see.
Mira’s foot catches a root and she stumbled and fell hard into the mud. Pain shot through her ankle but she jumped to her feet, ignoring the constant pain. She could hear the figure behind her and the soft crush of mud underfoot as it approached.
Mira ran off the path and into the dense bush, afraid. Branches scratched her arms and face, and rain-soaked leaves brushed against her skin. The whispers were louder here, almost overwhelming, as if the forest itself was filled with fear.
She broke through the jungle and came into a small clearing. In the centre there is an old decrepit mansion, its windows dark and cracked, and the roof dropping from years of abandonment. The front door was open moving softly in the wind with a low squeak.
Mira ran towards the mansion without thinking. The figure was getting too close and all she could think about was finding shelter. She ran inside, smashing the door behind her and leaning against it trying to catch her breath. The sound of her heartbeat filled her ears.
For a moment, there was silence. The whispers outside faded and the rain hit on the roof in a steady rhythm. But then, from deep inside the mansion, Mira heard a low, moaning cry that sent shivers down her spine.
The interior of the mansion was equally terrifying as the forest. The air was thick with dust and dust hung from every corner. The walls were lined with dark wood panelling, and old, decaying furniture was scattered about the floor. A magnificent staircase appeared ahead, its steps trembling quietly as Mira took a slow step forward.
“Hello?” she said again, her voice echoing through the empty corridors.
There was no response, just the faint whistling of the wind through the broken windows. Mira shivered and tied her arms around herself as she moved deeper into the mansion. Each step felt like a step into the unknown with the darkness.
As she came to the top of the stairs, she heard the sound again, moaning wail but closer this time. It was coming from down the stairs, through one of the multiple closed doors.
Mira’s heartbeat increased as she examined the door. Her hand shaken as she reached out to turn the lever but before she could do so, the door open by itself. The room beyond was pitch black but she noticed a cold draft coming from within.
“Mira…” a voice whispered in the darkness, sending an earthquake of terror through her.
She took a step back, her breath picking up her throat
“Who are you? What do you want?” she said,
“Come closer…” the voice came softly and weirdly.
Mira wanted to run but her feet seemed rooted in place. She could feel cold air coming from the room, along with an overwhelming sense of fear. She knew she shouldn’t go in but something was pulling her forward, asking her to go into the darkness.
Mira called upon all of her courage and took a nervous step into the room. The cold air tied around her like icy hands and she shivered as she fell deeper into the darkness. The door swung shut behind her, trapping her inside.
Suddenly, a thin ghostly figure appeared in front of her. It was the same figure she had seen in the forest. A tall, shadowy, with hollow eyes and a mouth twisted into a silent scream.
Mira screamed and fell back but the figure did not move. It simply stared at her, its eyes empty and soulless. Then it spoke, in a harsh whisper.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” it said, its words like a cold breeze on her skin.
Mira’s heart raced and fear grabbed her tightly.
“What do you want from me?” she asked, simply above a whisper.
The ghost moved closer, its form blinking like a dying candle flame.
“You must leave this place… before it’s too late.”
Mira took it hard, her senses telling her to run but she remained frozen in place. “Why? What’s going on here?”
“This mansion…it’s cursed,” the ghost replied, filled with sorrow. “We are all trapped here… by the darkness.”
Before Mira could say anything else, the ghost vanished, leaving her alone in the dark room. The cold air became even colder and she felt a deep feeling of fear wash over her.
She turned and pushed the door, struggling for the lever. She twisted it quickly until the door went open. Mira ran out of the room, back down the dark corridor. Her footsteps echoed loudly but there was another sound of a soft ghostly moan that showed up to follow her.
She hurried down the stairs and almost falling over her own feet. The front door of the mansion was still open, she rushed towards it and she was eager to get out of the haunted place. But as she approached the door, it smashed shut with a crushing bang, the sound echoing throughout the mansion.
Mira hit the door but it didn’t move. “Let me out!” she shouted, panic rising in her chest.
The ghostly moans became louder and she realised the cold presence of the souls closing in around her. Hopeless, she turned and ran deeper into the mansion, hoping to find another way out.
The hallways twisted and turned, taking her deeper into the heart of the mansion. The darkness was cruel and every shadow appeared to move, shift in her direction. The moaning became louder and more determined, ultimately filling her ears and sinking out all other sounds.
Mira finally broke into the large room. The grand ballroom, once full of life and laughter. The lighting placed badly from the ceiling with dull, dust-covered crystals. The floor was covered in garbage,and the walls were cracked and peeling.
In the centre of the room stood a grand piano, its keys moving on their own as it played a haunting sorrowful melody. The sound was creepy like a forgotten whisper echoing through the empty ballroom.
Mira backed away but was stopped by a cold, ghostly hand on her shoulder. She turned around to find herself face to face with another spirit, this time an elderly woman with empty eyes and twisted smile.
“You cannot leave,” the old woman said, “This is your home now.”
Mira shook her head, tears falling down her cheeks.
“No… I don’t belong here!”
The spirits closed in on her, their faces dull and lifeless, their eyes empty and cold. They reached for her, their hands like icy fingers, bringing her closer and closer.
The room began to spin and Mira’s vision blurred. The cold was unbearable which was chilling her to the bone. She felt herself pulled down, deeper into the darkness, the spirits’ whispers filling her mind.
And then everything went black.
Was it just a dream?
Mira woke up in her bed, covered with sweat. Her heart was rushing and her breath came in rough screams. She looked around, her eyes spreading with fear. She returned to her room safe and sound.
But the haunted mansion, the ghosts and the darkness stayed in her mind like a persistent shadow. She could still feel the cold and hear faint whispers from the spirits.
It was just a dream, she told herself over and over, trying to calm down. But deep down, she knew something had changed. The darkness had touched her and she was unsure whether she would ever be the same again.
Mira lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, as the first light of dawn appeared in her room. The fear vanished allowing behind a deep, disturbing feeling she was unable to shake.
And from that day whenever she closed her eyes, she saw the haunted mansion, standing tall and twisted in the middle of the dark forest, waiting for her to return.
