Nightmare Shorts

The Watcher in the Bushes

Little Andy often felt lonely. He had been sick for a long time, and his parents were always busy or worried. They hardly ever noticed him. Andy’s favorite thing was to sit by his window and watch people. He liked to imagine what it was like to be other kids, kids who were healthy and happy.

One cool night, Andy sat at his window, looking out at the quiet street. The moon was bright, casting long shadows. He noticed something strange in the bushes across the street—a tall, dark figure. It didn’t move. It just stood there, hidden in the shadows.

Andy’s heart pounded. Who could it be? He wanted to call his parents, but they never listened. Instead, he kept watching. Maybe it was just his imagination.

Every night, the figure was there, in the same spot. Sometimes it seemed closer, its outline sharper against the darkness. Andy tried to tell his parents, but they brushed him off, thinking it was another one of his stories.

One night, Andy saw the figure more clearly. It was tall, black, and had glowing eyes that seemed to stare right at him. Fear gripped him, but he couldn’t look away. He closed his window and pulled the curtains tight, but he felt like the figure was still watching.

The next day, Andy decided to be brave. He waited until it was dark again, then went outside quietly, leaving his parents inside. He crossed the street and approached the bushes. His heart raced as he got closer.

Suddenly, a cold, bony hand grabbed his shoulder. Andy turned around and saw the figure, its eyes glowing with a sinister light. The figure leaned down, and in a whispery voice, it said, “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Terrified, Andy tried to scream, but no sound came out. The figure lifted him effortlessly and carried him away into the shadows.

When his parents finally noticed Andy was missing, they searched everywhere. They never found him. But sometimes, at night, if you look closely at the bushes across the street, you might see a small, shadowy figure with glowing eyes, watching from the darkness. And if you listen very closely, you might hear a faint whisper, “I just wanted to be noticed.”