psychological
Mind games taken way too far; explore the disturbing genre of psychological thrillers that make us question our perception of sanity and reality.
Moral Dilemma
It was just sitting there. On the bench. A little black book with a hole in the middle. In that hole, there was $20,000. Should I take it? It has no notes inside, just the money. Maybe someone just left it here. I'm sure that's the case. They would have surely been more careful with that amount of money. I could pay off all my debts and travel the world. Oh, I would be able to go to Italy. I could see all the renaissance art that I've always wanted to see and all the architecture. But what if this has been left for some sort of drug deal. I don't want to go to jail for taking tainted money. I should probably just go give it to the police. That would be such a waste though. Did that bush just move? Is someone watching me? This could just be some sick test to see if people do the right thing. That's a lot of money for a test though. If someone has that much money to spare, I think they have some other issues to figure out. I'll just sit down for the next few minutes and see if anyone comes by looking for it. I haven't seen anyone come by since I've been here and they would have surely come back by now if it was a mistake. I don't care if it is a test, I'm taking it. If someone was that stupid to leave it here then they deserve to get it taken. Yeah, I'm taking it. Okay, here we go. Just take it. I swear that bush just moved. I don't know, maybe it didn't. Maybe that is my guilt talking. I shouldn't be guilty though they left it here for the taking. Okay, that is it. I'll just sit on the bench for a few minutes and glance through the book so no one thinks I stole it. I'm glancing, I'm glancing. What the hell am I doing? No one is even around, no one will see. I need this. All the debt and all the vacations I could take. Everyone would do the same thing. I know they would. Time to leave. I'll just stick it in my purse, no one will be the wiser. Now move. One step at a time, down this dark pathway. Why is it so dark? It's only, what, 4:30? Just act normal, keep walking. Is that someone behind me? I'm imagining things, there was no one like ten seconds ago so there is no one there now. You are just paranoid. Yeah, paranoid because you are an awful person. Who takes $20,000 from a bench? It would have been better if someone else found it. They could be going through this right now instead of me. No, stop! I'll just give some of it to charity. I'll pay off my debts, plan a trip around Europe, and the leftovers I'll donate. Perfect. Keep walking. Don't look back, now that will make you look suspicious. Keep going. Okay, there is definitely someone following me. One quick look. Ready, one quick look, now! No one is there but that lamppost looked a little thicker than normal. There is a person behind it for sure. Okay, let's just do a little jogging. I need the exercise anyway. Okay, there are footsteps now, they are running. Run as fast as your feet can take you. Move, move, move!
By Shannon Anderson5 years ago in Horror
A Walk in The Park
After work, I headed to my favorite park. It was a late Autumn afternoon and I enjoyed the sights in the 640-acre park, watching for deer, and eyeing raccoons and hawks up in the trees. Chickadees called out “Dee Dee Dee Dee” and Northern Flickers were calling. I stopped to watch the Pileated Woodpeckers hammering on a dead tree about 5 feet off the ground. Continuing on the wooded path, my nostrils were filled with the Fall fragrance of rotted leaves and damp earth. I breathed in deeply, looking up at blue sky, surrounded by green fir trees and the occasional yellow-leafed cottonwood and orange vine maple.
By Andrea Corwin 5 years ago in Horror
Reflect for a Lifetime
It was only a couple months before that Jenny had laughed in that supposed psychic’s face. Although now in retrospect, she probably shouldn’t have. But come on! He had really told her that her life was going to take a turn for the worst. She had laughed and told him he was two years too late for that prediction! She had after all overcome all the hurdles - her parents trying to convince her that she wouldn’t be successful working for a publishing company or William telling her he couldn’t be with a feminist woman! Despite her massive breakup, her move across state borders to New York City, she had managed to not only survive, but to be successful! She had already gotten a promotion in the 6 months that she had been working for Blaustenhouse Publishing Company. Jenny had also managed to secure a condo in Manhattan! The Upper West side! Her agent had told her it was a steal…rightfully so. Who sells a condo here for only 200K? Plus it was absolutely beautiful, with sunlight streaming through the glass to ceiling windows, the marble countertop, the bedroom that could easily fit a king sized bed…that psychic had to be faking! Everything was finally looking up. She had moved in within a month. Her plants were placed strategically throughout the corners to let in some nature and she had splurged a bit on her soft velvet white couch. Deciding to get rid of her old things, she had decided to furnish her new condo with expensive and tasteful things. Her kitchen drawers held expensive silver flatware, her bedroom housed a fluffy white rug and an ottoman she just had to buy. It had taken her a few weeks to get it just right and quite a bit of money! One thing she was really surprised by was that the condo came with this absolutely gorgeous mirror. It was right in the center of the fireplace and when she had asked her agent if the previous owner was going to be taking it with them, her agent shrugged and said they had left it. Jenny assumed the owner had loved how the mirror fit into this apartment. It was like it was made for it with the minimalist gold detailing and a shine that hadn’t disappeared despite the dust that had collected. Jenny was more than happy to accommodate her TV in her bedroom instead. Who doesn’t like to lie down while watching reruns? This place was absolutely perfect, a dream come true.
By Shweta Gupta5 years ago in Horror
The Singing Ice
I cried to the first responders to let me see them and officially say goodbye. Over the years, I've learned to imitate appropriate feelings rather than experiencing them for myself first hand. Not much has changed in my heart. I feel the exact same blank emotions I did when they were alive. My parents have always been cold. Now, as I gaze down upon them, they are a different kind of frozen. As they lay immobile, icy, and blue, their newly found solidified condition seems more true to form. Dead people are just more honest. They are what they are and nothing else.
By Alisa Daglio5 years ago in Horror
A Ribbon of Time
Think of the timeline like a piece of ribbon. Like the one a little girl ties into her braids in August, or maybe the large bow that keeps the Christmas present together. It’s flexible, it can twist and fold, but it still keeps a distinct shape. One twist and maybe someone likes tea more than coffee, fold the ribbon and then a war ended three months after it did originally, pull a thread and someone never even existed. Nevertheless time moves on, unforgiving yet dependable. But cut the ribbon, and everything changes. The future is no longer supported, everything after the cut is lost, crumbled, erased. Hopefully the ribbon can reweave itself, but still the injury never heals right; a scar, an ache that lingers, it just doesn’t work the same anymore. But then again, maybe that was the plan all along.
By Marissa Randall5 years ago in Horror
